| | | | | #1 TBS, TNT Upgrade Apps, Expand Device Support | | Turners TBS and TNT this week have issued major updates to their streaming apps for mobile and TV-connected platforms, and have added new platforms to their streaming mix. | | WHY THIS MATTERS: The two Turner units have expanded their reach with launches on Roku devices, the Google Chromecast and Vizio SmartCast products. They plan to extend support to gaming consoles and connected TVs later this year. They also released updates for their iOS and Android mobile apps, as well as Apple TV and Amazon Fire devices, which include integration of Vizbee technology that lets users cast content from a mobile device to any connected screen as well as instant-on access and pre-login freeviews for major programming events. Other enhancements include the ability for users to switch easily from one device to another without losing their place in a program. | 3 TAKES: MCN | Engadget | Android Police
| | | | #2 Preston Padden Offers Spectrum Auction Lessons Learned | | Preston Padden, former head of the Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Coalition, gave a presentation today at an event in Washington on the "lessons learned" from the FCCs recent spectrum auction. | | WHY THIS MATTERS: Padden, now principal of Boulder Thinking, pointed out that three of the four major wireless carriers who insisted there was a spectrum crunch and lobbied hard for the auction essentially didn't show up. He argued that in accommodating the "claimed need" for wireless spectrum, the FCC disadvantaged broadcasters, requiring almost 1,000 stations to move involuntarily as part of the voluntary auction. | THE TAKE: B&C
| | | | #3 VR Firm Improbable Raises $502 Million | | London-based VR technology company, Improbable, has raised $502 million in a Series B funding round led by SoftBank. Improbable uses cloud computing to allow the creation of virtual worlds, which can be used in games and large-scale simulations of the real world. | | WHY THIS MATTERS: The company said that it will invest the cash in developing its technology including its SpatialOS distributed operating system. It also plans to up recruitment at its London and San Francisco offices. | 5 TAKES: Tech Crunch | Bloomberg | The Verge | DTVE | MediaPost
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| | | | Perhaps there is too much pressure on VR to achieve instant success. Its a technology which is still in its first mass consumer generation with the classic chicken-and-egg situation at present of limited consumer uptake not creating a viable user base something that Google and YouTube are looking to change. Uses and applications are still being discovered and creators are still working out what works (and importantly what doesnt). But critically, theres commitment to invest, ensuring improved user experiences at ever lower costs, so its now a case of more consumers starting to do more with it.
Carl Hibbert, Associate Director of Media and Entertainment Research, Futuresource Consulting |
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| | | | Without Sports, Broadcasters Fumbled This Season
By Joe Flint, WSJ
The 2016-17 television season is coming to an end, and broadcasters are getting ready to unveil the fall seasons prime-time schedules to advertisers at glitzy upfront presentations next week. All of the broadcast networks have taken a ratings hit this season when you exclude prime-time sports like the Super Bowl, upping the pressure on programmers to deliver some entertainment breakouts that will resonate with viewers and advertisers. More
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