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3. YouTube Getting Back Into the Hollywood Movie Rental Game
This week also brought unexpected news that YouTube is seeking to license movies from top studios for online rental. Hmm, somebody please explain to me how YouTube thinks it can create a differentiated offering relative to what's already available from iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, etc. because I don't get it. Plus, just a few weeks ago it seemed like YouTube was placing its bets on original web-only content, which felt like a viable strategy. Now YouTube wants back into Hollywood. It's hard to see how this will have a happy ending with so many options already available.
Categories: Aggregators, FIlms
Topics: YouTube
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4. Comcast Gets Hit Shows from FOX and ABC for Xfinity TV
This week brought yet another twist in the intriguing relationships between pay-TV operators and broadcast TV networks, as Comcast announced deals with both FOX and ABC to add recent episodes of over 20 hit shows from the networks to its Xfinity TV video-on-demand line-up. The move is a solid step forward for Comcast, giving it access to all 4 major broadcast networks' programs, a first. This is also content that isn't available on Netflix, providing another good differentiator.
Categories: Broadcasters, Cable TV Operators, Video On Demand
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5. Will Richmond Actually Appears In a Video
Ok, this last one is a little tongue in cheek. Since launching VideoNuze, I've taken my fair share of ribbing for not showing up in any videos myself (though why readers are interested in that is still a bit of a mystery to me). The dry spell ended this week, as I joined with my partner Marc Sternberg to release a short promotional video for the ELEVATE: Online Video Advertising Summit on its site. Yes, it's unexpected to actually see yours truly in a video, but there it is. Many thanks to our friends at HealthiNation for making the video possible.
Categories: Events
Topics: ELEVATE
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VideoNuze Report Podcast #97 - Apr. 29, 2011
I'm pleased to present the 97th edition of the VideoNuze Report podcast, for April 29, 2011.
In this week's podcast, Daisy Whitney and I discuss Netflix's robust Q1 '11 results announced earlier this week. Netflix added 3.6 million subscribers in Q1, which is almost double the 1.7 million subscribers it added a year earlier in Q1 '10. Of the total, 3.3 million were in the U.S. bringing Netflix to a virtual tie with Comcast at 22.8 million subscribers (though as I always note, Comcast generates at least 5-6 times as much revenue per video subscriber as does Netflix). Still, with the Q1 growth, Netflix has grown by over 12 million subscribers in the past 6 quarters, an amazing stretch by any measure.
In the podcast we also discuss the more conciliatory tone Netflix struck toward the pay-TV industry, with CEO Reed Hastings going out of his way to tamp down concerns about imminent cord-cutting. We also comment on how Netflix appears to be adopting Apple's approach to under-promising and over-delivering quarterly results.
Click here to listen to the podcast (12 minutes, 53 seconds)
Click here for previous podcasts
The VideoNuze Report is available in iTunes...subscribe today!Categories: Aggregators, Podcasts
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Complimentary Webinar, Tues, May 3rd: Unlocking the Value of Video Content Libraries
Please join me for a complimentary webinar next Tuesday, May 3rd at 11am PT / 2pm ET, as Colin Dixon, senior partner at research firm The Diffusion Group, Mark Lemmons, CTO of Thought Equity Motion and I discuss how media companies can unlock the tremendous value in their video content libraries. At the conclusion of the webinar, a complimentary white paper will be distributed to all attendees.
Media companies have traditionally had to live by the constraint that that once video is archived, it is "stranded," with its best monetization days most likely behind it. A combination of technical and business issues have conspired to limit the total potential ROI. As a result, media companies are sitting on mountains of valuable video content that hasn't been easily shared or monetized.
Now however, a perfect storm of innovation, business model ingenuity and rapidly changing consumer preferences is changing all that. Projects like the NCAA Vault and ACC Vault, which are both powered by Thought Equity Motion, are showing that it is both possible - and profitable - to surface library content in unique and differentiated ways. In this timely webinar we'll explore the processes and best practices involved with media companies bringing video content libraries to life online.
Learn more and register nowCategories: Events
Topics: Thought Equity Motion, Webinar
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Electus, Ogilvy, Deep Focus Executives on Branded Entertainment Panel at ELEVATE
If you think the pre-roll ads are all there is to online video advertising, then think again. "Branded entertainment" - the creation of original web series sponsored by specific brands - has become one of the most exciting new ways to break through and reach specific audiences. Major brands including Denny's, Sprite, Ragu, IBM, Hellman's, Kraft, Lexus, Royal Caribbean, HP, Mitchum and many others are already achieving success. But despite branded entertainment's growing popularity, it's still a relatively new format with lots of unknowns.
To tackle the issues and explain why branded entertainment is such a compelling new opportunity, I'm pleased to announce "Branded Entertainment's Role in the New Marketing Mix," a featured panel discussion at ELEVATE: Online Video Advertising Summit on Tuesday, June 7th in NYC. The session includes some of the most experienced, active executives leading the branded entertainment charge:- Jordan Hoffner - President, Digital Media, Electus
- Ian Schafer - CEO and Founder, Deep Focus
- Doug Scott - President, OgilvyEntertainment
- Josh Cohen - Co-Founder, Tubefilter (moderator)
Categories: Branded Entertainment, Events
Topics: Deep Focus, Electus, ELEVATE, OgilvyEntertainment, Tubefilter
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Digitalsmiths Raises $12.5 Million Series C Round
Video metadata solutions provider Digitalsmiths has closed a $12.5 million Series C round, led by strategic investor Technicolor, with participation by
existing investors .406 Ventures, Aurora Funds, Chrysalis Ventures, Capitol Broadcasting and Cisco. With the financing Digitalsmiths has raised a little over $30 million.
Ben Weinberger, Digitalsmiths CEO and Co-Founder told me that the round was oversubscribed and that additional funds are also available. The new round will support increased marketing and sales efforts for Digitalsmiths' search and discovery solutions targeted to premium video providers. The round will also support planned international expansion.
Categories: Deals & Financings, Technology
Topics: Digitalsmiths, Technicolor
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Jon Miller, News Corp. Chief Digital Officer to Speak at ELEVATE Conference
I'm delighted to announce that Jon Miller, News Corp. Chief Digital Officer and Chairman/CEO of its Digital Media Group, will speak at ELEVATE: Online Video Advertising Summit, on Tuesday, June 7th in NYC. Jon will participate in a fireside chat with David Kenny, President of Akamai Technologies (and former Chairman and CEO of Digitas), following David Kenny's opening mini-keynote. The title for the mini-keynote and fireside session is "Toward Digital Dollars: The State of the Market for Premium Online Video."
Jon is one of the most experienced digital media executives in the world and it is an honor to have him participate in ELEVATE. In particular, the topic that he will address could not be timelier. Producers of premium video content are singularly focused on how to optimally monetize their content on the burgeoning online and mobile video platforms. As a board member of Hulu - and with his numerous other experiences - Jon has unique insights on the topic. In addition, News Corp. has been one of the most aggressive investors and participants in online and mobile video and so the lessons and best practices Jon will share will be invaluable.
Categories: Events
Topics: ELEVATE, News Corp.
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