A consortium of leading European television companies have confirmed the launch of 'Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV' or 'HbbTV', a new pan-European initiative aimed at harmonising the broadcast and broadband delivery of TV content to the end consumer through TVs and set-top boxes with an optional web connection. The consortium includes broadcasters Canal+, France Televisions, and […]
Internet TV start-up ZillionTV insists that it will one day launch a commercial service, but that won’t happen until the second half of next year, at the earliest. When ZillionTV first began touting its ‘personalised television service’ in March, the California firm said it would team up with Internet service providers to market the product, […]
The BBC’s plan to offer Channel 4, ITV and Channel Five the free and open use of its iPlayer online video technology has been blocked by the BBC Trust because it will not deliver value to licence-fee payers. Open iPlayer, originally dubbed Project Marquee, was intended to create a “federation of on-demand public service broadcasting […]
Opera Software has joined the cross-industry consortium that is leading the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) initiative. The purpose of HbbTV is to harmonise the broadcast and broadband delivery of news, information and entertainment to the end consumer through set-top boxes and connected TVs. Opera's active support of this initiative will ensure the creation of […]
Samsung Electronics America has confirmed the immediate availability of Blockbuster’s library of digital entertainment for rent or purchase on select 2009 Samsung HDTVs, Blu-ray Players and Blu-ray integrated Home Theatre Systems. The VOD movie rentals range from $2.99 to $3.99, while purchases will typically range from $7.99 to $19.99. Amazon Video On Demand will also […]
The UK arm of online video company Joost has gone into liquidation. Joost UK, owned by Netherlands-based Joost Technologies, has appointed liquidators David Rubin & Partners LLP. In July Joost CEO Mike Volpi quit the company and it announced it would focus on business-to-business white-labelling. At the time he blamed the self-publishing model taken by […]
Sky has announced a deal that places Sky Player on set-top boxes made by IP Vision who's FetchTV hybrid DTT/IP STP has a built-in PVR, and offers BBC iPlayer, C 4 VOD, Sky Sports News, Discovery Channel and CNN. The box, called Freeview+ is priced at £219 (E237). While not significant in volume terms, the […]
Channel 4 has signed a landmark deal with YouTube to make its TV shows available to users. The deal, which has been under negotiation for the last six months, will see Channel 4 make its existing 4oD online video catch-up service available via YouTube shortly after shows have aired on TV. YouTube users can watch […]
More than a third of Australians admit they either illegally download movies off the Internet or have thought about doing so. A survey of consumers’ movie rental, downloading and pay TV viewing habits has revealed a significant slice of the population prefer accessing their entertainment through the back door. The national survey by DVD rental […]
According to French press Canal+, TF1 and M6 are developing a common catch-up platform similar to the proposed Canvas platform. The three have been said to have been planning a JV since March. The platform is intended to be open to other providers. Each of the broadcasters have their own online catch up services available […]