Video-sharing websites such as YouTube have seen dramatic increases in popularity in the US as the writers’ strike has led to TV shows being pulled and a host of reruns hitting the schedules. The biggest winner, according to figures from Nielsen Online, has been YouTube, which showed an 18 per cent traffic surge in the […]

NBC Universal has formed a coalition with a group of technology companies, including AT&T and Microsoft, with the aim of developing anti-piracy measures that would restrict the illegal transfer of copyrighted video content over the internet. NBC, which is owned by General Electric, is also understood to have approached Apple to discuss how anti-piracy technology […]

Apple will let iTunes users rent movies as well as buy them and add Fox and Warner Bros as suppliers. According to reports Apple will announce the rental service later this month. New releases and older titles will rent for $3.99 for 24 hours. Meanwhile, Apple is to reduce the price it charges UK users […]

MTV Networks has unveiled its targeted online syndication strategy, announcing partnerships with select online video sites to deliver a vast library of video content from MTVN’s popular brands. These sites include Dailymotion, GoFish, imeem, MeeVee and Veoh, and join AOL, Bebo, Comcast’s Fancast, Joost and MSN to comprise MTVN’s portfolio of online syndication partners. MTVN’s […]

Sony Pictures Television has agreed to provide five-minute versions of several of its most popular TV shows for viewing through YouTube. Sony said the short versions, or 'minisodes', of programmes such as 'Married With Children' and 'Newsradio' will help expand the brand for the shows to the online universe. Some 21 shows will be available […]

DivX and Veoh have announced an agreement that will bring Veoh’s Internet television service to viewers through the DivX Connected platform. Under the terms of the agreement, Veoh will make some of its most popular video content from its site accessible on DivX Connected devices. The first DivX Connected device available to consumers from D-Link […]

The European Commission wants to give a boost to Europe’s online content sector. The Commission is encouraging the content industry, telecoms companies and ISPs to work together to make available more content online, while at the same time ensuring a robust protection of intellectual property rights. The Commission published “Creative Content Online in Europe’s Single […]

In a move aimed at YouTube and other smaller rivals, the Chinese authorities announced that all video-sharing websites must have official government approval before they can be accessed by Chinese surfers. New rules governing online content announced by the state administration of radio, film and television also stipulate that from the end of January only […]

Netflix, the world’s largest online movie rental service, and LG Electronics, are joining forces to develop a set-top box for consumers to stream movies and other programming from the Internet to HDTVs – bypassing the need to use a personal computer. The collaboration is expected to deliver a new online home entertainment service via technology […]

An increasing number of television viewers are turning to the Internet to watch videos, films and TV episodes, according to a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive. In the past year, YouTube has extended its lead as the top site for online videos, with search engines and television networks gaining ground. Some 65 per cent […]