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Sony, Discovery and IMAX launch 3net Studios to produce in-house 3D content
If you've spent all of this effort launching an All-3D channel, it's probably wise to ensure you've got enough content to keep your schedules full. That's why 3net founders Sony, Discovery and IMAX are teaming up to launch 3net Studios, with facilities opening in California and Maryland. The new business will be used to bring together the best and brightest minds in stereoscopic media to produce footage for the channel. It'll begin announcing the first projects in the next few weeks, but unless there's space for a 3D version of Dan Harmon's Community, we won't be listening.
Neal Tiles steps down as president of G4, Adam Stotsky takes over
Neal Tiles, formerly president of the G4 television network, stepped down earlier today, and parent company NBCUniversal has announced that Adam Stotsky will take his place. Stotsky is a former president of marketing at NBC, but now will head up the entire G4 network, overseeing everything from programming to publicity and digital operations. Stotsky is the first big appointment by recently appointed NBCU president Bonnie Hammer, who picked up oversight of G4 and E! last year when Comcast merged with NBC Universal. We don't know exactly what Stotsky plans to put on the schedule at G4 going forward, but if he's taking any cues from his predecessor, it's probably lots more Cheaters and Cops. [Thanks, Ethan!]
Networks hoping video on demand will save them from DVR woes
We've all gloated in delight from mashing the fast forward button through ExtenZe ads on DVRed shows, but according to CBS's chief research officer David Poltrack in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, networks and advertisers hope VOD will soon put the brakes on our hell-raising remotes. Sure, the actual impact of DVRs on advertising may still be unclear -- remember Oliver Wyman found 85 percent of DVR owners skip 3/4 of commercials in recorded shows, while Duke researchers found 95 percent of TV is watched live -- making the devices a non-issue. The way Poltrack sees it though, more prevalent VOD will "give the consumer the ability to watch shows any way they want to, and to do so in a way that is much more advertiser-friendly." He also mentions the potential cost-saving benefits for consumers, who may not need to cough up monthly DVR fees in the future just to view The Jersey Shore whenevs. As support, he cites convenient CBS research showing that 90 percent of consumers would be willing to deal with commercials in exchange for $10 in cable bill savings. But what do you say Engadget research subjects? Would you sacrifice the joy of the commercial skip if VOD had everything you could possibly want to watch? Let us know in comments below.
