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NBC CEO claims Facebook has 'no respect' for pro content
NBC CEO Steve Burke talked to The Information about the current state of the media industry and seemed very unimpressed by Facebook's video efforts. While the social network just launched the Watch section it's trying to flood with video Burke finds it lacking. At least, lacking in comparison to the social network NBCUniversal has $500 million invested in, Snapchat. The "unsustainable" Facebook "doesn't allow us to put ads in and sell them," while Snapchat does. We guess that means NBCUniversal won't pull in a large portion of the $1 billion Facebook reportedly plans to spend on original content next year, but there's always a chance today's competitors can become tomorrow's partners. Oh, and if you're wondering whether or not the Comcast-enmeshed NBC could pull a Disney and sell its content via streaming it seems unlikely -- he's more interested in the possibility of $50 internet packages with add-on a la carte channels.
Nielsen ratings give credit for Facebook, YouTube and Hulu views
Media ratings giant Nielsen announced today that publishers will now get credit for digital video content aired on Facebook, Hulu and YouTube. "Through capturing this audience, Nielsen is providing publishers, agencies and advertisers with a better picture of today's media consumption, with comparable metrics," said Nielsen's president of product leadership, Megan Clarken, in a statement.
NBC will shut down its Seeso comedy streaming service this year
NBC's experiment in a comedy streaming service, Seeso, wasn't long for this world -- the outfit is shutting down later this year. There's no explanation as to why, but it notes that its original series There's... Johnny! won't premiere later in August as a result. Thankfully, this and other shows will live on. Some of them already have new homes, NBC says. It doesn't take too much work to divine why Seeso called it quits mere months after its January debut. As a niche streaming service, it just didn't capture attention in the same way as all-encompassing alternatives like Amazon, Hulu or Netflix. There were layoffs in June, and the relatively thin selection of originals didn't help matters, either. This doesn't mean that specialty streaming can't work, but it faces an uphill battle when you can spend just a few dollars more per month to access a much larger video catalog.
Comcast's live TV streaming service could launch by year’s end
Earlier this year, rumors circulated that Comcast was planning to launch Xfinity Instant TV, a live TV streaming service for Comcast internet customers that don't have a cable package. During an earnings conference call today, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke said the service could be launched before the year's end, though no official date was set.
PlayStation Vue's $10 sports add-on includes NFL RedZone
You already get a healthy dose of sports with a PlayStation Vue subscription, but what if you need more? Sony is happy to help. It just launched a $10 per month Sports Pack that adds 13 channels, including season-specific and regional networks. It's particularly big for football fans: you'll get the game day-focused NFL RedZone and (for college games) ESPN Goal Line. ESPN Bases Loaded provides a college baseball fix during the NCAA championship, ESPN Classic offers on-demand sports and Outside TV caters to the adventurous crowd.
The traditional sports world is taking eSports into the mainstream
Five years ago, you couldn't have imagined video game competitions being broadcasted on the same channel as traditional sports. TV networks have been historically obsessed with pastimes such as baseball, basketball, football and soccer, but times are changing. Thanks to the massive popularity of eSports, driven in large part by the internet-streaming generation, the entertainment landscape has transformed drastically over the past couple of years. Nowadays, US channels like Disney XD, ESPN, NBC and TBS are all trying to put eSports on the same level as traditional sports, with the end goal being to reach new, younger audiences. Want to watch a EA's FIFA or Rocket League tournament on ESPN? Well, you can do just that.
NBC's twice-daily Snapchat news show is live
If you're reading this, there's a real chance that you don't turn on the TV (if you even have one) when you're looking for news -- you're more likely to check the web or a favorite mobile app. And NBC News knows it. The network is launching a twice-daily Snapchat news show, Stay Tuned, to keep the smartphone crowd up to speed. Each 3-minute clip is effectively a condensed, slightly more "youthful" take on a conventional broadcast. The show isn't talking down to viewers, NBC says, but you will see Snapchat-like captions for recorded quotes and other attempts to match the style you expect on the service.
You won't need cable to watch the Premier League next season
Good news for football fans in the US who love the English Premier League: NBC Sports has announced a standalone streaming package that will include 130 games, both live and on-demand, from the upcoming 2017-2018 campaign. The Premier League Pass, which is set to cost $50 per season starting in August, is definitely going to appeal to cord-cutters all over the country -- especially since they'll be able to watch on their desktop, smartphone, tablet and TV with a compatible set-top box. Bye bye, illegal streams.
NBC is the next big TV network to jump into eSports
Seemingly every big TV network wants in on eSports. NBC Sports has revealed that it's launching an international two-on-two Rocket League tournament this summer. It'll start online July 22nd with regional qualifiers using Faceit's eSports platform, but players will eventually face each other in person through studio competitions and the grand finals on August 26th and 27th. Naturally, there will be plenty of video coverage: NBC is promising over 40 hours across both online sources and TV, including live coverage of the finals on NBCSN (in the US) and Syfy (in the UK and other countries).
NBC and Viacom are making original shows for Musical.ly
Musical.ly might have professionally made original shows to offer along with user-produced content sometime in the future. According to Bloomberg, the music video app is currently talking to Viacom and Comcast's NBCUniversal about creating original programming for its users. Musical.ly is reportedly interested in interactive shows that encourage the community to participate instead of heavily produced ones. The publication's sources didn't get more specific than that, only noting that the Chinese company's purpose is to widen its appeal by offering videos that focus on, say, comedy or sports.
Hulu adds NBC networks to its upcoming live TV service
When Hulu debuted its plans to stream live TV in addition to its day-after offerings there was a big peacock-shaped gap. That's changed. Today the streaming company announced that it'll have programming from NBC-and-Telemundo owned networks available when the live-streaming service launches.
Comcast hopes to launch an NBC-focused streaming TV service
Comcast is apparently more than a little envious of internet-only streaming services like CBS All Access and HBO Now. Bloomberg contacts claim that the cable giant is planning to introduce an online video service that would revolve around shows from NBCUniversal networks, including Bravo, SyFy and USA. Most of the details are still up in the air, including whether or not there would be a live feed, but the aim would be to launch sometime within the next 12 to 18 months (sometime in mid-to-late 2018).
NBC invested $500 million in Snap's IPO
Yesterday, Snap Inc. (parent company of Snapchat) finally went public -- and despite some controversy, it had a pretty good first day on the stock exchange. As it turns out, that's due in part to a massive investment from NBC Universal, which put a whopping $500 million into the company. CNBC (which is obviously owned by NBC Universal) reports that the deal was a "strategic investment and partnership" and that it's the only such investment from a US media company.
Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 360-degree video
Let's be honest: no matter how much you like watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, it loses a lot of its thunder if you aren't in New York City to witness it first-hand. However, you might get a better feel for it with the 2016 event. Macy's, NBCUniversal and our corporate overlords at Verizon are planning to livestream the parade in 360 degrees as soon as it kicks off on November 24th at 9AM Eastern. If you have a browser or device that can handle 360-degree YouTube video, you too can watch the floats and marching bands almost as if you were streetside. There will be numerous 360-degree cameras placed at "strategic points" on the route to add a dash of variety. No, this won't help you skip the less-than-enthralling segments, but those so-so moments will at least will be more immersive than ever before.
Comcast is reportedly in talks to buy DreamWorks Animation
In the past Dreamworks Animation has been mentioned as a possible purchase for companies including Fox, Hasbro and Softbank, but now reports say it's in talks with Comcast. The Wall Street Journal first reported the discussions, claiming Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg is courting an offer from the cable behemoth of over $3 billion. The live action arm of Dreamworks, now renamed Amblin Studios, is distributed by Comcast's Universal Pictures which could bring the two back together in a way after the animation arm spun off on its own in 2004. Also, as The Hollywood Reporter mentions, Universal is already home to Illumination Entertainment, which created Despicable Me and Minions, and sees the two as a competitor to Disney/Pixar.
NBC's comedy streaming service arrives on Roku and Fire TV
NBC's comedy streaming service officially went live back in January after a month-long preview. As of today, the monthly subscription is now available on two popular streaming devices. Roku and Amazon Fire TV owners can now take advantage of Seeso for genre-specific content. And yes, the $4/month service is also available on the Fire TV Stick. Seeso offers on-demand access to original series, late-night NBC shows, network series, movies and more. If you're still waiting for Seeso to reach your streaming gadget of choice, NBCUniversal says it'll be available on more platforms "in the coming months." For now, the web, iOS and Android are the current alternatives to Roku and Amazon's gear.
Reality TV streaming service Hayu launches in the UK
Humans are a strange species. Some of us, when not busy doing our own thing, like to sit in front of the gogglebox and watch the lives of others play out -- or, the contrived, semi-scripted lives of others, anyway. From Keeping Up with the Kardashians to Made in Chelsea, NBCUniversal is responsible some of the most popular reality TV shows. It makes so many, in fact, that today it's launched a new streaming service in the UK and Ireland created specifically for avid people-watchers.
NBCUniversal has a streaming service for reality TV fans
If you're a fan of American reality TV shows but you live in the UK, Ireland or Australia, you'll soon be in luck. NBCUNiversal announced Hayu, a streaming service dedicated to the high-quality content only reality television can offer. The monthly subscription will give viewers in those locales access to over 3,000 episodes of shows like The Real Housewives, Top Chef franchises, Made in Chelsea, The Millionaire Matchmaker and RuPaul's Drag Race. And, perhaps most importantly, Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its spinoffs will be included, too.
NBC's comedy streaming service starts free beta preview December 3rd
If you want to give SeeSo a shot before signing up, you'll get your chance next month. NBC's comedy streaming service will be available as a limited free public beta starting December 3rd. During the web-only trial period, viewers can expect to watch classics from Monty Python, including The Flying Circus, The Meaning of Life, Holy Grail, and Life of Brian. There's also the likes of 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Saved By the Bell, and both the US and UK versions of The Office. If that wasn't enough to convince you to check it out, episodes of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers will be available the day after they air alongside 40 years of Saturday Night Live sketches.
Syfy will premiere 'The Expanse' online before it hits cable
If enough time has passed for you to be comfortable calling the network "Syfy," perhaps you'll check out its new TV show. The Expanse is based on a popular series of novels by the same name, following a detective and a ship's captain pursuing the case of a missing young woman before it uncovers a larger universe-spanning conspiracy (which is what usually happens). While its two-night TV premiere is planned for December 14th/15th, the first episode will hit streaming services later this month on November 23rd. Of course that includes Syfy.com, the Syfy Now app and On Demand, but also Hulu, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes, Playstation, Xbox, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Wikia, IGN, IMDb, Good Reads, Crave Online and Roku. The only question now is whether or not it's actually worth watching even for free -- hopefully the trailer embedded after the break helps answer that one.
