Technology News: Media Convergence

Wednesday - July 1, 2009

Just three years after launching in a fanfare of publicity, Joost, which provides professionally made TV on the Web, is shifting directions. It will now provide white label online video platforms to media companies and distributors. Joost is closing down its offices in the Netherlands, retaining offices in the U.S. and the UK. Joost on Tuesday said it will provide the market with a cost-effective, end-to-end solution for media companies to publish videos under their own brands. It also said it is winding down operations in its development center in Leiden, Netherlands. [More...]

Study: U.S. Broadband Adoption Leaps Despite Recession, Rising Prices

Wednesday - June 17, 2009

The recession may indeed be forcing you to cut back on some cellphone and cable television services, but apparently it will only get your high-speed Internet access when it pries your computer mouse from your cold, dead hands. The latest Pew Internet and American Life Project study, released Wednesday, shows broadband adoption growing in the face of a sour economy. [More...]

Clear Channel to Widen Online, Mobile Streams

Tuesday - June 9, 2009

Clear Channel Communications, the nation's largest owner of radio stations, is ramping up its strategy to stream radio to mobile phones, computers and other devices. On Monday, Clear Channel was officially launching an online media player that consolidates access to its roughly 850 radio stations at IHeartRadio.com. [More...]

Google Offers Chrome to the TV Advertising Gods

Wednesday - May 13, 2009

While most of us have been yearning for a return to the 1990s-era economy, an Internet company advertising its products on television was not the sign we had in mind. Yet that is what TV viewers who still watch commercials will get to see this weekend, according to news accounts -- and the advertiser is none other than Web 2.0 giant Google. [More...]

Unusual Suspects Capture Webby Awards

Tuesday - May 5, 2009

Jimmy Fallon's late-night show hasn't been on the air three months, but he's already got an award. The comedian was chosen as person of the year by the annual Webby awards for being "one of the most ardent online evangelists." The 13th annual Webbys were announced Tuesday. [More...]

Disney, ABC Join the Hulu Horde

Friday - May 1, 2009

Video streaming site Hulu has struck a deal with Disney to make the media conglomerate's programming, including shows from its ABC television network, available online through its channel. In addition to taking a nearly 30 percent stake in Hulu, Disney will put full episodes of its ABC TV subsidiary's shows on the site. [More...]

Home Server vs. the Cloud: Connecting Digital Devices

Friday - May 1, 2009

Two different types of media uses are propelling the vision for a connected consumer electronics home. These two concepts -- media server and cloud media -- increase the value of television as well as other devices by increasing the ability to discover, aggregate, access and display different types of media. They are two very different scenarios, differentiated mainly by where the content ultimately resides. [More...]

ZeeVee's Zinc Browser Gets Web TV Right

Wednesday - April 29, 2009

Seeking to help users organize and view TV content online, ZeeVee recently launched the latest iteration of its video browser. Currently in beta, the new Zinc browser, formerly named "Zviewer," has more than just a new name. Besides new content from existing video hubs, the browser has added more content providers, seriously expanding the scope of its online library. [More...]

Adobe Flash Deals Open Living Room to More Web Content

Monday - April 20, 2009

You may keep your computer and your TV in separate rooms in your house, but the living arrangements between the two devices are going to get a little cozier, thanks to Adobe. The multimedia software company used the National Association of Broadcasters' annual meeting in Las Vegas Monday as a stage to announce it is extending its market-leading Flash Web video platform to the kinds of devices you find in your living room. [More...]

SAG Poised to Cut Its Losses Without Net Deal

Monday - April 20, 2009

The Screen Actors Guild and the Hollywood studios said Friday they have reached a tentative deal on movie and prime-time TV show productions, capping a yearlong battle that ended with the Guild giving up its fight for better Internet compensation. The Guild said its leaders would recommend approval by the board and ratification by its members. [More...]

YouTube Builds New Pipes for TV Shows, Movies

Friday - April 17, 2009

YouTube's path from a loose, rowdy, anything-goes video destination to a more well-organized and advertiser-friendly Web site took a giant step Thursday with the addition of TV shows and movies, courtesy of new deals with Hollywood studios. That step could actually be considered a light-years leap for YouTube. [More...]

See More Articles in Media Convergence Section >>