In the midst of its very own Shark Week, Netflix renewed its content deal with cable favorite Discovery Communications. The content deal brings "a wide range of additional episodes and series" from the Discovery networks," Netflix said Sept. 21. The companies' joint press release cited "highlights" such "Man vs. Wild" (pictured), "Say Yes to … [Read more...]
Apple nearing deals for cheap TV shows
Apple looks like it's about to cut deals with several Big Four Networks for 99 cent rentals of TV episodes. The networks previously rejected Apple's plan to rent the TV programs on iTunes at that price point, but Fox reportedly is now in advanced talks with the computer innovator. Viewers would be able to rent episodes from News Corp.'s Fox … [Read more...]
Watch Instantly reels in 300 indie titles
Netflix's streaming video service goes arthouse with the addition of 300 new indie and foreign titles, from the likes of the Criterion Collection and Kino Lorber. Other distributors announced as part of the Watch Instantly expansion into the indie arena include Gravitas Ventures, Music Box Films, Oscilloscope Laboratories and Regent … [Read more...]
ESPN team in talks for Xbox 360 video
.Microsoft reportedly has been having "in-depth talks" that would bring ESPN sporting events onto the Xbox Live platform. The Walt Disney Co.-Microsoft negotiations could lead to live streams that would be similar to ESPN 360, which offers major and minor events via some high-speed broadband providers, the New York Times reported … [Read more...]
Hulu throws away Boxee
The free Boxee software and the free Hulu video service made a lot of early adopters happy recently, as streaming online video from the networks flowed effortlessly onto TV screens. It was, many users said, a vision of the TV medium's future. A happy-happy-joy-joy vision. Too bad that promising pairing of content and delivery systems has … [Read more...]
