Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

This could be a godsend for those who don’t always enjoy a steady internet connection.  NBC.com launched a new service to allow users to download full episodes of NBC shows directly to their desktops. Using NBC Direct, due out for Windows PCs in October, will eventually be like setting your Tivo’s Season Pass in that you can “subscribe” to a show once then automatically receive it each week.  The software client will store each ad-supported episode for up to one week, after which the license expires. Heroes, The Office, Life, Bionic Woman, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno will be available at launch.  Future plans include developing DRM-protected versions of shows that can be downloaded to an iPod, installing a P2P system to enable high definition downloads and experimentation with download-to-own, rental and subscription models. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-nbc-to-launch-video-download-service 9/19)

ABC is pushing ahead with its revised online video strategy in a deal to distribute its primetime shows for free on AOL starting Thursday, Wall Street Journal reported. As we noted last week, Disney-owned ABC said it was changing its online game plan; instead of primarily distributing its programs on its homepage, ABC is now embracing outside syndication, though it isn’t and probably won’t be part of NBC-News Corp. JV site Hulu. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-abc-to-begin-streaming-ad-supported-primetime-shows-on-aol 9/19) 

Starz Media penned a series of deals to distribute a collection of film, TV and anime titles through Amazon’s Unbox service and Microsoft’s Xbox Live platform. Included in the deal are horror classics Evil Dead and the Hills Have Eyes as well as titles from Manga Entertainment (Ghost in the Shell). Starz also distributes content via Bit Torrent, Guba, Netflix and Heavy.com.

MySpace and MTV are partnering to host a Presidential debate series on September 27 allowing users to respond to polls and submit questions in real time via email, MySpace IM and MTV.com. The “Presidential Candidate Dialogues” will begin with John Edwards and most other leading candidates from both parties have agreed to participate in the series. 

Ralph de la Vega, group president of Regional Telecommunications & Entertainment at AT&T, spent much of his time at Communacopia talking up AT&T’s U-Verse initiative, which now boasts 100,000 customers, doubled from June, De la Vega likened the rollout of U-Verse to the introduction of both DSL and 3G wireless, predicting that eventually it could see a footprint similar to its current broadband operations-which, if true, would result in a serious hit to the cable operators. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-draft-goldman-sachs-communacopia-ralpha-de-la-vega-president-att-iptv-a 9/19)

Next New Network’s Channel Frederator had its own viral hit with cartoonist Dan Meth’s Internet People, the inaugural episode of his new pop culture round up The Meth Minute 39. The clip was viewed more than 3 million times during the week it debuted and generated over 10,000 comments, according to the site. 

Facebook is also growing like gangbusters in Europe, according to a new comScore World Metrix report. Unique visitors grew by 422% from July of ‘06 to July of ‘07, when the site registered 10.8 million visits. MySpace continues to dominate on the continent, growing by nearly a quarter to 25.1 million uniques as of July.
 
Top Visited US Broadcast Network TV Show Websites (Week ending Sept. 15, 2007)
Rank            Network        Website                             Market Share of Visits
   1                CBS           Big Brother                                  34.26%
   2                NBC           The Biggest Loser                          5.32%
   3                FOX           America’s Most Wanted                   3.10%
   4                CBS           Power of 10                                   2.63%
   5                ABC           Grey’s Anatomy                             2.34%
   6                NBC           Deal or No Deal                             2.21%
   7                ABC           Lost                                              2.13%
   8                FOX           American Idol                                2.08%
   9                ABC           Dancing With The Stars                  2.02%
 10                The CW      Smallville                                      1.62%
Source: Hitwise