TVSquad

Back in January, Sony showed off its Internet Video Link at CES. The link consists of a device that's made to fit into some of the company's newer BRAVIA television sets in order to stream HD video over the internet to your TV.

Gizmodo reports that Sony plans to launch the new service in July, and charge $300 for the hardware. It's not clear whether you will need a subscription or content, or what content will be availale other than Spiderman 2 which has been named as a launch title.

Sony has partnerships in place with AOL, Yahoo!, and Grouper, as well as the obvious ability to make any Sony Pictures content they feel like available.

NBC is reporting that 6.9 million viewers have streamed 42 million full-length television episodes from NBC.com since the network began streaming episodes in October.

Other interesting statistics:

• 81 percent of viewers say they can remember the pre-roll ads after seeing them two or more times
• 72 percent say the ads are less disruptive than traditional television ads
• 78 percent say they watched an episode because they missed it on television
• 34 percent watched a show they'd never seen before, while 26 percent rewatched a program they'd already seen.

In other words, viewers are using NBC.com as a sort of NBC-specific PVR. Can't catch a television episode live? Just visit the web site within a week of the original air date. You don't even have to program your VCR/PVR. Even more interesting, viewers are more willing to put up with ads. I'd guess this is because there are fewer ads in the video you watch online. And you're not as likely to step out of the room during a pre-roll 30 second ad as you would be if you're watching a television show with a three minute break.

Anyway, an NBC exec commented that today's online video offerings are just "the tip of the iceberg on this new platform." Networks are just beginning to understand how to use the internet to build audiences for their shows and generate revenue from advertising.

Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny are lending their cartoon cred to Greenpeace. In an internet video campaign aimed at shaming Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper into addressing a desired moratorium on deep-sea bottom trawling, the boys appear as different species of fish. Kenny gets offed by a wayward net to Stan's cry of "You killed Squiddy." Cue Oscar-nominated tune - "Blame Canada" - with altered lyrics.

The video was made without the participation of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, which is all too obvious once you watch the thing. It's kinda lousy in the "trying to hard to be funny" kinda way. Bruce Cox, the executive director of Greenpeace Canada, hopes that the campaign will make an impression on a younger audience of potential environmental advocates. Best of luck, Mr. Cox, but I'm not sure this is gonna do it.