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Myriad new opportunities for content creators
The Variety Entertainment &Technology Summit addressed the online digital world, and Mel Lambert reports on how content creators are grasping the opportunities.
Anthony Zuiker, creator of the CSI franchise and the new BlackBoxTV channels on YouTube, keynoted at the summit, which took place against a backdrop of recent change in the landscape of digital-delivery mechanisms that utilize the internet and other OTT topologies, and highlighted the myriad new opportunities that exist for content creators.
Rimage announces Blu-ray copy protection
Rimage Corporation has announced the launch of Blu Lock anti-rip copy protection technology for Blu-ray Discs. Blu Lock, the first anti-rip copy protection technology to integrate directly into the Rimage Blu-ray Disc publishing solution, will be available in late June 2012, providing on-the-fly protection of commercial and pre-release Blu-ray video content.
Continue reading »Exec shuffle at KIT digital
KIT digital, a video technology and services company, has announced the resignation of non-executive Chairman Kaleil Isaza Tuzman. “As Kaleil’s relationship with the Company as an officer and director comes to an end, we want to once again express appreciation for his contributions over the years,” commented Wayne Walker, lead independent director for KIT digital.
Continue reading »Digital Rapids provides UltraViolet support
Digital Rapids, a provider of solutions and technology for bringing content to wider audiences – is showcasing real-world examples of its upcoming Digital Rapids Transcode Manager 2.0 automated, high-volume media processing software. One demonstration, at NAB, features the creation of UltraViolet Common File Format (CFF) media assets, when. Transcode Manager 2.0 will be shown running a streamlined, automated UltraViolet CFF production workflow from encoding through packaging, including new support for Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD audio within the CFF specification.
Continue reading »Digitalsmiths and Audible Magic team up for content discovery
Digitalsmiths, a leader in video content discovery and personalized viewing solutions, and Audible Magic, a leader in automated content recognition (ACR) technology, have announced that Audible Magic’s Live TVid and SmartSync services will be integrated into Digitalsmiths’ Seamless Discovery platform. “The partnership between Audible Magic and Digitalsmiths brings together two of the most important components needed to develop next-generation second-screen experiences: automated content recognition and deep, scene-level video data,” said Ben Weinberger, CEO of Digitalsmiths.
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Red Tails is second title for THX Media Director
At NAB today, THX announced new additions to the THX Media Director ecosystem, including the upcoming Lucasfilm Ltd and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment release of Red Tails on Blu-ray and DVD. Due for release on May 22, the Red Tails Blu-ray set is the second Lucasfilm and Fox title to feature THX Media Director; the first being Star Wars: The Complete Saga, released in September last year.
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DreamWorks signs up to disc-to-digital
Dreamworks Animation has become the sixth and latest major Hollywood studio to partner with Walmart’s service offering US customers cloud access to content on their legacy discs. “Once again, Walmart is breaking new ground in helping consumers understand the opportunities of new technologies amid the changing digital landscape,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO, DreamWorks Animation. “We are thrilled to make DreamWorks Animation’s current library of films available as part of their disc-to-digital service, which we view as a positive step forward for the industry and for consumers.”
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Sky ousts ITV for UK Bond viewing on TV
Sky has announced that MGM’s entire James Bond film catalogue will be available on Sky Movies from October 2012, in HD, without commercial interruptions – and at a price. Since 1975, ITV has been showing Bond movies free-to-air, for the past two years including new releases and in HD. Chris Ottinger, President, International Television Distribution & Acquisitions, MGM said, “It is the first time that the entire Bond collection will be shown side-by-side on one channel and we are really pleased to be able to showcase all of the British classics on Sky Movies.”
Continue reading »Music bodies reach digital royalty agreement
Organizations representing the music publishers and songwriters, major record labels, digital music services and cellular phone companies have announced an agreement setting mechanical royalty rates and standards to supports new business models. “This is a historic agreement that reflects our mission to make it easier for digital music services to launch cutting-edge business models and streamline the licensing process,” said Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO, RIAA.
Continue reading »One-third of UK albums bought digitally
Digital now accounts for almost a third (33.1%) of all UK albums sales, up from 23.6% in the first quarter of 2011, official market data released by the BPI has revealed. BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor noted, “The release schedule for 2011 was front-loaded with stellar album releases from Adele, Jessie J, Bruno Mars and others. Fewer banner releases were scheduled in Q1 of this year, but it is encouraging that consumer confidence in digital albums continued to grow with the format now bagging a third of sales overall.”
Continue reading »US viewers taking to connected TVs
According to Leichtman Research Group, new consumer research suggests that 38% of all households have at least one TV connected to the internet via a video game system, a Blu-ray player, an Apple TV or Roku set-top box, and/or the TV set itself. That indicates a steady rise from 30% last year, and 24% two years ago. “Video is increasingly being watched on different platforms and in different places, yet these emerging video services still generally act as complements to traditional television viewing and services rather than as substitutes,” said Bruce Leichtman, Leichtman President and Principal Analyst.
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Magazine Features
DOING IT IN DIGITAL - Repeating the physical success of home entertainment
Fireside chats, rock star moments, and consumer panels were the highlights of this year’s PEVE conference, and D2D reports on some of the many topics covered at the event.
Every conference has its rock star moment, and this year’s PEVE was no exception. Danny Kaye, keynote speaker on the first day, took to the stage to the rousing strains of Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love, which brought goofy smiles to just about everyone (at least everyone of a certain age) in the audience. Kaye, the EVP Global Research & Technology Strategy, Twentieth Century Fox, showed a video clip of some of Hollywood’s latest and greatest movie moments and declared, “It’s this kind of content that compels consumers to buy.”
Reducing seasonal susceptibility - The merger of two packaging giants
AGI Media was bought by Atlas Holdings last year, changed its name and identity and then merged with Shorewood. Tony Garnish, European CEO of AGI Shorewood, tells Elizabeth Toppin how the company has overcome various associated challenges – but isn’t yet ready to reveal a new name.
LINES OF DEMARCATION Old and new technology models at NAB
This year’s NAB event focused on looking forward to 3D, second screens, and Smart TV - whatever the heck that is, Dan Daley muses. New technologies offered a refreshing focus after a year spent on seemingly endless legal and legislative issues.
The NAB Show in Las Vegas (16th-19th April 2012) showed decent stats: exhibitor numbers rose slightly to just over 1,600 and they splayed out over more space (815,000 square feet versus 745,000 in 2011). Attendance was flat, though, at 91,932 from 151 countries, according to NAB’s preliminary figures, and substantially below the 108,000-plus who attended in 2007, just before the recession hit.
DIGITAL OR BUST IN VEGAS? The physical media market under scrutiny
A realization that maybe it’s time to figure out a way to jump on the digital bandwagon dominated the proceedings at Packaged Media & Beyond 2012, reports Larry Jaffee.
Maybe it was the Association of Independent Media Manufacturers Association (AIMMA) joining forces with the Media-Tech Association (MTA) and the Colonial Purchasing Co-operative to produce a US show like the latter did in the two previous years. Or maybe it was the zany Day Two keynote presentation by Troma co-founder Lloyd Kaufman whose oldest running US independent movie studio has been making independent, non-mainstream movies for nearly 40 years.
HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD - Paramount and Universal Turn 100
Two major studios celebrate their centenaries this year and a lot has changed since they were both founded. Jill Bilzi looks at how they are coping with box office fluctuations, changes in home entertainment delivery, and the increasing power of social media.
