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"