Features
Eight out of 10 users prefer iTunes In less than a week, iTunes will be 10 years old and, according to recent research, Apple still rules the digital music downloads roost. According to the latest information from The NPD Group, Apple had a 63% unit share of that market in Q4 last year. The closest follower, AmazonMP3, got 22%. Eight out of 10 digital music buyers downloaded their tracks and albums from Apple’s iTunes store in Q4 2012. And one in three still believe that owning music is important, even with various free streaming services.
Second screeners avoiding specialist apps Surprise statistics: PCs are the most common second screen device, and specialist apps like Viggle and zeebox are not appealing to the majority of TV viewers. According to The NPD Group, second-screening consumers are not widely using those applications designed by broadcasters for specific programs. NPD figures show that 88% US households own at least one device that can be used as a second screen, with 87% of US entertainment consumers reported to be second-screening while watching television. However, of TV viewers who use second-screen devices, only 47% have participated in second-screen activities.
A hive of social media activity
Not long ago, Motorola reported that 2nd screen activity “continues to be popular among the 16-24-year-olds”. That’s as may be, but this year’s Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards garnered a record-breaking 387 million votes cast around the world in 22 categories. According to Rentrak’s TV Viewing Engagement & Broadcast/Cable Series Social Media Metrics report for that week, the KCA had by far the highest ‘2nd Screen Activity Score’, giving it the highest social media rank.
Ericsson strengthens IPTV position
The recent move by Ericsson to acquire Microsoft’s TV solution Mediaroom business will, say analysts, not only not make Ericsson the leading player in the market for IPTV set-top box middleware, it also will be able to expand its IPTV offering into a complete, integrated solution that will give the company a competitive advantage over its rivals. The global IPTV market is estimated to reach 76 million subscribers in 2013 with revenues of $32 billion, growing to 105 million subscribers and $45 billion in 2015.
D2D News
Digital Rapids for multi-screen VOD
Posted on Apr 04, 2013 - 10:18 AM by Elizabeth Toppin
Digital Rapids has announced that leading Latin American internet and digital media service provider Terra is using a distributed deployment of the Digital Rapids Transcode Manager high-volume, automated media processing software to prepare media assets for multiscreen video-on-demand distribution. “Digital Rapids Transcode Manager has given us superior format flexibility compared to other solutions on the market, while providing outstanding quality that meets our discerning requirements,” said Werner Michels, Technology Director at Terra.
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Stars head to MIPTV 2013
Posted on Apr 04, 2013 - 09:42 AM by Elizabeth Toppin
Thandie Newton, Famke Janssen, Gene Simmons, Christophe Lambert, Mark Strong, Max Irons, Tom Riley, and Lennie James are just some of the stars who will be attending MIPTV 2013, running 8-11 April in Cannes.
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Iron Man 3 facing up to piracy challenge
Posted on Apr 04, 2013 - 09:24 AM by Elizabeth Toppin
UK body The Industry Trust for IP Awareness and Walt Disney Studios UK have launched an Iron Man 3 trailer that celebrates the value of great movie moments and addresses the continued challenge posed by piracy. Lee Jury, The Walt Disney Company EMEA and UK, said: “Marvel film and comic fans completely understand the time and effort that goes into turning the stories they love into full length feature films as is the case with Iron Man 3. At Disney, we’re committed to supporting consumer awareness campaigns to tackle copyright infringement, so we’re delighted to be working with the Industry Trust to inspire audiences about the value of film.”
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Sony DADC to manage OEG supply chain
Posted on Apr 03, 2013 - 03:23 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
Odeon Entertainment Group (OEG), experts in the acquisition and development of classic and specialist packaged content, has chosen Sony DADC to service its entire supply chain management for the UK and export. The multi year agreement, which will fulfill hundreds of thousands of units annually, began on March 4th 2013.
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Sony Creative and second screening
Posted on Apr 03, 2013 - 03:15 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
Sony Creative Software has released an update to its DoStudio Authoring software that integrates more efficiently with the second screen BD Touch iOS App, both being showcased at this year’s NAB. According to the report in 2nd Screen 2Day, the BD Touch iOS App allows users to download and save specific video and audio and Web site URL content that is downloaded from a Blu-ray Disc in a BD player to the handheld device.
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Cloud storage affecting HDD market
Posted on Mar 28, 2013 - 10:50 AM by Elizabeth Toppin
The external hard disk drive market in EMEA had a difficult first half last year, mainly due to supply chain challenges in 2011, culminating in annual volumes for 2012 falling by 17% to 21.5 million. This is compared with nearly 26 million units in 2011, according to the latest quarterly HDD report from Futuresource Consulting. “The decline can be linked to the floods suffered by Thailand in 2011, which created shortages in shipments and further price increases,” said Mats Larsson, Senior Market Analyst with Futuresource Consulting.
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New head of Bayer’s Polycarbonates business unit
Posted on Mar 28, 2013 - 10:19 AM by Elizabeth Toppin
Bayer has announced the appointment of Dr Markus Steilemann as the new head of its Polycarbonates business unit. He succeeds Michael Koenig, who will join the board of nanagement of Bayer AG on April 1. At the same time, Steilemann will become a member of the Executive Committee of Bayer MaterialScience.
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ISODISC joins Colonial
Posted on Mar 28, 2013 - 09:58 AM by Elizabeth Toppin
ISODISC has become the latest member of Colonial Purchasing, the US-based disc manufacturers’ alliance, formed to provide greater buying power for the necessary raw materials. “Under the cooperative's agreement, resin and a variety of other volume materials for replicating, printing, and packaging are bought in larger quantities, yielding lower price points,” said Doug Franzen, Colonial’s President.
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EMA commends videogame and DVD retailers
Posted on Mar 26, 2013 - 03:20 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) has commended retailers for their record levels of enforcement of the video game and DVD ratings. “EMA is pleased to see that video game retailers are maintaining their leadership in enforcing ratings and that DVD retailers have significantly improved their ratings enforcement,” stated Mark Fisher, EMA President & CEO.
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Consumers “frustrated” with video content delivery
Posted on Mar 20, 2013 - 03:39 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
In the connected, convergent world of home entertainment, consumers are watching an enormous amount of video, in some surprising ways, in unexpected places. But still not always the way they want to, according to Motorola Mobility’s Fourth Annual Media Engagement Barometer. For instance, 76% of consumers would be interested in a service that automatically loaded content a user liked to their mobile phone or tablet, to enjoy when on the move.
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