Gates: IPTV to be added to next Xbox
Microsoft boss Bill Gates has outlined his vision for the next 'digital decade', announcing plans to add IPTV services to the next version of the Xbox.
Speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Gates announced that Microsoft will combine the Xbox 360 gaming device with the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software platform, which he says should be available by the end of 2007.
Google embeds ads in videos
Google has begun placing advertisements inside clips on its Google Video upload site.The video of a recent episode of the Charlie Rose show, a programme from the PBS network, is among the first to feature embedded ads that interrupt the clip being watched.
ITV launches broadband TV assault
ITV aims to launch the UK's first mass-market free broadband TV portal before the end of March, beating rival BBC in the internet television race.Britain's biggest commercial broadcaster today announced it has hired a new broadband managing director in Annelies van den Belt, who previously led a digital convergence strategy as the Telegraph's new media director and took the paper to a new multimedia headquarters.
Venice Project review
The Venice Project, the latest venture of Skype founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, has been going for a week now and we received an invitation to try it out.
The P2P site aims to deliver an internet TV service which is as near to TV as possible, while adding the sort of social features you would get on YouTube or other video sharing sites. The service is currently being tested by 6,000 people.
Skype founders' Venice Project now in beta
The Venice Project, the internet TV project from Skype founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, has gone into public beta testing.
The Venice Project will stream TV to its users’ PCs, thereby avoiding the long download times of other internet TV services like Channel 4's recently launched on Demand service.
Channel 4 launches online VOD service
Channel 4 has today launched its online video on demand service, offering a wide range of programming for download up to 30 days after broadcast.
The line up of programmes on 4oD is impressive, with 128 TV shows available to download, from recent series like Shameless to classic episodes of Father Ted.
Films, including the magnificent Withnail And I, are also available, with more planned...
Tories weed out inner tosser with budget web spot
The UK's Conservative party has launched an online campaign against consumer debt, featuring an odious overspending character they dub "the inner tosser".Created by Karmarama, the Sort-it website includes money-saving tips and a mini manifesto on fiscal responsibility. A short video features a flash, suited American encouraging an English shopper to overspend on consumer items from shoes to a sports car.
YouTube views boost CBS ratings
US TV network CBS has attributed a boost in viewing figures to a content-sharing joint venture with YouTube.The broadcaster announced its Late Show with David Letterman had added 200,000 new viewers (5%) and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson was up by 100,000 (7%) since it launched the CBS Brand Channel on the video website in mid-October.
Interview with Spot Runner's Keith Wiley
Small businesses have traditionally been locked out of the TV market because of the prohibitive costs of running ads. However, one California-based company is looking to change this by allowing companies to produce and plan ads online.
Set up by entrepreneurs Nick Grouf and David Waxman, Spot Runner offers a ‘self-service’ platform for businesses to create and plan ads, and says it can allow firms to run campaigns for as little as $1,500. It recently received funding from a string of big media companies, after previously attracting the interest of Google.
Although the firm is focused solely on the US for now, Spot Runner’s Keith Wiley spoke to us about how its service can be used by advertisers and ultimately be adapted to other forms of media.
ITV swells crew to chase online ads
ITV has hired three new online sales managers in a bid to add some digital lustre to its flagging fortunes.
The struggling broadcaster reportedly appoined Rob Hicks, Alexis James and Fiona Stedman to a team led by online sales controller Vanessa Kent, who took to her newly created post in July.
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Web 2.0
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
