Category: Media

Blockbuster CEO Disputes $2.3M Bonus, Says He’s Entitled to $7.6M

February 27, 2007August 19, 2008 Bob Caswell 16 Comments

Blockbustertalogo_1 Blockbuster today announced a dispute with its CEO over the size of his bonus. The company’s reported profit for the four quarter of last year fell 28% because of high costs associated with its new service Total Access. But despite that, CEO John Antioco says the $2.3 million bonus he received on January 25 wasn’t enough. He claims his bonus should be $7.6 million based on performance goals. *Update* Blockbuster in advanced talks to buy Movielink, which would make it the first company to offer movies online, through the mail, and in-store.

Media, Tech News

Behind the Scenes Details Leading to Google/YouTube Losing Viacom & CBS Deals

February 21, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell No Comments

So the latest news in online video revolves around Viacom signing a deal with YouTube competitor/newcomer Joost. The deal is limited for now (no South Park or Colbert Report) and will include shows like MTV’s My Super Sweet 16, BET’s American Gangster, Comedy Central’s Freak Show, and some movies from Paramount. Financial details weren’t disclosed.

This comes just weeks after Viacom demanded YouTube to take down 100,000+ videos of various shows including the good stuff from Comedy Central. Interestingly enough, the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) has an article out today that details the behind-the-scenes action of Google losing Viacom and CBS deals. The whole thing cites are favorite source: “those familiar with the situation.” But, hey, that source has pulled through for us before.

Media, Microsoft, Tech News, Web 2.0

The Google Scandal: Keeping $809K of $1.1M of Revenue Generated from Piracy (Allegedly)

February 12, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 1 Comment

Googlelogo_5 So our friends at the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) are running multiple stories on Google today with reference to online video. At the heart of the story is the classic clash between Google’s mantra “Do No Evil” and, well, the evil Google is apparently doing.

Perhaps as a result of this alleged evil, talks are back on among media companies to create a YouTube rival, according to unnamed executives involved in the situation. Another form of pseudo-pressure is coming from MySpace, which is likely to announce today a video-filtering system so as to be on the good side of those copyright protectors.

But back to the Google scandal…

Cyberlaw, Google, Media, Microsoft, Tech News

Will DRM die or thrive? Apple, Amazon, Tivo, Wal-Mart not sure…

February 8, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 1 Comment

So all in the same week we have the following news:

1) Steve Jobs embraces a DRM-free world but says his hands are tied.

2) Amazon & Tivo join forces to bring you Amazon digital movie downloads via your Tivo.

3) Wal-Mart announces digital movie and TV show downloads from all six of the major studios.

Let’s take each of these and have a closer look:

Apple, Media, Music, Tech News

Google Discloses Payout to YouTube Founders: Hurley $345M & Chen $326M

February 7, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell No Comments

When Google bought YouTube back in October for $1.65 billion, we didn’t know exactly what this meant for the founders financially. But now we know. Google today filed a registration statement with the SEC, which explains how many Google shares the founders of YouTube received as part of the deal.

Media, Microsoft, Tech News, Web 2.0

Wal-Mart Goes Digital Movies… Why Netflix May Dethrone Them Again

February 6, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 3 Comments

Walmartlogo_1 Wal-Mart today announced a partnership with all six major Hollywood Studios (Disney, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony, 20th Century Fox, and Universal) to offer digital movies and TV shows via its site: www.walmart.com/videodownloads. While the company has the first mover advantage (being the only digital distributor to go into business with all six studios), I still think Netflix is the company that will make online movie watching a reality (incidentally, Netflix is the company to which Wal-Mart admitted defeat in the DVD rental market). Here’s why:

Apple, Media, Netflix, Web 2.0

Can Viacom Force YouTube to Implement Automatic Blocking of Video Uploads?

February 3, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 4 Comments

So we’ve all heard the news of Viacom demanding YouTube to take down 100,000+ videos of various shows including good stuff from Comedy Central. A Viacom executive is quoted as to saying, “People are waking up to the fact that there is no marketing advantage… There’s no novelty anymore.” Hmm… I love the use of the word “people,” as if Viacom can speak for anyone involved in marketing video content.

You have to be pretty uncreative to come to this conclusion when the fifth most popular Internet site in the world has shown your content over a billion times. Interestingly enough, CBS and NBC have found an advantageous way to partner with YouTube despite Viacom’s claim.

Cyberlaw, Media, Tech News, Web 2.0

Why Netflix Will Make Online Movie Watching a Reality

January 22, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 2 Comments

If you missed the Netflix news last week, the company announced that it will offer existing subscribers the option of watching movies and TV shows online at no additional cost. So if you pay $18 a month for your regular three DVDs at at time mailing plan, soon you’ll be receiving 18 hours of free online watching time too.

What I found intriguing about the story is that just days and weeks earlier, certain prominent bloggers posted why Netflix is in trouble. Mike Arrington had his post “Why I Am Breaking Up With Netflix” while Robert Scoble had his thoughts on “Netflix is dead.” Both came back with follow up stories after the news release (“Netflix, I Was Just Kidding About Breaking Up With You” and “Netflix tells Scoble he’s wrong” respectively).

Media, Netflix, Tech News, Web 2.0