"digital content" articles

So, Amazon is getting into the movie business . Here are three questions that I am hearing from folks in the industry about Amazon's announcement. Why is this announcement a big deal? Compared to many other players entering the original content space, Amazon is unique. Netflix , HBO , Hulu , and CBS all have (at least) one thing in common – their primary business is to provide interesting video content to consumers. In contrast, Amazon is a retail / CE maker...

As I stroll and speak around CCW-SATCON today, there is plenty of talk around how OTT rights and licensing are going to affect traditional video distribution methods. However, Google (being Google), decided to crash the party with their announcement of YouTube Music Key , an ad-free subscription service that will allow users to watch, download, and listen to music offline or with the screen locked. The new music service is interesting, and there are a few key takeaways from the...

Game of Thrones, Girls, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver could be coming to a device near you, whether or not you have a pay-TV subscription. This morning at a Time Warner, Inc. investor meeting, HBO chief executive Richard Plepler announced that the network would launch a standalone over-the-top service as soon as 2015 . The jump would not be drastic from a technology standpoint, as HBO currently delivers content through its HBO GO app. However, a move into the...

Last night, Redbox Instant by Verizon ceased operations ending its 19-month OTT experiment, with both Verizon and Redbox parent company Outwall expressing disappointment with subscription numbers. Redbox Instant failed to find an audience, underscoring the notion that OTT video services must differentiate themselves while offering valuable content to be successful. Verizon went toe-to-toe with established OTT video services Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime, but failed to...

New Parks Associates consumer research examines the trend toward original content and how it impacts consumption and brand perception. The research firm finds that new technologies and content options are driving changes in digital media consumption. In the video market, online video sources are now becoming important sources for content, especially for younger consumers. The disruptive forces behind this shift are also affecting other aspects of digital media, including music,...

Parks Associates is releasing new research on TV and movie content licensing today - particularly the impact of multiscreen, time-shifting, and the demand for exclusive content. The report shows: - Pay-TV penetration remains fairly steady at around 85% of U.S. broadband households. - OTT video use is increasing on multiple devices, particularly with younger viewers: nearly 40% millenials consider online video the most important source for video content. Also, analyst Glenn...

Parks Associates analysts are closely following the Aereo case today and Netflix raising its prices. Two analysts provided the following comments and related research about Netflix's news: Brett Sappington , Director of Research, Parks Associates (@BrettsView): - Netflix and other OTT players are faced with rising content costs and fixed revenue streams. So, something ultimately had to give. - Raising the price for new customers could have an additional benefit for Netflix...

The dust has settled after a three-month carriage dispute. The Weather Channel will resume programming on DirecTV , but at a considerable cost—this time, it isn't the TV operator but the network making concessions. The Weather Channel has agreed to reduce its reality program offerings as a result of its new carriage agreement with DirecTV. This change affects not only DirecTV viewers, but all viewers of the Weather Channel, no matter their TV provider. A TV operator exercising...