MySpace Adds Social Viewing From ClipSync
MySpace has just launched ClipSync chat for its original program Married On MySpace. The tool allows watchers to choose to join social viewing rooms, which run linear versions of each episode. If you tune in after other people have started, you miss what they’ve already seen, but that way it’s all synchronized so you can experience the content together. Through ClipSync (click on “Watch and Share”) you can chat, mark up the video with overlays, invite other friends to join, and vote on aspects of the show (it’s a crowdsourced, heavily product-integrated wedding planning series).
This is the first ClipSync implementation of a multipart deal with Fox Interactive. The social stuff will probably be most useful during Married on MySpace’s live finale next week — the combination of a live show, interactive voting, and a social network is pretty killer — if you like the subject matter, that is! Update: The finale is actually August 6, and it won’t be live. ClipSync would not tell us how it is being paid, but it seems likely it’s ad revenue split.
ClipSync has similar functionality available on CBS.com and TV.com for their television programming. I had actually profiled ClipSync in depth for a recent longer report about the state of social TV that I wrote for GigaOM Pro, our new subscription research service (only $79 per year, you should check it out!). Here’s some more information about ClipSync from that piece, which also has case studies on Integra5’s text-to-TV chat service and Facebook’s integration of existing social relationships into video experiences:
Vid-Biz: Current, Upfronts, Van Natta
North Korea to Indict Current TV Journalists; state news agency says after an investigation of the two American reporters, N. Korean officials will indict them on “hostile acts,” if convicted, the two women could face five years in prison. (CBS News)
Analyst: TV Upfront Sales Could Be Down 15 Percent; impact could be felt by sites like Hulu as web ads are thrown in as sweeteners, pushing those prices down. (MediaMemo)
Former Facebook Exec to Head MySpace; Owen Van Natta to replace ousted Chris DeWolfe. (release)
Pirate Bay Retrial? Judge in the case is allegedly a member of two copyright organizations; if conflict of interest is formally found, trial could be sent back to district court. CNET)
Blu-ray’s Prospects Better Than You Think? Lower prices, the physicality of the medium and a scant number of people connecting TVs to the Internet (so far) could brighten the outlook for the high-definition format. (Gadgetwise)
CBS.com Integrates Facebook Connect; fans interacting with CSI or How I Met Your Mother can publish their actions back on the social network. (release)
GEMA and YouTube Talking Again; two parties resume negotiations to resolve royalty payment disputes. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Vid-Biz: MySpace, The Guild, DVR Ads
MySpace CEO Ousted; Chris DeWolfe’s contract not being renewed, co-founder Tom Anderson’s role in the company uncertain. (release) With this announcement, Om likens MySpace to an 80s rock band whose time has come and gone.
The Guild Goes Up on Amazon; seasons 1 and 2 of Felicia Day’s web series can be pre-ordered on DVD or digital HD download. (WatchtheGuild.com)
Interactive Ads Coming to DVRs; TiVo, Cablevision and other companies rolling out ads that appear when a user pauses or fast-forwards, and can be clicked on to access further information. (The New York Times)
Report: Hulu in Talks with Record Labels; record labels Universal, Warner, EMI and Sony negotiating to bring music videos to the premium content portal. (Bloomberg) (This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this one.)
AT&T Launches Enterprise CDN; Private Content Distribution Service designed to help big companies deliver large video behind a corporate firewall. (Contentinople) (Read Stacey’s take over at GigaOM.)
$99 Blu-ray Players? Bringing the high-definition format to China could spur a low-cost entry level player. (Blu-ray.com)
Vid-Biz: TiVo, Susan Boyle, UReport
TiVo to Launch Local Commercial Ratings; will provide second-by-second data for programs and ads, service will roll out in as many as 10 markets, depending on client demand. (MediaWeek)
Susan Boyle: Approaching 100 Million Views in Total; Visible Measures reports that there are 650 video placements of the British singing sensation online including the original performance, interviews, fan responses and more. (emailed release)
MySpace and FOX News Launch UReport; new section on the social network will give users the chance to share citizen journalism. (MySpace)
Metacafe Redesign Goes Pro; following YouTube, the video site create hubs around movie trailers, music videos and sports highlights. (paidContent)
Accenture Study: Consumers Willing to Pay for Programming; global survey found that 49 percent of respondents were willing to pony up for digital-service programming, and an unlimited subscription model was preferable to pay per episode. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Open Box Introduces SesameVault 2.0; platform allows businesses to publish video across web and mobile browsers. (release)
Don Henley in a Tiff Over Republican Candidate’s YouTube Vids; the Eagle filed a lawsuit over Senate candidate Charles DeVore’s use of “The Boys of Summer” and “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” in campaign videos. (CNET)
Vid-Biz: Peabody, Macrovision, Mobile Video
The Onion News Network and YouTube Win Peabodys; prestigious award granted to news satire show and video-sharing site. (The Peabody Awards)
Macrovision Shows Off Multiroom DVR; service will be part of new interactive programming guides and available in the fourth quarter. Company also unveils a Tru2way version of its Passport guide that features 16:9 screen ratio, parental controls, and a “View Deck” for easy access to popular functions. (Multichannel News)
QuickPlay to Launch PrimeTime2Go Mobile TV Service; subscription-based service will be available next month in the Blackberry App World store and will offer full-length episodes from NBC, CBS and the CW. (release) Elsewhere in the mobile TV world, FLO TV announced the expansion of its mobile TV service in 19 markets around the country and says it will reach more than 200 million consumers in 100 U.S. markets by year’s end. (release)
Heroes Creator Tim Kring to Produce Narrative for Nokia’s Ovi Store; codenamed TEVA, the project will be an immersive experience with individual and group elements for this mobile form of storytelling. (release)
YouTube Out Again in China; site is once again inaccessible after re-appearing on Monday. (The Wall Street Journal)
People Watching the BBC Online May Soon Have to Pay Up; new law could require people who watch their TV programming only through their computers to pay a license fee. (Daily Mail)
WE Network Debuts In Men We Trust; first online series for the network follows a group of thirtysomething women as they date. (TVWeek) In other web series news, MySpace Kicks Off BFF; new gameshow tests how well friends know each other. (Variety)
Happy Birthday, Hulu — Do We Still Need You?
Has it really been a year since Hulu launched? Wow. They grow up so quick. To celebrate its anniversary, Hulu is getting social by inviting its much-anticipated (and delayed) friend Facebook as well as MySpace to its party. But so much has changed in the online video space since last March that we ask — does the world still need a Hulu?
Hulu calls this social network integration a “first step,” allowing you to share what you are watching with your friends, compare ratings and comments and recommend content to others. In addition to interacting with friends on Facebook and MySpace, Hulu has beefed up its own profile functionality, allowing you create your own avatar and invite others to join in your fun by pulling in your Gmail or Yahoo mail contacts.
In an attempt to get more people to participate, Hulu is also launching “the Scorecard,” which tracks how often users watch videos, how many video you rate, etc. Users can choose to keep their activities private if they want.
Sadly, what’s missing from this “first step” is any kind of communal viewing, something we are quite fond of here at NewTeeVee. So in its current incarnation, you won’t be able to watch an episode of Heroes with friends while providing running commentary at the same time.
CES 09 NewTeeVee News Wrapup
We didn’t hit CES this year (we let the jkOnTheRun guys have all the fun), but thanks to magic of this wonderous thing called the Internet, all the NewTeeVee-related news we need to know is just a click away (and bursting our inboxes). Here are some notable tid-bits from the show. If you’re there and see something you like, drop us a line.
Vizio TVs Get More than Just Netflix Streaming; will also offer Amazon, Blockbuster, Pandora, Flickr, Yahoo widgets, will sport built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and a remote with a slide out QWERTY keyboard. (Gizmodo)
Hulu Heading for SageTV Hardware; unlike other Hulu-to-TV solutions, it doesn’t require a PC in the mix. (ZatzNotFunny!)
Move Networks Optimizes Interface for Mobile Devices and Netbooks; adaptive streaming company customizes its player for Intel Atom-based mobile devices. (emailed release)
MySpace Video Goes Mobile (But Sans Hulu & Not on iPhones)
You know it’s a strange, finicky sign of the times when MySpace announces that it has launched a beta mobile video site that will stream video directly to handsets around the globe — but that news is almost immediately deflated by what it doesn’t include: namely iPhone support and Hulu content.
That’s a bit unfair to MySpace, which must have worked hard with transcoding company RipCode to add video to the social network’s mobile site, which lets users watch their favorite community and premium content videos on the go. But since the service is streaming and not a progressive download, it won’t work on the iPhone. MySpace knew this was going to be a big deal and even included an explanation in its FAQ:
Why did MySpace choose to support RTSP-streaming at the launch rather than progressive download which would provide support for the Apple iPhone? Based on research from industry analysts, the majority of the mobile community has streaming-enabled devices, especially in the U.S. market. This is supported by MySpace’s own mobile web site traffic analysis. In addition, device manufacturers like RIM which have historically only supported progressive download, are now rolling out new BlackBerry devices supporting streaming video including the BlackBerry Bold, Palm Centro, Motorola Q9, LG Voyager, Nokia N95, and Samsung Instinct. By launching with support for mobile streaming, MySpace is reaching a wide community of subscribers.
Vid Biz: CBS, NetfliXbox, Adconion
CBS Drops Moblogic; network stops creating new episodes; host Lindsay Campbell is still under contract with CBS, but evaluating new opportunities. (Moblogic: MediaMemo; Campbell: Beet.TV)
Netflix on Xbox Missing Sony Movies; omission not because of ill will between competing game console makers, rather Netflix didn’t get the proper licensing work done. (CNET)
Adconion Buys KTV Digital Media; acquisition will be used to create branded entertainment division to make content for advertising partners. (TVWeek)
Queen Rania of Jordan Receives YouTube Visionary Award; the queen honored for her work encouraging youth to overcome stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs. (Variety)
NBC Kicks Off “iCue” Facebook App; game challenges viewers to answer questions based on footage from real news events. (MediaWeek)
MySpace “UGC” Movie to Open Jan. 27; Faintheart gets a one-day, free-of-charge screening in UK cinemas and online. (The Hollywood Reporter) (See our previous coverage.)
GazProm Completes RuTube Acquisition; the YouTube of Russia believed to be picked up for $15 million. (TechCrunch)
MySpace Launches PrimeTime App
Social network MySpace launched its new Primetime application today, which lets users watch full-length content from their user homepages and profile pages.
To use the new Primetime feature, users must first download the free app, but once it’s running they will have access to premium content from Hulu, Warner Bros., Sony as well as MySpace originals like Roommates. The player offers sharing through links and embeds, as well as a thumbnail links to related content and a searchable directory of additional content.
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