Filed under: Feature | Tags: Digital Hollywood, Hulu, iTunes, Mobile content, Mobile phone, Netflix, Television, YouTube
MOBILE MOVIES ON THE GO: MSPOT
Just launched about a month ago now, mSpot allows consumers the opportunity to watch movies on 30 phones domestically. Interested in taking in Zach and Miri Make a Porno? Now, you can introduce your fellow train mates to comedy nudity as well. Incidentally speaking, this was the movie playing when mSpot was demoed to me. Currently, over 350 movies are available on the service and a few TV shows as well.
The business model:
I had the opportunity to sit down with Darren Tsui , CEO of mSpot, today at Digital Hollywood LA. The service in available both in a rental and monthly subscription model ($4.99/movie and $9.99/month for 4 movies). When asked why the service wasn’t available in an unlimited monthly Netflix type of model, Tsui responded that this model wasn’t compatible with the way studios make money on their content.
I questioned viewers’ desire to watch full length movies on a cell phone. Tsui responded that this was more of a challenge two years ago but not at this point. Of the audience using the service, consumers tend to rent rather than subscribing via the monthly model.
The competion:
The other players in this space include iTunes, and possibly if rumors are true and you know they are, the Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix apps to come. mSpot attempts to differentiate itself from iTunes with a streaming content model. “People don’t plan when they want to watch something,” Tsui tells me. In essence, iTunes requires some forethought to download the content in advance whereas mSpot is available on the go. That said, clearly iTunes has its advantages in its ability to allow viewers to watch on planes, subways, and anywhere else where cell service isn’t available…like the panel rooms at Digital Hollywood.
To come:
Currently the service is only available as a mobile website but applications are sure to come.
Marauder Weigh-In:
I continue to wonder how many people will truly watch full length movies on any type of mobile service…only because I would never do such a thing if offered the option between my laptop and my phone. That said, I’m not a parent and I clearly see the advantages that this platform offers the parental units.
Related articles by Zemanta
- Review: mSpot Mobile Movie Streaming (geardiary.com)
- mSpot Launches Web-Based Mobile Movie Streaming Service (techcrunch.com)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=16ed91f2-1b90-493f-8517-5eccee700c9a)
Filed under: Feature | Tags: Break.com, Funny or Die, Humor, Mandy Moore, Red Bull
WHAT I LEARNED AT DIGITAL HOLLYWOOD LA YESTERDAY
1) 1) The comedy panels are where it’s at.
I was introduced to 3 videos that made my week.
Woman Faceplants Off of Mechanical Bull
#1 on Break.com last week. Currently has amassed over 490K views.
Being a recent transplant from NYC to LA, this Funny or Die video has special meaning to me. This video has currently amassed over 117K views.
I have been blindsided by at least 2 traumatic Ed Hardy shirt sightings in the past 3 weeks. In fact, observe this gentleman in the wild at Digital Hollywood LA. Priceless. I’m not saying that I’m not without fashion fault. I mean, there was a time in junior high during which I rocked jean jumpers. But Ed Hardy flare is no flare at all sir.
Red Bull Energy Douche with Mandy Moore
Fresh. Clean. Extreme. Must I say more? Being the sort of girl who is obsessed with Red Bull (I’m carrying a sugar free varietal in my purse as we speak), I appreciate this faux-mercial for several reasons. This video on Funny or Die has currently tallied up over 397K views.
Funny or Die apparently doesn’t pay the talent who stars in their videos. Clearly, this makes sense based on the turnaround time in which these videos are produced but honestly, it’s refreshing to see talent working on things that they enjoy. And as a pleasant after taste, these funny little videos clearly garner the actors with a certain amount of brand cache and publicity that is clearly attractive.
Mike Farah from Funny or Die dropped news of a new series coming to HBO showcasing Funny or Die’s best in 30 minute episodes. Can’t wait.
2) 2) “Content is king in the way that religion is the opiate to the masses.”
Sarah Szalavitz from 7 Robot uttered one of the most intriguing statements I’ve ever heard, in any digital panel frankly, earlier this morning. There is some considerable debate afoot about whether content is still king. Some say the community is king. Some say that content has lost a bit of cache in the world of online media. I still say that great content is king. There’s a lot of content out there but to be great, is to be the most powerful beast in the room.
Just in case you’re not sure, THIS is great content.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=16f7f052-fb7b-4f53-8472-436aa4893e66)
Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Arts, CBS, cesarmillan, Fox Broadcasting Company, National Geographic Channel, Peter Chernin, Samuel L. Jackson, Television
FOX is working on a 30m comedy based on the popular National Geographic Channel series Dog Whisperer with Wilmer Valderramai n the title role, cites Variety. Full details on the project are not clear, though the character played by Valderrama will be inspired by Cesar Millan about a professional dog trainer who has built a wealthy business. (Cynopsis 10/20)
FOX also approved a comedy spec called Rehabfrom Sam Laybourne, a writer/producer on ABC‘s Cougar Town, per THR. The project will be produced by Peter Chernin with Will Gluck, who may direct. Rehab is about a man who pretends he needs rehab to connect with a former high school sweetheart who is now a rock star. (Cynopsis10/20)
Samuel L. Jackson and his company UppiTVhave two new projects on the docket for CBS produced by CBS TV Studios, cites THR. The first project is a multi-camera comedy from Bob Kushell about the wife of a US Congressman who inherits her husband’s seat after he dies suddenly. The second project is a medical drama penned by Andrea Newman about an emergency room doctor who uses unusual treatments on his patients. (Cynopsis 10/20)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e4d12f2c-e76e-4081-8534-fd06693ea318)
Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA | Tags: Google, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco, Search Engines, Searching, Twitter, Virgin America, YouTube
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
A concert by U2 at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California on Sunday will be streamed live on YouTube. The stream will be accessible in 16 countries. The Google-owned video site says that the concert will be archived and available for later viewing, with overlay advertising. (LA Times 10/20)
Click below for U2’s YouTube channel.
I’m still not sure if the Twitter stream is the right place to be for advertising, but with the way the company set out to make it easy for developers to build upon their platform with open APIs, it’s no wonder so many ad networks have sprung up since it got started. Its massive growth and the fact that the San Francisco startup is a media and celebrity darling probably helped in that regard, too. (Techcrunch10/20)
Google is going to make a lot of frequent flyers, and Virgin America, happy this holiday season. As a gift to people who fly on Virgin America’s WiFi-equipped planes, Google will be footing the bill
for everybody on board between November 10, 2009, and January 15, 2010. (Techcrunch10/20)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=7317fffd-e548-4b3f-8596-bb641cc27f36)
Filed under: GAMING | Tags: Arts and Entertainment, Bands and Artists, Beatles Rock Band, MTV, Music, Rock, Rock Band, USA Today
“The Beatles: Rock Band,” released Sept. 9, sold about 595,000 copies last month. Analysts expected the MTV game to sell at least 1 million copies. Instead of a bona fide hit, “The Beatles performed at a respectable level,” analysts say. Higher sales are expected during the holidays. (USA Today 10/19)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e98f257b-75d0-463f-8eee-116894cefbf9)
Filed under: TECHNOLOGY
The big, obvious take away from Apple’s Q4 earnings report earlier today was that it once again crushed the estimates. And not just its own forward-looking estimates, which are always laughably low, but even the estimates of the most optimistic analysts — by a lot. (Techcrunch10/20)
A new electronic book reader is expected today from Barnes & Noble that will challenge readers from Amazon and Sony with a color touch-screen. The $259 price of the reader, called the Nook, matches that of Amazon’s Kindle. The Kindle controls about 60% of the e-book market. (Wall Street Journal 10/20)
Spring Design is unveiling a dual-screen e-book reader that aims to beat devices from Amazon and Sony by including Web browsing on a color screen, in addition to a black-and-white e-paper display. Called the Alex, the device is powered by Google’s Android operating system. (Information Week 10/19)
