Archive for November 27th, 2007
This Thursday is one of the biggest NFL games of the year: the Dallas Cowboys (10-1) take on the Green Bay Packers (10-1), two teams with a national fan base. But… the game is airing on the NFL Network, which is not available in two-thirds of the country. That is, unless you want to pay extra for it. Both teams’ home markets will be able to watch the games on broadcast TV, but that won’t help the millions of football fans (like myself) who live outside the Dallas and Green Bay DMAs. As you might imagine, this all comes down to a pissing match between the NFL Network and Time Warner and Comcast. I’ll let FoxSports.com explain it for you:
The NFL had a near-future vision for itself: its own gravy train TV network. All it had to do was dangle some live games, games that otherwise would have appeared on free, network TV. And now, because the NFL overplayed its hand, preventing two-thirds of the country from seeing NFL Network games, the cable giants are the bad guys?
That’s right, NFL Network is blaming everything on cable. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who also happens to chair the NFL Networks committee, is spouting off so much that the cable companies got a cease-and-desist order for him to stop urging Cowboys fans to switch to satellite. I don’t know about you, but I’ve about had it with the greediness of the NFL. And so have many sports writers. “Since when does the NFL really care about the fans?” writes the Indianapolis Star. True enough.
November 27th, 2007
In a landmark announcement, Verizon says it will allow third-party developers to make mobile devices that are compatible with its wireless network. Currently, you have to buy phone through Verizon to use Verizon’s wireless service, for example. So why the sudden change of heart? Two reasons: 1) Google’s Android program, the first open and free mobile platform, which has signed on 30 technology and mobile partners and 2) the FCC’s big spectrum auction next month, which will require an open network. And you guessed it, Google is rumored to be the frontrunner.
Unfortunately, there’s a catch for iPhone users — Verizon runs on a CDMA network and the iPhone only runs on a GSM network, provided by AT&T.
November 27th, 2007
MediaNews’ 61 newspapers have inked a deal with news aggregator Topix.com to provide story commenting and forums. “The goal at Topix is to power local voice and conversation in every single city and town across America,” said Chris Tolles, Topix CEO. “By partnering with newspaper companies like MediaNews Group, we accelerate fulfillment of that mission through a federated, networked commenting system which provides synergies between every partner in the network. We plan to actively expand partnerships in 2008.” You can see an example of how the commenting works on this KOB.com story. When you read or post a comment, your enter a Topix-hosted forum inside the media partner’s navigation and branding. Press release…
Update: Howard Owens makes an interesting point. “Newspapers should not outsource its community relationship,” he writes. “Letting another company own that relationship is a strategic mistake of monumental proportions.”
Read the full post November 27th, 2007
This landed in my inbox this morning:
Dear Brightcove.TV member,
Beginning December 18, 2007, we plan to end support of direct consumer uploads to Brightcove.TV. As a result, you will not be able to upload new videos to Brightcove.TV after December 17, 2007. But videos you have already uploaded to Brightcove.TV will remain available on the site and through your Brightcove.TV channel. Videos you have embedded in other sites and blogs will also continue to play.
If you have a Brightcove Platform or Network account, which means you use the Brightcove Console, then you will still have the option to promote videos on Brightcove.TV.
Brightcove.TV will continue to be a guide to great video from Brightcove media and business partners. The site will have new videos added to it daily from these partners and these videos can be saved as favorite videos in your channel.
If you work for a media company, marketer, non-profit, or business and are looking to purchase the Brightcove platform to publish and distribute video on your own site, please visit the Brightcove Products Overview section of our website.
We appreciate your interest in Brightcove and apologize for any disruption this change may cause you.
Sincerely,
The Brightcove Team
Brightcove is changing positions and refocusing to the professional market. Their rich media production toolset and platform are excellent for creating high-level experiences that blend into your own site. As a pro publisher, I like this move. It makes the things produced in brightcove more special — polished, professional and finished — than the grainy and gritty UCG tools and platforms that slap their branding all over the content.
November 27th, 2007
