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New CBS Licensing Deal Doesn't Offer Amazon Much Differentiation vs. Netflix
Amazon and CBS announced a licensing agreement this morning, which, while a step in the right direction for Amazon Prime, doesn't seem to offer it much differentiation. The press release states that 18 CBS TV programs are part of the deal, though the only ones identified are "The Tudors," "Numb3rs," "Medium," the "Star Trek" series, "Frasier" and "Cheers." A quick glance at Netflix's catalog shows that all past seasons of "Numb3rs," "Medium," "Cheers," "The Tudors" and the original 3 seasons of "Star Trek" are available on streaming. Only "Frasier" isn't available on streaming, though it is on DVD.
Perhaps some of the other programs in the deal aren't already available on Netflix, but the group identified today underscores how networks' and studios' non-exclusive approach means that any distributor with a willingness to pay will get essentially the same content.
Categories: Aggregators, Broadcasters
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KIT Digital Sees 39% Revenue Jump in Q2 '11 to $48 Million; Provides Guidance of $210 Million for Full Year
Video management software provider KIT Digital has released preliminary Q2 '11 results, with record revenue of $48 million (up 39% from Q1 '11up 108% from Q2 '10) and EBITDA of $9.5 million (up 34% from Q1 '11 and 125% from Q2 '10). In addition KIT provided full year 2011 revenue guidance of $210 million.
In an interview, Gannon Hall, EVP, Global Marketing and Adam Davis, Global Communications Manager told me that approximately 30-35% of the Q2
growth was organic, with the remaining coming from growth through acquisitions. Over the past six months KIT Digital has acquired at least 4 companies and it has recently completed "Project Delta," an internal integration and restructuring process.
Topics: KIT Digital
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Coldwell Banker's On Location YouTube Channel Helping Reinvent Home Search
Never mind that Coldwell Banker is a 105 year-old brand; it is pursuing a thoroughly up-to-date strategy of engaging with its customers through the use of online video. Coldwell Banker's "On Location" YouTube channel turns the process of finding a house from a dry text-oriented approach to one that's graphical and video-based. At last month's ELEVATE: Online Video Advertising Summit, Michael Fischer, Coldwell Banker's Chief Marketing Officer, explained the company's strategy and how it's executing (see below for session video).
One data point has galvanized the company: 73% of homeowners are more likely to work with a realtor who offers to do a video for their listing, however only 12% of the real estate industry currently has YouTube accounts. That disconnect has led Michael and the Coldwell Banker team to see video as the thread that pulls together all of its online efforts. Michael believes that with the explosion of online video viewing, consumers have come to expect a video-based experience and that Coldwell Banker can differentiate itself by delivering it.
Categories: Brand Marketing
Topics: Coldwell Banker, YouTube
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ESPN3.com Attracted A Record 548,000 Unique Viewers for Women's World Cup Final
ESPN3.com attracted 548,000 unique viewers on Sunday afternoon for the USA-Japan Women's World Cup Finals, the highest the network has received
for a women's sporting event, and the 8th-highest of all events streamed on ESPN3.com. Total viewing time on ESPN3.com, ESPNnetworks.com and the mobile WatchESPN app was 38.6 million minutes, or an average of just over 70 minutes per unique viewer. The iPad was the most popular device for using the WatchESPN mobile app, with 38 minutes average time spent viewing.
Categories: Cable Networks, Devices, Mobile Video
Topics: ESPN
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Updated Orb Live App Allows Users to Stream Hulu and Other Premium Video to Mobile Devices
Orb Networks is releasing the latest version of its Orb Live app today, which allows users to stream content from Hulu, Netflix, Amazon VOD and other sources to their mobile devices. Users download free Orb Caster software to their PC or Mac, and then by purchasing the $9.99 Orb Live app are able to stream video from their computer to their mobile device. The iOS version of Orb Live is available today, with the Android version coming in mid-August.
The new Hulu feature is useful for gaining access to the free programs that are available on Hulu.com since you currently have to subscribe to Hulu Plus in order to gain mobile access though its app. In addition to Hulu and other premium content, new features in Orb Live include adaptive bit rate capability to deliver the optimal experience depending on fluctuating connection speeds. Orb has also created an index of all premium content available so that when users search for a particular show, its availability on multiple sites is surfaced.
Categories: Aggregators, Mobile Video, Technology
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1/3 of YouTube's In-Stream Ads Now In Skippable Format
Google executives were as sparing as ever in yesterday's Q2 '11 earnings call with details about YouTube's financial performance, but they did divulge one
interesting new nugget: 1/3 of YouTube's in-stream ads are now in a skippable format. Susan Wojcicki, Google's SVP, Advertising shared the data point to show the rapid progress that YouTube has made since launching its "TrueView" format last December.
TrueView is an important building block in a larger industry initiative Google is pursuing, to have 50% of video ads include a cost-per-view element. Google believes that by giving viewers the option to skip the ad or select a particular one, engagement will be stronger which will in turn drive rates higher. As with DVR ad-skipping, viewers also gain greater control of their experience which so satisfaction will improve.
Categories: Advertising, Aggregators
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VideoNuze Report Podcast #104 - Netflix Pricing Debate - July 15, 2011
Daisy Whitney and I are pleased to present the 104th edition of the VideoNuze Report podcast, for July 15, 2011.
In this week's podcast Daisy and I debate Netflix's decision to separate streaming and DVD-by-mail pricing. The topic has been widely covered this week, and we try to address some of the major questions swirling around (e.g. why did they do it? what are the implications? what choice will subscribers make? And more). One point I continue to make is that if Netflix's goal was to kill off the DVD business, as some have suggested this week, that seems pre-mature to me. DVDs still have a huge amount of strategic value to Netflix because they offer so much more choice than today's streaming catalog.
More of VideoNuze's coverage below (including great commentary from readers):
Sorting Through the 4 Tough Choices Most Netflix Subscribers Now Face
Netflix Makes a Surprising Left Turn With New Pricing Approach
Click here to listen to the podcast (17 minutes, 47 seconds)
Click here for previous podcasts
The VideoNuze Report is available in iTunes...subscribe today!
Categories: Aggregators, Podcasts
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