ABC Family
Latest
Dish teams up with Disney and ABC to offer app access to content
Starting today, Dish subscribers can tune into their favorite ABC, ABC Family, Disney Channel and ESPN shows on their computers, phones and tablets. Thanks to its recently renewed deal with the Walt Disney Company, customers can now access shows through each channel's respective app or website by signing in using their DISH account information. Some apps are also available on the Apple TV and Roku, and ESPN content can be accessed on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Dish rolled back some of its DVR tech (Hopper's ad skipping on Disney-owned ABC is disabled for three days) to wrangle an agreement that raises the possibility of ESPN on an internet-only streaming service -- here's hoping that was worth it. Image credit: Flickr/ Dave L
Must See HDTV for the week of February 17th: Winter Olympics, Daytona 500 and Strider
This is the final week of the Winter Olympics, with the closing ceremonies scheduled for Sunday night. Bob Costas is back (with less creepy demon-possessed eye infection stare) plus plenty of action including bobsled, short-track speed skating, hockey finals and of course, curling. Game of Thrones season three will hit the shelves on Blu-ray, so whether you're looking for a recap or just getting your first look in 1080p, now is the time. Racing fans can also look forward to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, while gamers can enjoy a remake of the classic game Strider on current and next-gen systems this week -- although honestly, many of us are just trying to finish off House of Cards before the spoilers become impossible to avoid or filter out. Usually we don't point out the late-night weekly shows, but tonight Jimmy Fallon takes over the Tonight Show chair from Jay Leno. Check after the break for trailers plus our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and gaming.
Netflix/ABC/Disney streaming deal will bring TV all-you-can-eat to Apple TV
If the cheap $99 price tag of the Apple TV hasn't persuaded you to buy one of the tiny media centers yet, perhaps this news of a new deal between Netflix and The Walt Disney Company will make you reconsider. Netflix is one of the content providers for the Apple TV, streaming a growing library of old and new movies and TV shows to subscribers who are paying a minimum of US$7.99 per month for instant access. Now the LA Times is reporting that ABC's parent, The Walt Disney Company, has reached a one-year agreement with Netflix to stream shows from ABC, The Disney Channel, and ABC Family to Netflix customers. The deal, which is worth an estimated $150 - $200 million to Disney, will give Netflix subscribers access to previous seasons of shows such as Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, and Lost. In addition, subscribers will be able to view some shows that have aired only 15 days before. As noted in the LA Times blog post, the deal is sure to upset traditional cable TV, satellite TV, and telecom operators, all of whom see Netflix and Hulu as encroaching on their turf. The Disney deal comes after earlier Netflix arrangements with NBC and Warner Bros. Apple CEO Steve Jobs is the largest single shareholder in The Walt Disney Company, and serves on the company's board of directors. [via Fast Company]
Verizon, Disney deal means ESPN on tablets, ESPN 3D and Goal Line channel for FiOS
Verizon FiOS subscribers can expect a few new channels in the lineup now that it's reached an agreement with Disney for ESPN content across a variety of channels and even devices. While ESPN 3D isn't scheduled for launch until 2011 (maybe in time for the BCS National Championship game, but too late to catch LeBron, Dwyane, Chris and those other guys take on the Knicks) ESPN Goal Line will go live on the 9th for Extreme HD and Ultimate HD package subscribers (except for D.C. and Harrisburg, PA) giving live look ins at all the college football games on Saturday. Playing further into Verizon's tablet plans, the agreement also means customers can watch ESPN live channels directly on PCs or other authenticated devices, mirroring an earlier agreement between ESPN and Time Warner. Beyond that there's a new Disney Junior channel on the way in 2010 plus Disney XD and ABC Family content coming to V Cast but we pretty much tuned out once we got past the sports part. Check the entire press release out after the break.
Disney grabs a piece of Hulu
Just as we'd heard, Disney has worked out a deal with Hulu that includes taking a piece of the streaming video site, joining NBC Universal, News Corporation and Providence Equity Partners as owners and bringing Disney TV shows and movies to the site. Expect Lost, Desperate Housewives, Greek, General Hospital and the like so show up after the deal closes, no word on any delay periods and the only content not mentioned in the deal appears to be ESPN related properties. Also sadly missing from the announcement? Any word of increased HD streaming on Hulu, lets hope they take a page from ABC.com and get right on that.
DirecTV delivers 31 new HD channels -- kind of
When DirecTV recently promised it'd have 130 HD channels on August 14th, we have to say this isn't exactly what we had in mind. What we expected was 31 new HD channels that would match the lineup that Dish recently revealed, but what we got was 4 real HD channels (Planet Green HD, ABC Family, Showtime Showcase HD, Showtime Extreme HD), 12 HD regional sports networks and 18 HD PPV channels. Sure, technically this is 31 new HD channels, but what about; Travel Channel HD, Outdoor Channel 2 HD, a whole slew of HBO and Cinemax HD channels, and finally all the Starz and Encore channels? According to DirecTV, all the HD PPV channels are simply place holders until the rest are brought online, but even with that excuse, this is just yet another reason why we take DirecTV's press releases with a grain of salt.
The Middleman throws broadcast flag on ABC Family
Sheesh, again? Not even a month after the collective HTPC community begrudgingly forgave Microsoft / NBC / whomever for throwing up the broadcast flag on select NBC programs, we've got yet another instance of Media Center users being unable to record a (late) primetime show. Reports around the web are suggesting that ABC Family's The Middleman threw the flag on a number of systems -- not just Vista -- and it's hard to say right now who is at fault. TVSquad's Brett Love had no issues capturing the show in HD and SD via his cable company-provided HD DVR, thus he's guessing the finger of blame is pointing in the general direction of Redmond. So, what gives? Will users continue to see these things followed by a quiet apology, or will the kinks really be ironed out so our perfectly legal time-shifting can resume?
Comcast bringing ABC Family HD / Disney Channel HD to Seattle market
We know, it's growing harder and harder to wait for the half dozen new HD channels to hit Seattle, Washington on March 4th, but maybe this will make things easier (or not). Reportedly, Comcast is getting set to toss in two more high-def options on that fateful day: Disney Channel HD and ABC Family HD. Unfortunately, we've no idea if these two will spread to any other Comcast markets, but there's no harm in hoping, eh?[Thanks, Daniel H.]
DirecTV to carry four new HD Disney owned channels in 2008
While they can hardly count these towards the 100 they promised for this year, there is no doubt DirecTV knows that when you are making deals; think long term. Starting in early 2008 ESPNEWS HD will launch as a 24 hour HD simulcast of ESPNEWS when the new studio is complete and will be carried by DirecTV. DirecTV will also carry ABC Family HD, Disney Channel HD, and Toon Disney HD, also released sometime in 2008. These will be the first family oriented HD channels as well as the first 24 news channel to go HD assuming CNN or someone else doesn't beat them to it.[Via DBSTalk.com]
Dave Chappelle, Wildfire in iTunes
The good news: Dave Chappelle is in the iTunes Music Store. The bad news: It's not his show from Comedy Central. "I'm Rick James..." Well, you know how it goes. The Chappelle video [iTunes link] is a nearly one hour stand up special he filmed for Showtime, and costs $1.99.Wildfire [iTunes link] is an ABC Family series (I admit I've never seen it), and seasons 1 and 2 are both available.
