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NBC's $7 billion Olympics deal will keep the games tied to cable TV until you're old
We hope you love how NBC handles its Olympic Games broadcasts, because it just locked up broadcast rights on TV, internet and mobile devices until 2032. NBC previously outbid rivals from ABC/ESPN and Fox with a $4.38 billion offer for the broadcast rights through 2020, and the new extension runs things out for twelve more years at a price of $7.65 billion, with a tiny $100 million signing bonus "for the promotion of Olympism" between 2015 and 2020. The good news, is that NBC has at least seen the light on live broadcasting, and made all the events (except for the Opening Ceremony) available for viewing as they happened on the internet or TV during the 2014 Winter Games. Of course -- rather predictably since NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast -- it's still tying access to those internet streams to having a cable or satellite TV subscription, and it seems unlikely that will change any time soon. [Image credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images]
Japan gets Niconico PS4 streaming on April 30
PlayStation 4 owners in Japan will have the option to stream gameplay to Niconico, a site that lets users upload, view and share video clips, starting April 30, Sony announced (as translated by Gematsu). Those visiting the Nico Nico Super Conference 3 on April 26 and April 27 will be able to test the streaming functionality in person before it arrives via firmware update. While the two updates may not be related, the upcoming 1.70 firmware for the console brings the ability to save videos and screenshots to a USB drive. The PS4 launched in Japan in February, selling 322,083 units in its opening weekend. According to a translation of the Niconico's website, it will begin offering free one-month trials for PS4 users shortly. The streaming service carries a monthly fee of about $5; it is unclear if the service will require a PlayStation Plus subscription as well. [Image: Sony]
Aereo brings live TV to Chromecast on May 29th
About the only thing Google's $35 Chromecast dongle can't do is let you watch live television, but that won't be the case for much longer. Starting on May 29, streaming television startup Aereo will release an updated version of its Android app that includes support for streaming live broadcast television shows to your Chromecast. Let's rewind for a moment here. In case you hadn't heard, Aereo lets its customers watch over-the-air TV shows from a web browser thanks to a tiny antenna that captures the signals for storage on a remotely accessible server. That means you'll be able to binge catch and store all those episodes of Jeopardy from the comfort of... anywhere you can get a data connection, really. That Aereo would support Chromecast isn't a surprise -- CEO Chet Kanojia basically said as much at an investor conference last year -- but it helps fill a crucial gap in the Chromecast's content library.
Access Twitch servers from Paris, with love
Gameplay broadcasting platform Twitch announced the addition of servers in Paris, France, bolstering the service's stability in Europe. The Paris addition is just the latest in a string of Twitch overhauls; Twitch also upgraded its infrastructure this month in Dallas and London while Los Angeles got a facelift back in January. December saw an upgrade for Amsterdam, as well as a new a "point-of-presence" in Prague. Of course, this good news will particularly surface when Joystiq Streams eventually tours the globe, streaming games like Dark Souls 2 and Infamous: Second Son from exotic locales (hey, one can hope). Twitch's improvements in the past few months go beyond its infrastructure, as the company launched support for iOS and Android game streaming, as well as its app for Xbox One. Twitch also inked a deal to become E3's official streaming partner for three years following its corporate umbrella name change in February. [Image: Twitch]
First Twitch broadcasting iOS game is Gameloft racer Asphalt 8
The first mobile game to include Twitch broadcast options within the app is Gameloft's Asphalt 8: Airborne, Twitch announced today. An upcoming update for the iOS racing game will allow players to stream gameplay, their voices and faces using the iPhone and iPad's front-facing cameras and view their channel's chatroom while playing. Asphalt 8 broadcasters will also have the option to archive their streamed gameplay and share them with others. Twitch unveiled its expansion into the iOS and Android market with its software development kit earlier this month. following the company's official rebrand in February. Asphalt 8, currently free to download on the App Store, will receive its third, broadcast-enabling update "soon." Twitch broadcasting functionality in the game is optimized specifically for iPhone 5S, iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina Display devices. [Image: Gameloft]
Twitch opens the doors for iOS and Android broadcasting
Video game broadcasting service Twitch announced an expansion of its streaming services to a new branch of gaming platforms today: mobile devices. Players will be able to stream, capture and archive gameplay on both Android and iOS once developers enable the functionality in their games with Twitch's new mobile software development kit. If implemented by developers, users will be able to toy with video capture options for front-facing cameras, audio capture using either internal or external microphones and the ability to archive streams on Twitch and upload them to sharing channels. Other features include the standard high, medium and low quality broadcast settings and integration of Twitch's chat system. The news follows the company's official rebrand in February, at which point it announced that it reached one million active broadcasters per month. Twitch noted in today's announcement that its mobile livestream viewing app has been installed more than 10 million times on Android and iOS. [Image: Twitch.tv]
Verizon demonstrating LTE Multicast during Super Bowl XLVIII (hands-on video)
As part of its massive Super Bowl sponsorship, Verizon has taken over a good chunk of Manhattan's Bryant Park. We're at the Verizon Power House this morning, a heated oasis in the otherwise frigid city center, where reps are detailing the carrier's LTE Multicast service, which enables transmitting live content directly to a variety of VZ devices using the existing network infrastructure. Unlike basic LTE streaming, however, Multicast allows for an uninterrupted video feed regardless of the number of devices currently using the service in any particular area. We first heard about Verizon's implementation at CES 2013, and it looks like Big Red's planning to flip the switch during the first half of this year, though a pricing model, precise availability and device compatibility haven't been detailed. If you're in NYC this week, however, you'll be able to snag a sneak peek of Multicast running on a Sequans-powered tablet and a Galaxy Note 3. The service is currently live at a demo room in Verizon's Bryant Park booth.
Sacramento Kings set to broadcast using Google Glass, accept Bitcoins
Watching hoops from the stands or on TV is great, but have you ever wanted to see an NBA game from the perspective of a coach, cheerleader or broadcaster? That's going to happen on January 24th during a Sacramento Kings broadcast vs. the Indiana Pacers, as select players and staff will be decked out in Google Glass -- along with the team's mascot, announcers, dancers and others. All that will be coordinated by a company called CrowdOptic, which will analyze in real time where all the devices are aimed and distill everything to a manageable feed for broadcast. At the same time, the Kings have announced that it'll be the first pro sports franchise to accept Bitcoins, letting fans purchase merchandise and tickets by March 1st using the virtual currency. There's a video after the break to give you a sneak peak at the players-eye-view -- we'll have to see if they're smiling as much after the game.
Aereo chief: We're fighting for consumers' rights to watch TV with an antenna and DVR
Big media may have thought its deep pockets and love of ceaseless litigation would break Aereo's bank and spirit, but the cloud-based DVR company is sticking to its guns. In a statement released just today, Aereo head Chet Kanojia said that his company wouldn't oppose a petition brought against the company by ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, setting the table for a case in the Supreme Court. Kanojia echoed much of what Cablevision itself expressed in a white paper earlier today, saying that he believes the end goal of this court battle could ultimately strike down a 2008 ruling in favor of Cablevision's cloud DVR tech, which laid the groundwork for many of the cloud-based services we enjoy today. Though Aereo and Cablevision are in different positions when it comes to retransmission fees, both parties argue that the broadcasters' suit, if successful, could slow or even reverse the trend of technological progress, innovation and consumer choice. For Aereo's part, a potential Supreme Court case could also provide a much-needed light at the end of the tunnel -- a final ruling in a recent string of lower court victories that would free up its resources and allow the company to pursue nationwide expansion unburdened. That's if the Supreme Court even decides to hear the case -- it declined to hear an appeal on Cablevision's remote storage DVR in 2009 -- as that decision won't come until sometime in 2014.
PS4 creates 100,000 new users, 10 percent of Twitch traffic
It seems PS4 owners are more than a little curious when it comes to testing out a bit of Battlefield 4 livestreaming. Sony announced today that its new console has accounted for 10 percent of Twitch content since its launch last month. Confirming the numbers, the streaming outfit added that the figure was tallied based on broadcast minutes. Twitch has also added over 100,000 new PlayStation 4 streamers in that time, pushing its user base to over 700,000 total across all platforms. Here's what Matthew DiPietro, VP of Marketing at Twitch, had to say about the stats: When people look back at the true game changers of 2013, the integration of Twitch into the current generation consoles will be on the short list. As testament to the growing appeal of live broadcasting video game content, the amount of broadcasters on Twitch has grown from around 600,000 in October to more than 700,000 in November. In addition to more than 100K new broadcasters signing up since the launch of PlayStation 4, PS4 owners make up ten percent of all content on Twitch based on minutes broadcast.
Sky becomes first UK TV network to broadcast live 4K video
Remember how we'd heard that a British broadcaster is trialing 4K TV? We have a hunch as to which company that is: Sky now claims that it's the first UK TV network to have conducted a live 4K broadcast. The firm captured a weekend Premier League match in ultra high resolution using the same infrastructure it normally requires for a live show, with satellites delivering a feed to the company's Isleworth broadcast center. Commercial service remains distant, mind you -- Sky requires both more research and wider adoption of 4K TVs to justify an upgrade. If everything falls into place, though, Sky could have an advantage over rival providers that have yet to venture beyond HD.
KT Skylife plans to trial 4K satellite TV service in 2014
Satellite TV in Ultra HD quality is no longer just a dream: following a successful test broadcast this week, KT Skylife has unveiled a roadmap for offering 4K TV to its subscribers. The Korean provider plans to trial one channel of UHD content in the efficient H.265 (HEVC) video format next year, with a full commercial launch due in 2015. Widespread availability will depend on KT Skylife's ability to clear regulatory hurdles, CEO Jae-chul Moon says. The real challenge, however, may be finding customers with Ultra HD TVs. While prices are falling quickly, there's no guarantee that 4K sets will be commonplace in two years' time.
Ofcom shows DAB done on the cheap, lays groundwork for digital community radio
While DAB radio is common in the UK, its broadcasting equipment is usually too expensive for community broadcasters. However, Ofcom's Rashid Mustapha has shown that the technology is now within reach of amateurs. Taking advantage of DAB's newly patent-free status, Mustapha tested a low-power digital transmitter based on an open source software radio and a Linux PC; he only had to stream that radio to an aerial through long-range WiFi. His solution would cost just £1,400 ($2,153) per year to run, letting many community radio operators make the leap to digital. The study doesn't represent an automatic green light for low-power DAB -- more work is needed, Mustapha says -- but it's clear that small-scale stations won't be stuck in the analog world forever.
BBC to put 3D production on hold following unsuccessful two-year pilot
Just how popular is 3D broadcast content? Not even a tiny bit, if the BBC's latest decision is any indication. Following an announcement that Wimbledon matches would be available in 3D, Britain's top broadcaster has vowed to take a three-year hiatus from producing 3D video. In an interview with Radio Times, Kim Shillinglaw, who heads up the British Broadcasting Corporation's pilot program, cited the cumbersome process consumers face when gearing up to view three-dimensional footage. She'll focus on her secondary position as head of science and natural history during the organization's three-year embargo. A Doctor Who anniversary episode will be the BBC's final 3D program for the year, giving early adopting Brits one last opportunity to slide on their glasses before retiring them to the "junk drawer" until 3D's resounding resurgence.
Engadget's post-WWDC 2013 live broadcast from San Francisco!
Phew! Wasn't that fun? After months and months of abundant speculations, the opening keynote at WWDC 2013 finally allowed us to see some of the things Apple's been working on since its last major event. Still, we can only imagine how keeping track of today's announcements can become a slightly complicated task -- especially with E3 happening as we speak. The good news for you is that, as they did earlier in the day, Tim Stevens and Darren Murph will be hosting a live video broadcast right across the street from where the conference is taking place. So, head on past the jump, where you'll be able to watch along as the Engadget duo goes over the new stuff Apple just unveiled.
Engadget's pre-WWDC 2013 live broadcast from San Francisco!
Apple's 2013 edition of its notorious Worldwide Developers Conference is soon to be underway. But, while we wait for Tim Cook & Co. to hit the stage, who better than our own Tim Stevens and Darren Murph to strike up a conversation about what the Cupertino-based company may have in store for us. All signs point to a seventh major revision of iOS, but will we also see the fabled iWatch? How about the long-rumored iRadio music service? The clock's ticking, so join us after the break as we'll be broadcasting live from outside Moscone West, in beautiful San Francisco.
NHK flaunts 8K Ultra HD compact broadcast camera
While you're still settling in to HDTV, NHK is already looking past 4K toward 8K broadcast trials -- and it has the hardware to do it. The Japanese broadcaster just showed off a compact 8K broadcast camera that uses the H.265 encoder we saw earlier, and packs a 33-megapixel sensor and drive circuits into a mere four square inch package. Unlike NHK's 8K, 120Hz Super Hi-Vision cam, this more compact model runs at 60fps. Broadcast trials are scheduled to begin in 2016 in Japan, regardless of whether you can see the pixels or not. Update: This post originally stated that the camera runs at 120Hz. It is actually 60fps.
Fox threatens to become a pay-TV channel if courts greenlight Aereo, probably doesn't mean it
Quick: what's the difference between a broadcast TV network (Fox, CBS, ABC and NBC) and a cable channel (TBS, TNT, ESPN, etc.)? Oh, only millions and millions of viewers. Nevertheless, Fox's COO Chase Carey is perturbed enough by the mere thought of Aereo getting its way, that he's already claiming that the network will go dark in favor of becoming a cable channel -- if and when OTA network streaming over the internet is completely legalized, that is. Causticism aside, Carey's remarks are certainly indicative of how the networks feel about the potential disruption of their revenue stream, and moreover, showcases just how far we are from living in a world that isn't dominated by the same old processes when it comes to entertainment. Carey stated: "We need to be able to be fairly compensated for our content. This is not an ideal path we look to pursue, but we can't sit idly by and let an entity steal our signal. We will move to a subscription model if that's our only recourse." Is it possible that Fox would suddenly vanish from over-the-air antennas everywhere, screwing up countless programming agreements with a near-endless amount of partners? Sure... but it's also possible that the ninth circle of Hades will be converted into an NHL arena. We're calling your bluff, Carey. Update: According to the New York Times, Univision chairman Haim Saban joined the saber rattling, stating that his network is ready to consider all options, including converting to pay-tv.
BBC toasts 90 years of innovation and posh accents, asks 'where next?'
Many of the BBC's recent technological feats speak for themselves: iPlayer, 8K, HD, Britain's digital switchover, and yes, even Planet Earth itself. Go back further in time, however, and facts tend not to speak so loudly -- which is probably why Auntie Beeb commissioned the video after the break. In the space of 60 seconds, it traces 90 years worth of publicly-funded innovation, from the birth of BBC Radio in 1922, to Ceefax in 1974 and the BBC Micro in 1981. It's part of a wider campaign in the UK to "get people excited about we're headed next," and although that direction is never made totally explicit, we reckon we have an idea.
Engadget's Sony PlayStation event wrap-up broadcast: live from New York City!
The curtain has been opened, the kimono is off and everything has been revealed. Now it's time to break down all the news from Sony's PlayStation event and put it in context. Join Engadget's Tim Stevens and Joystiq's Ludwig Kietzmann in a live broadcast from New York City at the time below: February 20, 2013 8:20 PM EST
