2011 October | Content Delivery and Security Association

Studios Prevail Over Zediva

October 31, 2011 · Posted in RSS Feeds · Comments Off

Operators of Zediva, the unlicensed Internet video-on-demand service, have agreed to stop offering streams of DVDs without authorization from studios, ending nearly seven months of legal wrangling with Hollywood in a California federal court. Zediva also will pay the six major studios $1.8 million as part of the settlement, which was announced Oct. 28. “We are pleased that this case ended with a court order permanently ending Zediva’s infringement,” said Dan Robbins, senior vice president and associate general counsel of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), in a statement. “This result sends a strong message to those who would exploit the studios’ works in violation of copyright law, on the Internet or elsewhere, and it is an important victory for the more than two million American men and women whose livelihoods depend on a thriving film and television industry.” The Zediva service, which offered streaming rentals of new DVD releases for between $1 and $2, currently remains offline. But the court's permanent injunction order does not preclude Zediva from relaunching with licensing agreements in place from studios. The MPAA has a copy of the court order; more on the news at the Los Angeles Times.

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EMI: Access/Warner Pulls Out of Auction (Billboard)

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In an apparent game of brinkmanship, Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries has pulled out of the auction for EMI’s recorded music operation, sources confirmed to Billboard.biz, although the company was said to be the front-runner in the bidding….

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SeeSaw Video-on-Demand Television Website Is Shut Down (BBC)

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The British streaming television service, SeeSaw, has been closed down….Experts said the business was squeezed out by bigger players in the online video market….

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House Dem: Senate Cybersecurity Bill Could Spur House to Act (The Hill)

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Despite the apparent divide between the two chambers on the details of comprehensive cybersecurity legislation the passage of a Senate bill would put pressure on the House to act, according to Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.). Few lawmakers have more experience on the issue than Langevin, the co-founder of the bipartisan Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus….

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Google TV 2.0 Rolls Out But No New Hardware Til 2012 (paidContent)

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A year after the much-hyped launch of Google TV with partners Sony, Logitech, Intel and Dish Network —and disappointing reception, Google is upgrading the software and resetting expectations. The over-the-air update starts this week on Google-TV enabled Sony TV and Blu-Ray players, then moves to the Logitech Revue set-top box….

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YouTube and Hollywood Finally Link Up: Here Come the Channels (All Things Digital)

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YouTube and Hollywood, which have been circling each other for years, are finally getting together. But instead of moving movies and TV shows to the world’s biggest Web site, they’re trying something different: Google is handing out more than $100 million to dozens of partners to create new “channels.”…

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The CW and Hulu Sign Five-Year Licensing Agreement for Current Season Programming (Hulu)

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The CW Television Network, a joint venture of CBS Corp. and Warner Bros. Entertainment, announced today a five-year licensing agreement with Hulu for the rights to stream in-season episodes of The CW’s programming on the Hulu Plus subscription service and the free, ad-supported Hulu service. With this agreement, Hulu Plus will be the only online subscription service to carry in-season episodes of The CW’s drama and reality series, with the five most recent episodes of each show available to subscribers the next day after broadcast. Users of the free, ad-supported Hulu service will be able to watch five episodes of current season programming eight days after airing on The CW….

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Disney-ABC Re-ups with Netflix for Streaming; Network Also Licenses to Amazon

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While Disney renews its licensing agreement with Netflix for streaming episodes of ABC television series, it also has struck a similar deal with Amazon, Netflix’s aspiring competitor in the video-on-demand space. Episodes from new seasons of current Disney-ABC series such as such as “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy” will be made available to Netflix subscribers 30 days after the last episode of each season airs. The agreement also includes shows from The Disney Channel, such as “Phineas & Ferb,” as well as the ABC Family network. “We are thrilled to broaden the scope and extend the terms or our relationship," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, in a statement. Meanwhile, Amazon announced a similar licensing agreement with Disney-ABC Domestic Television, under which members of the company’s Prime service can stream shows on some 300 devices, including Amazon’s own Kindle Fire. Brad Beale, Amazon’s director of video content acquisition, said in a statement that the company was “working hard to add even more selection for Kindle Fire customers and Prime members leading up to the holidays.” Amazon expected to have nearly 13,000 titles available through its Prime Instant Video service by early next year, Beale said.

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Blu-ray Sales Rise, Helping Studios Post Revenue Gain: DEG

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An increase in Blu-ray sales has helped studios post their first quarterly gain in home entertainment revenue in more than three years, according to DEG: the Digital Entertainment Group. In a report set for release on Monday, the DEG notes the home entertainment industry earned $3.9 billion in the third quarter of 2011, a 5 percent increase from about $3.7 billion during the same period of 2010 (via The New York Times). Blu-ray sales for the first three quarters of 2011 are expected to top $1.23 billion, a 23% increase from $1 billion during the same period last year. More on the DEG’s latest figures in Tuesday’s M&E Daily.

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Netflix Extends Disney/ABC TV Streaming

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Netflix Oct. 31 said it expanded an existing $200 million streaming deal with Disney/ABC Television Group signed in 2010 that allows the subscription-video-on-demand service’s subscribers to access all ABC TV programming 30 days after the season’s final episode.

In addition to mainstay hits "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives," and "Private Practice," the agreement includes all episodes of recently cancelled programs "Lost," "Brothers & Sisters," and "Ugly Betty." Other programs include "Army Wives,” and related ABC Family shows "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," "Melissa & Joey," and "Make It or Break It." Disney Channel programming includes series "Phineas and Ferb," " Good Luck Charlie," "The Suite Life on Deck," and "Hannah Montana"

First-time streaming programming includes ABC Family series "Switched at Birth,” prior season episodes of Disney Channel's animated series "Kick Buttowski,” and all episodes of "Alias."

“Disney and ABC have been and continue to be an innovative and supportive partner for Netflix said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer, Netflix. “The diverse but always excellent programming from the different channels and networks are favorites of our members and we are thrilled to broaden the scope and extend the terms or our relationship."

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