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Vimeo wants to power Facebook, Twitch and YouTube livestreams
Vimeo made clear its focus on its creator community last year when it introduced livestreaming tools, now it's expanding its efforts with new distribution features that will help creators grow and expand their audiences. Announced today are "Simulcast" and "Publish to Social", both designed with creators in mind and, no doubt, to help the platform develop its visibility beyond a single destination.
Watch Snowden talk 'Snowden' with Oliver Stone next month
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden's telepresence world tour has another stop: a conversation following an early screening of the upcoming Oliver Stone biopic, Snowden. The Oscar-winning director will also be a part of the fireside chat, but rather than beaming in from Moscow, according to Deadline he'll be joining from New York. That, in a nutshell, is the difference between being wanted by the federal government and making a movie about someone wanted by the federal government.
First episodes of '24: Live Another Day' to be simulcast with the US
Not wanting to be left behind by networks across the pond, Sky's been pulling out all of the stops to broadcast big-budget TV shows at the same time as its American counterparts. Following the season four premiere of HBO's Game of Thrones, which saw 538,000 viewers opt to return to Westeros way past their bedtime, the broadcaster has confirmed it's hashed out another simulcast deal, this time teaming up with with Fox to mark the return of Jack Bauer to UK TV screens. The opening double bill of 24: Live Another Day will air on Sky1 at 1am on May 6th, the same time as when US viewers will be tuning in. The 12-part series will revert to its traditional 9pm slot from then on, but it will also be available on-demand. After a surge in Game of Thrones streams managed to bring Now TV and HBO Go servers down yesterday, we wonder if Sky will be better prepared for when Jack comes back.
Series finale of Lost is headed overseas faster than usual
Good news for anyone watching Lost outside the US who doesn't already chase down new episodes on torrents, newsgroups, Rapidshare or wherever else, for the final episode several countries will see it aired at the same time as the West Coast broadcast here, while a total of 59 countries will watch within 24-48 hours. Disney Media Networks is crediting the shortened window to the show's great appeal (and the fact people may be killed over revealing spoilers before it airs locally) which will bring it to UK, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Israel, and Turkey in the (no subtitles) simulcast. Check after the break for the other broadcasters on an accelerated schedule.
Government workshop on evaluation of broadband included Second Life users
This morning's workshop on using broadband internet to increase the US government's transparency and citizen participation included a brand new feature -- Second Life participation.The workshop was streamed live to the MacArthur Foundation's island in Second Life as a representative forwarded questions from the citizens over to the participants of the FCC's workshop. Second Life citizens were able to be hands on with the workshop, getting their questions sent over a specific channel to be answered as they came in."In developing our nation's National Broadband Plan, we are committed to finding innovative, cutting-edge ways -- both online and offline -- to reach out to the public and elicit suggestions, questions, and insight regarding our nation's broadband future," said Jen Howard, the FCC chairman's spokesperson, to New World Notes. "We are delighted that this first workshop will have an aperture into Second Life and that staff is experimenting in such ways to reach all stakeholders."[Via GamePolitics] Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.
Why aren't MTV HD's music videos in high definition?
Our friends at TV Squad are asking the same question we've had many times, what's up with MTV's treatment of HD? Specifically, why doesn't the MTV or VH1 HD simulcast channel air music videos in high definition? While it was news to us that MTV even aired music videos anymore, it's sad to see how poorly its handling the simulcast channel, though we don't have reception at this branch of the EHD HQ yet, word is they couldn't even keep simple things like the Real World HD broadcast straight last season. That's no surprise for a network that treats its simulcast like a redheaded stepchild (try finding a mention of it on MTV.com or Viacom's website) and staunchly refuses to loose any details of precisely which shows will be broadcast in high definition no matter how many times we ask, and we'll not even get into the endless loop of repeated programming that has become Palladia. Considering one can view any music video on YouTube in "HD" with little trouble, it's even more disturbing that MTV is so far behind the times.
Australia's Seven, Nine and Ten not leaping to add new digital channels
Australia's Seven, Nine and Ten -- the three free-to-air networks in the country -- are now free to launch new digital channels to supplement their current offerings, but on the whole, there's not much excitement about doing so. Thus far, the only one that has even announced plans to launch a new channel with distinct programming is Ten, which hopes to debut a 24-hour HD sports channel dubbed One. If everyone would follow suit, the commercial networks alone could offer a total of nine stations with unique programming. Sadly, the networks have known about this opportunity for two years now, but it seems to us that everyone might be waiting around for another to seriously approach the opportunity before they follow suit. Monkey see, monkey do, right?
Fox News Channel launches HD simulcast this week
Thanks to a little TWC slippage, we already knew good and well that Fox News HD was on the way, but now it seems that the channel will be launching in more places than just Brooklyn and Queens. Starting on May 1st, Time Warner Cable subscribers in "select areas" will be graced with the station, and not surprisingly, the metro New York systems will be the first to pick it up. We're also told that agreements are in place to bring Fox News HD to San Antonio, but it seems that other cities (and those on other carriers) will be forced to wait for an indefinite amount of time. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
QVC HD gives couch-based shoppers a closer look at overpriced wares
Because there's not one single SD-only channel still out there that needs to make the leap to high-def, we're seeing QVC take its home shopping extravaganzas to the next level. Right on cue, the famed home shopping network has announced an HD simulcast of its domestic broadcast, though no operators have been announced just yet. According to QVC's Senior Vice President of Affiliate Sales and Marketing Al Ulozas, the company is "presently in negotiations with [its] affiliates for carriage," and you can bet your bottom dollar that this steaming pile of waste will hit the EPG long before ESPNews HD (or any other mildly relevant channel) ever shows up en masse.
HGTV and Food Network to begin HD simulcast
For a large chunk of HD aficionados, we won't even give a show a chance if it's not being brought to us in at least 720p. Still, for those sick and tired of having SD and HD programs on HGTV and Food Network on separate schedules, your life is about to get a whole lot better. All exaggeration aside, both of the aforementioned networks are set to start simulcasting their "standard-definition and high-definition feeds to cable and satellite affiliates beginning March 31." Potentially more interesting was the note that Food Network "plans to ramp up its production of high-definition programs and is upgrading its Chelsea Market studios in New York to full high-definition capability." So yeah, some of your favorite shows may get shuffled about a bit at the month's end, but that's what your HD DVR is there to manage, right?
NFL Network allows Patriots vs. Giants Simulcast on NBC & CBS
Don't have NFL Network? You'll still be able to see the New England Patriots chase perfection as the league has apparently caved, allowing CBS and NBC to simulcast its feed Saturday night. If the Patriots defeat the Giants, they'll become only the second NFL team to have an undefeated regular season. The NFL has never had a three network simulcast before, and this is the first simulcast since CBS and NBC teamed up on Super Bowl I in 1967. While we were really looking forward to a rerun of Law & Order: SVU, we'll somehow get over it when the game kicks off Saturday at 8 p.m.
