WebTV

Blockbuster hasn’t had much success shifting from physical rentals to digital, even under Dish’s wing. Nonetheless, it’s betting that the umpteenth time’s the charm with a relaunch of its Blockbuster On Demand streaming movie service. The revamp ticks many of the checkboxes for a modern by-the-title rental store with 1080p and 5.1-channel surround sound as Continue Reading →

Amazon Studios has announced its first foray into original content for children, with five pilots given the greenlight. Just to recap, Amazon Studios uses audience feedback to develop original entertainment and, since the division’s launch in November 2010, thousands of movie scripts and series pilots have been submitted. You may remember that back in June Continue Reading →

We’ve long know that Netflix is ambitious, striving to make its own original content when it can. But now the company had made its intentions clear: it isn’t just keeping up with the big boy cable networks—it plans to beat them at their own game. In a long and thoughtful profile of Netflix in GQ, Continue Reading →

Google is said to be preparing paid subscription options for individual channels on YouTube, according to a report from AdAge. In its latest attempt to compete with traditional television, the company will reportedly allow a small group of producers to create channels that users will only be able to view if they pay a monthly Continue Reading →

Fresh off a gangbusters earnings report, Netflix is asking investors to bet on it again: The streaming video company is raising money that it may use to invest in its own TV shows. Netflix says it intends to raise $400 million in debt, and will use $225 million of that money to refinance some of Continue Reading →

It’s no “Arrested Development,” but Hulu is announcing that it, too, is bringing TV programs back from the dead. (Coming back from the dead – hey, that sounds like a soap plot!). Hulu has now signed a deal with media production Prospect Park to air the previously canceled soap operas “All My Children” and “One Continue Reading →

Streaming video is the future. Well, it’s the present, but the future too. And as resolutions increase, it’s going to be a tougher and tougher proposition to pipe all that data to your screen of choice in a timely fashion. Fortunately, the new H.265 standard has been approved by the ITU and it’s here to Continue Reading →

After adding a “Just for Kids” late last year, Netflix is continuing to provide content for younger viewers. The media streaming giant recently signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Turner Broadcasting and Warner Bros. television, which features animated and live-action programming from Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation and Adult Swim. This move goes live on Continue Reading →

Netflix is working on launching personalized profiles some time later this year, according to remarks made by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings during Wednesday’s fourth-quarter 2012 earnings call. However, he cautioned that a launch is “not imminent.” Reed explained that the company is still testing ways to make the experience simple enough for consumers as well Continue Reading →

Netflix and YouTube have teamed up to launch DIAL, a protocol that helps developers of second-screen apps to discover and launch applications on smart TVs and connected devices. The effort is already getting support from a number of notable players, including Samsung, Sony, Hulu and the BBC. DIAL could become a key piece in efforts Continue Reading →