Business News Holding

Category: hdtv

  • HD Streaming and Blu-ray "Can Co-exist" – For Now


    There are already more digital delivery devices connected to HDTVs in US homes than Blu-ray players, thanks largely to the Xbox 360 and the likes of TiVo, Roku, AppleTV and Vudu.

    Yet despite the numerical supremacy of players capable of streaming HD content, digital downloads are not expected to be a serious competitor to the Blu-ray format anytime soon.

    Why not? Well most consumers don’t have fast enough broadband connections to stream HD video. And the amount of content available is limited.

    Even without these factors, most companies say HD streams can’t yet match the quality of Blu-ray.

    Despite this, Vudu, Apple iTunes and Amazon Video on Demand have all added high-def titles in the last six months.

    They will be joined shortly by Microsoft, via the Xbox 360, and Roxio CinemaNow in a major high-def push.

    But because of broadband limitations, most companies in the space are positioning HD downloads as a complement to Blu-ray.

    Their rationale for this is covered in detail by Jennifer Netherby at Video Business, who quotes a PriceWaterhouseCoopers report predicting that digital sales won’t come near that of Blu-ray in the next five years.

    She goes on to explain that many digital services are planning to deliver them through Blu-ray players in an attempt to expand their reach into the home.

    Sonic and Netflix already have deals with LG Electronics to offer their services on BD players coming this fall.

    Vudu’s director of content acquisitions Rob Holmes acknowledges that HD streaming and Blu-ray can co-exist.

    "We certainly don’t see ourselves as competing with Blu-ray," he told Video Business.

    Some comfort for Blu-ray then, but it is surely just a breathing space?

  • Major US Broadcaster Networks Claim 53% Of Free Online TV


    The major US broadcasters are evolving into multi-platform TV distribution networks in a "land-grab" attempt to replicate their traditional channels business online.

    So much so that the online web-based TV services of the four major US TV networks – together with Hulu, the joint venture between NBC Universal, News Corporation and Disney – accounted for 53 per cent of an ad-supported US online TV market, according to a report from Screen Digest.

    The online TV market generated USD $448m in revenues in 2008.

    The remaining share of revenues was made up of the online video services of major sports leagues, video services from traditional online portals, and direct services from other major channel groups and content owners.

    The report goes on to state that the combined dominance of the leading broadcaster-supported platforms – ABC Full Episode Player, CBS Audience Network, NBC.com and Fox.com – will drive the total ad-supported model for the distribution of online entertainment programming, news, sports and events in the US to more than USD $1.45bn in revenues by 2013.

    In contrast, third party platforms such as YouTube, Joost and other portals, which have no direct vertical affiliation with major rights holders, nor direct access to premium content rights, will struggle to aggregate ad-supported movies and TV shows.

    The Hollywood Studios and major rights holders will continue to limit such deals, instead preferring to build their own syndicated ad-supported online video services – such as Crackle, developed by Sony Pictures, and the CBS Audience Network.

    The report said this is a trend that will gather momentum. As a result, third party ad-supported video platforms may have to:

    • diversify into new forms of their own original programming
    • exit the content aggregation business and offer technology and advertising solutions to the content-owners’ and broadcasters’ own services
    • settle on the low-margin business of becoming affiliates of the player-platforms distributed by the content rights holders themselves

    According to Arash Amel, author of the report: "With better targeting and increased ad inventory, online TV services could be generating per-viewer revenues comparable to an average TV broadcast viewing in as little as three years.

    "However, based on the current online ad strategies implemented, it will account for 2.2 per cent of all US TV advertising revenue by 2013, but definitely won’t be generating enough to offset the USD $2bn we expect total US TV advertising to have declined by during in that period."

    Amel said the challenge now is to maximize the ad-supported online video business model, see how new forms of short form and traditional long form content can drive growth, and explore more advanced methods of video advertising while there are still revenues from the traditional business to support the transition to multiplatform.

    He said that in this regard, the next few years will be critical.

  • HD Models Taking Over PVR Market


    The personal video recorder (PVR) market is continuing to grow, fueled by high-definition models.

    Global PVR shipments exceeded 25 million in 2008, with HD PVRs making up nearly 75 per cent of the total, according to In-Stat.

    Mike Paxton, In-Stat analyst, said demand for HD units has increased dramatically recently.

    "Over the past 18 months, HD PVR product unit shipments have not only surpassed SD PVR product unit shipments, they now account for nearly three-quarters of all PVR product shipments," he said.

    Research by In-Stat also found:

    • Multi-room or "whole home" PVR service has become available in an increasing number of cities in the US over the last year
    • On a regional basis, growth of PVR products is much stronger in Asia Pacific and Europe, compared to the more mature North American market.
    • Over a quarter of US survey respondents were extremely or very interested in multi-room PVR capability

  • Panasonic makes Tsuyuzaki new CTO


    The executive who helped Panasonic develop its Blu-ray discs and 3D FullHD TV technologies has been named as the new chief technology officer of Panasonic Consumer Electronics North America.

    Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, Panasonic’s Hollywood Laboratory managing director, is replacing Paul Liao who is leaving the company to be the new CEO of Cable Television Laboratories.

    Tsuyuzaki has served in the Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory as managing director since 2005.

    Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, chief technology officer of Panasonic Consumer Electronics North America

    While in the post he directed the company’s next-generation entertainment R&D activities in the US, including the development of the Blu-ray Disc format and 3D FullHD TV technologies.

    Tsuyuzaki is well known in Hollywood studio circles, furthering Panasonic’s ties with the software and creative communities.

    He is regarded as the consumer electronics industry’s chief champion of Blu-ray.

    A participatant in various panels, conferences and seminars with his studio counterparts, he has talked up the format in both the trade and the consumer media.

    He also masterminded several big Blu-ray Disc promotions.

  • Vuzix First With Wrap-Around Specs for iPhone 3GS


    Vuzix has announced the first wearable display glasses compatible with the new iPhone 3GS.

    The iWear AV310 gives users the virtual equivalent of a 52”, 16:9 widescreen display as if viewed from a distance of nine feet.

    Vuzix says the specs are compatible with both 2D and stereoscopic 3D video.

    David Lock, director of Vuzix’s European operations, recently told smartphone.biz-news that the company’s new Wrap glasses would transform the whole video eyewear from "geek to chic".

    Certainly the AV310 wouldn’t be a problem to wear in most situations.

    Weighing just 4 oz, the specs are worn like regular glasses.

    As well as being compatible with the new Apple handset, Vuzix says they also support all audio/video devices with composite video-out.

    A single removable AA battery gives up to 11 hours of viewing.

    The AV310 retails for USD $249.95.

  • ZINNET Unveils Networkable HD Media Player


    ZINNET has unveiled a new HD multi-media player and BitTorrent downloader with networking capabilities.

    Called the CinemaCube, it connects to an HDTV and plays media content from USB mass storage devices.

    The device is also networkable, allowing users to enjoy media content stored on a remote PC on a living room TV. A built-in P2P BitTorrent client also means BT download can be computer free.

    Robert Lo, the Chief Operating Officer of ZINNET, which is a subsidiary of Taiwan’s Zinwell Corporation, said there is no need to download different decoders, or burn CDs or DVDs before enjoying the content.

    He said the CinemaCube supports Xvid, RMVB (Real), WMV, AVI, MP4, MKV, H.264, MP2, MP3, JPEG, BMP and PNG.

    "Times are hard, and many people have had to cancel their cable subscriptions just to make ends meet," he said.

    "They think their watching-TV-together family days are gone, and their favorite movies and shows, too.

    But thanks to the CinemaCube, the future of home entertainment is here, and it is affordable."

    Along with the CinemaCube, the ZINNET also unveiled a device called Air HD that wirelessly streams HD transmissions to an HDTV.

    The CinemaCube is USD $89.99 and the Air HD is USD $399.99.

  • Rising Demand Makes Toshiba Reconsider Blu-Ray Products


    Ever since losing the high-def format war to Blu-ray, Toshiba has resolutely refused to join the enemy camp and start manufacturing Blu-ray products.

    Until now that is. According to reports coming out of its annual shareholder meeting in Tokyo, Toshiba is considering making Blu-ray products.

    The company’s president, Atsutoshi Nishida, told shareholders that Blu-ray recorders in particular appear to be a viable option, reports CrunchGear.

    The logic appears to be that with demand for Blu-ray recorders increasing (especially in Japan) Toshiba cannot afford to miss out on a slice of that market.

    There is also Toshiba’s current financial plight – although for the current fiscal year, Nishida said his company is expected to save USD $3.5 billion after a poor 2008.

    The company’s change of attitude comes as a survey by Harris Interactive suggests the picture for Blu-ray is still far from rosy.

    It shows that the percentage of American adults with a HDTV is up from 35 in May 2008 to 47 per cent today.

    But the only 7 per cent of Americans own a Blu-ray player – up from 4 per cent a year ago. By comparison, 11 per cent of Americans own a machine that plays the now-defunct HD DVD format.

    Milton Ellis, VP and senior consultant for Harris Interactive, said only 7 per cent of non-Blu-ray owners is considering buying a Blu-ray disc player within the next year, down from 9 per cent in May 2008.

    He said Blu-ray adoption is being hampered by competition from alternative technologies, such as cable and satellite TV and the Internet, all of which offer HD content.

    "Consumers today can easily watch high-definition TV channels or use the Internet or video-on-demand to access high-definition movies," he said.

    "In the near future, access to high-definition movies may be a download or streaming delivery of one’s favorite movies to a home media server that eliminates the need for a Blu-ray player and Blu-ray disc."

    However, the Blu-ray Disc Association has challenged the accuracy of the Harris Poll.

    It said the Harris survey doesn’t chime with actual shipping and sales numbers for Blu-ray.

    The BDA cited Adams Media Research data that puts the numbers closer to nearly 8 per cent for Blu-ray and less than 1 per cent for HD DVD.

    Calling the Harris data "grossly inaccurate", the news release states that by the end of 2009, Blu-ray players will be in nearly 15 per cent of American TV homes.

    Tom Adams, president of Adams Media Research, suggested the Harris survey findings were a result of consumers’ inability to identify what exactly is next to their TVs.

    "Some people believe a DVD player on an HDTV is high-def," he said.

    "There’s just so much confusion out there. Everybody makes mistakes, but we have models that show those numbers just can’t be true."

  • Boxee Extends to all Windows Users, Adds Apps


    Boxee is extending its media center access to Windows and will shortly change its "alpha" status to "beta".

    The open source media site has also announced four major new app partnerships that will be available to everyone downloading its software.

    While Boxee has been available for Linux computers and Macs, it was only possible to get it for Windows as an invite-only alpha.

    Despite this it has gained enthusiastic following for its support of almost any major file type and Internet apps.

    Boxee has promised to keep the three platforms in sync as the service undergoes updates and upgrades.

    With around 120 apps in the Boxee App Box, users can now chose from the likes of MLB.tv, Current, Digg, and Tumblr.

    Among the new partnerships announced at its App Developer Challenge in San Francisco, the Major League Baseball one is the most interesting.

    The MLB arrangement marks Boxee’s first live streaming deal. MLB.tv Premium subs can now stream games through Boxee’s system in full HD from anywhere in the country on their TV.

  • I-MOVIX Announces New Deal with CANAL+ France


    I-MOVIX has announced a new contract with CANAL+ France to use its ultra slow motion SprintCam solution for sports broadcasting.

    The SprintCam Live V2.1 and SprintCam V3 HD offer broadcast integration and have the ability to work at 500 fps under restricted lighting conditions.

    The V3 – the first broadcast-integrated, native HD, ultra-slow-motion solution offering with instant replay – was launched in March.

    It produces slow-motion output equivalent to 20 to 40 times slower than normal speed.

    Coralie Piton, head of sports production at CANAL+ France, said the collaboration between I-MOVIX and CANAL+ France is not new.

    Both partner teams have worked together on several occasions this year, including football matches between Olympique de Marseille and Girondins de Bordeaux, Real Madrid and Liverpool, Paris Saint Germain and Olympique de Marseille and more recently, Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais.

    Depending on the stadium, with only a little bit more than 700 LUX, CANAL+ was able to make the most of the SprintCam system unique capacity from 500 to 5,000 frames per second.

    "The I-MOVIX technology matches our expectations in terms of innovation and stunning images," said Piton.

  • Price Barrier to Blu-ray Falling Away?


    There are several arguments put forward as to why Blu-ray has been slow to reach mainstream adoption – but price can surely no longer be a major factor.

    Best Buy in the US is now offering the Insignia NS-2BRDVD Blu-ray player for US $129.99 shipped.

    While that is still more expensive than your bargain basement DVD player, it is a vast improvement compared to where Blu-ray player prices were even just a short while ago.

    Figures released in May from NPD showed the average price of Blu-ray players was USD $261 in Q1 2009.

    Granted that’s the average price, but the next set of quarterly data should show that has dropped significantly if the Insignia deal is anything to go by.

    Featuring, among other things, 1080p output and upconversion, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD audio, the Best Buy own-label Insignia also comes with a one-year warranty.

    It supports Blu-ray Profile 1.1 but requires a software update, which can be downloaded and installed on the player using a disc.