MSN-related stories
Posted Oct 29th 2007 12:58PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Web, Software
I don't even have a beta invitation to
Hulu yet, and already I can tell you that the new online video service from NBC and FOX is a game-changer. Sure, you can't download episodes and burn them to DVD or carry them with you on your iPod. But because the service provides free ad-supported streaming episodes of a bunch of series
you actually want to watch, Hulu could make a serious dent on iTunes, Amazon, Joost, and other services that let you watch videos on your PC.
And since Hulu is partnering with online video sites like
AOL and
MSN, you can already watch quite a bit of Hulu content today, even without a beta account.
But there's one thing you can't easily do with Hulu -- yet. And that's watch the videos on your TV. But something tells me that's about to change very quickly. When
Microsoft launched its new "Internet TV" component for Windows Vista Media Center last month, we were impressed by the technology but a bit disappointed with the content options.
The only videos available were from the MSN Video site. That means it's a bunch of clips from popular programs, user-generated content, and a handful of music videos and concerts. There was a grand total of one TV series with full length streaming episodes available. And while I love me some
Arrested Development, I was really hoping for a bit more.
As of this morning, there are 80+ series available on MSN Video. Not all of the shows are from Hulu. There's also some CBS programming, including 18 billion different versions of
CSI. There's no way to access these shows from the Windows Media Center interface yet. But I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before these episodes start showing up in MCE.
Update: I just got an email from someone at MSN Video PR, and it appears Hulu content will
not be available through Internet TV. I suppose NBC/FOX don't want to cannibalize DVD sales, but this is still pretty disappointing news.
Posted Sep 11th 2007 8:38AM by Liz Finn-Arnold
Filed under: OpEd, NYTVF
I entered the
NYTVF panel discussion about advertising with some trepidation. After all, I love TV, but I hate commercials. In fact, I'm in love with my DVR because it allows me to fast forward through all that garbage. And I really love watching my shows on DVD because I don't have to worry about about commercials at all.
However, I also realize that much of my beloved television programming (and now) internet content wouldn't be possible without the support of its sponsors. Advertising is an unfortunate necessary evil. For bloggers it means the difference between getting paid (like here at TV Squad) or diligently toiling away without any compensation with the unselfish commitment of a
Harry Potter house elf.
Continue reading NYTVF: Digital Frontiers in the Advertising Markeplace
Posted Aug 29th 2007 4:01PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: Industry, PVR Wire, Web
NBC and News Corp have announced a name for
their YouTube competitor.
Hulu doesn't seem to stand for much of anything, but it's "
short, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and rhymes with itself."
Since hulu is positioned as an alternative to YouTube, I suppose they're tied with YouTube for syllables, and have a slight edge in the number of letters. As for content, right now, there's nothing. Hulu is accepting e-mail addresses from anyone interested in signing up for a private beta, which will launch in October.
Continue reading Hulu is NBC and News Corp's answer to YouTube
Posted Apr 17th 2007 3:02PM by Adam Finley
Filed under: Web
We've know for awhile now that FOX and NBC had plans to stream full-episodes via a new venture that was being dubbed a "YouTube killer." Recently it was announced that some of content would be streamed through comcast.net and fancast.com, and other "distribution sites" including AOL (which owns TV Squad), MSN and Yahoo.
Continue reading Networks take advantage of MySpace's popularity
Posted Apr 12th 2007 11:00AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: Sports, News, CSI, PVR Wire, Web
The
Wall Street Journal and
Reuters are reporting that CBS is ready to announce deals to distribute several television programs through internet video portals.
The announcement could come as soon as today, and will include distribution deals for television programs including
Evening News with Katie Couric,
CSI, and sports programs. While this is good news for MSN and AOL, the company with the most to gain might be Joost, which still suffers from a general lack of decent programming.
Continue reading CBS shows coming to MSN, AOL and Joost
Posted Feb 15th 2007 7:35AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Video, Web
Microsoft is moving Soapbox from a private beta to a public beta, meaning you can now use the service without an invite.
If you haven't been paying attention, Soapbox is Microsoft's entry into the crowded user-generated video market. I'd imagine it'll have some muscle, because it's Microsoft, but it doesn't really have much to offer that you can't get from YouTube, Stage6, or any number of other video sharing sites. In fact, many of the videos you can find are readily available on other sites.
One thing that does set Soapbox apart from other services is that you can search, browse, and comment on videos without interrupting the video that you're currently watching.
[via
NewTeeVee]
Posted Nov 21st 2006 11:45AM by Adam Finley
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, FOX, Web, Celebrities
Arrested Development was, in many ways, the comedy equivalent of Lost. Those who watched the show from the beginning found themselves hungrily coming back for each episode, and those who came into it too late gave up because it was impossible to know what the hell was going on with the multiple and intertwining storylines.
Continue reading Arrested Development is online and it's free
Posted Nov 10th 2006 3:01PM by Adam Finley
Filed under: Food/Home/DIY, Web, Celebrities
Sissy Biggers, formerly of Ready, Set, Cook! and The Victory Garden has her own online-only show called "A Big Life with Sissy Biggers." The webisodes are the result of a licensing agreement between NBC Universal and MSN. The online series will feature cooking and food tips, plus other domestic matters. The site will also feature an extended look at subjects covered on the show for people who want to learn more about what Biggers has covered during the episode. There will also be a forum where viewers can share their own ideas and upload photos.
Continue reading Sissy Biggers comes to MSN
Posted Sep 26th 2006 11:44AM by Brett Love
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, Video, Veronica Mars, Everybody Hates Chris, Web, The CW
Anna
posted that this was going to be happening a few weeks ago, but I thought a heads up was in order. The CW will kick off the new season of
Veronica Mars on October 3rd. If you just can't wait, you can catch the first episode
over at MSN right now. It will be available for the next week. They have the first episode of
Everybody Hates Chris for you as well.
Of course, it should be noted that this is MSN and they will require IE6 and Windows Media Player. I find that a little silly given that, as the picture shows, Veronica loves her PowerBook.
Posted Sep 2nd 2006 1:09PM by Anna Johns
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, Industry, Veronica Mars, Everybody Hates Chris, The CW
The CW is jumping on this internet bandwagon thing by offering up some of its season premieres online.
Veronica Mars,
Everybody Hates Chris and newcomer
Runaway will be available on MSN.com for one week before they premiere on the network. Online (and commercial-free) premiere dates are:
Runaway on Sept. 18,
Everybody Hates Chris on Sept. 24, and
Veronica Mars on Sept. 26.
Runaway, by the way, is an
hour-long drama about an all-American family that moves to Iowa because they're on the run from the law. The father of the family (Donnie Wahlberg) was convicted of a crime he didn't commit and the family is trying to track down the real killer. It was created by
Sex and the City creator, Darren Star. (See a
preview here)
Posted Aug 24th 2006 11:31AM by Anna Johns
Filed under: Premium Cable, Industry
Earlier this summer,
we told you about how the
New York Television Festival was taking pitches from the public for a new television show. Well, festival folks have narrowed the pitches down to the best 50 and now you can watch them and vote for your favorite over at
MSN Video. But hurry! They're only available for viewing through tomorrow (Friday) and you have to have Internet Explorer to do so.
The top two vote-getters each day will be finalists who will get to pitch their ideas to development executives. Only one person will get $8,000 to make a pilot out of his/her idea. The contest is in conjunction with IFC, which presumably can choose to pick up the show.
[Via
Lost Remote]
Posted Jul 26th 2006 11:47PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, FOX, Cable, Industry
I have a feeling that the following post about a new syndication deal for Arrested Development will sound unusual now, but will become standard fare as the worlds of television and the Internet continue to merge.
A syndication agreement has been reached between three different companies to syndicate the entire 53-episode run of the critically acclaimed comedy Arrested Development. The agreement was made between Internet portal MSN and cable networks HDNet and G4. According to AOL Entertainment News, the deal marks the first time a web portal has grabbed a fairly recent piece of the rerun market in conjunction with two cable networks.
MSN, which will make viewings of the series free to subscribers, will have rights to the show for three years beginning this fall. HDNet will also have a three year deal and will begin airing the show in September. Comcast-owned G4, which is attempting to diversify its programming, will air AD starting in October.
[Thanks to Rick for the tip]
Posted Jun 7th 2006 1:02PM by Adam Finley
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, The Daily Show, Web, Celebrities, Comedy Central
Daily Show correspondent Demetri Martin has signed a deal with Microsoft to appear in an upcoming campaign for the new Windows Vista system. Ten webisodes featuring Martin will play on the MSN site as part of the campaign. In September, Martin will release his new album, titled "These Are Jokes," with a 25-city stand-up tour to follow in October. Comedy Central will distribute the album and is also helping to launch the tour. Also, the comic will shoot a primetime special which is tentatively slated to air early next year. Microsoft will also be on board as a sponsor for both the tour and the upcoming television special.
Posted Mar 16th 2006 9:53AM by Anna Johns
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, NBC, Web
While
NBC offered up
free iTunes
downloads of the premiere episode of
Conviction earlier this month, it's turning to Microsoft for its next
big drama. MSN will stream the first two episodes of
Heist for one week after each episode airs, first on March
22 and then on March 29.
A 16-minute preview of Heist is already available on
MSN. The deal with Microsoft gives a lot of promotion to
Heist, including top billing on its TV and
entertainment pages. That's more promotion than NBC gets with Apple. But, does anybody watch streaming video anymore
when we can download and watch it at our convenience?
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