Following the lead of rivals Comcast and DIRECTV, Time Warner Cable has announced that today it is adding live programming to its TWC TV app. Currently content is only available to subscribers who own Apple tablets or smartphones but they will introduce the new programming to other platforms later this year. As of today the live channels include; the Big Ten Network, the Pac-12 Network, BBC America, beIN Sports, FearNet, GMC and some local outlets.
Time Warner Cable COO Rob Marcus told analysts on an earnings call in January that Time Warner was working on signing deals with programmers that include rights to out-of-home viewing. He said the TWC TV app generated more than 750,000 unique users in December. Many of the largest programmers, including Walt Disney Co. and TWC sister company Turner Networks, have not made agreements yet which include content streaming however as content deals come up for renewal this cable-industry shift toward "TV Everywhere" will prevail as the MVPD's push the content providers for broader carriage deals. MORE - 04/17/13 Rapid TV News - Time Warner Cable adds out-of-home access to TV everywhere app
It's no secret that Twitter has recognized the power of video. In 2012 they developed a partnership with Disney/ABC's ESPN to offer highlights and sports clips on the site. Earlier this year it announced a deal with The Weather Company to offer weather-related videos (ouch... AccuWeather!). Today according to a report from Bloomberg, the San Francisco-based company is close to reaching partnerships with television networks that would bring more high-quality video content and advertising to the social site. The deals (potentially with Viacom and NBCUniversal) are said to be for short clips, not full-length episodes, similar to the company's current partnerships. Frankly it makes sense that Twitter would continue to develop partnerships of this kind. Videos from Viacom properties i.e. The Daily Show, Colbert Report, MTV, etc. are some of the most shareable on the social network.
According to Bloomberg which first broke the story, the partnerships would let Twitter stream videos on its site and split the resulting ad revenue with the networks. Obviously the rapid rise of Netflix, Amazon Prime and the cable industries moves to the TV Everywhere concept and Hulu's future up in the air as its owners contemplate selling, the marketplace could be giving Twitter a good entry point that they can monetize.
The over-the-top video market grew 60% last year to pass US$8 billion, driven by companies like Netflix, Hulu, Apple, and Amazon, according to new figures by ABI Research. The research found that the three largest markets – North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific – experienced year-on-year growth in excess of 50% in 2012. ABI predicted that as mobile devices like tablets and other connected devices continue to spread, the market will pass US$20 billion by 2015. “The shift to digital and OTT distribution is accelerating, particularly as content providers increasingly warm up to these channels,” said ABI senior analyst Michael Inouye. Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) services, like Netflix, will continue to dominate the OTT business. But newer business/consumer models will also gain ground. In 2012, ABI says 58% of OTT video revenue came from subscription services. It estimates that subscription's share of the business will drop to less than 32% in five years.
Barry Diller's streaming video service Aereo continues to win its courtroom victories. Last year, a federal judge in New York rejected TV networks' request to prohibit the service from launching its new video-on-demand offering. Today the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has declined to issue an injunction that would have shut down Aereo, the streaming service that delivers broadcast signals to customers willing to pay $8 a month. Meanwhile, according to the Wall Street Journal, the company is bolstering its programming with ATnT, which is talking about packaging high speed Internet service with Aereo’s programming and Dish Network is looking at ways to use Aereo as a way of offering low-cost programing packages to its customers.
“Today’s decision from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals again validates that Aereo’s technology falls squarely within the law and that’s a great thing for consumers who want more choice and flexibility in how, when and where they can watch television,” said Chet Kanojia, Aereo CEO and Founder. “The ruling to uphold Judge Nathan’s decision sends a powerful message that consumer access to free-to-air broadcast television is still meaningful in this country and that the promise and commitment made by the broadcasters to program in the public interest in exchange for the public’s spectrum, remains an important part of our American fabric.”
Broadcasters have argued Aereo violates copyright rules by streaming over-the-air signals to customers so the court decision is a major set-back. Moreover, other pay TV distributors could be prompted to create similar services to avoid paying broadcasters retransmission consent fees. In the U.S. almost $2 billion dollars were paid by TV distributors last year for broadcast programming, up 33% over the prior year according to SNL Kagan. More: Deadline 04/01 - Aereo Exploring Alliances With Pay TV Distributors: WSJ Also See: SMM Post from 1/13/13 – Aereo: An Industry Disrupter!
UPDATE 04/03/13 - In a surprising move given
ongoing legal challenges between the respective services, FilmOn.TV founder and
CEO Alki David – the billionaire media entrepreneur – has congratulated the
legal team at Internet TV streaming service Aereo on what he describes as its
“hugely significant” win in court against the Major Networks… More: AdvancedTelevision 4/03 - FilmOn welcomes Aereo ruling
Following the lead of rivals Comcast and DIRECTV, Time Warner Cable has announced that today it is adding live programming to its TWC TV app. Currently content is only available to subscribers who own Apple tablets or smartphones but they will introduce the new programming to other platforms later this year. As of today the live channels include; the Big Ten Network, the Pac-12 Network, BBC America, beIN Sports, FearNet, GMC and some local outlets. 
