Mario Batali to Mix Food and Music in New Dailymotion Series
Mario Batali continues to expand his empire, this time with Dailymotionthrough the original series, “Feedback Kitchen.”
VideoInk http://bit.ly/180CeMN
USA Today http://usat.ly/1J0jPNf
Opinions & Analysis
NATPE 2015: FremantleMedia’s Hayley Dickson on the Current State of the Digital Content Market
For the next three days, many executives in the TV and digital entertainment industries will gather in South Beach to discuss the challenges and opportunities that they face in creating, distributing, and monetizing their content.
VideoInk http://bit.ly/1Cer1mG
Amazon doubles down on entertainment with ‘indie’ movie bet
Amazon.com Inc is making a high-stakes foray into the challenging realm of independent movies, the latest step in its attempt to move beyond simply distributing digital entertainment content to creating it.
Reuters http://reut.rs/1xtp7cQ
Amazon Movies May Crack Theatrical Windows, But It Won’t Break Them
Amazon Studios is the latest digital player that aims to upend the film distribution business by releasing films in theaters and on digital platforms earlier than its big studio rivals.
Variety http://bit.ly/151RzdG
Tech Giant Buys Hollywood Studio — Happens In 2015? Here’s Why
Yes, THAT may happen in 2015. A tech giant may very well buy its way significantly deeper into the content game this year by acquiring one of the major Hollywood studios.
Digital Media Update http://bit.ly/153bHwd
Deals & Signings
EXCLUSIVE: FremantleMedia Nabs Global Distribution Rights to AOL’s First Long-Form Series
FremantleMedia International has secured global distribution rights to AOL’s first long-form original series, “Connected.”
VideoInk http://bit.ly/1yFbywR
Fox TV Stations Bolsters Game Show Content With Buzzr TV
Fox TV Stations is expanding its game show programming, acquiring rights to digital multicast network Buzzr TV from FremantleMedia North America and Debmar-Mercury.
Deadline http://bit.ly/1yDC2vn
Streaming Video News
Netflix Orders Another Comedy Series Starring Will Arnett
Will Arnett will appear in yet another Netflix original series. The streaming service has ordered the comedy series “Flaked,” which will star Arnett and debut across all Netflix territories in 2016.
VideoInk http://bit.ly/1ztFc7R
USA Today http://usat.ly/1J3bVmm
The Verge http://bit.ly/1Cwsu5Q
Variety http://bit.ly/1ElC7WA
Oscar-Nominated ‘Last Days In Vietnam’ To Stream Free On PBS Sites Next Month
The Oscar-nominated documentary “Last Days in Vietnam” will stream online for free for three days next month through PBS-related websites and related digital video outlets.
Deadline http://bit.ly/1J7BQr7
Endemol Beyond Global Network Announces New Series/Channels
Global network Endemol Beyond is pumping out content in 2015. From Germany to France to the US, new original shows and channels will cover gaming, comedy, and lifestyle, featuring big names in both new and “traditional” media.
VideoInk http://bit.ly/15rcNmC
Pongalo wants Latinos to binge on Venezuela’s telenovelas
Hulu, meet your Latino cousin: Spanish-language digital entertainment company Latin Everywhere launched a new online video service dubbed Pongalo Tuesday that aims to target Spanish-speaking audiences in the United States with free telenovelas from Venezuela.
Gigaom http://bit.ly/1ByOpwB
TechCrunch http://tcrn.ch/1J3i1TA
That Was Fast: Wavelength, the Movie-Sharing Service Hollywood Didn’t Love, Is on Hold
Wavelength sounds like an interesting idea — a Web service that lets friends watch Hollywood movies their other friends own, without having to pay a penny. Unless you make or sell Hollywood movies, in which case it might sound like a bad idea.
Re/Code http://on.recode.net/15rpVIl
Here Are the Movies and TV Shows Leaving Netflix in February
Netflix announced the list of movies and TV shows that will be expiring from the streaming service in February, along with its list of new titles.
Sony PlayStation’s ‘Powers’ to Launch March 10 with First Three Episodes
“Powers,” the first live action scripted series from Sony’s PlayStation division, will launch March 10, with the initial three episodes.
Variety http://bit.ly/15rrJB3
NBCU Will Use Super Bowl XLIX Free Live-Stream to Promote Pay-TV Online Services
Peacock’s 11-hour block of Internet-streaming video to include pregame and live game coverage, and new episode of ‘The Blacklist.’
Variety http://bit.ly/153bfxY
YouTube News
Former Our2ndLife Members Launch New YouTube Channel
Two members of the recently disbanded YouTube supergroup Our2ndLife have come together to launch a new YouTube channel.
VideoInk http://bit.ly/1J36JP8
Happs With Apps
Video Fitness Startup Grokker Launches An iOS App
Video fitness startup Grokker is one of a large new group of startups aimed at helping people get fit. After offering up a wide variety of videos online, the company today is rolling out an iOS app that will now let users stream fitness content to their mobile devices.
TechCrunch http://tcrn.ch/1J7HV6U
Industry Highlights
ComScore to Start Measuring Views on Mobile/Streaming Devices
In an effort to more accurately track people’s viewing habits in the US, comScore has decided to measure across mobile and other streaming devices. As reported by the New York Times, the company will launch the new measurement this week.
VideoInk http://bit.ly/1J7Alcp
Paris Images Kicks Off with Digital Summit
The second edition of the Paris Images Trade Show kicks off Wednesday with a two-day Digital Summit (Jan 21–22) dedicated to cutting edge digital production and post-production techniques, including case-studies on some of Gaul’s biggest productions in 2014.
Variety http://bit.ly/1yEacCv
