Digital Media Bytes

A periodic roundup of relevant news…

nexus-player

Google and Asus release first Android TV device for $99
The Nexus Player, which was announced in conjunction with the Nexus 6 phone, the Nexus 9 tablet and Android Lollipop on Wednesday, is being manufactured by Asus and will be available for pre-order starting October 17 and go on sale on November 3.

HBO’s Over-the-Top Service: Here’s What We Know
HBO has shaken up the media biz with its plan to launch a standalone over-the-top service next year, making the pay-TV titan the first major cable programmer to be marketed to consumers who do not pay for a traditional MVPD subscription.

PlayStation TV Launches, Sans Netflix
While Sony’s new paperback-sized device is primarily a gaming machine, it also serves as a media streamer with initial support for apps, including Sony’s Crackle video-on-demand service, anime app Crunchyroll and the music concert and documentary service, Quello.

Introducing InstaWatch from VUDU and Walmart
Exclusively from VUDU and Walmart, InstaWatch gives you a digital copy of every eligible DVD or Blu-ray that you buy at Walmart stores or on Walmart.com—automatically.

Plex app coming to select 2013/14 Vizio HDTVs
we’re happy to say that we can lend at least some of you a hand. We’re thrilled to announce our brand new Plex app for VIZIO Smart TVs, available today for Plex Pass subscribers! Once the Plex Pass preview period ends, the app will be available to purchase for a one-time fee

5 thoughts on “Digital Media Bytes”

  1. “HBO has shaken up the media biz with its plan to launch a standalone over-the-top service next year, making the pay-TV titan the first major cable programmer to be marketed to consumers who do not pay for a traditional MVPD subscription.”

    Thank allah we’ll all soon be free from the tyranny of the MSO’s…

    (I really wanted to finish that with a ‘winking’ emoticon, but that would break my self-imposed lifelong ban on using emoticons.)

  2. Very tangentially, given the hit its stock price is taking, what was Netflix thinking when they decided to announce that their Adam Sandler movies would be titled Qwikster 1, 2, 3 and 4?

  3. Well, the HBO move is probably a very big deal. But if its priced too high, or bundled only with your cable internet service, or too limited, it may not be quite the challenger everyone is expecting right now.

    $10 for current, perhaps one day delayed HBO shows and limited movies and back catalog would probably work and be very popular.

    $20 won’t fly. Doesn’t matter what they offer–all movies, day and date, back catalog etc. Sure they’ll be some takers but won’t hurt Netflix at all.

    I wonder how well the streaming will work on Sunday nights?

    Let’s see what the details are. And with the CBS announcement (no NFL!) its the beginning of the coming acceptance of web streaming.

  4. “And with the CBS announcement (no NFL!) its the beginning of the coming acceptance of web streaming.”

    Despite the widespread hype today, color me doubtful. As long as the MSO’s are running both cable teevee and internet service in an essentially unregulated manner, I’m not quite so sure.

    Bandwidth caps are always right around the corner, let alone the corrupt “peering” charges we’re already facing today.

  5. Yeah, there’s some suggestions out there that the HBO thing is more of a trial balloon (notice the lack of detail) prior to renegotiating contracts with the cable co’s.

    From the articles I’ve read sounds like the take rate on the low-end cable TV + HBO packages has been pretty bad. Not encouraging for the potential of this deal at a slightly higher-end price.

    CBS seems to be pretty explicit about planning to offer the deal as part of existing cable or internet packages via the MSO’s they already deal with. Something about using it as price-protection or something that I didn’t understand.

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