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The Content Wars Get Interesting

In the latest round of chicken between content owners and TV service providers, Viacom is threatening to pull all of its programming from Time Warner Cable (TWC) at midnight tonight unless it gets a January 1 pay increase. That includes Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, and VH1 content. I find the scenario a lot more interesting … Read more

I’m Dreaming of a Green CES

Last year was the year CES jumped on the green bandwagon, going over the top to promote new energy-saving initiatives and ways to offset the show’s massive carbon footprint. It was all a bit ridiculous given the numerous ways in which the CE industry and CES in particular are environmentally unfriendly. (You know, lots of … Read more

TiVo Spam Machine Revs Engines

In case the TiVo Central banners, Now Playing List banners, Music & Photos menu banners, banners after recordings, and commercial button overlays weren’t enough, TiVo’s now pitching ads that render while programming is paused: Using the TiVo Pause Menu, advertisers can, for the first time, reach audiences with targeted product messages displayed within the pause … Read more

Shopping with CoolIris

Ars Technica turned me on to CoolIris several weeks ago, and since then I’ve stayed on top of the company’s news. CoolIris uses a 3D-like interface for browsing pictures and video on a range of websites including biggies like Google, YouTube and Flickr. There’s also a Discover feature for catching up on specific topics like … Read more

TiVo Launches YouTube Channel with Badoop Badoop Show

TiVo’s gone ahead and launched their very own YouTube channel. And first up is the all new Badoop Badoop Show – premiering a week from Friday. Hosted by the “TiVo Diva,” TBBS is:

your weekly guide what’s hot in the world of TV, movies, music and more. Stay “in-the-know” with host Shanan and her guests, as they exchange tips, tricks, and recommendations on how to navigate the world of entertainment, straight from her San Francisco sofa. Warning: This is not your average entertainment news show. Prepare for random bits of pop trivia and kitschy cool info from unexpected angles.

While this isn’t TiVo’s first foray into regular programming, their original show (2000) was before my time – my DVR adventures began with ReplayTV. Unlike TiVo Takes (Daphne Brogdon) which was limited to customers, by reaching out beyond the box and posting Badoop on YouTube (with additional outlets in the works), this is more than just entertainment – it’s stealth advertising. Which is fine by me.

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Digital Video Revenues Start to Matter

Silicon Alley Insider noted an interesting tidbit this morning in Disney’s earnings. Apparently Internet revenue helped offset lower broadcast ad revenues last quarter for ABC, lending credence to the reasons behind the writers’ strike last season. From the SEC filing: Broadcasting revenues increased $7 million reflecting higher internet revenues, partially offset by lower advertising revenues … Read more

Pandora Introduces Ad-Supported Audio

Taking a page from Slacker’s book, Internet music service Pandora is augmenting their paid service offerings with ad-supported streaming – think audio commercials. Thus far, home audio hardware (Sonos, Squeezebox) had required a subscription ($36/yr) for service. Now, a free ad-supported Pandora service offering is being made available as an option for the Squeezebox platform. … Read more

V Cast Spam and Why I Don’t Do Video on My Phone

Anyone familiar with me knows that I don’t carry around the most up-to-date cell phone. I like to use my phone for phone calls, and am content to save other apps for other gadgets. Until very recently I clung to a Motorola E815. That phone took a beating, but it always worked, and I liked … Read more