Digeo and Monster Partner… For Something

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Digeo and Monster have announced a strategic partnership:

The collaboration will allow Digeo and Monster to combine the premium entertainment experience delivered by Digeos Moxi products with the superior quality and broad product line-up offered by Monster. It also brings Monster a step closer to their own expanded business strategy of creating an ecosystem of plug-and-play connected entertainment and home control devices. Together, the companies will also examine other compelling digital services and business development opportunities.

While at the Get Connected event in July some Monster folks I was chatting with indicated they’re planning to expand/enhance their Digital Home unit offerings. Though I would have never guessed a partnership with Digeo. I’ll be interested to see what this relationship produces with the upcoming Moxi retail push… beyond the obvious co-branding opportunities.

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TiVo Founder Leaves Board

TiVo co-founder and former CEO Michael Ramsay has moved on according to the SEC paperwork filed yesterday: On August 30, 2007, we accepted the resignation of Michael Ramsay as a member of our Board of Directors. Mr. Ramsay has been named to the post of Venture Partner at New Enterprises Associates, a leading Silicon Valley … Read more

NBC Content Lands on Amazon Unbox

Amazon Unbox is serving up NBC video: NBC says up until December you’ll be able to download programming from iTunes. But after that you will have to turn to other download distribution channels for NBC content including Amazon.com’s “Unbox” service […] NBC wanted iTunes to jack the price of its TV shows to $5 an … Read more

Massive Sony Video Download Service On The Way?

The Wall Street Journal tips us off to the obvious: “People familiar with the situation” have indicated Sony’s getting into the video download business. Not really a big surprise considering they’re a studio and they’re selling video Walkmen, PSPs (already announced video service), PS3s, and network-connected televisions.

Om Malik writes:

While that is a good move, it also leaves Sony playing in a highly commoditized market, and its best bet to make money from video downloading is by selling hardware.

It’s yet to be seen just how commoditized video downloads are… Heck NBC (may have) dumped Apple’s iTunes and others like HBO don’t have online offerings (yet). An era of exclusivity could be upon us. Perhaps NBC is reserving content for their upcoming Hulu portal. Additionally, Sony has more leverage as a movie and television studio. Given the whole Blu-ray/HD DVD debacle, I could see Sony limiting their content to their services and hardware.

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NBC Dumps iTunes (for now)

According to the New York Times, NBC has notified Apple they will not renew their digital download contract – covering 1,500 hours of content responsible for 40% of iTunes television downloads. Apparently NBC wants more control over “pricing and packaging matters.” However, the existing deal is good through December. So I’d say this is merely … Read more

Digital Media Bytes

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our other blogs: The HDTV Tipping Point: Connected Home 2 Go Why Go All Digital: Connected Home 2 Go Broadband Catch-22: Connected Home 2 Go DivX To The Left Of Me, Windows To The Right, Here I Am Stuck In The Mpeg With You: Davis Freeberg