I read a post on the CED Magazine site that made me smile - Netflix signs on to stream movies to Sony’s Bravia TVs, just by connecting my TV to my broadband modem, I can access online video, music and content from more than 25 providers, including Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube, Sports Illustrated, Sony Pictures, Crackle, Slacker, Epicurious.com, Concierge.com, Style.com and Dailymotion.com. Not that I have much time for viewing video, not when “America’s Got Talent” is so fricken awesome!! I love the Sexy & Dangerous duo!
Judge not lest ye be judged!
Forgive me, I digress…back to my TV — “Sony was first to bring Internet video to the TV, and we continue to deliver one of the largest and most diverse catalogs of content to customers through Bravia Internet Video,” said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of Sony Electronics’ television business. “Adding Netflix gives many of our customers access to a vast library of streaming content through their existing Netflix accounts.”
So, now what does streaming media have to do with old school SMPTE Broadcast? You be the judge! Look out….
Read the full post here
Blockbuster shares spiked today according to a report sent out by TheStreet.com. Shares of Blockbuster were rallying 9.3% to 80 cents, and TiVo was rising 2% to $7.12. Shares of Netflix, meanwhile, were down 2.9% to $42.18. (Change: 
-2.39 | -5.50%)
TiVo HEART Blockbuster
Yesterday, a Press Release was issued by Blockbuster Corporate that announced that they will make on-demand videos available to TiVo users in an apparent attempt to compete with NetFlix, in the wake of issues surrounding NetFlix’s “Watch Now” service, which they say stems from ISP throttling, in home congestion, MAC/PC and general connectivity issues, but I personally don’t like Silverlight as a plug in, especially since there is no elegant roll-back option once installed, and it really is a pain in the rear to get into the various browsers I use in the first place. (Just take a look at the Installation Forum for Microsoft Silverlight!)
The Blockbuster on-demand service “will be integrated into TiVo Series2™, Series3™, TiVo HD, and TiVo HD XL DVRs. The move by two leaders in home entertainment will make it even easier for all broadband connected TiVo subscribers to download Blockbuster’s content and enjoy a complete television entertainment experience on their individual schedules using TiVo, the best and most comprehensive single solution for delivery and simple, intuitive navigation of broadband, broadcast, and cable content – all from one remote control.”
The release goes on to say, “TiVo DVRs will be sold at thousands of Blockbuster® stores nationwide as well as online at blockbuster.com, giving both companies new distribution outlets and putting TiVo DVRs and BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand front and center of where video shopping takes place. Additionally, the companies will implement a cross-marketing campaign.”
What do you think??? Comment now!
Netflix
I discovered a NetFlix job posting for the role of Director of Encoding Operations on the StreamingMedia.com job board – I decided to red-line the job post with the dialogue as I heard it play out in my head - There is a true irony about the timing and wording of their post, especially in light of the recent announcement Chief Executive Officer Reed Hastings made, “Netflix Inc. may allow customers to pay solely for online-video streaming by late this year or 2010 as more viewers watch content directly from the Internet“. I suppose they have to get it working first though…
The special “skill set” as described is foreboding, to say the least – but jobs are tight and it seems like they are hiring, so go for it if you qualify.