World TV PC UK

Android Smartphones Get Sky Go

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:01:43 +0000

The impressive Sky Go TV-on-demand service app which has been running on Apple devices since last summer, is finally coming to the Android platform, Sky have announced.

Sky Go app coming to some Android sets

The new Sky Go app for Android will let customers of the Sky satellite service stream a selection of sports, movies and news on Android mobile devices.

The news is not all good though, as not all Android mobiles will get the app. The app will work on popular models from Samsung and HTC. The app will work on:-

Samsung Galaxy SSamsung Galaxy S2HTC DesireHTC Desire SHTC Desire HDHTC Incredible SHTC Sensation

The reason for the mishmash of working models is due to hardware differences which also befell the Netflix Android app. That problem was eventually sorted out and Netflix runs on most models now.

Sky have said that they will, “tailor the Sky Go app for each model of smartphone which takes considerable time.”

The news comes after Sky also announced a plan to launch a full internet TV service for the 13 million UK homes that currently don’t subscribe to standard satellite TV.android phones, android mobiles, sky go android app, sky go android beta

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BBC Found To Be Negative Stereotyping

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:05:43 +0000

A new BBC-commissioned report has found that UK networks are believed to by ‘negatively stereotyping’ selected groups of people, after ‘young people’ and ‘older women’ both stated their strong beliefs that their respective demographic is being ‘misrepresented’ on TV.

A survey (conducted by NatCen Social) that formed part of a report entitled Serving All Ages (organised by the BBC’s ‘Creative Diversity Network’) gave a headline statistic that 40% of ‘young people’ questioned were unhappy at the portrayal of young adults on TV shows. Meanwhile, ‘older women’ interviewed believed that it was more a case that there is a lack of presenters and personalities ‘like them’ on-air, especially in prime-time situations.

This outburst follows on from a legal case made in January 2011 against the BBC, when then 53-year-old Miriam O’Reilly (pictured) successfully sued the public broadcaster when they sacked her from presenting Countryfile (a rural affairs-based magazine show) in favour of younger hosts (in what was dubbed a case of ‘ageist’ discrimination) as the show moved to a more prime-time slot.

The report would note the widespread feeling that there is a lack of ‘middle-aged and older women’ on TV’, and while young people were represented enough (probably more), it was most often in a manner that was ‘unduly negative’ and showed them as ‘disrespectful and unproductive’.

The report stated: “This portrayal [of young people] is also perceived to result in potentially negative consequences for young people and can contribute to distrust between generations. It is also felt to risk creating unrealistic expectations and unattainable goals for young people. There is [also] some concern about the way different ages are sometimes at best presented as slightly humorous but exaggerated caricatures, and at worst as negative stereotypes.”

It was thought that while the main issue with middle-aged women was not their portrayal, stereotypes of older people (as ‘stubborn-ness’ and ‘moaning’) were still claimed by interviewees as being used too often, while the small number of people on TV screens fitting the demographic was a problem that 40% of participants (in all ages and genders).

The BBC’s director general Mark Thompson, who is also in charge of the ’Cultural Diversity Network’, said of the matter: “There are lessons here for the BBC and the rest of Britain’s broadcasters. It is young people who are most concerned with the way they are portrayed and we need to look at this. But we should also note the concern, expressed by older people generally, about the need for greater visibility for older women. While of course there are many older women presenters and actors across our airwaves, this is something that needs to be addressed.”

Miriam O’Reilly herself is naturally an advocate for more women in her age range to be on-screen, as she recently stated: “There is an entrenched view in television that viewers only want to see young faces. It is an outdated notion. Viewers want to see all ages represented. This report is a clear message to programme makers and they have to start listening. Since I won my ageism claim against the BBC there has been an acceleration in the number of older women on TV, but we are only seeing a token amount in primetime and we have got to see more.”

Will changes be forced to be made to the system for both of the problems found, or is it just a long-standing nature of the entertainment business (young faces and the most ‘interesting’ situations), that cannot be altered for anyone?

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Study Shows Younger Generation Are Watching Most TV shows On The Internet

BT Vision Strike Deal With Miramax For On-Demand TV

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:36:43 +0000

BT Vision customers will soon be able to delve into the archives of entertainment company and movie studio Miramax, after BT announced a licencing agreement that will see the film-distributor’s hits become part of the telecommunications company’s on-demand package.

The carriage deal will make the selected films from Miramax (which could include Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, Kill Bill, and There Will Be Blood, amongst others) accessiable to BT Vision Unlimited users, who are charged a monthly subscription of £12.50 to access channels and catch-up TV packages through an internet-connected set-top box.

Miramax’s CEO Mike Lang said of the move, and what they will add to the service: “Partnering with BT Vision – an exciting company with a strong digital model and reach – is another important step for Miramax as digital channels continue to open up around the world. We remain laser-focused on finding new ways to make the unmatched mix of Miramax films easily accessible – and for BT Vision subscribers, we have for the first time jointly developed a special Miramax branded environment that will make finding and viewing Miramax films as easy as possible.”

The deal is likely to expand on the popularity of films with BT Vision customers, who according to the company view a collective total of over two million on-demand movies per month. The plans are also likely to be seen as BT Vision trying to compete with rival streaming services Netflix and Lovefilm, by offering a selection of new films as an incentive for customers to stay with them.

They might not be so secure in their position in the online TV specialist market come the end of the year, though, as there is an expected launch of YouView (a connected set-top-box service that will be run between a number of networks and companies, including BBC, ITV, and BT themselves) in the first half of 2012, while satellite TV juggernaut Sky have suggested that they will be launching a separate internet TV service (with initial focus on movies) marketed towards UK viewers that have no affiliation to a pay TV package (thought to be a current market of around 13million people).

In the meantime, Sky are planning to expand on their current offering of satellite TV catch-up content by adding the online-based BBC iPlayer and ITV Player to their Sky Anytime service. With numerous developments occuring in the UK’s online TV and streaming markets, will new names manage to fight their way to the top, or will it be the more established names that continue leading the way?

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Related posts: Netflix Get Miramax Content In Multi-Year DealNetflix Add To UK Content Deals With MiramaxBT Vision Introduce BBC iPlayer On Their IPTV PlatformMiramax Streaming Movie Deal Comes To HuluMiramax Rental Movie Service Comes To Facebook

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Year Of Tablets As Sales Hit 67 Million In 2011

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:46:26 +0000

The humble tablet has had a meteoric rise since the launch of Apple’s iPad, which was described as an iPhone without the phone or convenience of fitting into a users pocket. A new report says sales of the tablet PC which are now as familiar as a smartphone, hit nearly 67 million sales in 2011.

Although Apple’s iPad has had record sales Android’s platform has enjoyed 39% cut of 26 million tablets sold around the world in the 4th quarter of 2011, according to latest report from Strategy Analytics. Apple’s iOS has maintained its leading position of 58% share for the 4th quarter.

That report also said over 66 million tablets were sold in 2011 globally, a huge 260% rise from 18 million units in 2010. The report does not include eBooks in its sales figures for tablets.

The Consumer Electronics Association has reported that about 260 million TV sets were sold worldwide in 2011. Unlike tablets, however, TV set sales are expected to rise only slightly to 262 million units in 2012.

“Global tablet shipments reached an all-time high of 26.8 million units in Q4 2011, surging 150% from 10.7 million” Said the director Peter King of Strategy Analytics in a statement, with strong demand from consumers, businesses and educational users.

“Apple shipped a robust 15.4 million iPads worldwide and maintained its strong market leadership with 58% share during the fourth quarter of 2011. Apple shrugged off the much-hyped threat from entry-level Android models this quarter.”

The executive director Neil Mawston at strategy Analytics, added “Android captured a record 39 percent share of global tablet shipments in Q4 2011, rising from 29 percent a year earlier. Global Android tablet shipments tripled annually to 10.5 million units.”

He continued “Dozens of Android models distributed across multiple countries by numerous brands such as Amazon, Samsung, Asus and others have been driving volumes. Android is so far proving relatively popular with tablet manufacturers despite nagging concerns about fragmentation of Android’s operating system, user-interface and app store ecosystem.”

Microsoft has captured a 1% global tablet share in 4th quarter, it will make the future release of Windows 8 later this year particularly important for the company’s efforts to scramble back into the rapidly growing tablet business.

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BBC iPlayer Service Coming To Sky

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:50:26 +0000

The BBC have announced a landmark partnership deal with Sky that will bring the BBC’s VoD service iPlayer into the homes of five million Sky customers this year.

Later this year BBC’s iPlayer will become accessible to Sky customers on their home TV sets. Using BBC’s iPlayer, viewers can catch-up on BBC programmes in the familiar iPlayer experience that they may have missed.

To access the BBC catch-up TV service, users will need a broadband connection and access to the AnyTime Plus internet TV service. Viewers will also be able to use the ITV vod service, ITV Player from today.

The BBC’s goal is to reach all viewers it can, so with Sky’s plan to bring its Anytime+ to customers regardless of who their internet provider is, is a major development in helping to bring BBC iPlayer to around 5 million new homes in 2012 and at no extra charge.

This deal builds on seeing the BBC’s iPlayer on platforms like Virgin Media, BT Vision, FreeSat, Freeview, PlayStation, Wii, along with mobile phones, tablets, and Internet connected TV’s. Launching on Sky Anytime+ rounds off the picture in which BBC’s iPlayer is available on pretty much all major UK TV platforms.

The BBC Director General Mark Thompson said “Having the BBC and Sky work together to further build on the BBC iPlayer success story can only be fantastic news for audiences. Making BBC iPlayer available on all platforms is key to our commitment to universal access and this agreement takes us one step further towards that goal. I’m delighted to take this first step on a story of innovation for both organisations.”

Sky’s Chief Executive Jeremy Darroch, added “Sky Anytime+ will go from strength to strength in 2012 and we are delighted that the addition of BBC iPlayer will allow Sky customers to enjoy the best of the BBC whenever they want.”

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Sky Launching Dedicated Internet TV Service

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:00:26 +0000

Satellite TV giant, Sky are targeting the 13 million UK homes that have no Sky service, and offering an internet TV pay as you go service in the first half of this year.

Sky Internet TV service coming

The service will be an enhanced version of the Sky Go online service and is for customers who do not want to subscribe to to satellite and who do not want a Sky dish plonked on the side of their house. The streaming content can be viewed on laptop, PC, Mac, tablet, console, connected TV and smartphone.

A statement from Sky said they are,”Taking advantage of the rapid growth in broadband-connected devices, and building on Sky’s experience in multi-platform TV, the new service will be an additional choice for people who don’t currently subscribe to a pay TV service.

“The new service will provide instant and simple access to a range of Sky content, including hundreds of films from Sky Movies. Giving consumers even more choice and flexibility, the service will be available to anyone in the UK with a broadband connection.”

The news comes as Sky enforce their commitment to internet TV and just after they revealed that they would offer customers the BBC iPlayer and ITV Player.

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Connected TV Sales Hit A Dip

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:46:36 +0000

A survey research company YouGov claims that consumers in the region are not welcoming smart TV with open arms, with only a small increase of owners following Christmas.

The number of smart TV owners in the UK has been reported as increasing by just 1% during December, after separate results from November claimed that 10% of people surveyed owned a connected TV.

Further results show that 15% of respondents have firm intentions of purchasing a smart TV in 2012, while an additional 16% were open to the possibility of doing so.

The latest survey claims that the level of people that ‘might’ buy a connected set is now at 25%, and that 16% are now set to buy one ‘for certain’, meaning that while potential consumers are warming to the idea of a smart TV (with a total of around 52% currently showing an ‘active interest’ (owning or at least some intent to buy) in the format), sellers could be worried that it is happening at a slower rate than previously anticipated.

YouGov also discovered that games console owner numbers naturally ’saw a big uplift’ during the Christmas period, a medium which they note also provides a form of internet-connected TV services, claiming that this shows the online TV market as a whole is on the rise. Total figures for flat-screen TV sets were also on the increase, with ownership levels reaching 59% of those surveyed, which could be considered as under numbers that some people might estimate.

While it seems as though more alternative TV viewing methods are being looked into by consumers, how fast will the newer and more interactive approaches be taken up by the majority of viewers?

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LoveFilm Deal With Disney Brings ABC TV Shows To UK

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:50:36 +0000

Amazon owned LoveFilm are beefing up their content reserves as they compete with newly launched Netflix UK. They have agreed a deal with Disney for ABC TV streaming rights to hit shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Lost amongst others.

LoveFilm get ABC show streaming rights

The streaming del will allow LoveFilm to show full seasons on-demand after they have aired on TV, and back seasons of some shows will be made available on LoveFilm Instant as well.

Speaking for LoveFilm, CEO Simon Calver said, “Today’s deal with Disney brings (LoveFilm subscribers) access to some of the best American TV content ever produced.”

For the Walt Disney Company, Catherine Powell, senior vice president said, “ABC TV On Demand is home to high quality, compelling US drama, produced by ABC Studios, and launching this service with LOVEFiLM means we are able to offer viewers more choice and flexibility in how and when they can view full seasons of these gripping shows, through one easy-to-use service.”

LoveFilm boasts 2 million subscribers across Europe and offers a streaming-only subscription service for £4.99 monthly (approx $7.50) for web-enabled devices such as PC, PS3, Xbox 360, iPad, Blu-ray players and connected TV sets.

They are currently locked in a content battle with Netflix, who this month launched a streaming service in the UK and Ireland for £5.99 (approx $9.17) monthly. Netflix have struck deals with the BBC, Miramax, ITV, Channel 4, Disney, Lionsgate and Momentum Pictures whilst Lovefilm has deals with Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., BBC Worldwide and ITV, eOne and Studiocanal.

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Online Show Starts Eurovision Campaign

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:00:36 +0000

This year’s version of one of the most popular multi-national annual TV broadcasts got a step closer last night, as event organisers unveiled a number of key details relating to the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, which is being staged in Baku (Azerbaijan).

The singing competition is open to entries from all eligible member nations of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), an organisation that allows national public broadcasters to reach common goals and innovations in TV technology.

The main outlet of this is Eurovision, which has been ongoing since 1956 and broadcast free-to-air through all members (as well as online), and was last year won by Azerbaijani duet Ell & Nikki in Dusseldorf (Germany), with their country’s prize being to host the next edition.

With the final of the contest exactly 4 months away now (26 May), yesterday saw Azerbaijani network Ictmai TV (iTV) produce a live broadcast (from the ‘Buta Palace’) designed mainly for online viewers, showing the official announcements of the contest’s logo and ‘visual identity’, the venue that will be used (the soon-to-be-completed ‘Baku Crystal Hall’), and for the nations that have not been automatically placed in the final, when they will be singing for a chance to get there.

The ‘semi-final allocation draw’, hosted by local TV presenters Leyla Alieva and Nazim Huseynov, saw event officials draw the names of 37 of the 43 participating nations into large groups of two semi-finals (to be held on 22 & 24 May), from which the top 10 of each will make it into the final alongside the hosts (Azerbaijan) and European broadcasting’s long-designated ‘Big 5′ financial contributors (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK), completing a line-up of 26 finalists.

The draw was made partially on a geographical basis to ensure a more even spread throughout the competition, as well as reviewing voting patterns from previous editions, moves which only scratch the surface of the reportedly complex rules of the yearly sing-off. Also drawn was the way that the competition is voted for (with half of the finalists and one semi-final block voting for the opposite semi-final), though the line-up is currently only partially complete, as the draw was only for what ‘part’ of each semi-final the participants would find themselves in (with full line-ups being decided in March).

With some of the key administrative items out of the way, what will be the next developments (namely the singers being chosen) from the big musical names and European nations hoping to conquer in Baku come May 2012?

The current line-up for the Eurovision semi-finals can be seen below:

Semi-Final 1 (22 May)
1st half of show
Albania
Belgium
Finland
Greece
Iceland
Latvia
Montenegro
Romania
Switzerland

2nd half of show
Austria
Cyprus
Denmark
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Moldova
Russia
San Marino

Semi-Final 2 (24 May)
1st half of show
Armenia [participation uncertain]
Belarus
Bulgaria
Macedonia
Malta
Netherlands
Portugal
Serbia
Ukraine

2nd half of show
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Croatia
Estonia
Georgia
Lithuania
Norway
Slovakia
Slovenia
Sweden
Turkey

Final (26 May)
Azerbaijan [votes in semi 1]
France [semi 2]
Italy [semi 1]
Germany [semi 2]
Spain [semi 1]
UK [semi 2]
Top 10 entrants from Semi-Final 1
Top 10 entrants from Semi-Final 2

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New Simon Cowell Show Spins The Disks

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:35:36 +0000

It seems as though Simon Cowell’s collection of ‘new show ideas’ is not running dry any time soon, as he revealed that he is set to launch another new reality TV contest format, this time by working with actor/rapper Will Smith and his wife Jada in a search for ‘the world’s greatest DJs.

Cowell’s Syco Entertainment line will be co-producers of the live ‘international’ TV format with the Smiths’ Overbrook Entertainment division, though little other information is currently known about the plans, such as judges, competition format, or even the networks that would broadcast the show.

Cowell said of the idea, which like last year’s Red or Black gameshow announcement seems to have appeared to the public out of nowhere: “We have been working on this show for over a year and we wanted to partner with the right people. As soon as I met Jada and Miguel from Overbrook, I knew they would be our ideal partners. DJs are the new rock stars, it feels like the right time to make this show.”

Sony Pictures Television are also thought to be involved (namely in the international distribution part of the show), with international production president Andrea Wong saying of the opportunity: “We are thrilled to be working with Simon Cowell and our partners at Overbrook on what we know will be a tremendously successful global format.”

Jada Pinkett-Smith added: “This show will comb the world to find a new breed of talent. I am happy to be creating it alongside Simon Cowell, the Sony team, and my partner Miguel Melendez, on behalf of the Overbrook family.”

Other details of the upcoming series remain under wraps for now it seems, but the last time Cowell strayed too far from the formats he knows best (with even his prized singing shows losing viewers), it did not turn out well ratings-wise. Will this new format bring DJ-ing into the spotlight, or could this be an ambitious idea too far for those involved?

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