NBC UNIVERSAL has decided not to renew its contract with APPLE to sell television shows on iTunes. NBCU is the top supplier of digital video for iTunes, accounting for 40% of downloads. NBCU reportedly wants more control over pricing, better piracy controls, and the ability to sell bundles of videos. Its current contract runs through December.
DAILYMOTION has received $34 million in funding from venture capital firms. The Paris-based video-sharing site reaches 37 million users monthly, offering them a mix of user-generated clips and pirated material. Executive Chairman Mark Zaleski said the company is looking to sign deals with content creators to allow for legal sharing of their content on Dailymotion. Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group have already signed deals with the site.
JOOST has opened up its API and will allow developers to create third-party widgets for its popular Internet TV application. The company launched a website dedicated to developing widgets, and posted a few sample widgets of their own. The “Joostmarks” widget allows users to bookmark specific scenes within videos, while the “What’s Similar” widget provides users with recommendations based on the video they are currently watching.
MTV will make a strong multi-platform push for its 2007 Video Music Awards. This year’s VMA’s will include online voting, the creation of a “virtual world” on MTV.com, and a mobile simulcast on certain mobile phones. Comcast and Time Warner will offer VOD selections from the event. The network will also re-package the show into a number of “remixes,” airing a Celebrity Commentary edition, a Viewer’s Choice edition, and a version focusing on the live musical performances.
NBC announced that it will begin streaming full episodes of Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Shows will be available by noon on the day following broadcast. NBC is claiming that this is the first late-night entertainment show to stream in full on a network website.