MediaBytes

APPLE announced DVD-quality iTunes movie rentals and direct AppleTV rentals in HD. Rentals will cost between $2.99 and $4.99 and be available 30 days after the DVD release. Users will have 30 days to begin watching a download and 24 hours to finish after it starts. All the major studios are supporting the venture. For Continue Reading →

iTunes Rentals Apple announced iTunes movie rentals with support from all the major studios. DVD-quality rentals will cost $2.99 for library titles and $3.99 for new releases. The service launches today and expects to have 1,000 titles available by the end of February. Apple TV has been updated to include support for direct rentals — Continue Reading →

APPLE CEO Steve Jobs announced iTunes movie rentals with support from all the major studios. DVD-quality rentals will cost $2.99 for library titles and $3.99 new releases. HD rentals will cost $3.99 for library titles and $4.99 for new releases. Users have 30 days to start watching a rental and 24 hours to finish once Continue Reading →

NETFLIX will remove the viewing limits on the company’s “watch instantly” video streaming feature, allowing subscribers to watch unlimited amounts of online TV shows and movies. Netflix offers over 6,000 titles through the service and recently announced plans to deliver content to TVs via an LG set-top box. The change is a defensive move that Continue Reading →

APPLE will reportedly offer iTunes movie rentals from Warner Bros., Fox, Paramount, and Lions Gate. Rentals will cost $3.99 for 24 hours. An announcement is expected during the Steve Jobs keynote at Macworld on January 15th. HARVEY WEINSTEIN told reporters that WEINSTEIN CO. has signed an interim deal with the WGA. Weinstein called it a Continue Reading →

WARNER BROS. may lay off up to 1,000 workers as a result of the writers strike. The company issued 60-day warnings on November 12th in compliance with government regulations. With that period expiring, a Warner spokesperson confirmed that “some studio divisions will have to lay off employees.” In related news, a major Hollywood payroll company Continue Reading →

FRONTLINE WIRELESS has reportedly shutdown operations following a failed attempt to bid in the upcoming wireless spectrum auction. The company missed Thursday’s deadline for submitting the $128 million auction deposit after being unable to acquire funding. A company spokesperson released a statement saying “Frontline is closed for business at this time. We have no further Continue Reading →

COMCAST CEO Brian Roberts will deliver this morning’s CES keynote and reveal a plan to increase on-demand titles from 1,300 to 6,000. Roberts will also discuss the company’s plans for Fancast.com, a guide to video that helps users find content online and offline. Fancast will let users search for any content in any format. A Continue Reading →

BILL GATES opened CES with a clear statement of purpose, declaring that “All media will be software driven.” Gates handed the stage over to Microsoft president of Entertainment & Devices Robbie Bach to describe the company’s digital media initiatives. Bach announced that Xbox Live will gain content from MGM, Showtime, The Disney Channel and ABC. Continue Reading →

CHINA has issued draconian new rules restricting the broadcast of online video to state-owned and state-controlled sites. The regulations go into effect on January 31st and major online video companies are waiting to see how tightly the government will crack down on independent video sites. A YouTube spokesman called the developments “a cause for concern.” Continue Reading →