David Eckoff blog » Movies http://davideckoff.com On Innovation, New Media & The Bigger Better Deal Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:41:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 RealNetworks launches film and entertainment news site Film.com http://davideckoff.com/2007/01/realnetworks-launches-film-and-entertainment-news-site-filmcom.html http://davideckoff.com/2007/01/realnetworks-launches-film-and-entertainment-news-site-filmcom.html#comments Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:42:04 +0000 David Eckoff http://davideckoff.com/?p=67

Elizabeth_Coppinger.jpg RealNetworks has launched a film and entertainment news site, Film.com, featuring film previews, movie trailers, DVD releases, and coverage of television programming and celebrity news.

Plenty of other web sites and blogs already offer similar content – so it remains to be seen if Real can build an audience in a crowded space.

Having said that, I’m always impressed with Real’s resourcefulness, in this case putting to use the great domain name they owned (but had essentially mothballed several years ago), and creating inventory for online advertising.

I also like that the site will offer a free full-length independent movie each week. The “Film.com Movie of the Week”, supported by in-movie sponsorship and advertising, will initially draw on a catalog of movies through a deal with GreenCine, a San Francisco-based company with a library of independent, international and documentary films.

Seeking to further differentiate the site – and no doubt get media exposure – Real introduced the new Film.com at Sundance, where Film.com contributors posted daily video reports and commentary from the film festival.

Among my friends from Real working on the project are Elizabeth Coppinger, Vice President, Media Software & Services (pictured); Michael McMurray, Director, Product Management; and Ted Kuoppamaki, Product Manager (who was Art Director at the original Film.com, which was founded by Lucy Mohl in 1994). Congrats on the launch of your new product!

]]> http://davideckoff.com/2007/01/realnetworks-launches-film-and-entertainment-news-site-filmcom.html/feed 0 TV on the Net http://davideckoff.com/2006/03/tv-on-the-net.html http://davideckoff.com/2006/03/tv-on-the-net.html#comments Wed, 29 Mar 2006 12:00:06 +0000 David Eckoff http://davideckoff.com/?p=31

What is the future of Internet TV?

The Patriot-News published an article yesterday based on a speech by Phil Swann, entitled “Video Without Borders.”

Swann is publisher of TVPredictions.com, and his premise is that in the next few years, television will experience a revolution with the emergence of Internet TV. Swann predicts that viewers will be able to download thousands of shows and movies from the Internet directly to their TVs.

Swann also revealed his secret formula for making predictions about the television industry, a three-part test for how to evaluate new technology:

  • Is it easy to use and understand for the consumer?
  • Does it add convenience to someone’s life?
  • Does it add entertainment?

    With that in mind, Swann had some harsh criticism for Apple Computer Inc.’s video iPod.

    The original, audio-only iPod passes all three tests, he says. But the video iPod, with its 2.5-inch screen, “is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen. It’s a classic case of technology flaunting,” Swann told The Patriot News.

    “Cell-phone TV is even dumber than the video iPod,” Swann said.

    Whoa, hold on there Swanni. There are more than a few people who would have to disagree on that last observation. Namely the more than 500,000 paying subscribers to MobiTV, which provides the mobile TV service for Sprint and Cingular.

    I expect we’re going to find that many people who like TV… will like mobile TV. But there’s more that needs to be done before mobile services deliver a user experience that passes Swann’s three rules.

    Related Links:

  • The Washington Post hosted a live chat with Swann, covering the topic of HDTV, and it makes for a good read.
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