MediaBytes 09.04.2007

 

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APPLE kicked off the holiday weekend by issuing a press release saying it would not sell new NBC shows for the upcoming season. NBCU previously said it would withdraw from iTunes in December. Apple’s release says it will not raise prices to meet NBCU demands, and refuses to sell half a season’s worth of episodes, only to stop when the December contract deadline arrives. NBC content accounts for approximately 30% of iTunes TV sales.

SONY is planning to launch a video download service, offering consumers both television shows and movies. The newest iTunes rival will build on Sony’s hardware devices, including the PS3, PSP, and Bravia HDTV’s. Last week the company announced a video Walkman and said it was shutting down Connect, its failed music download service.

JOOST has acquired one-man-startup OnTheToob, a programming guide developed especially for the much-hyped Internet TV service. The guide helps users create customized channels and RSS feeds of Joost content. Joost currently offers 239 channels and over 10,000 programs.

DOUBLE FUSION is expected to announce a new technology to make advertising in video games more dynamic. The technology will offer last minute in-game ad purchases, and the ability to change the location of ads in video games. The “fusion.runtime” service will also let game publishers separate ad placement from game coding, and let them create new advertising in games that have already been completed.

THOMSON has acquired SyncCast Corp., a wholesale distributor of online movies, music, and other digital content. The acquisition should offer Thomson synergies in its end-to-end system for preparing videos for digital distribution, cutting down the time needed to format videos in the appropriate aspect ratios and resolutions. Thomson is attempting to win business from studios and distribution companies.