Friday, December 28, 2007
Wal-Mart closes Movie Download service
Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT - News) quietly canceled its online video download service less than a year after the site went live, a company spokeswoman said on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wal-Mart shut down the download site after Hewlett Packard Co (NYSE:HPQ - News) discontinued the technology that powered it, Walmart.com spokeswoman Amy Colella said in an e-mail. She added that it will not look for another technology partner.
HP spokesman Hector Marinez said the company decided to discontinue its video download-only merchant store services because the market for paid video downloads did not perform "as expected." He noted that the Internet video business remains uncertain and is changing rapidly.
The online video market has seen a number of closings as 2007 wraps up. 2008 may continue this trend of consolidation and closures.
Fans of indie films still have many online avenues including downloading iPod movies from sites such as HungryFilx.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wal-Mart shut down the download site after Hewlett Packard Co (NYSE:HPQ - News) discontinued the technology that powered it, Walmart.com spokeswoman Amy Colella said in an e-mail. She added that it will not look for another technology partner.
HP spokesman Hector Marinez said the company decided to discontinue its video download-only merchant store services because the market for paid video downloads did not perform "as expected." He noted that the Internet video business remains uncertain and is changing rapidly.
The online video market has seen a number of closings as 2007 wraps up. 2008 may continue this trend of consolidation and closures.
Fans of indie films still have many online avenues including downloading iPod movies from sites such as HungryFilx.com.
Labels: online video, video download, wal-mart
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Viacom offers The Daily Show online
Viacom's Comedy Central channel today will unveil a website for "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" that's designed to satisfy the most avid fans of the mock-news show with oceans of free video clips.
In a move away from the norm of providing just a sample of content, Comedy Central is offering the works: about 13,000 video clips representing every minute of the show since its 1999 inception. The site (http://www.thedailyshow.com) is meant to pull in advertising money from Day One, but it also provide a test run for Viacom and other "old media" players.
This is yet another attempt and finding the right mix of ads to content.
In a move away from the norm of providing just a sample of content, Comedy Central is offering the works: about 13,000 video clips representing every minute of the show since its 1999 inception. The site (http://www.thedailyshow.com) is meant to pull in advertising money from Day One, but it also provide a test run for Viacom and other "old media" players.
This is yet another attempt and finding the right mix of ads to content.
Labels: online video, the daily show, viacom, video download
Monday, September 24, 2007
HungryFlix Apple TV Giveaway
HungryFlix.com is the internet's premiere distribtor of independent content specifically formatted for portable devices such as the iPod, PSP and now the new iPhone. We are now running an Apple TV sweepstakes. Just create an account for your chance to win!
We are actively searching for great content from all genres of film and music. We accept short films, features, music video, how-to video and more. All content is DRM-free MPEG4 files that can be played back on a number of devices.
HungryFlix provides all marketing, storage and bandwidth and payment processing. As a content provider, you set the price for your downloads and you earn 60% of the profits from sales of your works.
Here is your chance to join the online distribution revolution. Imagine your film playing on thousands of iPhones across the US!
Visit HungryFlix.com today. Join, Upload and Sell!
Labels: hungryflix, ipod, ipod movies, ipod touch, ipod videos, psp, psp movies, video download
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
New iPods - Video for Everyone!
Apple Inc. today announced a full refresh to most of the iPod line. There is a new iPod nano that supports video playback, a new UI with Cover Flow and a bigger brighter screen. The iPod classic now sports 80gb or 160gb--yep, 160gb--of storage. And last but not least, the iPod touch--basically an iPhone minus the phone.
New iPod owners can get some great video content for these devices by downloading movies for iPod from HungryFlix.com.
We are extremely excited by these new devices and look forward to providing great entertainment for these hot new iPods.
Labels: hungryflix, ipod, ipod nano, ipod touch, itunes wifi, video download, video ipod
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
How the iPhone will change indie filmmaking - Forever
Unless you've been living in a cave, under a rock, or on the Dark Side of the Moon you know that on Friday June 29th Apple's new iPhone finally hit store shelves. Thousands of Apple and mobile phone fans waited in hundreds of lines for hours just for the privledge of dropping $499-$599 on the shiny new mobile phone/internet device/widescreen iPod. Analysts and tech geeks hailed the iPhone's arrival as a momentus event in the cell phone industry. I'm here to tell you that history will show the iPhone's release as one of the single biggest events in the history of independent filmmaking.
Hun? What, exactly, does the iPhone--a mobile phone/internet device/widescren iPod--have to do with indie filmmaking? Well, a lot. The movie download market must prepare for a great new phase as we look forward to more and more great devices capable of playing our content.
For independent content to survive and thrive, it must move to new delivery devices like Apple TV, iPod and now the iPhone. Support for these new devices will lead to growth in the audience for indie content. Many "mainstream" consumers will not view indie films at screenings, festivals or DVD. The films are too hard to find, often barried in video rental store shelves or playing in small art house theaters. This has been the case for the past few decades. Once every five years there is a breakout hit--a Clerks or Blair Witch--that gives the indie community something to rally around. The independent movie press declare, "We've arrived. This is the 'Year of the Indie'". Just as quickly as these hits arise, the excitement dies down and the great content made in the aftermath gets lost in the shuffle.
Now, for what may truely be the first time, consumers will have in their hands a great portable media device. You may argue that the iPod with video or the PSP have existed for a few years. But, these are devices that most people do not *have* to carry at all times. These are "luxury" devices that we carry when we want to. Cell phones are vastly different. Most Americans now carry their cell phone at all times--to the gym, on the bus, walking through the mall, at the ball game. We always have our phones with us. Now that Apple has delivered "the best iPod ever built" (Apple's words) and snuck it inside a phone, we now have a captive audience that will always have viewing capability.
This is, or has the potential to be, huge. Just look no farther than the iPhone's home screen. Right there on that gorgious 3.5" screen is a direct link to everyone's favorite dancing-cats-meet-dancing-teenagers clip sharing site, YouTube. Think about that. Apple put YouTube directly on the home screen of their revolutionary new device. Now, this could be entirely motivated by a new advertisting or search revenue deal Apple has struck with Google. But even if it is, the fact that YouTube is on the home screen of the iPhone can not be ignored.
Apple believes in mobile entertainment. They created the iPod so that we all could enjoy all our music at any time or place. Now, we are closer than ever to that dream for video. The iPhone's 3.5" screen has a resolution higher than many computer monitors. It displays MPEG4 H.264 video beautifully--better than any portable device ever has. These quality features combined with the simple fact that people will actually have the device with them, lead to great market opportunities.
Of course, the iPhone is, for now, a niche device. It's high price tag mean that it won't be found in the hands of many teens or college students in the near future. But just as with all technology, the price will drop over time. The iPhone will also force other handset makers and cell providers to design better devices. Devices that compete with the iPhone. When this happens, consumers win.
HungryFlix.com is ready to help independent producers, filmmakers and musicians in this new distribution world. We believe that this new class of mobile devices will open the doors to great indie content. It is time to get onboard. There are hundreds of thousands of movie and music fans out there with new devices that are hungry for great content. Feed Your Portable!
Hun? What, exactly, does the iPhone--a mobile phone/internet device/widescren iPod--have to do with indie filmmaking? Well, a lot. The movie download market must prepare for a great new phase as we look forward to more and more great devices capable of playing our content.
For independent content to survive and thrive, it must move to new delivery devices like Apple TV, iPod and now the iPhone. Support for these new devices will lead to growth in the audience for indie content. Many "mainstream" consumers will not view indie films at screenings, festivals or DVD. The films are too hard to find, often barried in video rental store shelves or playing in small art house theaters. This has been the case for the past few decades. Once every five years there is a breakout hit--a Clerks or Blair Witch--that gives the indie community something to rally around. The independent movie press declare, "We've arrived. This is the 'Year of the Indie'". Just as quickly as these hits arise, the excitement dies down and the great content made in the aftermath gets lost in the shuffle.
Now, for what may truely be the first time, consumers will have in their hands a great portable media device. You may argue that the iPod with video or the PSP have existed for a few years. But, these are devices that most people do not *have* to carry at all times. These are "luxury" devices that we carry when we want to. Cell phones are vastly different. Most Americans now carry their cell phone at all times--to the gym, on the bus, walking through the mall, at the ball game. We always have our phones with us. Now that Apple has delivered "the best iPod ever built" (Apple's words) and snuck it inside a phone, we now have a captive audience that will always have viewing capability.
This is, or has the potential to be, huge. Just look no farther than the iPhone's home screen. Right there on that gorgious 3.5" screen is a direct link to everyone's favorite dancing-cats-meet-dancing-teenagers clip sharing site, YouTube. Think about that. Apple put YouTube directly on the home screen of their revolutionary new device. Now, this could be entirely motivated by a new advertisting or search revenue deal Apple has struck with Google. But even if it is, the fact that YouTube is on the home screen of the iPhone can not be ignored.
Apple believes in mobile entertainment. They created the iPod so that we all could enjoy all our music at any time or place. Now, we are closer than ever to that dream for video. The iPhone's 3.5" screen has a resolution higher than many computer monitors. It displays MPEG4 H.264 video beautifully--better than any portable device ever has. These quality features combined with the simple fact that people will actually have the device with them, lead to great market opportunities.
Of course, the iPhone is, for now, a niche device. It's high price tag mean that it won't be found in the hands of many teens or college students in the near future. But just as with all technology, the price will drop over time. The iPhone will also force other handset makers and cell providers to design better devices. Devices that compete with the iPhone. When this happens, consumers win.
HungryFlix.com is ready to help independent producers, filmmakers and musicians in this new distribution world. We believe that this new class of mobile devices will open the doors to great indie content. It is time to get onboard. There are hundreds of thousands of movie and music fans out there with new devices that are hungry for great content. Feed Your Portable!
Labels: hungryflix, iphone, ipod, iTunes, movie downloads, movies, online video, video download, youtube
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
HungryFlix offers video for Apple iPhone
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."
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
Thursday, June 7, 2007
The Future of Moviemaking 2007
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!
Thanks to MovieMaker magazine!
Labels: digital download, hungryflix, online distribution, video download
Monday, May 14, 2007
Forrester: Paid download market has no future
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.
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
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
ZDNet says, "Who needs iTunes? The rise of the indie friendly video download store"
Who needs iTunes? The rise of the ‘indie friendly’ video download store by ZDNet's Steve O'Hear -- Adams Media Research predicts that by 2011, the online video market will be worth $5.8 billion, and bucking today's trend, the majority of that revenue will be generated through selling downloads not ad-supported content. It's perhaps no surprise then, to see a number of paid-for download services pop up over the last 18 months...
Labels: download, hungryflix, independent, indie film, ipod, iTunes, online video, video distribution, video download
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]