Posts Tagged ‘ABC’

NBC continues experiment by putting TV shows online before their network premiers

If you just can’t wait to see what the new “Knight Rider” or “Chuck” TV shows are all about, you’re in luck. For the third consecutive year, NBC is making new series available online a week before their network premiers.

You can also find “Kath & Kim,” “Crusoe,” “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Life,” Lipstick Jungle,” and “30 Rock” everywhere you look — NBC’s Website, iTunes, Amazon’s Unbox, Microsoft Xbox and Zune, Hulu, and through TV providers such as Comcast, Cox, Charter, Dish, and Verizon FIOS.

Did NBC leave anybody out?

“We want to make (programs) available in as many ways as we can so we can get fans,” NBC’s marketing boss John Miller told USA Today. “If you don’t embrace people’s behavior, you can be lost by it.”

NBC’s early-release strategy is at odds with most other networks.

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Disney to stream movies online – for free

For the first time, Disney.com plans to offer free streaming of full-length movies, reports the LA Times. The new offering will be part of a co-promotion on television as part Disney-owned ABC network’s weekly “Wonderful World of Disney” program. Every Saturday night throughout the summer, a Disney movie will be shown on ABC and then subsequently be made available for streaming on Disney’s website — U.S.-only — free/ad-supported.

The full schedule:

  • “Finding Nemo” –- currently available online through June 13
  • “Monsters, Inc.” –- airs on ABC June 14 at 8 p.m.; available on Disney.com June 16-20
  • “Haunted Mansion” -– airs on ABC June 28 at 8 p.m.; available on Disney.com June 30-July 4
  • “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen” –- airs on ABC July 5 at 8 p.m.; available on Disney.com July 7-11
  • “Princess Diaries 2” -– airs on ABC July 12 at 8 p.m.; available on Disney.com July 14-18
  • “Freaky Friday” –- airs on ABC July 19 at 8 p.m.; available on Disney.com July 21-25
  • “Peter Pan” –- airs on ABC Aug. 2 at 8 p.m.; available on Disney.com Aug. 4-8

Post-Hulu: ABC.com to revamp video player

Having been the first out the gate among major U.S. broadcasters when it started streaming full-length episodes back in 2006, ABC is learning a thing or two from Hulu, the new video kid on the block backed by NBC and Fox.

This fall ABC.com plans a major upgrade to its video offering by adding features including “full-screen viewing, closed captioning and the ability to send video links that can be embedded on blogs and social networks”, reports Hollywood Insider. In contrast, Hulu has offered users the option to embed videos elsewhere on the Web (albeit for a limited time period) and full screen viewing from Day One. Closed captions are also available for some of Hulu’s content — although not nearly enough.

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In just two months, Hulu becomes 10th largest online video streaming site

In just two months, Hulu becomes 10th largest online video streaming siteIn just over two months, Hulu has moved from private beta to the No. 10 online video streaming site.

In doing so, Hulu bests all of the major networks — NBC and Fox (Hulu’s parents), ABC, and CBS. It’s an impressive feat.

At the same time, Hulu is expanding its content footprint by adding seven partners, meaning its library of current and vintage TV shows will be more widely available. Hulu videos will be distributed on entertainment and social networking sites TV.com, TVGuide.com, BuddyTV, Flixster.com, MyYearbook.com, Break.com, and Zap2it.com.

“While it is extremely early in terms of Hulu’s history of serving users, we’re quite excited to see such positive trends in Hulu’s growth and viewership,” Jason Kilar, Hulu’s chief executive officer, told Reuters.

In April, people watched 63.2 million videos on Hulu and its partners’ sites and spent on average 129.3 minutes per month, beating nearest rival ABC.com (60.8 million videos, an average of 57.3 minutes).

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