online syndication

Sling Media video portal in beta

Pete Wylie — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:06:17 -0400

Sling Media is rolling out a beta version of a new web portal that will put it in direct competition with online video aggregators like YouTube and Veoh.

Sling Media, which produces the SlingBox TV on-demand hardware device, reports 60 inked partnership deals and more to come for the web portal. Users will have on-demand access to content from top-tier publishers and a demo of the SlingPlayer software, which allows users to watch their DVR shows and live TV on their PCs. The service will also allow users to post bits of television viewed through the player in mash-up style on feeds that other users can place in their viewer.

The big edge Sling has on other online video competitors is the ability for Slingbox owners to access DVR programming through a web browser or on video-enabled smart phones. The flexibility the service gives its users is certainly a big value add. EchoStar certainly has faith in the model, since it acquired Sling Media last year for $380 million.

For more:
- see the techcrunch.com post here
- visit sling.com for info on the beta program

Veoh Adds ABC & ESPN

Doug Mohney — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:18:45 -0400

Veoh Networks has announced it will be distributing full episodes from ABC and short-form online video content from ESPN.com.

Coming through ABC's broadband player, free access to full episodes includes such series as Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Ugly Betty. Veoh expects to offer short-form programming from ABC later in the year through an embedded player. Sports junkies can get highlights of major sports events, clips from ESPN programs, and SportsCenter Right Now from an embedded ESPN video player.

Enhancements to ABC's online video player will be rolled out this fall, including true full-screen viewing, closed captioning and enhanced navigation and video search capabilities. The deal also enhances ESPN's online reach. In 2007, ESPN.com served up more than 1.2 billion video views and so far in 2008, fans are watching an average of 121 million videos per month.

Observers wonder what took ABC so long to work out a syndication deal with Veoh; CBS and NBC have been aggressively working on syndication for their properties.

Veoh currently lays claim to aggregating more than 100,000 content publishers, including CBS, Lions Gate, PBS, National Lampoon, Road and Track and US Magazine, and more than 28 million viewers as of late June.

Earlier this month, Veoh landed a new round $30 million in financing lead by Adobe and Intel. The company was one of six companies selected in mid-June by Warner Bros. to distribute TheWB.com.

For more
- Veoh adding ABC & ESPN shows announcement

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Warner Bros. New Age Distribution Plan

Warner Bros. New Age Distribution Plan

Doug Mohney — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:16:47 -0400

The Warner Bros. Television Group has signed up a group of new age preferred partners in the online video space, including Dailymotion, Joost, Sling Media, TiVo and Veoh Networks. Warner will work with the cadre to launch and deliver TheWB.com and KidsWB.com.

The two new advertiser-supported broadband "destinations" (i.e. portals, web sites) will launch in mid-September and gain additional reach to a much larger online audience. Advertisers will be able to target consumers through the studio's programming. The distributors will be able to offer full-length episodes of programming, plus some select exclusive original programming exclusively for the online crowd.

But wait, there's more! Two new themed channels will be launched as well: Classics WBTV and a Sci Fi channel.

The WB is going after the 16-34 sweet-spot demographic, highly coveted by advertisers for their free spending habits on consumer goods. A combination of original programming and re-release of some of The WB Networks' most popular series is expected to ring the advertising cash register, while children 6-12 will be hit with youth-oriented programming including the libraries of animated characters and shows.

For more:
- WB inks web deals reports AdWeek

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Viacom Launches Spike.com

Viacom Launches Spike.com

Doug Mohney — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:38:52 -0400

Viacom has officially launched Spike.com, a merger of SpikeTV.com and iFilm.com. The new channel includes full-length episodes from Spike TV and more than 300,000 clips and viral videos from iFilm's library.

Spike.com is aimed solidly at the male 18-34 demographic; new content includes a new partnership with Playboy.com and a web series from the creator of "Angry Video Game Nerd." Spike has its sights on recapturing some of the 3 million unique visitors iFilm had before it folded; Spike has around 1.6 million viewers.

Media buyers like Spike for aggressively offering up full-length, ad-supported episodes of their shows online. Executives intend to pursue an aggressive syndication model for Spike.com, a philosophy that runs counter to parent Viacom's keep-it-in-house strategy.

A Spike.com Facebook application is in the works and the company already has partnerships with a number of streaming video sites, including Daily Motion and Veoh.

For more:
- Ad Age Scoops on Spike.com Upgrades

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