05/24, 2:29pm
Netflix CCO admits Netflix may be stealing some viewers
Netflix has admitted that it may play a role in keeping its subscribers from doing "something." That, Ad Age reports, was as far as Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos was willing to go when asked whether the streaming service was responsible for market cannibalization. The executive stopped short of accepting blame for viewership declines among broadcast and cable channels, though, and touted Netflix's role in bringing in new viewers for some shows.
more
05/22, 11:58am
Viewdini platform will aggregate video content from free, paid services
At The Cable Show in Boston, Verizon Wireless on Tuesday announced it will soon release a new platform called Viewdini that will allow streaming of video content to subscribers of Comcast Xfinity, Hulu Plus, mSpot, Netflix, and TV sites to their mobile devices. Also, 4G mobile plans are required, and the service will only be available to Android-powered devices first, though support for other platforms is promised, as is content from Verizon FiOS.
more
05/01, 3:00pm
Company said to be watching Comcast/Netflix debacle
Sony is reportedly stalling its plans to develop a streaming television service, amid fears over potential net-neutrality conflicts. The company's vice president and general manager of global video, Michael Aragon, has finally confirmed rumors surrounding the service, however he told attendees at Variety's Entertainment & Technology Summit that the plans have been put on hold due to the conflict between Netflix and Comcast.
more
04/27, 5:45pm
Apple TV hub, TV may get Epix show access
Apple has been discussing a possible deal to get Epix' on-demand movies on its media devices, a pair of tipsters clamed late Friday. The talks were to both support the Apple TV as well as "upcoming devices that stream content," which Reuters took to mean a future TV set. Any progress was early, one of the contacts said.
more
04/26, 5:45pm
Overall impact varies but Nick definitely suffers
The complex relationship between content providers and streaming giant Netflix has taken another turn, as numbers from independent researchers tie Netflix streaming directly to precipitous drops in viewership for kids channel Nickelodeon. To make the story stranger, the effect is distinctly pronounced for Nickelodeon rather than other child-oriented channels.
more
04/23, 4:30pm
Netflix Q1 beats estimates but takes on Comcast
Netflix was aggressive both in performance and in political stance with its quarterly results on Monday. Despite anticipating significant losses, it lost just $5 million as part of its push to the UK and other countries where the consensus had been closer to a $16.9 million hit. Its revenue at $870 million, while down from the fall, was up 21 percent over a year earlier, reflecting the much larger number of subscribers.
more
04/22, 12:15pm
Sony BDP-S790 due on May 6
Sony on Sunday said it was on the verge of shipping its most advanced Blu-ray player for the year, the BDP-S790. The networked movie hub is due to reach stores May 6. Pre-orders are starting now for the player, which costs $250.
more
04/19, 11:55pm
Vudu could go international in 2012
Vudu's streaming movie and TV service could leave the US for the first time, according to apparent leaks emerging later on Thursday. The strategy passed on to Variety from unnamed sources would have Vudu available in Mexico by June, followed by sweeping coverage in South America. Asia and Europe would be part of the expansion further into 2012, although it's unknown if Canada would join in.
more
04/18, 12:30am
Unannounced move a treasure trove for fans
Earlier this week, Netflix added about 100 rock concerts and documentaries to their US catalog. The selections lean heavily towards classic concerts featuring acts such as Queen, Deep Purple, and early ZZ Top. While Netflix is no stranger to music-related programming, such a large increase in the library of offerings without a pre-announcement is rare. All of the new additions are available for instant streaming.
more
04/17, 1:25pm
Xbox Live services to go free from April 19-23
In an attempt to get some more users hooked on its premium Xbox Live subscription service, Microsoft will offer it for free for five days, commencing on Thursday, April 19, and running until Monday, April 23. Partners like Hulu Plus, Netflix, and EPIX will also open their doors for free during the same time period. Depending on where users are, however, they will get various amounts of free app access during those five days.
more
04/16, 11:00pm
Netflix may spur FCC action on Comcast neutrality
A commentary by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings may have brought official FCC scrutiny on Comcast for its cap exemption of Xfinity TV on the Xbox 360. He argued that Comcast was violating net neutrality principles by giving its own service a 'free' pass while applying the cap to competing services, including not just his own Netflix but HBO Go and Hulu Plus as well. After being asked by the Wall Street Journal, the FCC said it "takes seriously" allegations of violations like these and was following what was going on.
more
04/16, 7:50am
Roku media hub arrives with slight premium
Roku on Monday kicked off its Canadian launch. The country will get two higher-end models in the lineup, the Roku 2 XD and Roku 2 XS, both of which can handle 1080p video; the XS bundles in the Wii-like motion remote and includes both Ethernet and USB for wired access and local content. Canadians get much of the same content, including Netflix, Rdio music, and major sports like the MLB and NHL, although US-specific services like Hulu Plus are out of contention.
more
04/13, 12:00am
Amazon Prime catalog actually much smaller
Amazon drew flak on Thursday after it was accused of and later confirmed inflating its Amazon Prime video catalog. The company acknowledged to Fast Company that it counts each individual TV episode as a show, leading to even just one long-running TV series representing a large part of its catalog. A roster of 17,000 titles claimed by Amazon amounted to 1,875 titles, all but 150 of which were movies.
more
04/11, 4:00pm
Netflix updates Windows Phone app for new regions
Netflix on Wednesday released an updated Windows Phone app (free, Windows Phone Marketplace). Among more detailed improvements, Windows Phone owners in Latin America, Ireland, and the UK can now access the streaming movie service. Users will also get the newfound option to watch the shows in their local audio and/or subtitle language.
more
04/10, 3:05pm
D-Link adds MovieNite media hub
D-Link threw itself into low-cost media hubs Tuesday with the MovieNite. Borrowing from the design cues of the Apple TV and Roku 2, the device at $60 is one of the least expensive capable of 1080p video. Its primary sources are Netflix, Vudu, and YouTube for video as well as Pandora for streaming music and Picasa for photos.
more
04/10, 8:50am
Toshiba Excite 7.7 and 13 join Excite 10 in lineup
Toshiba grew its Excite tablet line in both directions on Tuesday with three new models to cover every possible category. The Excite 7.7 (which we've tried), Excite 10, and Excite 13 (AT770) all carry a quad-core Tegra 3 chip along with a completely stock version of Android 4.0 bundled with apps like Netflix and Zinio's reader. They keep the slimmer builds of past Excite models but with a more rounded, polished design.
more
04/10, 6:50am
Netflix snares new multi-year deal with Hasbro
Netflix has landed a multi-year content deal with Hasbro. The freshly inked contract will give Netflix members instant access to ten popular franchises including new content and catalog seasons of Hasbro content. New titles now available for viewing include Transformers Prime, G.I. Joe: Renegades, The Adventures of Chuck & Friends, My Little Pony, and Pound Puppies.
more
04/09, 1:20pm
Netflix update brings Kinect controls, more
Microsoft and Netflix have delivered a new update for the Xbox 360 that brings new functions to the app, the former's Larry Hryb revealed. The revamped media streaming client includes the ability to skip forward an back through movies and shows with buttons. Users with Kinect can also perform this using their voice or by waving their hand.
more
04/09, 8:10am
Netflix continues its political agenda
Netflix has formed a new political action group in an effort to gain more influence in Washington. Newly filed federal records
show that the new group, called FLIXPAC, can officially make political donations directly to federal candidates of up to $5,000 for each election cycle. Politico argues that it gives Netflix a way in which it can push its pro IP, anti-piracy agenda.
more
04/04, 2:15pm
Convergence Consulting estimates 2012 cutters too
Over one million pay TV customers stopped their subscriptions in the US last year, a Convergence Consulting Group research report (PDF) published this month found. The total number was 2.65 million since 2008, as users look to online streaming services such as Netflix. Researchers estimated the 2011 figure at 1.05 million.
more
04/03, 4:45pm
Roku to bring 2 XD, 2 XS to Amazon.ca very soon
The retail launch of Roku hardware in Canada is nearing, GigaOM believes. This lines up with earlier rumors, and two of the Internet players are said to begin selling through Amazon's Canadian website. The devices may then reach physical store shelves later on, though which ones isn't made clear.
more
03/30, 2:30pm
Netflix buys DVD domain to keep DVD alive
Netflix confirmed Friday that it had bought the domain DVD.com. Using frequent anonymous domain registrar MarkMonitor, it now has the easy-to-remember web address automatically redirecting to dvd.netflix.com. The domain deal was described unusually by a spokesperson talking to Domain News Wire as helping to preserve the roughly 15-year-old disc format.
more
03/29, 4:15pm
New Hulu Plus app arrives on 7 Android tablets
Streaming TV show and movie provider Hulu on Thursday announced it has made its Hulu Plus service on seven new Android tablets. This includes the Acer Iconia Tab line, ASUS Transformer Prime and Eee Pad Transformer, LG G-Slate, Motorola Xoom, Motorola Xyboard 10.1, and Toshiba Thrive. The app (free, Google Play) will become available for more Android tablets in the future as well, Hulu added.
more
03/26, 10:40pm
Netflix skips reviving sci-fi series
Netflix has reportedly dropped its possible acquisition of Terra Nova. Sources said that Netflix and Fox's 20th Television were "unable to come to terms," The Hollywood Reporter had heard. It's unclear what had been the point of dispute.
more
03/21, 12:15pm
BSkyB tries Internet TV to catch other viewers
Satellite TV provider BSkyB threw itself into contention with Internet video providers on Wednesday through its own pure Internet TV service. Called Now TV, it will supply on-demand movies, sports, and other forms of entertainment both to computers as well as game systems, smartphones, and tablets. The aim was to catch the 13 million UK residents who didn't have traditional paid TV, CEO Jeremy Darroch said at The Guardian's Changing Media Summit.
more
03/21, 10:00am
Nintendo 3DS gets automatic 3D music videos
Nintendo on Wednesday began giving 3DS owners a promised set of 3D music videos. Anyone who has the Nintendo Video app will start automatically pulling a set of videos that take advantage of the glasses-free display, such as "The Rifle's Spiral" by The Shins. B.O.B. and Wale have videos in the app today, while Skrillex and OK Go are among those in the near-term queue.
more
03/21, 12:20am
Sharp Aquos 7 and 8 TVs ship out
Sharp this week started shipping the two higher tiers of its 2012 Aquos TVs. Both the 7-series and 8-series both revolve around SmartCentral, a new UI intended to make Internet features more accessible, including both quick access to favorites and a filtered system that makes it easier to find Internet music, video, game, and social sources such as Netflix and Skype.
more
03/14, 1:55pm
Amazon adds Discovery shows to Prime offerings
Amazon has just revealed a deal with Discovery Communications that will let Amazon Prime members stream content from the media company. This includes episodes from non-current seasons from Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Science and Military Channel, and other content that dates back 25 years. Some of the available shows will include Dirty Jobs, Say Yes To The Dress, and Whale Wars.
more
03/14, 11:15am
Good news for BSkyB, deadline extended to July
UK satellite TV service BSkyB was given a reprieve as the Competition Commission pushed back its deadline on ruling that BSkyB's deals with six major Hollywood studios were uncompetitive, according to The Guardian. The government watchdog extended the date of its final ruling to July because it has added Netflix and LoveFilm to its investigation. Netflix launched in the UK and Ireland in January, while LoveFilm recently added a streaming service to its rent-by-mail service.
more
03/12, 6:25pm
Intel to try hand at TV content, hardware
Intel is in the midst of developing its own online TV streaming service and hardware to match, leaks disclosed Monday. It would create a form of virtual TV that would sell access in cable- and satellite-style bundles, the Wall Street Journal understood. While possibly a white box service that would let others put their own badge on top, Intel would sometimes run under its own name.
more
03/10, 3:55pm
Warner exec hints at UltraViolet movie conversion
Warner Bros.' home entertainment president Kevin Tsujihara used time at a Morgan Stanley technology conference to outline in more detail how his studio would steer viewers towards converting their videos from DVD and Blu-ray discs to the UltraViolet format and cloud video access. It would start with in-store conversion like that planned by Walmart, he said, but stores would eventually automate this and provide digital copies automatically. The discs themselves would eventually provide the option, which he implied would be like ripping a CD and would upload the movie itself.
more
03/09, 2:25pm
Comcast won't bring Netflix to its portfolio
Despite recent reports that Netflix is in talks with cable providers on some form of partnership, Comcast has gone on record to say it has no interest in such a deal. It won't add the service to its Xfinity subscribers as an on-demand offering or part of its billing service on any device, claims a New York Times report. Netflix believes it could be offered by major cable providers as a premium offering.
more
03/08, 10:25am
Netflix may take up discarded Fox show
Netflix may take its strategy of focusing on self-produced content to a new stage by snapping up the Fox TV show Terra Nova, an insider found late Wednesday. The Internet streaming service was said by The Hollywood Reporter to be taking advantage of Fox's decision to shop around the sci-fi series to other networks after its first season. Talks were early, and it wasn't clear how much of a frontrunner Netflix might be.
more
03/07, 5:50pm
Apple TV retrofitted with new UI
Apple through an update has given existing Apple TV owners the same software interface as for the new Apple TV hardware. We've tried it, and the upgrade replaces the text-heavy earlier interface with an easier-to-decipher icon layout. We found it quicker to use than before if you need to go into one of the third-party services, although scrolling down also hides previews of content that would normally be visible at the top.
more
03/07, 3:50pm
New AppleCare option covers device, peripherals
In tandem with announcing a third-generation iPad, Apple has also brought its AppleCare+ warranty option to the tablet. By default an iPad is only given a limited one-year warranty, with 90 days of free support. Paying $99 extends coverage up to two years, and allows for two incidents of accidental damage, although in each instance a $49 service fee still applies.
more
03/06, 7:35pm
Netflix may make deals to weave into cable TV
Fresh leaks have hinted that Netflix is talking directly to cable TV providers to make itself an add-on service. Multiple Reuters informants had Netflix negotiating to become an on-demand, paid extra for TV service. One provider would be ready to provide Netflix before the end of 2012 if cleared quickly.
more
03/02, 8:15pm
Turns smartphones into remotes for media players
Roku has released an app for Android devices (free, Android Market). With it, users can control one of the company's streaming media players with a smartphone instead of the remote that normally comes with the hub. Roku made a similar app available for iOS devices in December (free, App Store).
more
03/01, 4:40am
Netflix deal means less content for subscribers
Following an announcement in September that Starz streaming content deal with Netflix would end in February, its content has now been pulled. Starz runs 17 channels include Encore as well as movies from Disney and Sony. Although Starz does not own the rights for all of Disney and Sony films, titles that have been pulled from Netflix include Scarface, Young Frankenstein, Toy Story 3, Big Trouble in Little China, Beetlejuice, Gangs of New York among numerous others.
more
02/29, 5:35pm
CEO sees Netflix possibly as part of cable package
Netflix's CEO, Reed Hastings, believes that in the future, cable television and his company could be partners rather than competitors. Hastings thinks that the cable service providers could fold the streaming movie and DVD rental company's service into their programming as a counterbalance to HBO. Hastings made his comments at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in San Francisco on Tuesday.
more
02/24, 1:50pm
Netflix isn't planning on making BlackBerry app
Netflix has no plans to build a streaming app for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet or BlackBerry smartphones, the company revealed in a Twitter response. The company already provides a streaming app for iOS and Android platforms, however. No reason was given for this, leaving many to wonder why this was the case.
more
02/23, 4:20pm
HTML5 may get pseudo DRM with proposal
Google, Microsoft, and Netflix have put forward a proposal that could add a level of copy protection to HTML5 audio and video. Encrypted Media Extensions would let apps on the web and elsewhere use keys to control who has access to a given media stream. It would allow any format that would work in HTML5 as long as the format itself can support some kind of key or bit.
more
02/22, 1:00pm
PS Vita gets Netflix, Flickr, Live Tweet apps
With the full launch of the PS Vita in the US on Wednesday, Sony has released a number of new games and apps in the online PlayStation Store. Users can now download the free Flickr, Live Tweet, and Netflix apps. Flickr is a photo-sharing site that lets users join groups and make personalized photo streams.
more
02/21, 1:50pm
Comcast tries Internet VOD to fend off rivals
Comcast on Tuesday tried its hand at mitigating the impact of Internet video on traditional TV by launching Streampix. The service will include a mix of movies and TV shows across its own NBCUniversal as well as Disney, Sony, and Warner Bros. Access won't be confined to Comcast's own network and should include mobile and computer access to some content that would normally go through Comcast's traditional video on demand.
more
02/21, 12:35pm
Netflix lands Weinstein Company movie exclusives
Netflix scored an important multi-year deal with The Weinstein Company that could change the priorities of movie viewing. The deal gives streaming access to a range of movies and documentaries that will preempt conventional pay TV launches. Current Oscars frontrunner The Artist will be the only pay TV option, Netflix said, ousting pay-per-view cable and other sources.
more
02/21, 11:10am
Nintendo Wii U may become general-purpose
Nintendo might transform the Wii U into a full media hub if mentions of early discussions are accurate. AdWeek had heard this weekend that Nintendo had been in talks with "several major media companies," including music and sports providers in backroom CES chats last month. The console designer was even said considering a cable TV deal with Comcast, similar to the Xbox 360's live TV.
more
02/20, 12:35pm
Blockbuster streaming due on Samsung TVs in 2012
The manager of the Blockbuster name in Australia, Franchise Entertainment Group chief Paul Uniacke, stated Monday that Samsung had scored a key deal to get Blockbuster On Demand across virtually all its devices. The pact outlined to Smarthouse would see Blockbuster arrive both on TVs and Blu-ray players as well as on mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and ultrabook. Unofficially, the US, UK, and mainland Europe would get access in the first half of 2012, with Australia not expected before September.
more
02/17, 3:50pm
Philips details four lines of new Smart TVs
Philips has just offered a first look at its upcoming range of Smart TVs. The 7000-series is the range-topper, getting active 3D support and two-player, full-screen gaming in 2D by showing a different image based on viewing angles. They can also convert 2D signals to 3D, and will be available in 40-, 46-, and 55-inch sizes.
All get two 20W speakers, five HDMI inputs, three USB ports (for adding a mouse and keyboard, in addition to a thumb or hard drive), integrated Wi-Fi, and Ethernet. Philips' two-side Ambilight backlighting tech is built into the panel, and the sets have DLNA network streaming.
more
02/17, 12:15pm
Philips ships media player box in the UK
Philips has entered the set-top media player segment with its own HMP2000. It connects to displays using HDMI and home networks over integrated Wi-Fi, though there is no Ethernet connection. It does sport a USB port for local media playback, however. Preloaded apps let users connect to Netflix, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer in the UK.
more
02/14, 6:05pm
Media provider seeks to increase by 3x
Netflix's CEO Reed Hastings believes his company could be much larger. In a presentation given in November but caught Tuesday, Hastings expressed the view that his media streaming and DVD rental company could reach 60 to 90 million subscribers in the US. Netflix currently has 24.4 million members in its base.
more
02/11, 1:15am
Netflix makes truce over video privacy act break
Netflix has let a low-profile SEC filing reveal that it had privately settled a lawsuit. The dispute, which was resolved last year but would only be settled with a $9 million payment this year, accused Netflix of breaking the Video Privacy Protection Act and other consumer protection laws by keeping subscribers' video rental histories even after they cancelled. Customers who had resubscribed later found their past histories and queues intact, even though the VPPA required that it be purged in less than a year.
more
