Online Video News - Page 11

Subscription channels HBO, Showtime and Starz are fighting back against a recent NPD Group study that reported pay TV channels have dropped 6 percent of customers through the past two years.

Following the public outcry, NPD clarified its statement sand said while subscribers have declined, TV subscribers are including more channels to their subscription package.

There is fierce competition among broadcasters, cable/satellite providers, and online video content services all vying for consumer attention. Subscribers have a number of different choices when it comes to video content, with HBO, Showtime, Starz, and other broadcasters opening up Web-based streaming for paying customers.

Meanwhile, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has taken aim at HBO and other subscription TV services, as the company recently hit 33 million subscribers during Q3.

The 35mm film format has been used by movie studios for more than 100 years, but the digital format continues to push the technological envelope. Movie studio Paramount Pictures is now the first studio to leave behind 35mm in favor of going fully digital - and it's a trend that could be mimicked by other companies in the future.

"It's of huge significance because Paramount is the first studio to make this policy known,"said Jan-Christopher Horak, UCLA Film & Television Archive Director. "For 120 years, film and 35 mm has been the format of choice for theatrical presentations. Now we're seeing the end of that. I'm not shocked that it's happened, but how quickly it has happened."

Just 8 percent of U.S. movie theaters only use 35mm and haven't switched to digital, though Paramount will still ship 35mm to theaters in other countries. Movie studios like digital because it's significantly more cost-effective, with digital copies on discs running less than $100 - but the film versions cost upwards of $2,000.

Set-top box maker Roku is innovating and will spend more time in 2014 focused on supporting streaming services with custom partnerships alongside TV manufacturers. Roku's shift from set-top boxes and moving directly into app support for HDTV makers is a smart strategy for long-term longevity. All content is available on the Roku TV home screen, with the platform currently supporting more than 1,200 apps - and includes partners such as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Pandora, and Rdio. All updates will be implemented by Roku and rolled out directly into the connected smart TVs.

TV makers TCL and Hisense are the first two manufacturers to jump onboard with Roku, though better known, higher-end companies should eventually jump into the fun. HDTVs supporting Roku TV models will be available fall 2014, with TV sizing expected to range from 32" up to 55".

"Consumers will enjoy the ease and satisfaction of Roku TV while manufacturers leverage our design specifications, content relationships and software expertise," said Anthony Wood, Roku CEO, in a press statement. "At the same time the content community will gain additional distribution and revenues through an already popular and trusted streaming platform - now in the TV."

Online streaming allows TV viewers to cut cords and access a wider library of TV episodes, movies, and other Web-based content.

YouTube has posted on their blog about how Gangnam Style has officially hit 1 billion views, the first video to ever do so. The next highest song, and the previous record holder for most views is Justin Bieber's "Baby." We had posted that the moment was coming earlier, but it has now officially past the mark, with no damage to the Earth caused.

If you check out the awesome chart by YouTube, seen above, you can see how much quicker Gangnam Style took off compared to Justin Bieber's "Baby." PSY has many more cool stats to go with the one billion views, but that is probably the best of them all.

Most Arrested Development fans know that Netflix has commissioned two more seasons of the hit TV show to be produced before they make a movie. The production has been put on pause and is set to resume in late January. But, the good news is that Mitch Hurwitz has reportedly shot more material than originally planned.

Netflix originally ordered 10 new episodes, but Hurwitz and the producing studios have reportedly approached Netflix and gotten them to increase the order to 12 to 15 episodes. Filming was originally scheduled to end before Thanksgiving, but with the increased order, they have filmed for an extra few weeks.

Hurwitz has taken the existing footage and is reviewing it to figure out just who he will need to film in January and how to incorporate the extra ideas. Netflix is planning to release all of the episodes at one time in spring, so they still have time to finish up production without delaying the planned release.

"We are thrilled with the direction of the show, with the footage we have seen and with the relationship between Mitch, Imagine, 20th and Netflix," a Netflix spokeswoman said. "At this time, we are not confirming or announcing the final episode count but we are sure fans will be thrilled when we do."

Sony is pretty happy with some recent findings by Netflix that place the PlayStation 3 as the number one TV-connected device used for streaming the online video provider's content. Netflix even said that, on occasion, the PlayStation 3 actually surpassed the PC in hours of Netflix enjoyment and made it to number one overall.

Impressive. Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, had the following to say:

PS3 is our largest TV-connected platform in terms of Netflix viewing, and this year, at times, even surpassed the PC in hours of Netflix enjoyment to become our number one platform overall. PS3 is a natural fit for Netflix in terms of developing and first deploying our most advanced features. We can transparently update our application with new features on a daily basis, and through the free PlayStation Network, people around the world can sign up for Netflix directly from their PS3.

Sony then, in their announcement post, goes on to brag about how all of the improvements that Netflix later debuted on consoles started off on the PlayStation 3. Really, it is just a post with them bragging, but it is interesting that the PS3 has the most subscribers. Maybe people are using the money they would have spent on Xbox Live on a Netflix subscription instead?

In the world of online streaming video platforms, Netflix is still king even though it hasn't exactly had the greatest time with its customers in recent months. I mean, there's no way you forgot about Qwikster, right? That's why any new online streaming video service needs to be aggressive and offer as good as a service as Netflix currently does. If today's report turns out to be true, it looks as though Redbox may have quite the service in store for those looking for an alternative to Netflix.

According to GigaOM, it looks as though when Redbox's "Redbox Instant" is launched, it'll charge its customers $6 a month for its online streaming video service, which is $2 cheaper than Netflix currently charges. Not only will it offer unlimited video streaming, but it will also give its users some optional perks like paying $2 extra a month to keep their DVD rentals for four nights, instead of the usual $1.20 per night cost. Redbox also plans on offering on-demand rentals of newer movies at $.99 a pop.

If you ever attend a convention like a Comic-Con, one thing that will definitely get you the ladies is cosplaying as different characters. After watching Stealth Cosplay's video of his War Machine costume, I can tell you if he didn't already have a girlfriend, women at Comic-Con would be throwing phone numbers at him as if he was the guest of honor at a ticket-tape parade.

The suit took approximately one month to complete from start to finish that features the ability to open & close its face mask, blinking lights on the inside of his arms to simulate War Machine's machine guns and his shoulder-mounted mini-gun that spins when in use.

Laina's "Overly Attached Girlfriend" character made its debut this summer, and it seems like she's already started to sell out the character to companies who are willing to pay her to look all crazy while adding her own lyrics to karaoke tunes. One of the first "commercials" I've seen for the character just hit YouTube today promoting Samsung's SSD 840.

The video starring Laina's "Overly Attached Girlfriend" character has her speaking on behalf of your computer. It's been a long time since you've layer your Doritos-covered mitts on your computer and it wants you back. Bad. And it's willing to do anything to get you back, like threatening to release all of those quarantined viruses onto your system or deleting all of your pirated music downloads.

If you're not an Apple fanboy or at least have a somewhat interest in Apple products, then today probably was not the day to be following the Internet as all everyone has been talking about all day have been sprinkled in Apple praise or disdain.

Regardless on what side of the fence you're on, it's always entertaining to see what Apple has up their sleeves and that's exactly what we saw today as a slew of new Apple products like the new Mac Mini, 13" MacBook Pro with Retina Display and, of course, the 4th generation iPad and iPad Mini.