| | | | | #1 Verizon Preparing Online TV Package for Summer Launch | | According to a report from Bloomberg, Verizon is the process of securing rights to launch its own OTT TV streaming service. The company plans to launch a service with live TV channels this summer that will be separate from its existing Go90 on-demand service and its FiOS IPTV offering. | | WHY THIS MATTERS: According to the report, Verizon has been securing streaming rights while negotiating new contracts with programmers for the FiOS service, in some cases buying streaming rights ahead of pay TV contract renewals. Verizon would be the latest in a growing list of lower-priced OTT skinny bundles. | 5 TAKES: MCN | Bloomberg | Fortune | Deadline | Consumerist
| | | | #2 Oculus Co-Founder Palmer Luckey Leaves Facebook | | Palmer Luckey, co-founder of VR pioneer Oculus, is leaving Facebook, almost three years after his VR startup was acquired by the social network for $2 billion. | | WHY THIS MATTERS: Luckey's departure comes in the wake of high-profile, controversial events. In February, Facebook was ordered to pay $500 million to ZeniMax after losing a lawsuit alleging that Luckey violated a non-disclosure agreement to create prototypes of the Oculus Rift VR headset. Luckey also came under the spotlight last fall for his contributions to Nimble America, a pro-Trump group. His departure follows recent leadership changes at the company he co-founded. In January, Hugo Barra, a former executive from Xiaomi and Google, was hired to lead all of Facebooks virtual reality efforts, including the Oculus team. | 5 TAKES: MCN | L.A. Times | Tech Crunch | Advanced Television | Media Post
| | | | #3 MGM Studios Taps Vimeo Vet Sam Toles for Bigger Digital Push | | MGM Studios has hired Sam Toles to the new post of SVP, digital and new platforms, where hell head up efforts around digital native and short-form content development and distribution. | | WHY THIS MATTERS: Toles will also be tasked with using MGMs existing intellectual property and creating new IP, working with theatrical, scripted, unscripted and distribution teams, that can be offered on new digital platforms. Toles most recently was SVP/GM of Vimeos Entertainment Group, where he helped with the launch of Vimeos first slate of original programming. | 3 TAKES: MCN | Variety | Deadline
|
|
|
| | | | Premium Big-Priced Theatrical Movies On Small Screens Won't Work
By Wayne Friedman, Media Post
The movie industry needs to get a grip on things especially for future business with its younger consumers. At its annual Cinema-Con trade show, movie-studio executives mulled the idea of selling new theatrical movies through premium video on demand services on big-screen, high-quality TV sets priced at $30 to $50 for each showing 17 days after opening in movie theaters. Apparently, they missed the news about the exponential explosion of entertainment choices on TV, digital platforms and music subscription platforms. More
|
|
|
|
| |
| Technology Leadership Awards
April 24, 2017 | Westgate Resort & Casino | Las Vegas, NV
Learn More
VIDWeek
June 12-16, 2017
Learn More
The Programmatic Summit
June 12-13 | The Stewart Hotel, NYC
Learn More
Next TV Summit
June 14, 2017 | The Stewart Hotel, NYC
Learn More
Emerging Video Technologies
June 15, 2017 | Convene Conference Center, NYC
Learn More
Next Wave Of Leaders
June 16, 2017 | The Stewart Hotel, NYC
Learn More
The Digital Media Tech Leadership Summit
June 20-21, 2017 | Tampa Airport Marriott, FL
Learn More
| | more events |
|
|
|
|
|
|
