The Blog for Video 2.0

PaidContent.org is reporting that Facebook is working on an artist platform to be launched later this year, which in essence is supposed to be better than what MySpace allows with its platform, according to multiple sources I have spoken to since this morning after a slightly off-the-mark rumor came out earlier. The platform will allows bands and labels to create artists pages, and allow various widgets to be embedded for music promotion, organizing events, etc.

Current rumors state that Facebook with partner with iTunes and go after Apple's popular download service.

Labels: facebook, indie artists, iTunes, music, music downloads, online distribution

HungryFlix.com, the leading online distributor of premium independent content for the iPod, PSP and Apple TV today announced that it's content will support the Apple iPhone.

All HungryFlix.com content is MPEG4 format and will play out-of-the-box on the Apple iPhone. This will provide users of the new device with a wealth of great content to enjoy while on the road.

HungryFlix.com CEO Brian Andrews said, "We are thrilled to provide mobile video for the iPhone. We feel that this new device is going to be groundbreaking for the mobile video world. The high resolution screen and tight intergration with iTunes will set the iPhone far ahead of other video capabile mobile phones."

Labels: digital video, hungryflix, iphone, iTunes, online distribution, video download

HungryFlix.com has been listed in MovieMaker magazine's "The Future of Moviemaking 2007" issue. We are thrilled to be listed in the "Digitally-Enhanced Distribution" piece written by Mark Bosko.

Thanks to MovieMaker magazine!

Labels: digital download, hungryflix, online distribution, video download

Forrester Research has just published an article stating that paid downloads of video content is doomed to failure and that only ad supported models will work.

While we have many issues with the findings, the number one issue seems to be the lack of explaination on why ad supported models are viewed as preferred by consumers? With the popularity of Tivo and iTunes downloads it seems clear to us here at HungryFlix that consumers do in fact prefer to have long form content free of ads.

The research is in direct opposition to an Adams Media note from Feb. Here is a link:
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyid=2007-02-21T143723Z_01_N21273243_RTRUKOC_0_US-INTERNET-VIDEO.xml&src=rss

HungryFlix.com has been providing paid movie downloads of premium indie films since 2005. We continue to see growth in the market.

Labels: iTunes, online distribution, online video, video download

HungryFlix.com has announced that its online distribution platform is now open to film festivals looking to add digital downloading to their offerings.

HungryFlix.com will provide all hosting, bandwidth and payment processing for the film festival. The site’s standard profit sharing model in which profits will be split between the content provider and the online distributor will apply.

Andrews added, “By using our platform for online distribution, any film festival—even a small local festival—can now be international. This can be a great additional marketing source for the festival and more importantly, the filmmakers. It truly is a win-win scenario.”

Film festival organizers can contact HungryFlix.com for more information at info@hungryflix.com

http://www.hungryflix.com

Labels: digital download, film festival, hungryflix, indie film, online distribution

Microsoft Corp. today announced the launch of Windows Live™ Messenger on Xbox 360™, connecting friends across Xbox 360 consoles, Microsoft® Windows®-based PCs and Windows Mobile®-powered devices.

With this update to Xbox 360, friends and families can easily connect and chat directly from their television using Windows Live Messenger, a network of more than 20 billion relationships and more than 260 million active accounts.

More importantly to Xbox users looking to add more great entertainment content to their consoles, Microsoft also announced that the update will added H.264 video support: Up to 10 Mbps peak, Baseline, Main, and High profiles with 2 channel AAC LC and MPEG-4 Part 2 video support: Up to 5 Mbps peak, Simple Profile with 2 channel AAC LC.

This is great news for us, as HungryFlix provides DRM free movie downloads in both MPEG4 and H.264 formats. We will welcome the ability to deliver our content to the Xbox 360.

Labels: h.264, hungryflix, mpeg4, online distribution, online video, xbox, xbox 360

Our message is starting to spread across the web, with Apple sites taking the lead in reporting that movie downloads for Apple TV are now available on http://www.hungryflix.com.

MacDailyNews has this post.

And iPodNN/MacNN had this post on "Wages of Sin" on HungryFlix.com.

We appriecate these news mentions and look forward to more.

Labels: apple tv, hungryflix, ipod, mac, online distribution

Our goal to revive the hungryflix podcast has been met, kinda, sorta. We hope to bring you interviews with filmmakers and media experts in addition to trailers from films available on the site.

Check it out at hungryflix podcast.

You can also subscribe via iTunes

Labels: hungryflix, iTunes, online distribution, podcast

OK, well, it is here the beginning of the beginning. Today in London, EMI and Apple have announced that they will begin to offer DRM-free music and music videos. Music files will be high quality 256kbps AAC files and will sell for $1.29 US. There will also be a $0.30 upgrade for users who have already purchased lower bitrate versions of the same songs.

iTunes will be the first online distributor to offer the new DRM-free songs, starting in May.

Many analysts and reports believe that DRM-free files which will play on any music player will hurt iPod sales. Users will have more choice and may choose to purchase a lower cost MP3 player or one that offers more features than current iPods. When asked if DRM-free downloads will have an impact on iPod sales Apple CEO Steve Jobs replied, "I don't see a link, because you have always been able to buy music from elsewhere (CD's) and put it on your iPod. We're going to keep working to do the best job at what we do, and we are going to hope that consumers agree."

This is excellent news for consumers, music and movie fans, and for the future of digital content. HungryFlix.com has been offering movie downloads with no DRM for years now and we really belive that DRM is not a solution. It is rewarding to now see the major studios and Apple agreeing with us.

Labels: apple, digital download, DRM, hungryflix, iTunes, online distribution

Look us up online. We're everywhere!

hungryflix blog	blog.hungryflix.com
hungryflix podcast	www.flilxpodcast.com
myspace	www.myspace.com/hungryflix
virb	www.virb.com/hungryflix
Squidoo	www.squidoo.com/hungryflix

Labels: digital download, hungryflix, movie downloads, online distribution, online video

looking for a snack? want to watch a few clips online? check out the new hungryflix.com snack section.

Labels: online distribution, online video

Well, you know we here at http://www.hungryflix.com are very exicited about the Apple TV and similar devices. Here is a quick little clip showing the Apple TV in action with one of the great films available at hungryflix.com.

Video of Apple TV in action

Labels: apple tv, hungryflix, iTunes, movie downloads, online distribution, quicktime

Well, it seems the world is finally starting to get what we feel will be the biggest new area for the network connected set top box--independent content.

NewTeeVee is reporting from the New Video Sumit in San Jose, where industry experts and analysts have agreed that Apple TV is going to be a major boost for the video blogger community.

There is even talk that Apple TV can do for video distribution and consumption what the iPod did for music.

Time will tell and it is important to remember that the devices that ship in 2007 will all be version 1.0 products that will typically only be purchased by tech fans and early adopters. That being said, hungryflix.com the growing online source for movie downloads is solidly in support of indie filmmakers and producers and we fell that the direct path to the family room will be an enormous benefit to our community.

Read more at:
http://newteevee.com/2007/03/19/appletv-big-boon-for-indie-video/#more-879

And even more at:
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/5584/982/

Labels: apple, apple tv, ipod, iTunes, online distribution, online video

HungryFlix.com is proud to announce that Independent action director Nathyn Brendan Masters' new martial art flick "Wages of Sin" is available for download in both iPod and PSP versions at http://www.hungryflix.com.

"I wanted to do something like 'American Ninja' or 'Black Belt Jones' something old school but with some modern elements thrown in," says Masters. "I wanted to do something people could have a little fun with."

We are very excited to have such excellent content on HungryFlix.

Labels: digital download, indie film, nathyn brendan masters, online distribution, online video, ready to download, wages of sin

Apple's new set top box that provides for viewing of iTunes content on your TV is now shipping. We feel this can be the beginning of a huge trend for online media. Just as the iPod did for music, the Apple TV may in fact do for movies/TV/Video podcasts and other video content.

HungryFlix.com is very excited that now our customers have an easy, well designed and affordable way to enjoy our premium independent content in the family room.

Downlad great movies at HungryFlix.com!

Find out more on Apple TV at Apple TV

Labels: apple tv, iTunes, online distribution, online video

Viacom has sued YouTube for $1 Billion, that's Billion with a "B", claiming copyright infringement. It seems most of the Web 2.0 fans are claming this is a simple case of "new companies innovate, old tired companies litigate".

This is not the view of this blog or http://www.hungryflix.com.

Much of YouTube's value does indeed come from the copyrighted works of others. If all copyrighted material was removed from YouTube how many visitors and page views would the site have?

Our mission at http://www.hungryflix.com is to ensure that content providers are credited and paid for their work.

Read more here http://googlewatch.eweek.com/content/youtube/18_reasons_why_google_and_youtube_are_guilty_of_copyright_infringement.html

Labels: copyright, dmca, Google, online distribution, online video, youtube

The guys over at the Mac Filmmaking Podcast were kind enough to interview HungryFlix.com's Brian Andrews for their March 10, 2007 podcast.

Topics included background on how HungryFlix works, what makes HungryFlix different from other video sites, and how filmmakers and video producers can get paid for their work. We had a great discussion.

You can subscribe to Mac Filmmaking via iTunes.

And be sure to vote at Podcast alley.

Labels: hungryflix, indie film, iTunes, mac filmmaking, online distribution, online video, podcast, short films

Mashable.com is running a poll to find out which online video sites pay the best.

The poll includes advertisting, paid download and general traffic models.

You know where we stand on this. If you want to sell videos join us at http://www.hungryflix.com.

Labels: filmmaking, online distribution, online video, sell videos

When mega retailer Wal-Mart enters a market, most existing competitors fear for their life. This may not be the case with online distribution and movie downloads claims CinemaNow CEO Curt Marvis.

ContentAgenda.com is reporting that Wal-Mart's entry into movie downloads may actually help because it bring more studio support for online distribution. Wal-Mart pushes 40% of all DVD sales, this has kept the studios from attempting anything online that would annoy Wal-Mart.

Marvis predicts that "by 2010 downloading of movie and video content will be as commonplace as downloading of music is in today's world. It will happen that fast."

We are already seeing some movie downloads with the limited success of CinemaNow, Amazon Unbox, HungryFlix.com, iTunes, Vongo and MovieLink.

What separates the movie downloads at HungryFlix.com is the premium independent content that can not be found at other sites.

Labels: amazon unbox, hungryflix, indie film, iTunes, movie downloads, online distribution, online video

Fox affiliates will be able to begin selling TV downloads of Fox TV shows to local viewers as part of a new interactive plan.

Shows will be available for purchase the night after they air on TV, and users will be able to buy individual episodes or season packages. Prices will vary, depending on whether a user purchases a single episode or a season package. Downloads can be viewed on a PC or portable device.

Fox companies and affiliate stations will share advertising and pay-per-view revenue under the deal.

Users on the Fox.com Web site will enter their zip code and be directed to their local affiliate for viewing.

It will be interesting to see if this individual method of distribution fares versus using Apple's iTunes as digital distribution hub.

Labels: download, online distribution, online video

BBC will be offering three YouTube channels - one for news and two for entertainment. The channels will showcase short clips of BBC content, and the corporation will also get a share of the ad revenues generated on these channels.

These are non-exclusive and set to run for several years.

The main BBC entertainment channel will be free of ads and used primarily to drive traffic to BBC’s own websites. A second entertainment channel, BBC Worldwide, will feature three to six minute long clips from popular BBC content. These will have pre-roll ads. The news channel, which will be launched later this year, will show about 30 news clips per day. These will have ads, and for that reason, these clips can be seen outside the UK only.

Labels: online distribution, online video, streaming, youtube

In news that is very interesting for us here at HungryFlix.com, Variety is reporting that Apple has opened the door to independent video producers for the first time.

Apple's iTunes store on Tuesday started selling "That," a snowboarding action pic made for DVD by Forum Snowboards. This is the first time iTunes has sold video content that didn't come from an established network, studio or distributor.

Given iTunes' dominance in the nascent digital download market, that's sure to generate hordes of interest among independent film producers in all genres who don't have a distributor.

But in a sign that Apple isn't quite sure what to do with pics outside its strict categories, "That" and Studio411's content are being sold in iTunes TV section at $1.99, instead of in the feature film section, where most pics are $9.99.

Though iTunes does sell some short films in its movies section for $1.99, they all come from established names such as Shorts Intl. and Sundance. Apple apparently wasn't ready to put direct-to-DVD action sports pics among the small number of shorts and Hollywood features in its movies section.

All independent producers can sell their content at HungryFlix.com. HungryFlix accepts all types of content including sports video and how-to video.

Labels: indie film, iTunes, online distribution, online video, video distribution

Here is a look at the current online video offerings from the major sports leagues.

A newly created revenue share deal between the NBA and YouTube was recently announced. Fans upload videos of their own best basketball moves. A top 10 will be selected each week and shown on NBA TV. The YouTube NBA channel has a promo and link for more video at NBA.com.

The NHL is offering full game downloads via Google Video and YouTube.
The league will provide game highlights and behind-the-scene video; YouTube will put the clips on a dedicated NHL channel supplemented with user-uploaded video. As has been the case with other YouTube content deals, the NHL will be able to remove copyright-breaching content from the site or can leave it and share in the revenue.

Both sports seem to have younger fans, which explains the big push and acceptance of online video. The NHL needs to do all it can to get its product visible as it currently suffers from a poor national cable TV deal on the "Versus" network.

Labels: online distribution, online video, sports

Apple TV, Apple Inc's set-top box that will allow users to play downloaded movies and video podcasts on their family room TV has been delayed until mid-March.

No specific reason was given, a spokeperson simply said: “Wrapping up Apple TV is taking a few weeks longer than we projected, and we now expect to begin shipments mid-March.”

Apple TV will sell for $299 directly from Apple. The device will sync with iTunes from a Mac or PC and allow users to stream movies and videos wirelessly to their TV set. This will allow users to watch their movie downloads from HungryFlix.com in the family room.

Labels: apple, apple tv, download, iTunes, online distribution, online video

After over a year of negotiations with Hollywood, the biggest name in piracy is going legit.

BitTorrent today is launching its digital content store, featuring movies, TV shows and videogames from partners including Fox, Lionsgate, Paramount, MGM, and MTV Networks.

It also has content from several indie distributors, such as First Look, Palm Pictures and Japanese company Kadokawa, as well as TryMedia, an online vidgame distributor with titles from Activision, Ubisoft and Vivendi Games.

BitTorrent software is a peer-to-peer protocol, which is free and used by tens of millions of people around the world, primarily for piracy.

As a result, Netco has the advantage of a very well-known brand name among online downloaders and a very popular Web site, but it will go up against powerful competitors already in the market such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Wal-Mart.

Premium TV and movie content won't be well differentiated from other sites, as BitTorrent is offering the same usage rules and prices and is missing several partners, such as Disney, Universal and the big three broadcast nets, that are already working with others.

But BitTorrent has more indie partners and will try to stay true to its roots as a peer-to-peer application by including high-quality user-made videos alongside Hollywood content in its search results.

BitTorrent has been working aggressively to filter pirated content on its own site and will make users click a button to see search results from outside servers, which it doesn't control.

Movies will only be available for digital rental, not permanent downloads, based on company's observations of demand at other websites based on the DVD-equivalent prices studios offer.

"I just don't know who in marketing at the other stores thinks that $25 movie downloads are going to do it for consumers," said Navin.

This reinforces the business model of HungryFlix.com, which provides short films and video downloads at prices starting from just $0.99.

In addition to selling TV and game downloads and movie rentals, BitTorrent will start offering free ad-supported TV shows in the near future.

It's launching in the U.S. first, but company has international rights for most content and plans to hit foreign markets soon.

Labels: bittorrent, download, movies, online distribution, online video

Adams Media Research has released the results from their "Video on the Internet" management report. In the report they claim that the online video market will see significant growth in both ad-supported and paid download models.

AMR’s analysis claims that the advertising model will dominate in the early experimental period of 2007-2009. But as significant numbers of homes connect their TVs to the Internet, consumer spending on downloaded movies and TV shows should expand rapidly and exceed ad spending substantially by 2011.

The state that new devices that bring video into the family room will help push for more downloaded content. Users can download movies today from Apple's iTunes, HungryFlix.com, Google Video and other sites.

Labels: apple tv, download, iptv, movies, online distribution, online video

More news from the big boys in the video 2.0 world...The Wall Street Journal is reporting that A deal between Google Inc. and CBS Corp. that would let YouTube users watch clips from CBS shows such as “The Late Show with David Letterman,” has unraveled.

The two companies had been closing in on a multi-year deal but could not agree on key issues such as the length of the partnership.

Traditional media companies are looking for ways to court online users as viewers split their leisure time surfing the Web and using digital media devices like Apple Inc.’s iPod. While Google/YouTube, Joost and other large providers continue to look toward big media, independent content providers such as filmmakers, musicians and video producers can find distribution for their movies and videos at http://www.hungryflix.com.

The talks may resume, and the two companies have agreeed to work on smaller scale initiatives in the short term.

HungryFlix provides video downloads for the iPod, PSP and computer.

Labels: Google, media, online distribution, video 2.0, video distribution, youtube

Viacom has signed a deal to deliver television and theatrical programming to to the new Joost Internet TV service.

TV shows expected to debut once the deal is closed include MTV's "Laguna Beach," "Beavis and Butthead," "The Real World," "Punk'd" and "My Super Sweet 16." Comedy Central will provide episodes from "Stella," "Comedy Central Presents" and "Freak Show." BET's offerings will include "Beef The Series," "DMX: Soul of a Man," "Comic View" and "American Gangster." Country Music Television, MTV2, Logo, Spike TV, mtvU, VH1 and Gametrailers.com will also provide content.

The deal is clearly targeted at teens and young adults, a huge advertising demographic and one that is open to viewing content on their computers.

Joost has been receiving positive reviews for their rich client software and great user experience. Joost was formed last year by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, founders of the Internet calling service Skype.

Also of note is the fact that Viacom has selected Joost over YouTube/Google. It seems that YouTube will now look to form partnerships of it's own and the IPTV space will enter it's next phase.

While the large corporations move forward, independent filmmakers, video producers and content providers can find distribution for their films at HungryFlix.

Labels: iptv, joost, media, online distribution, tv, video 2.0, video distribution, youtube

Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple, Inc.) has published a letter to the community in which he talks about the past, present and future of online music sales and music consumption.

At the end of the letter Mr. Jobs asks the record companies to remove the DRM requirements from the songs Apple sells in iTunes. He says, "Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly."

Apple has come under fire recently from European governments and internet and music industry pundits who all claim in one way or another that Apple is the source of, and primary benefactor of, DRM in iTunes and the iPod.

It has often been claimed that Apple's "closed" system locks people into buying iPods and music from iTunes. Mr. Jobs gives his views on this and provides some interesting statistics to back up his views.

HungryFlix provides movie and music downloads with no DRM. We believe that consumers should not be treated as criminals and that content providers will be rewarded by providing their content to a broad set of users in open formats.

The full letter from Steve Jobs can be found at http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/

Labels: apple tv, DRM, ipod, iTunes, music, online distribution, video distribution