Sonic’s RoxioNow gets big HDTV boost

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Chris Morris

Sonic Solutions’ RoxioNow has taken a big step forward in its ongoing expansion, today announcing an integration of the streaming media service onto HDTV chipsets from Trident Microsystems.

The service, which is used by Blockbuster, Lionsgate and Best Buy (among others), will now be built-in to forthcoming sets – a more direct approach than the app format many other companies are taking with today’s Internet-enabled sets. Trident is one of the top three semiconductor providers to both TV and set-top box manufacturers. Its clients include Samsung, Sharp, Panasonic, Motorola and Roku.

Report: Hulu preps for IPO

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Chris Morris

Hulu.com may be getting ready to go public.

Reuters reports the Web video service is preparing for an initial public offering and could file the prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission before the end of the year. Morgan Stanley is likely to lead the underwriters.

Anthony Zuiker merges worlds

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Chris Morris

Anthony Zuiker is introducing two of his children to each other.

The creator and executive producer of “CSI” plans to incorporate the villain from his “Level 26” book series into a special episode of “CSI” — the first step in a cross-platform experiment that brings the producer’s interests closer together.

Microsoft, AT&T U-Verse inch closer to integration

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Chris Morris

The Xbox could be about to morph into a set-top box.

After an extended testing period, Microsoft and AT&T appear to be closer to finally integrating the phone company’s U-Verse cable service into the Xbox 360 – letting players watch programming directly through their game machine.

Apple TV moves from download to streaming

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Chris Morris

Apple is wading into the stream. The company’s much-anticipated overhaul of its Apple TV service eschews the download-to-own model in favor of an HD Web streaming rental biz.

Apple’s plan to make movies available day and date with DVD for a $4.99 rental is in keeping with the film biz’s piracy-combatting push to make titles available for easy legal downloads through a host of platforms, from Apple’s iTunes to Netflix (which Apple TV will support); Amazon, Hulu and Blockbuster; the major videogame consoles from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo; and, soon, YouTube.

Apple revamps Apple TV, iPod and a whole lot more

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Chris Morris

Apple certainly wasn’t lacking for news at its press event today. We’ve got a story up on the front page of Variety, focusing on Apple TV, right now – and an analysis piece will be in tomorrow’s daily edition.

One thing that has seemingly been lost in the shuffle is Apple made it clearer than ever that it was gunning for Nintendo and Sony – and it’s not afraid of either company’s gaming legacy. In the meantime, here’s a recap of some of the other news that Jobs & Co. unveiled.

Apple enters rental biz

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Chris Morris

Apple has made it official: It will soon offer 99 cent TV show rentals as part of the launch of an extensive revision of its Apple TV service.

Apple said it would offer streaming rentals of skeins from Fox, ABC, ABC Family, Disney Channel and BBC America on a rental basis. Users are able to watch the show for 30 days from the moment the episode is rented, and once it starts playing users have 48 hours to finish watching it.

Apple near deal for TV show rentals?

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Chris Morris

Rumors started last month that Apple was making a hard push to begin offering streaming rentals of recent television programming for 99 cents. Now those whispers are beginning to solidify a bit.

Bloomberg reports that the Cupertino-based company is in advanced talks with News Corp. for 99-cent rentals – and CBS and Disney are engaged in similar discussions with Apple.

Filming underway on Will Wright’s TV pilot

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Chris Morris

Will Wright conquered the video game world with titles such as “Sim City” and “The Sims”. Now he’s looking to take on television.

Wright, who left Electronic Arts last year to dedicate his attentions to his Stupid Fun Club, has begun shooting a pilot episode for a new program for Current TV. The details haven’t been released, but there’s ample speculation this could be “The Creation Project,” which relies on user-created stories from episode to episode.

The Africa Channel goes high def

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Chris Morris

The Africa Channel, a five-year old cable channel that showcases Africa-centric and originated programming, is expanding its footprint.

The cabler has announced plans to launch a high definition version of the network on Aug. 1 that will be carried in “select” markets. It’s a big step for a small channel – but one that could expand its audience.

Chris Morris: Journalist

Tag Archives: television