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A new partnership between Google and DirecTV has been formed, enabling Google to sell TV ad-space accross several of DirecTV’s channels. Google’s model has always been serving ads- beginning with providing search functionality and expanding to create online and mobile (more recently) networks of real-estate to sell accross. There is a lot of talk about Google acquiring strategic assets to enter into the social networking space and find revenue in that ecosystem as an alternative. But, if it’s not broke, don’t fix-it. Google continues to make inroads into other environments where they can serve ads, as indicated by this partnership.
I think we will see a trend of hyper-local news and content aggregator, orginator, and hybrid-style websites emerging. This is a great example. The site was mentioned in this same context by Cynopsis Media this morning. Hyper-local is another home-page environment for content hungry consumers, maybe more relevant to them then their Yahoo News homepage, for example. What type of ecosystem can be created accross these sites is to be seen…
The big news today is that Netflix, poised to be the leading consumer alternative to a cable subscription, has closed a $1B deal with Epix for exclusive streaming rights to their film titles 3 months after their debut on the channel. That means access to Paramount, Lionsgate, and MGM titles (the channels backers.) This comes off the back of another exclusive deal with Relativity Media. Netflix seem to be betting on streaming VOD subscription services as the future of consumer habits, and are willing to make BIG acquisitions to secure their positioning.
CBS signed a 10 year carriage deal with Comcast recently, indicating it’s commitment to the latter’s TV Everywhere initiative. TV Everywhere will allow Comcast subrscribers to watch their subscription programming on multiple screens once authenticated. The real story here though is how Comcast, soon-to-be owner of NBC and therefore HULU, is developing a robust strategy to wrangle back consumers. Namely, if revenue isn’t coming in the door through HULU+ subscriptions, then it’s coming through ex-chord-cutters wooed back by the promise of multi-screen subscription TV.
Vringo, a start-up based on the concept of the “video ringtone,” has completed an IPO. The concept is simple and seems like a slam dunk at first sight: attach videos to your contacts so the video plays in lieu of a one dimensional song when they call. Also, direct whichever videos you own and choose to your participating friends’ phones so the videos appear when YOU call. That could be fun. But it begs the question, if the video is playing in your purse or pocket anyway, what’s the point?
The latest initiative to tackle the problem of the cross-functional inability of digital file ownership is called Ultraviolet. With the support of the majority of the content owning studios, device manufacturers, and delivery platforms, it looks like Ultraviolet is really taking a holistic approach to the problem. This is something to keep an eye on.
