First look at Google’s hosted AP content

Earlier this week, Google News announced it would begin hosting AP stories instead of linking off to other news sites. LR reader Eric has discovered one of the first hosted stories right here and here. Thanks, Eric!

3 comments September 7th, 2007

MTV Networks to launch separate sites for shows

Over two dozen new websites are coming from MTV Networks, inlcuding stand alone sites for shows like “The Daily Show,” “The Sarah Silverman Program,” MTV’s “Engaged and Underage” and Nickelodeon’s “iCarly.” The Hollywood Reporter says TheDailyShow.com will include video archives of every episode broadcast, and will post the new shows within hours of them airing. With these new websites, MTVN will operate over 300 websites. According to the report, the sites join a growing list of targeted Web sites that the Viacom property has launched in the past year in conjunction with its TV shows. Other sites include Comedy Central’s Indecision2008.com, MTV’s YoMomma.TV and mySuperSweet16.com and VH1’s BestWeekEver.TV.

2 comments September 7th, 2007

Variety: iTunes wants to cut prices of TV shows

Variety reports that Apple is looking at cutting the price of iTunes TV show downloads from $1.99 to 99 cents:

But entertainment companies don’t seem to be rushing to embrace the idea. Indeed, the half-price plan may have contributed to NBC’s decision last week not to renew its current deal with Apple (though if NBC had simply let its contract automatically renew, the current price of $1.99 would’ve stayed in place).

I remain puzzled by Apple’s pricing strategy. Why, when it has the ability to let all prices float according to what people are willing to pay, does Apple insist on flat pricing?

10 comments September 7th, 2007

Now first run and syndication are going around the locals

More news from the land of disruption: ABC and Warner Brothers TV have done a deal that should worry the locals yet again. The new shows Big Shots, Men in Trees, Notes from the Underbelly and Pushing Daisies will stream on ABC.com online (as has been standard policy) for four weeks after broadcast. The disruption? Broadcasting & Cable writes:

In the second year of the deal, Warner Bros. has the rights to stream past episodes of the shows that previously streamed on ABC.com… Warner can stream episodes to unlimited outlets, but episodes will be branded ABC and promote back to the network.

So now locals that are used to milking syndicated reruns should be concerned that the networks are going around them twice: once in the show’s original run, and then again in syndication. Get into the original, local production business and you’ll always own your stuff.

13 comments September 7th, 2007