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HULU will officially launch on Wednesday, offering full-length episodes of 250 television series, 100 feature-length films and some of the top online video content. The News Corp – NBC U venture has gone all-out, adding new programming from Lionsgate, Warner Bros. TV Group, the NBA, the NHL, the Onion News Network and more. Of course, Continue Reading →

SHELLY PALMER reveals what really caused Oprah’s online video meltdown. PROJECT CANOE continues to develop as the major cable companies host monthly meetings in New York and Philadelphia. The targeted and interactive advertising initiative is bringing together Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Cox, Charter and Bright house Networks. The companies are expected to fund a Continue Reading →

GOOGLE will announce AdSense for Video, allowing web site publishers to insert video ads into video content or to overlay text ads on top of videos. Ads will be contextually matched to both video and web site content. 20 partners have initially signed up for the program including Revver, Blip.tv, Brightcove and YuMe. THE DGA Continue Reading →

NBC has announced its plans for a modified upfront. In April the network will release a 52-week schedule of staggered show premieres and then hold small presentations for advertisers in New York, LA and Chicago. On May 12 it will host a “spotlight event” in New York to present the full range of advertising opportunities Continue Reading →

TOSHIBA has officially announced that it will stop producing and marketing HD DVD players. Shipments to retailers will cease by the end of March. The company said it “simply had no chance to win,” and that continuing the format would harm consumers. APPLE has signed a multifaceted deal with American Idol, making iTunes the exclusive Continue Reading →

VERIZON announced that it has reached over 1 million FiOS TV customers, making it the 10th-largest multichannel service provider in the US. The company added over 700,000 customers during 2007, netting 226,000 in 4Q alone. The rapid growth rate means it will soon surpass Mediacom, which has 1.3 million cable subscribers. NIELSEN will use its Continue Reading →

THE FCC launches the highly-anticipated 700 MHz spectrum auction today. Bidding is anonymous and will last two months before winners are declared. Daily updates will be available on auctions.fcc.gov. NBC clarified its stance on pilot season, saying it will not cancel any pilot orders for the upcoming season but will scale back in the future. Continue Reading →

FOX and CW both released statements promising scaled-back and “truncated” pilot seasons. Fox has cut 8 scripts from 20th Century Fox while CW will drop around a dozen projects. ABC may reduce script orders by as much as 30%. Meanwhile, Jeff Zucker gave more details on his plans for scaling back NBC’s pilot season. He Continue Reading →

THE DGA has reached a three-year deal with the AMPTP that delivers significant new media advances. The Guild will have jurisdiction over content created for the web and residuals for downloads will be based on distributors’ gross instead of the 20% of producer’s gross used under the home video agreement. Directors will receive .3% of Continue Reading →

“I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.” — Obi-wan Kenobi (Long, Long Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away) Many people believe that Obi-wan was referring to the destruction of Princess Leah’s home planet Continue Reading →