Advanced Television

Content

Netflix to raise $1.5bn in debt for content acquisitions

Netflix has unveiled plans to offer $1.5 billion in senior notes and plans to use the proceeds for “general corporate purposes, which may include content acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments, working capital and potential acquisitions and strategic transactions.” The company originally said it would raise $1 billion but then later increased the offering to $1.5 billion, […]

February 3, 2015

Better Call Saul debuts on UK Netflix

Breaking Bad spin-off series Better Call Saul will premiere in the UK on February 9th, when the first episode will be available on Netflix. The 10-part series will go on the VoD streaming service a day after it airs on cable channel AMC in the US, with the second episode up on February 10th and […]

January 28, 2015By Nik Roseveare

Netflix: Pirate Popcorn our biggest competitor

Netflix has said that piracy is one of its “biggest competitors” and, in a letter to shareholders, singled out the torrent-sharing app Popcorn Time as a serious rival. The Popcorn Time app allows users to browse a catalogue of films and TV shows, select one for more information, and then begin streaming it after a […]

January 23, 2015

Children’s TV viewing drifts towards paid-VoD

The 2015 Childwise Monitor, an annual report looking at children’s media consumption, shows that the equipment mix is changing. Most children have their own computer or tablet, phone, games console and television – but console, television and to an extent, phone ownership, is falling. Tablet ownership continues to grow, although it’s slowing. The major tablet […]

January 23, 2015By Nik Roseveare

Netflix wants 20 original series a year

Netflix aims to debut as many as 20 original series per year, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos has told NATPE. “I think that we probably can launch around 20 original scripted shows a year,” he said. Netflix’s success with launching original series – particularly shows such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New […]

January 22, 2015

Consumers increasingly embracing streaming

According to part two of the results from the second NATPE||Content First and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) joint research study on consumer attitudes toward television viewing, greater opportunities exist for content creators and content rights holders as consumers continue to embrace and seek out streamed content. The study found that viewers who stream TV […]

January 22, 2015

TV, movies still drive online video

User-generated content (UGC) or more broadly speaking, short-form video (from services such as YouTube and Dailymotion), has become far more than cats playing the piano, according to ABI Research. The firm notes that companies are using viral ads to extend brands and reach a wider breadth of customers than traditional media channels. Professionally-generated short-form content […]

January 19, 2015

Netflix US to keep ‘most’ BBC shows

Following reports that the US Netflix service and the BBC were parting ways, the streaming service has clarified that many of its most popular British series are staying put. Shows that will still be available on Netflix are classic and current Doctor Who series, Luther, Top Gear, Torchwood, Wallander, Keeping Up Appearances, and the original The Office and House of […]

January 19, 2015

NanoTech adds MGM titles to 4K VoD

NanoTech Entertainment has confirmed a licensing agreement with MGM. With the agreement NanoTech’s Ultra-HD network UltraFlix has been granted the distribution rights to 5 award-winning MGM films. UltraFlix subscribers are now able to stream the films in Ultra-HD from the comfort of their homes on a variety of 4K platforms and TVs. Fully restored and […]

January 16, 2015

Amazon Prime launches 2015 pilot season

Amazon’s first pilot season of 2015, featuring slate of 13 original comedy, drama, docu-series and kids offerings, is now available on Amazon Prime Instant Video in the UK, Germany, and US Seven new comedy, drama and docu-series pilots are available including hour-long shows Cocked, Mad Dogs, Man in the High Castle and Point of Honor, […]

January 16, 2015