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Sling TV adds pay-per-view events starting with UFC 214
SlingTV is taking another step toward replicating the traditional pay-TV experience: Offering pay-per-view events. If you're impatient, know that it starts this weekend with UFC 214, so you won't have too long to wait before testing it out for yourself.
PS3 gets pay-per-view streaming with Live Events Viewer app
PlayStation is expanding its streaming footprint one piledriver at a time with the new Live Events Viewer. Announced at E3 and available today, the app will let you buy and watch pay-per-view events -- starting with this Sunday's WWE SummerSlam -- directly from your PS3 without the need for a cable subscription. Sony is promising that new programming will be available on a weekly basis and that there will be free content in addition to PPVs, too. All that's available right now are UFC and WWE specials, but according to the US PlayStation Blog, concerts, races and "other entertainment events" are en route. You could also get your scripted and unscripted fisticuffs fix on the Xbox 360, but you need an active Xbox Live Gold subscription to use them.
YouTube gives live video streamers better production tools, ways to make money
It's been about a year since YouTube took the beta tag off of its live video streams and to celebrate it's flipping the switch on a few new features. One major way to pull in better content is to allow its publishers to profit from it, and now they can either by charging viewers pay-per-view-style or through instream ads. On the backend they have improvements like a guided flow to follow before events go live and real time data breaking down their viewership by geography and format. Finally, Google is also provided Wirecast for YouTube Live free of charge, a bit of software that it says allows partners to do all the production (capture, switching between sources, live effects and overlays and more) necessary for "professional looking" live events. There's more information available after the break, but as long as this means we never have to see another jump cut vlog then we're all for it.
Microsoft rolls out more new Xbox 360 apps including UFC and Vudu
The Xbox 360's most recent dashboard update changed everything around again, but its ultimate effect will continue to be felt over the next few weeks and months as more apps trickle out and add more functionality. A few more selections just went live today, and include highly anticipated options like UFC's PPV app, and access to Vudu (pictured after the break -- also, there's no HDX support yet, just HD) movie streaming. That's not all however as they're also joined by 4 on Demand (UK), ABC iView (Australia), Dailymotion, Demand 5 (UK), plus M6 and MSN Video (France). Also recently announced are plans to bring Orange TV in France to the Xbox 360 in the spring with live streaming of thirty TV channels and VOD access later. For its part, Vudu is trying to entice new customers with a $4.99 credit towards their first rental or purchase, plus a few other promotional pricing incentives. Check the press release after the break for more details, or just power on your console to see the channels that are available in your neck of the woods.
Boxee Box survey floats the possibility of premium channels, PPV sports
If you're wondering in which direction the developers over at Boxee may be thinking about heading you can consider the questions in the latest survey mailed out to users. The second round of questions gauges the interest people may have in subscribing to premium channels over the internet, like HBO or Showtime and how much they would be willing to pay, with another question focusing on the possibility of pay-per-view football games. Of course, actually negotiating for access to premium channels (HBO Go works through the browser after the v1.1 update) or anything NFL Sunday Ticket-related is a more complicated issue, but it is a possibility. Previous polls checked the temperature on features we've seen added like Netflix or a $199 price tag for the Boxee Box, and things that haven't shown up so far like CableCARD / OTA support or a version for videogame consoles. Get your opinion counted at the source link and yes, there is a write in portion for you to request updates for the PC version.
YouTube courting Hollywood for pay-per-view movie service by end of 2010, says Financial Times
For all the stupid pet tricks, first-person confessionals, and clips from Conan O'Brien's formative years that form YouTube's content, the one territory it doesn't really venture is pay-per-view à la Apple, Amazon, and others. Well, it'll be a Brave New World for the service -- and parent company Google -- if this Financial Times report is worth its weight in 3mm. According to the publication, the G-Men have been in talks with "Hollywood's leading movie studios" for several months, touting its reach as one of the main draws for the players involved, for the launch of an international pay-per-view service by the end of this year. Some prices are also thrown around here, to the tune of about $5 for new titles (streaming, not download) available the same time as the DVD releases. The video site has been doing rentals on a trial basis since early this year, with just a smattering of indie titles. The thought of paying to watch Blockbuster titles in the same window we watched three dozen (if not more) remixes of Keyboard Cat is still a bit of a new concept, but hey, that's the future for you.
DirecTV DVR Scheduler app celebrates 1 million iPhone downloads, new features on the way
DirecTV's DVR Scheduler app may have just arrived on Android and WebOS devices but it's been around on iPhone for nearly a year and has now been downloaded by over 1 million users. Next up? The ability to order PPV without a home phone line, recommendations and ratings, and even direct to mobile video trailer streaming. Unfortunately not mentioned? When we'll see the promised Blackberry edition. Still, congratulations DirecTV.
Preparing for BlizzCon: Virtual attendance options
BlizzCon approaches! Preparing for BlizzCon is your regular source for tips on how best to prepare for Blizzard's gaming extravaganza. These helpful hints are particularly suited for convention rookies. But if you are a con veteran, we'd love to hear your advice and wisdom in the comments as well.So you weren't able to get tickets either by purchasing or winning them (though there is still time to win). Do you still want to experience BlizzCon, but without the odor and sore feet? There are ways to view the event from the comfort of your own home, for a fee, of course: DIRECTV is offering pay per view coverage for $39.95. There is also a special (that ends today) for if you are not a DIRECTV customer, but join up through Blizzard that offers the coverage for free. There will also be internet streaming footage. The price is also $39.95 and you don't have to be a DIRECTV customer to sign up. The tournaments will be streamed for the low, low price of free. Of course, we'll be covering every drop of BlizzCon here on WoW.com, but if you want to watch any cataclysmic announcements with your very own eyes, these options will make you part of the virutal audience.BlizzCon 2009 is coming up on August 21st and 22nd! We've got all the latest news and information. At BlizzCon, you can play the latest games, meet your guildmates, and ask the developers your questions. Plus, there are some great looking costumes.
Breakfast Topic: Will you be chasing BlizzCon tickets?
In just a few short hours from now, we'll have our first chance to get our hands on BlizzCon tickets. Many of you (and most of us, too) are probably already parked in front of your computers, hoping and praying that Blizzard's new queue system works as intended and the whole thing goes smoothly. What I'm curious to find out is exactly how many of you are actually doing that.We know it's a lot, because BlizzCon's popularity speaks for itself. I think that any of you that were around for last year's ticket sales know that very well. This year, though, there are more offerings that will let you see BlizzCon without actually attending BlizzCon. DIRECTV customers can see the whole thing on PPV for just shy of $40, and non-DIRECTV customers can stream it online for the same price. That's quite a bit cheaper than making a trip to California. That's not even taking all of the fansites into consideration, either. I've had a few people say to me, "Why go to BlizzCon when I can just read the liveblogs on X and Y site?"Where do you stand on this whole thing? Are you going to try to get tickets, or are you going to avoid getting wrapped up in the mess this year? I, for one, will be in the queue today.%Poll-30175%
AT&T bringing De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao to U-verse HD PPV
Regardless of his age or win total, Oscar De La Hoya is a preeminent eminence grise in the sport of boxing. That said, we understand that not everyone will be able to jet off to Las Vegas to see his December 6th matchup with Manny Pacquia, but those with AT&T's U-verse will be treated to The Dream Match in glistening high-def. 'Course, the pricing is apt to make you consider just visiting a bar ($65 for the HD PPV, $55 for the SD PPV), but who knows how inflated that tab could be by the end of the night. Decisions, decisions.[Image courtesy of PFW, thanks Anthony]
Foxtel to carry BlizzCon PPV in Australia
In Australia, and bummed you can't make it up to the states for BlizzCon? You too can experience it virtually -- while DirecTV has a deal to carry it on pay-per-view in the US, Foxtel has apparently landed the same agreement in Oz. For $14.95 a day (no word of getting it for free by signing up, which is the deal DirecTV is offering), you can experience all the festivities straight through your television. They're even offering that BlizzCon mount if you buy both days. One problem, though: it's all being shown live, apparently, so in order to see it all, you'd have to get up at 4am. But a little lost sleep is a small price to pay for experience all that is BlizzCon, right?Of course, you could just stick to WoW Insider and we'll show you everything you need to see at the show for free. We don't have a mount to give you (yet), and we won't ask you to wake up at four in the morning, but we will have pretty in-depth coverage from right there on the scene. Or, y'know, you could do both. It's up to you, Aussies.
BlizzCon DIRECTV package subscribers to get BlizzCon bear mount
Here's some more information that may or may not assuage the rage if you weren't one of the lucky few who fought past the Fail Murloc to get a BlizzCon ticket. DIRECTV subscribers will have the chance to get the BlizzCon bear mount. DIRECTV will be selling a BlizzCon coverage package directly through the official BlizzCon site. This package will be free to any new DIRECTV subscribers who sign up through the site, and cost $39.95 for anyone who's already a DIRECTV subscriber. By purchasing the package, you'll not only get 16 hours of BlizzCon coverage, you'll also get the aforementioned BlizzCon bear mount, the same one that all the con attendees will get in their goodie bag. Sounds like a pretty good incentive to me. The package isn't available for purchase yet, but keep watching the official BlizzCon website to find out when it will be. [Thanks to Rob for the forward!]
PPV movies get 24-hour clock on DirecTV
For owners of the VUDU set-top-box and even the Apple TV, hearing of some sort of "24-hour limitation" is nothing new. Unfortunately for DirecTV subscribers, they'll soon be understanding exactly what it means to have content guardians put the squeeze on PPV purchases. Though it was announced late last month, just one week remains until pay-pay-view purchases made through the satcaster have a 24-hour time limit imposed on them from the time of purchase. DTV does note, however, that any flicks in your playlist prior to April 15th won't be affected. Lovely, right?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Report shows millennials more savvy about emerging TV technologies
Let's be honest -- we all understand that the younger set is entirely more likely to dig (i.e. understand) emerging technologies compared to those who've been around for a few more decades, but a new survey commissioned by Hallmark Channel confirms everything you've been assuming. Reportedly, just 31-percent of millennials (primarily in the 18 - 34 media target) found "new television technologies" to be complicated versus 55-percent of baby boomers. Furthermore, nearly half of those in the former category use their DVR regularly while just a quarter of boomers do so. Humorously enough, a staggering 87-percent of the millennials surveyed said that they "regularly fast-forward through commercials," and we can certainly raise our glasses to that. Laugh while you still can, young ones -- one day you'll be calling your kids to get the remote working with your 19-year old BD-UP5000.[Image courtesy of Chris's Picasa Gallery]
Only half of US HDTV owners subscribe to HD programming
We'll be honest -- we US-based HDTV owners are taking advantage of our set entirely more so than those in Europe, but considering the (relative) smorgasbord of high-def options that we have here in the States, the latest data from ABI Research is quite disheartening. Reportedly, some 41-percent of American TV owners possess an HDTV, but out of those, just 56-percent subscribe to a HD programming package. Of course, we're well aware that OTA consumption is on the rise, but still, that figure is simply abysmal (though not at all shocking). The report goes on to mention that while 45-percent of respondents admitted to using pay-per-view, most did so just one time per month. Additionally, 46-percent asserted that they were "unsatisfied" with their carrier, with the primary gripes being high prices and lame customer service. Still, we're glad to see that HD recognition is on the rise here in the US, but we have a seriously long way to go before 100 million homes are signed on to high-def programming services.[Image courtesy of AT&T]
WWE HD pay-per-view events head to Cineplex theatres in Canada
We can't exactly say we saw this one coming, but considering that you can catch the Metropolitan Opera in a cinema, we suppose it's not all that shocking. Just days after WWE aired its first live event in high-definition, it has partnered up with Cineplex Entertainment to bring future pay-per-view broadcasts to the big screen. Starting this Sunday with Royal Rumble, Canucks will be able to purchase tickets for $13.95 to enjoy the carnage from within one of Cineplex's many Canadian theaters. If you're impressed, you can check out the full lineup of upcoming HD PPV wrestling events that will be shown on screen here. 'Course, it'll be hard to mimic what you're watching with all those immobile seats, but we're sure you can find a way to sneak a headlock or two in if nothing else.[Image courtesy of WWE]
WWE Royal Rumble confirmed for HD
Just as expected, the January 27, 2008 WWE Royal Rumble will indeed be airing in HD, and considering that the event itself sold out in five hours, catching it via HD pay-per-view is likely your best remaining option. Reportedly, the high-definition broadcast of Royal Rumble will be available via DirecTV and "digital cable" providers, but we're not entirely sure if it'll be accessible on every provider out there. Unfortunately, those requesting the event in HD will be dinged for an extra $10 ($49.95 versus $39.95 in SD), but hey, that's still a fair bit cheaper than snapping up a ticket from a scalper.[Thanks, gamedude420]
Royal Rumble to be WWE's first HD pay-per-view event?
Apparently, the WWE will finally be rolling out a major pay-per-view event in high-definition some 12 months after UFC did the same. According to a tipster, Time Warner Cable (partly owned by Time Warner, parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget) is gearing up to offer the WWE Royal Rumble PPV event in HD when it airs on January 27, 2008. Of course, this shouldn't be too surprising considering that WWE was already planning to switch Smackdown to HD next month, but for fans of the sport, we're sure they'll be delighted to have the PPV matches in 1080i, too. We'll let you know if we hear anything official.[Thanks, DG]
Dish Network to add nine HD pay-per-view channels on September 12th
Shortly after playing down DirecTV's claims of offering up 100 HD channels, Dish Network is apparently readying nine more of its own. Of course, these additions will be pay-per-view only, but it's more HD regardless. According to a page in the latest issue of Dish Magazine, the satellite operator will "add nine new pay-per-view HD movie channels to its lineup on September 12th." The channels will occupy numbers 531, 534 - 537, 540 - 542, and 539 (which will be a simulcast of channel 9467). Keep an eye (or both) out for the new options to open up in just three weeks.
HD PPV movies coming to more hotel rooms
High-def and hotel rooms are nothing new but they are still exciting to us. nSTREAMS is the next hotel solution provider to offer the picture quality we all love so much. Their service is going put PPV HD movies in, hopefully, your next hotel room. No word on cost of each movie but it's likely that each hotel can set their own price. It is just nice to see more hotel chains embracing the idea of superior picture quality and installing systems like these. If they install it, we will come.
