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
Fitness DVDs help drive profit
Posted on Mar 20, 2013 - 03:15 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
According to Home Media Magazine, fitness DVDs helped Gaiam, which acquired Vivendi Entertainment last year, reach a Q4 profit of $1.6 million, compared with a $2.1 million loss in the same period the previous year. Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment’s CEO Lynn Powers told Home Media Magazine that fitness DVDs are not going the way of traditional home entertainment by succumbing to pressure from rental and streaming.
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US connected homes reach half a billion
Posted on Mar 19, 2013 - 04:06 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
There are now more than half a billion devices in US homes that are connected to the internet and deliver apps, according to new findings from NPD’s Connected Intelligence Connected Home Report, which says that increases in tablet and smartphone penetration have driven the US market to this milestone. However, according to John Buffone, director, devices, NPD Connected Intelligence: “Even with this extraordinary growth in the smartphone and tablet market, PCs are still the most prevalent connected device in US Internet households, and this is a fact that won’t be changing any time soon.”
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UltraViolet approval for Motorola Mobility’s SecureMedia
Posted on Mar 19, 2013 - 03:00 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
Motorola Mobility has announced that its SecureMedia content protection has been approved by the DECE for streaming UltraViolet content. “More than ever, consumers want access to all their content—from MVPD services to their UltraViolet libraries—on all their devices,” said John Burke, senior vice president and general manager, Converged Solutions, Motorola Mobility.
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Digital driving music but physical still bulk of revenue
Posted on Mar 14, 2013 - 12:33 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
Although the industry is less reliant on income from physical format sales, with their share declining from 61% in 2011 to an estimated 58% in 2012, physical still accounts for the majority of industry revenue, according to the IFPI’s Digital Music Report 2013. However, digital revenues are on the increase and are said to be driving the recorded music industry towards recovery.
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Google and MPEG LA reach VP8 video agreement
Posted on Mar 13, 2013 - 12:35 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
Google and MPEG LA have announced that they have entered into agreements granting Google a licence to techniques that may be essential to VP8 and earlier-generation VPx video compression technologies under patents owned by 11 patent holders.
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2012: a good year for Bayer
Posted on Mar 08, 2013 - 02:44 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
Last year was a very successful year for the Bayer Group, said Bayer CEO Dr Marijn Dekkers at a recent Financial News Conference “We continued to grow dynamically and achieved our targets for the Group. All the subgroups posted gains in sales and earnings before special items.”
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[PIAS] appoints arvato for UK and Ireland
Posted on Mar 07, 2013 - 10:04 AM by Elizabeth Toppin
[PIAS], Europe’s leading independent music group, has selected arvato as its exclusive supply chain partner for the UK and Ireland. arvato will provide a full order-to-cash service for the business, which represents more than 160 leading independent record labels across the UK. “We were looking for a reliable partner that could to help us achieve efficiencies, but it was critical that we could also trust them with the close relationships we’ve developed with the UK’s independent music retailers,” said Richard Sefton, Director of Sales & Distribution, [PIAS].
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Mark Fisher named EMA president & CEO
Posted on Mar 07, 2013 - 09:30 AM by Elizabeth Toppin
The Board of Directors of the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) has unanimously selected Mark Fisher (pictured) to be the President and Chief Executive Officer of the trade association, effective immediately. Fisher had been Interim President of EMA since the retirement of Bo Andersen in November of last year.
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BluFocus to collaborate with Sony Creative Software
Posted on Feb 27, 2013 - 12:33 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
BluFocus Inc, an advanced testing and certification facility specializing in the assurance of quality media products and solutions for the entertainment industry, has announced that it has partnered with Sony Creative Software to offer testing services to support the Sony DoStudio Blu-ray Disc authoring platform.
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Technicolor celebrates Oscar wins
Posted on Feb 27, 2013 - 12:21 PM by Elizabeth Toppin
Technicolor is among those celebrating various Oscar wins: the company worked on six of the nine films nominated for Best Picture, including the Best Picture winner, Argo. But it was for Ang Lee’s Life of Pi and Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln that Technicolor’s creative services talent and teams provided the most material support – originating during principal photography, and culminating with the film’s digital intermediate colour-grading and finishing.
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