TV

Amazon.com has approached big entertainment companies about licensing their television channels for a new online pay-TV service it is considering launching, in what would mark a significant expansion of the company’s online video efforts. The new service under consideration would offer live TV channels, such as those available now on cable or satellite TV. Through Continue Reading →

Is Netflix putting a dent in premium cable subscriptions? A new study suggests that a growing number of consumers are opting to pay for standalone Internet video services instead of subscribing to HBO or Showtime — although the data does not prove the trend. Total U.S. households that subscribe to HBO, Showtime, Starz and other Continue Reading →

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday announced that it will hear a closely-watched dispute between Aereo, a start-up that streams over-the-air TV for $8/month, and major broadcasters — including NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox — that say the service should be shut down for copyright infringement. The news, noted on ScotusBlog, means the court will Continue Reading →

On Thursday morning, the nominees for the 86th Academy Awards were announced — and the list contains many expected names and an Oscar newcomer. Netflix continued its awards season run with its first Oscar nomination for the documentary The Square, while science fiction films made an impression as well. Continuing its recent successes, Alfonso Cuarón’s Continue Reading →

Amazon spent much of last year focusing on original content, and is now looking to help those involved in the process of creating movies and TV. The site recently launched Amazon Storybuilder, which lets you manage ideas with virtual post-it notes and a corkboard. If you’ve ever seen a screenwriter’s workspace when they’re planning a Continue Reading →

Time Warner Cable Inc. rejected an acquisition offer from Charter Communications Inc. valued at more than $61 billion including debt, spurning the biggest unsolicited takeover bid since 2008. Time Warner Cable Chief Executive Officer Rob Marcus called the $132.50-a-share bid a “low-ball offer” in an interview yesterday. The proposal included about $83 cash per share Continue Reading →

International CES 2014 is in the history books, and it was the most exciting CES in recent memory. 3D Printing, Connected Living, Fitness Tech, Wrist Revolution, 2 in 1 PCs, Intel RealSense™ and Qualcomm’s open source All Joyn™ alliance are just a few of the highlights I’ll cover in this multi-part CES wrap-up. But let’s Continue Reading →

Each December, CBS’s Chief Research Officer Dave Poltrack addresses the UBS Annual Global Media and Communications Conference. This year’s talk, “The Outlook for the Broadcast Networks,” covered a wide range of topics, including social TV: “Nothing was hotter this year than social media with Twitter front and center with its IPO,” according to Poltrack. “Television programs Continue Reading →

If 4K televisions were one of the big stories of CES last year, the availability of 4K content is shaping up to be a big story this time around. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings just took the stage at Sony’s press conference to announce that all new Netflix original programming will be shot and finished in Continue Reading →

Hulu today announced what original programming its subscribers can expect in 2014: four new exclusive shows and 13 new seasons for existing shows. Premieres for the new additions range from next week to later this summer, although some dates have yet to be decided (TBD). The four new shows include The Bridge (premieres January 14), Continue Reading →