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Enhanced TV Shows On Sky: Discovery Networks Europe launches enhanced television shows using the
NDS Value@TV platform for the Discovery Channel, Discovery Home & Leisure, Discovery Health, and
Animal Planet on Sky digital satellite TV system (PDF) (03MAY01) (NDS)
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The news announcement quotes Discovery Networks Europe new media director Tanya Field as stating, "Enhanced television brings viewers a new level of choice and participation, offering the first step to making television viewing an active process. The simplicity and ease of access of enhanced TV inspires consumer confidence, especially for people who don't yet have an Internet connection. Essentially, it offers viewers a virtual, on-demand information service from their television set." -
Telewebber Sync-To-Broadcast News: Cylo to show off Spiderdance TruSync sync-to-broadcast interactive television
technology to Cylo's client base of advertisers (03MAY01) (Spiderdance)
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The news announcement quotes Cylo CEO Julie Atherton as stating, "TruSync will enable Cylo to provide our programming and advertising clients with access to the most advanced two-screen interactive television platform, supporting a wide range of applications and services." The news announcement also states the Spiderdance's TruSync system "can handle over one million simultaneous users and can be deployed on PCs, wireless devices, set-top boxes, web tablets and other Internet-enabled devices." -
Hot-Rod Tinkering With TiVo, CueCat, And Other Devices: TiVo Customer Relations Director Richard Bullwinkle says
about 1% of TiVo's 150,000 subscribers have altered their TiVo boxes to add more video recording storage capacity
(03MAY01) (NYTimes)
The New York Times cites TiVo customer relations director Richard Bullwinkle as indicating, "About 1 percent of the company's 150,000 customers have altered their machines" by adding larger harddrives to increase video recording storage capacity. -
TV On Cell Phone: Three European telecom companies are testing live TV on cell phones using Celvibe technology
(03MAY01) (CNET)
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With regard to the possible quality of TV-like video on cell phones, CNET quotes IDC mobile ebusiness research manager Keith Waryas as stating, "Think about 56K connections to computers. The video is still choppy on a broadband. Now imagine doing it on a 14.4K" which would be the data speed for a cell phone. -
Cell Phone Games Without The Videogame RazzMaTazz: Digital Bridges' Chris Wright says wireless games for cell phones
should be competing with the crossword puzzle and not with the Quake shoot-em-up videogame (03MAY01) (Guardian)
The Guardian reports, "A good mobile game should be dipped into for five minutes at a time" to make the game more attractive to the non-Gameboy crowd which includes the over-40-year-olds, women, and teenage girls who are all toting cell phones around on their belts and in their handbags. The Guardian quotes Digital Bridges business development manager Chris Wright as stating, "Wireless games should be competing with the crossword, not Quake. People will never sit for hours playing a game on a phone." -
Handheld Video News: Sony CLIE handheld palm device to include Generic Media's gMovie Player for playing video
while on the go (01MAY01) (GenericMedia)
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Recordable DVD As Next Step In The Home Digital Creativity Revolution: Mike Langberg looks at
Pioneer DVR-A03, Compaq Presario 7000 PCs with Pioneer's DVD-R drives, Apple PowerPC G4 with DVR-R drive,
Pinnacle Systems StudioDV video editing program, and Sonic Solutions' DVDit editing program (03MAY01) (Mercury)
The San Jose Mercury News' Mike Langberg writes, "One thing you can't do, by the way, is make copies of your DVD movie collection, because of anti-copying protection built into Hollywood movies on disc." -
VCRs Be Gone: Philips Consumer Electronics Australia predicts the end of the VCR in three to four years with
replacement by recordable DVD (02MAY01) (ZDNet.au)
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ZDNet Australia quotes Philips Consumer Electronics Australia marketing manager Johnathan Wight as stating, "Within two years we predict that the VCR will no longer be the main visual format, and within 3 to 4 years DVD-Recordable will account for half of DVD-Video sales." -
Determining Movie Ratings For Multipath Media: Australian broadcasting censor has headaches going through
DVDs and multipath movies (03MAY01) (AustralianIT.AAP)
The AAP quotes Australian chief censor Des Clark as stating, "In some cases, such as multi-path movies, a viewer may influence the nature, sequence and outcome of events. The options chosen may alter the impact of a the film and, in theory at least, the appropriate classification for the version actually experienced by the viewer using these interactive features." The AAP also notes that DVD movies typically have "added features such as extra scenes, an editing workshop and music tracks" which the censor has to interact with and go through.- Here Comes MSNTV: Microsoft CFO John Connors says interactive TV service will be renamed MSNTV (02MAY01) (SeattleTimes)
Microsoft chief financial officer John Connors is quoted as stating, "We will soon rename our TV, MSNTV." The Seattle Times reports Connors would not "discuss whether the change is related to efforts by Microsoft and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. to buy the Hughes DirectTV satellite broadcasting business and create a large, multinational broadcasting venture." The Seattle Times speculates, "The renaming could mean that Microsoft intends to make MSN the Web portal for the company's WebTV and UltimateTV services, which enable users to surf the Internet and exchange messages through their televisions." This is what you already see in various UltimateTV advertisements. This MSNTV renaming decision was apparently recent since WHOIS information indicates Microsoft WebTV Networks recently registered the MSNTV.com domain on April 17, 2001.
Okay, let's do some guessing: It sounds like the interactive SERVICE is going to be called MSNTV while the platforms and functions may retain their current names of Microsoft TV, WebTV, etc. And maybe in a possible News Corp world where Sky Global has control of Hughes and where UltimateTV is "contributed" to Sky Global, let's also rename and rebrand DirecTV as UltimateTV where MSNTV could be the service providing interactivity and internet access on UltimateTV. And don't forget the Blockbuster channel that you would have on UltimateTV in this scenario. (You can click here and here for previous news items about UltimateTV being "contributed" to Sky Global, and here for a news item about the upcoming Blockbuster channel on DirecTV.) And the MSNTV brand may carry over as the brandname for the interactive TV service for cable and for the dial-up boxes. This guesswork could be a bunch of hogwash but it makes some sense to me as to how the Microsoft folks could possibly be rearranging their internal corporate map for the TV world. -ruel- Other Microsoft Television News: Microsoft Channel debuts on Destiny Cable TV in the Philippines (03MAY01) (Destiny) (related.link)
- Dissecting Microsoft's Angle In The Difficult DirecTV Deal: Microsoft wants to gain access to all the DirecTV subscribers in a tailor-made market for interactive TV services, internet access, and other products (02MAY01) (MSNBC.WSJ)
The Wall Street Journal reports, "By winter, it was clear Mr. Murdoch was the only bidder that had both the incentive and the wherewithal - including an expected cash contribution from Microsoft Corp. Microsoft wants to gain access to all those satellite-television subscribers, a tailor-made market for interactive TV services, Internet access and other products. Besides the nearly 12 million subscribers DirecTV has in the U.S. and Latin America, Mr. Murdoch's satellite ventures claim to reach several times that number in Europe, Latin America and Asia."- More DirecTV News: SG Cowen Analyst Robert Kaimowitz says EchoStar seems poised to make a move on Hughes to get DirecTV (02MAY01) (Forbes) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link)
In the first related link, TheDeal quotes EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen as stating, "For shareholders, the greatest synergy and value, the greatest combination, is a GM and EchoStar combination." However, as would be indicated in the next news item below, the focus of General Motors' attention may be on getting a deal with News Corp (and in the second related link above, Inside cites Brill's Content magazine as citing News Corp's Rupert Murdoch as indicating the future of News Corp lies in television and interactive television in particular). You can click here or here for information about the results for EchoStar's first quarter.- Getting DirecTV As American Piece For Sky Global Puzzle: General Motor's board of directors votes to proceed with discussions with News Corp and Sky Global on proposal to combine Hughes-DirecTV with Sky Global (01MAY01) (Mercury.Reuters) (alt.link) (alt.link) (alt.link) (alt.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link)
Reuters quotes General Motors spokeswoman Toni Simonetti as stating, "The focus of our efforts is to try to get a transaction with News Corp. We continue to look at other alternatives, but it's safe to say that talks with News Corp. are the focus of our attentions." In the first related news item, the Financial Times' headline is "Murdoch steps closer to being on top of the world."- More News Corp News: News Corp becomes largest shareholder in Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc (02MAY01) (NewsCorp) (related.link) (related.link)
- Other DirecTV News: All Souls Catholic School in Englewood, Colorado gets free DirecTV Receiver with free lifetime TiVo service as part of "DirecTV Goes To School Program" (02MAY01) (NYTimes.BW) (alt.link)
- New GSN Prez & CEO Wants Games For Interactive TV: Sony Entertainment's Game Show Network President/CEO Rich Cronin wants to offer more interactive TV entertainment on the Game Show Network (02MAY01) (Mediaweek)
Mediaweek quotes the new Sony Entertainment's Game Show Network president and CEO Rich Cronin as stating, "We hope to offer even greater interactive TV entertainment while building the network's distribution and brand identity."- Cable Video-On-Demand Solution: Concurrent Computer Corporation to showcase MediaHawk Model 2000 Broadband video-on-demand system with Motorola DCT-2000 set-top box and Scientific-Atlanta Explorer set-top boxes featuring TVGateway interactive program guide, Liberate TV platform, and video-on-demand from HBO, Intertainer, and Starz-Encore at Cable-Tec Expo, May 9-11, 2001, Orlando, Florida (02MAY01) (NYTimes.BW) (alt.link)
- SONICblue 1Q highlights include anticipation for concluding pending acquisitions of ReplayTV and Sensory Science to move forward with long-term product and distribution strategy for PVR, DVD, VCR, and other home theater products (02MAY01) (SONICblue) (alt.link)
You can click here for the news items about the Motorola-ReplayTV deal.- Building For Interactive TV: InStreamTV co-founder Brent Terry becomes business development vice president at Seachange subsidiary Digital Video Arts (02MAY01) (Seachange)
The news announcement quotes Digital Video Arts Ltd president George Breen as stating, "Our services are a vital link to the interactive television chain for the major vendors like Liberate, MicrosoftTV, Motorola, OpenTV, and Wink Communications. Brent's knowledge and experience strengthens DVA as the demand builds for a variety of interactive television services through integrated technologies, from the cable television headend to subscriber homes."- Science And Technology Week: Georgia Governor Roy Barnes observes Science and Technology Week with celebration of Scientific-Atlanta's 50th Anniversary by using a Scientific-Atlanta Explorer 2100 digital set-top box to access email, the internet, and interactive television services on a TV set (01MAY01) (SciAtl) (alt.link) (alt.link)
- Freeing Up The Hold On Interactive TV: JPMorgan Technology Conference panel says interactive TV is slowed down by slow rollouts, lack of digital TV sets in the home, lack of high-speed internet access, lack of content, fear of Napster file-sharing, and the need to create new advertising techniques (01MAY01) (CBS.MKW)
In covering the JPMorgan Technology Conference in San Francisco, CBS Marketwatch cites AOLTV vice president Carlos Silva as indicating the commercial-skipping problem has a parallel to long soccer matches on TV where there are no commercial breaks: "So networks got creative and had advertisers 'sponsor' 15-minute segments of the match, with their logo on the bottom of the TV screen." If you watch soccer (or futbol or football depending on which country you are in), then you already know how this works with the logos and crawling graphics at the bottom of the screen. This is not that new for broadcast TV. If you watch any spanish-language television, you may see similar graphics during regular television shows. And these sorts of graphic doodads are appearing on both broadcast and cable television shows in the US to promote other TV shows. You can click here for "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin's reaction to graphic "doodads." -ruel- Digital Boxes & Streaming Media: Jon Peddie Associates announces upcoming Digital Entertainment Box Forum, June 20-21, 2001, Hyatt Regency Long Beach, during Streaming Media West 2001 (02MAY01) (Yahoo.BW)
The news announcement quotes Streaming Media, Inc. events executive vice president Ryan Lincoln as stating, "Streaming media and set-top boxes are two of the hottest topics in digital media and entertainment right now." You can click here for more information about the Digital Entertainment Box Forum.- European Interactive TV: Third Annual TV Meets the Web Seminar, "User Focused Strategies For Broadband And Interactive TV In Europe," May 16-17, 2001, Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands (02MAY01) (TVMTW)
- DeCSS 2600 DVD Decryption Code As Terrorware That Could Cripple Hollywood: US federal appeals court is urged to prevent the "Napsterization" of the movie industry (01MAY01) (CNET) (alt.link) (alt.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link) (related.link)
- Set-Tops For China: PrediWave selects TVIA CyberPro 5000 streaming media processor to be integrated into digital set-top boxes for personal video services, video-on-demand, digital broadcast, digital video recording, and distance-learning services with anticipated deployment to begin in 3Q Y2001 in Beijing and other major cities in China (01MAY01) (TVIA) (alt.link)
- More TVIA News: TVIA 4Q highlights include TVIA CyberPro streaming media processors selected for use in EspriTV Internet Television, Trinexus broadband set-top box, and Ch.1/Princeton Graphics internet and entertainment TV platform (02MAY01) (Yahoo.BW)
- Digital TVs For Taiwan And The US: Sampo selects Trident Microsystem's DPTV for HDTV and EDTV monitors for both the Taiwan and the US market (02MAY01) (TridentMicro) (alt.link)
The news announcement quotes Trident Microsystems' Digital Media business unit president Dr. JH Chang as stating, "Sampo's HDTV/EDTV monitor lines fit well into the notion of buying the display now to enjoy the digital quality and to later upgrade your TV with a HDTV tuner or set-top-box."- Net Appliances To Become Part Of Other Devices: eTForecasts says the report of the death of web appliances is greatly exaggerated (02MAY01) (eTForecasts) (alt.link)
The news announcement, from eTForecasts, states, "The best opportunity for Internet-only device growth is the emerging web pad.... Strong web pad growth is expected in a few years when affordable web pads become available." The news announcement goes on to state, "The vast majority of web appliances will be ... part of existing or new devices that provide Internet access as one of several functions" including being part of PDAs, cell phones, set-top boxes, TVs, DVD players and many other devices.- Other Net Appliance News: Sony again delays $500 eVilla net appliance to mid-June 2001 (04MAY01) (CNET)
- Digital TV Spending In The UK: Channel 4 plans to invest more than £200M in digital television and online services (01MAY01) (MediaGuardian)
You can click here for info (PDF) from Channel 4's corporate report for the year 2000 regarding Channel 4's new media businesses which were created under a strategy that "is parallel to those adopted by the BBC, ITV, and BSkyB in response to the rapid spread of digital technology, which is transforming television and opening up new means of distributing content" via "digital television, interactivity, broadband and the internet."
- *** CLICK FOR MORE NEWS ***
- Here Comes MSNTV: Microsoft CFO John Connors says interactive TV service will be renamed MSNTV (02MAY01) (SeattleTimes)
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