Jim BartholdLRG: Cord cutting significantly affecting pay TV industry
Despite a strong quarter for cable operator broadband net additions, the pay-TV industry lost video customers for the first time during the first quarter of 2013.
Betting on original TV online
This week, while the broadcast networks' prime time schedules are winding down for summer, Netflix will add a new season of "Arrested Development" to its library. And with the franchise's built-in fan base, the new season is about the closest thing to a sure bet currently found in original online video production.
Netflix, Crackle, AOL On target consumers with original streaming content
With the upcoming Netflix release of the fourth season of "Arrested Development" making virtual waves across the Internet, it's worth taking a look at the increased amount of original content being produced, marketed and--in some cases--sold by online video purveyors.
YouTube revenue projected to surge to $20B by 2020
YouTube could bring in $20 billion in sales each year by 2020, analysts at Morgan Stanley wrote in a note to investors this week.
Twitter gets some NBA clips
Twitter began embedding some NBA highlights in certain tweets this week through a deal with the basketball league and its digital media partner Turner Sports.
Microsoft's Xbox One makes play for living room
Microsoft continued its push for a larger role in living room entertainment with its new game console and entertainment center, Xbox One. The company described the device as a single device for providing all entertainment and communications bound for the living room TV set, from online video to games and traditional TV.
Hulu said to attract pay-TV distributors
More potential bidders have emerged for Hulu, and incumbent pay-TV distributors are now said to be among those interested in the online video company.
Google pushes VP9 codec at developer conference
Google took the opportunity at its annual developer conference to push its next royalty-free video codec, VP9, CNET reported. Work on the technology is expected to be finished next month, at which point Google's Chrome and YouTube will begin using it, according to a recent update to a WebM discussion group.
ESPN in talks with at least one wireless carrier about data plan subsidies
Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN has reportedly talked to at least one wireless carrier about possibly subsidizing users' data plans so ESPN video and audio data would not count against users' monthly usage limits.
Aereo tweaks subscriptions, seeks dismissal of copyright litigation
In a busy start to the week for Aereo, the company got rid of some of its payment options, identified the next market where it will introduce services and asked a federal court in New York to throw out copyright lawsuits brought against it by broadcasters.
Aereo, Congress and an expiring satellite TV law
This week, Aereo will begin signing up customers in its second market, Boston. Meanwhile in the U.S. Senate, John McCain (R-Ariz.), introduced a bill that, among other things, would revoke the licenses of TV stations that withhold their most popular programming from over-the-air broadcasts and instead pipe it directly to pay-TV distributors.
Media execs lament lack of Nielsen ratings for online video
Media bosses want Nielsen to measure their online audiences sooner rather than later: That was the thrust of a round-up of recent media executive comments made to investors from Bloomberg.
Netflix dominates peak downstream traffic in North America
Netflix provided nearly a third of downstream Internet traffic during peak usage hours in North America, according to new Sandvine figures.
Disney's ABC streams live TV programming
The Walt Disney Co. introduced its Watch ABC app in New York and Philadelphia Tuesday, giving authenticated pay-TV viewers there the ability to watch some of its TV station programming live on iOS devices and the Kindle Fire and online at ABC.com.
Some YouTube channels start charging viewers
Some of YouTube's content partners have begun selling monthly subscriptions to access their videos. So far, more than 50 content partners are selling subscriptions to their channels, with prices varying from $1 to at least $8 per month and discounts for full-year subscriptions.
Spotlight: A look at TV Everywhere authentication
Pay-TV distributors and networks are still trying to sort out exactly how TV Everywhere will work. Technology vendors are stepping in to help them simplify the authentication process.
Yahoo said to kick the tires on Hulu
Add Yahoo to the list of potential Hulu suitors. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer met recently with Hulu to discuss a possible acquisition of the online video site, the Wall Street Journal's AllThingsD reported this week.
Online video ad companies preparing IPOs
A handful of online video ad companies are preparing initial public offerings, Bloomberg reported. Companies such as YuMe, Tremor Video and Adap.tv are expected to file to sell their share to the public this year and have already taken steps to do so.
A sale would mean the end of Hulu as we know it
Reports continue to surface that new parties are evaluating Hulu as a potential acquisition target. Yahoo is the latest corporate name to come up in Hulu's reported sale discussions.
Media executives weigh in on Aereo, Netflix, Amazon
Executives at some of the largest media companies weighed in on several online video topics during quarterly earnings teleconferences this week. They were asked by stock analysts about topics such as Aereo's online distribution of TV signals and Netflix's plans to be more selective about the programming it licenses.
