Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
ONLINE/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Hulu.com, the NBC Universal-News Corp. online video joint venture that is going up against YouTube, is said to be preparing for a private beta launch on Oct. 29. NBC pulled its videos from YouTube last week. The much-anticipated site is described as a “YouTube killer.” (http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/23/hulu-set-to-launch-on-monday/ 10/24)
They barely sneaked by in that October launch window no?
MTV Networks and Jive Records are entering a deal to allow Britney Spears’ new album to be streamed exclusively through MTV.com, VH1.com and LOGOonline.com beginning Wednesday, a week in advance of its release date. MTV Networks will also promote the album on the air. (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071023/nytu050.html 10/23)
Click below to listen to Miss Britney’s album.
In response, a MySpace page has been created to ask people to “be proactive to help” Miss Spears by NOT buying her album. Way harsh Ty.
After a string of box office disappointments cooled distributors’ interest in his latest production, indie filmmaker Edward Burns will release his new movie, Purple Violets, via iTunes as a download only next month. A NYT piece notes that Purple Violets is the first full-length feature to go this route. Last month, director Wes Anderson got some traction for his movie The Darjeeling Limited when he released Hotel Chevalier, a 13-minute “prequel,” on iTunes for free in advance of the main feature’s theatrical showing. Chevalier has been downloaded about 400,000 times and has gotten more attention now that it is now being paired in theaters with Darjeeling, suggesting that Apple was able to have some influence in the film’s marketing. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-lacking-theatrical-distribution-small-films-go-straight-to-itunes 10/23)
TasteBook.com, a startup based in Berkeley, Calif., allows users to gather favorite recipes from partner Web sites and create printed cookbooks. Users can add their own recipes as well. The new service, launching Wednesday, is backed by Conde Nast’s Internet unit. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/23/tastebook-launches-with-lots-of-help-from-conde-nast 10/23)
LOVE this idea. As a part time cook (rare, but it happens), I love the idea of an easy-to-use online cookbook printing operation. Checking the site out further, I found the whole operation of creating a book extremely easy and very fun. The templates are gorgeous and the book, while designed beautifully, is also efficient to use with pages that can be taken out for grocery shopping and tabs for easily finding what you’re looking for.
Intro Video
The market was expecting big things from Amazon, and the company has delivered. Revenues in Q3 surged 41 percent to $3.26 billion from $2.31 billion last year. Net income quadrupled to $80 million ($.19 per share) from $19 million ($.05 per share) last year. The company cited its low prices and its Amazon Prime offering for its growth. Numbers were bolstered somewhat by a $75 million revenue boost associated with exchange rates and a lower tax rate during the period. During the day, the company’s stock closed just ahead of $100, as it’s touching highs not seen since the very top of the bubble. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-earnings-amazon-q3-sales-jump-41-percent-income-soars 10/23)
Facebook has been sending select advertising executives a cryptic invitation to an event on Nov. 6, during which the company promises to “unveil a new way of advertising online.” An AdAge piece cites unnamed sources who say that the event will detail how Facebook will target ads to its members even when they’re not on the site. The ad targeting will be based on personal information users have willingly shared with the social net. Also: Microsoft and Google are each vying to take a stake in Facebook, with a deal expected to be announced in the next 24 to 48 hours.(http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-facebook-gathers-ad-execs-for-a-first-look-at-targeting-plans 10/23, http://www.nypost.com/seven/10242007/business/online_faceoff.htm 10/24)
Yahoo is seen to be shifting its strategy away from being a media company that seeks to attract audiences to its own site and become more of a “technology platform” that helps users get things done. CEO Jerry Yang says: “We may end up continuing to be a strong publisher.” (http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2331985020071023 10/23)
Google is alleging that Viacom and NBC Universal — its two major Internet video rivals — have secretly co-opted a small copyright-infringement lawsuit against YouTube by videographer Robert Tur. Tur’s attorney admits: “We have received help from various quarters.” (http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20071023-000818-1853 10/23)
The creators of FunnyOrDie.com are launching ShredOrDie.com, a site featuring video aimed at extreme-sports fans, with pro skateboarder Tony Hawk. ShredOrDie seeks to mix extreme-sports and celebrity culture in a manner similar to FunnyOrDie’s blending of comedy and celebrity. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ic6473397b3b8e9408435ade9f11d0d97 10/24)
EBay, the world’s largest online auctioneer, is launching MicroPlace.com, a Web site allowing ordinary investors to buy securities aimed at improving conditions in the world’s poorest countries. Users may invest as little as $100 to support development in impoverished areas. (http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2336298820071024 10/24)
(Below) TOTALLY side with the internet webcasters on this one. I ask you this, what is the difference between a streaming online radio webcast and a podcast? Why is one fined and the other is not? Keep in mind, that these fees apply to both community (non-commercial) streams as well as commercial streams. At the very least, there should be a separation between these two to allow for the innovation that a station like KCRW ( www.kcrw.com ) brings to the airwaves.
Internet radio webcasters are hoping a Senate hearing Wednesday will renew interest in their negotiations with the recording industry over royalty fees. Webcasters argue that the fees set by the Copyright Royalty Board last spring would put online radio stations out of business. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/23/AR2007102302123.html 10/24)
Digg leads the pack among the increasingly popular social-media Web sites. Traffic is up to about 5.6 million visitors per month, towering over Del.icio.us, Reddit and others. Diggnation, hosted by creators Kevin Rose and Jay Adelson, is the No. 1 tech podcast in Apple’s iTunes. (http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-10-23-tech-digg_N.htm 10/23)
The soon-to-relaunch PageSix.com, derived from the New York Post’s infamous gossip column, will be entering a crowded online celebrity gossip landscape. “Page Six is a force in this genre,” says Harvey Levin, head of TMZ.com. “There’s room for more successful ventures.” (http://www.observer.com/2007/will-page-sixs-new-website-challenge-online-gossip-kings 10/23)
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Excellent post. Could not have said it any better myself. Hat’s off to a post well said.
Comment by podcast directory August 19, 2008 @ 3:10 PM