A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our friends at Last100:
Distribution is King and other takeaways from Netflix Q4 earnings call
The downside of our CE partners adding the Amazon Pay-Per-View service is more competition for Netflix but the competition is pretty indirect because of the Pay-Per-View business is in big new releases that we don’t offer on streaming subscription.
Amid layoffs, Vudu concedes its future lies outside of its own set-top box
Getting Vudu’s content and software onto a broader range of devices would also help to further address my accusation that the service is a bit of a one trick pony. Essentially charging an upfront cost for the hardware simply to enter the store.
Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate’s film channel to debut online
The US-only ‘channel’, now named “Epixâ€, will debut online in May — five months before its planned TV launch in October — and will use a subscription-based rather than Pay-Per-View model.
Will audio ads on Pandora help it swim back across the pond?
It won’t be popular, yet Pandora’s decision to introduce audio ads is almost certainly necessary to keep the service running and, therefore, something I welcome. Especially if it helps bring the service back to the UK.
Should Nokia release a Netbook?
How might a Nokia ‘Netbook’ shape up? Were the company to release such a device, I’d expect it to follow many of the design lines of its existing Internet Tablet range, powered by the Linux-based Maemo OS but featuring a larger screen (topping out at 7 inches). Software-wise, the device would tie into all of the company’s web services, including Share on Ovi.
