Why big media always misunderstands Google
Google TV may be the search giant's most ambitious initiative yet, but its success is far from guaranteed. While the time seems right for television-internet convergence, making it happen is going to be hard work.
One of the biggest difficulties Google has with Google TV is getting content owners on board. Recently, a number of American television networks, namely ABC, CBS and NBC, blocked consumers from accessing video content on their websites through Google TV.
Is the iPad already influencing big publishers?
The iPad is on its way. Apple started accepting pre-orders earlier this month, but there are still many unanswered questions about what iPad will deliver in its final form.
One thing that almost certainly won't be present when the iPad ships: support for Adobe Flash. That has numerous raised questions about both the iPad and Flash. After all, if the device Apple is betting so big on doesn't support Flash, will publishers, who have seen Apple's success with the iPhone, be forced to adopt Flash alternatives in order to position themselves to cash in if the iPad achieves success of its own? Or is Apple simply fighting a fight it can't win?
Sh*t My Dad Says: from Twitter to television in less than five months
Want to break into Hollywood? Try breaking into Twitter first. Just ask 28 year-old Justin Halpern and he'll tell you: Twitter can be your golden ticket.
On August 3, Halpern set up an account, @shitmydadsays. The purpose: share some of his 73 year-old dad's wisdom with the world. You see, Halpern had just moved back in with the folks and figured that some of the things his dad told him might be worth rebroadcasting on Twitter. Turns out he was right: @shitmydadsays now has over 700,000 followers.
A video ad unlike any other
If you happen to be an Entertainment Weekly subscriber living in New York or Los Angeles, pay close attention to the September 18 issue you'll be receiving. There's something special in it: a video ad.
That's right. A video player as thin as paper will activate when a reader opens up an ad page and a video sponsored by Pepsi will promote upcoming television shows on CBS.
TV Everywhere may not be anywhere until 2014
Cable television companies are getting excited about a web push to put all of their content online for subscribers. Called "TV Everywhere," the endeavor will make many television shows available online for free to customers who pay for cable on television. But getting all the major players to cooperate on this project could take quite some time. Five years in fact. At least that's what Quincy Smith thinks.
Speaking at the B&C/Multichannel News’ sponsored "TV Everywhere and Anywhere" panel on Tuesday in New York, the CEO of CBS Interactive put a damper on the feasability of the cable plan, saying that implementation is a long ways off.
Others on the panel estimated that about half of cable viewers will be authenticated by 2010 or 2012, but Smith is more bearish. He thinks there is a lot standing in the way of implementation. And cable providers aren't making it any easier for anyone.
ABC partners with Netflix to stream its backlog of shows
Netflix has been hard at work getting its content on as many platforms as possible. This week, they're starting to stream early seasons of ABC shows like "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives." There are also rumors of a Netflix app that will soon stream video content to the iPhone.
This is all great news for Netflix. But is it a winning situation for the networks? Yes.
Online video ads: New formats in search of an audience
Is online video advertising undervalued? The online video ad market is estimated to grow to between $2 and $7 billion by 2012. But that's still a drop in the bucket compared to the $70 billion television ad market.
Online publishers and advertisers are frantically creating new formats and content to entice viewers online, but the hurdle in online video ad profitability may have less to do with the quality of the advertising than the quality of the audience.
Are you staying on top of your campaigns?
I was browsing around News.com yesterday looking for my fix of tech news and I noticed something: an ad.
I know. Many people have display advertising blindness but unfortunately I still notice them from time to time. This one stood out, however. It's the ad you see to your right.
Report: YouTube to let content partners sell their own ads
When Google acquired YouTube for $1.65bn in October 2006, many expected that the popular video sharing website would eventually fall into a profitable business model.
More than two years later, Google is trying hard as ever to monetize YouTube. While it's come a long way, all indications are that it still has a long way to go.
