On the heels of Amazon’s PBS announcement last week, Netflix today announced a similar deal with the broadcasting network, with a few PBS exclusives thrown in. The service will become exclusive streaming video, on demand. Amazon, though, has PBS’ biggest hit on its hands after winning the rights to Downton Abbey. This is another battle in the long war for streaming supremacy in the U.S.. Users are increasingly using mobile and portable devices to stream shows and movies, and the “appointment television” market is what’s at stake.
Tag: netflix
Amazon Aims For Appointment Online TV
Although Netflix is out to the early lead in the original streaming content category, Amazon is quickly becoming its leading competitor. Its show, Alpha House, debuts soon, but with one important distinction: you won’t be able to binge-watch the entire series in one sitting. Though the details haven’t been ironed out entirely as of yet, Amazon confirmed that the show will be released through Amazon Prime, and the goal for Amazon is to learn from Netflix’s mistakes with the all-at-once release strategy, which reduces the theorizing, buzz, and conversation around the one-episode-per-week show form.
Amazon Streams Viacom’s Kids Shows
After a deal between Netflix and Viacom expired last month, Amazon swept in to clean up the scraps, which included Viacom’s children’s programs like Dora the Explorer and Comedy Central shows like Key and Peele. Amazon made the announcement that it will be streaming these shows through Prime Instant Video this morning, and claimed that they’ll be adding more than 3,900 episodes of TV to their streaming program. This, in combination with Amazon’s announcement that they will film five new original series shows, puts them directly at odds with Netfilx, their main competitor.
CW Network Comes To Apple TV
CW Network has announced that it will be delivering a dedicated app to the Apple TV ecosystem, allowing users to access their content directly through the set-top box. This marks a big shift in terms of traditional TV programming entering the connected TV space. The enhanced interactivity on these platforms creates plenty of opportunities to innovate, without the need for second screen programs. Content will be available a day after the TV broadcast and will be ad-supported.
Netflix And YouTube Working On Open Second Screen Protocol
Netflix and YouTube are taking a crack at an open second screen protocol called DIAL. DIAL hopes to power second screen experiences for connected TVs, content services and app makers. Unlike Apple’s wildly successful Airplay, DIAL will not simply mirror your mobile display, but instead can detect and launch applications on your TV. From there, the specific use cases are up to the app makers and device manufactures. Expect a ton of new features coming to connected devices from big players like Sony and Samsung in the future.
Amazon Prime tests $7.99/month option to compete with Hulu+, Netflix — Tech News and Analysis
Amazon Prime Tests $7.99/Month Option To Compete With Netflix And Hulu+
Netflix’s crowdsourced victory
Three years and one million dollers later, Netflix has an improved ratings and recommendation system, and months of free advertising in the lead up to a jubuilent conclusion for the BellKore Pragmatic Chaos team. Thousands of teams from across the world submitted their ideas, ultimately leading to a final round of mergings which brought team BellKore across the finish line 20 minutes before their primary competitor, Ensemble.
The experiment is a three-fold triumph: For Netflix (the company’s stock has been steadily climbing over this year and was up .30 on Monday when the results were announced); For the wider technology community who will get to benefit from the winning team’s algorithms–publishing methods was one of the stated requirements of the competition; and for the infinite possibilities of crowdsourcing–both as a problem solving and a marketing tool. Continue reading “Netflix’s crowdsourced victory”
Boxee, Roku get infusion of cash
Over the top digital media browsers (or set top boxes) are on fire with two players receiving major investments in the last two weeks. Boxee, a software based digital media browser has just closed a round of financing for 6 million and Roku, a broadband set top box solutions has just secured $8.4 million in new venture capital financing from Menlo Ventures.
Boxee’s software enables users to engage with content stored on their PC and can be used on any type of monitor connected to that PC, paving the way for another living room on demand solution. Boxee strives to improve the consumer’s content experience by enabling a number of social features to allow sharing of content and suggestions in a very robust manner. The bulk of the investment comes from General Catalyst Partners who will also have a board seat. Boxee hopes that the GC relationship will “strengthen [their] relationships with big media and cable companies.” Boxee learned the hard way with an early battle with Hulu who blocked use of their portal on the Boxee platform.  But Boxee already has steep competition from other browser based solutions as well as hardware solutions. Continue reading “Boxee, Roku get infusion of cash”
Best and worst of CES 2009
When exploring a huge show like CES, it’s inevitable that you will discover that not all manufacturers give equal thought to their products. Some will shine with obvious innovation. A great many will barely register above a yawn. And some will leave you shaking your head in disbelief.
Here are just a few that fall into these categories…
CES 2009: Living television
While the Internet is all a buzz with the recently expanded Netflix partnerships, it’s interesting to note that it may be the OEM’s who are opening the door to how television and content are experienced in the home. On the floor of the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, more then ever before we are seeing the aggregation of technology and content solutions convening together to create “living devices.” Continue reading “CES 2009: Living television”
