Interactive TV Headlines Round-Up 2/17/15 (IV): HbbTV, HBO, Vimeo, Hulu, Imagine, Instagram, IAB, ITV Studios, JW Player, Kaltura, MiCasa, MiTu, MLBAM, NBCU, Netflix
February 16, 2015
Because the [itvt] editorial team has been busy working on The TV of Tomorrow Show 2015 (June 23rd-24th in San Francisco--purchase your Super Early-Bird tickets here!), we are covering stories in this issue in headlines/round-up format:
- Version 2.0 of the HbbTV Hybrid-TV Specification Released; "Two Major Themes" of the Update Are "the Addition of Support for Companion Screens (Tablets or Phones) and Synchronization to Broadcast-Delivered Content"
- HBO's Chairman and CEO, Richard Plepler, Says its Standalone OTT Service Will Launch Later this Year; Adds that "it's a Premium Product and it Will Be Priced Accordingly"
- IAC: Vimeo Grew Revenues 30% and Surpassed 560,000 Paid Subscribers in Q4, 2014
- Imagine Communications Joins Sony's "Networked Media Interface" Initiative, which Seeks to "Resolve Key Technology Challenges to Provide UHD/4K Baseband Signals over IP"
- Imagine Completes Acquisition of RGB Networks
- Gap Launches 12-Episode Soap-Opera "Microseries" on Instagram Video; Each Episode Is 15 Seconds Long; Instagram Began Offering Video Advertising Last Fall
- James Franco to Star in "11/22/63," an Original Hulu Series from Stephen King and JJ Abrams
- Instagram Videos Now Support Vine-Like "Looping"
- Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Names WPP Digital President and Xaxis Chairman, David J. Moore, Chair of the IAB Tech Lab's Board of Directors; Promotes Scott Cunningham to SVP to Lead Tech Lab Initiatives
- Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Adds Day to NewFronts Schedule to Accommodate 10 New Presenters (for a Total of 33); However, Founding Presenter, Microsoft, Will not Participate this Year
- ITV Studios America Names Bruce Gersh to Newly Created Position of EVP and Head of Digital, Strategy and Branded Entertainment
- JustWatch Launches a "Search Engine for Cord-Cutters"
- Online and Mobile Video Technology Provider, JW Player, Launches Android SDK
- JW Player Says its Flagship Player Surpassed 1 Billion Unique Monthly Viewers in December; Company also Says its Revenue and Customer Base "Grew Exponentially" in 2014
- JW Player Releases Version 6.11 of its Video Player; New Features Include Faster Video Streaming, Multi-Language Soundtracks and Caption Text, Time-Based Metadata, Chromecast Flash Support (December 4th)
- Womensforum.com Taps JW Player to Upgrade its WomensForumTV Platform (October 20th)
- Kaltura Tapped by Kabel Deutschland to Power its New OTT App
- UK Soap Opera Veterans Seek Kickstarter Funding for New TV Drama, "Storylines"; People who Donate £500 Will Be Offered Chance to Participate in Recording of Show's Theme Tune; those who Donate £1,000 Will Receive Walk-On Role
- Liberty Global Claims 1 Million Subscribers for its Horizon TV Advanced-TV Platform
- Matchstick, the Company Seeking to Build a Kickstarter-Backed Streaming Stick Based on Firefox OS, Postpones Product's Launch from February to August
- MaxLinear to Buy STB/Connected-Home Chipmaker, Entropic, for $287 Million
- MCB Network's MiCasa Network Supplements its Over-the-Air Distribution with New Apps/Channels for iPhone, Android and Roku; Network Is Targeted at Hispanic Millennials
- Latino-Focused YouTube MCN, MiTu, Raises $15 Million in Series-B Funding; Investors Include AMC Networks
- MLBAM's Pioneering OTT Service, MLB.TV, Launches for 2015; Updates Include a Reengineered HD Media Player (Version 5.0), Distribution of MLB.TV Premium via PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV, Spanish-Language Audio Overlay Option for All Games
- NBCUniversal Partners with Jeep on "#RenegadeLifeContest" Social Advertising Campaign for 2015 Jeep Renegade
- NBCUniversal Launches "Saturday Night Live" Smartphone App, Featuring 300+ Hours of Video Content
- NBC Sports Digital Trumpets Success of its Super Bowl Social-Media Efforts
- Netflix Accidentally (?) Releases Season 3 of "House of Cards" 2 Weeks Early
- Canadian Telco/Pay-TV Operator, Telus, to Launch Netflix on its Optik TV Platform
- Netflix to Launch in Japan this Fall
- Netflix Now Available in Cuba
-
Report: Netflix Developing Live-Action Series, Based on "Legend of Zelda"
HbbTV
HbbTV 2.0 Specification
JustWatch
SNL Mobile App
Region:
North America