Category: Business

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Distribution Item of Interest The Business of Production

Netflix To Enter Original Programming

Netflix To Enter Original Programming With Mega Deal For David Fincher-Kevin Spacey Series ‘House Of Cards’ http://bit.ly/ewSQgH

In yet another sign that modern distributors don’t feel like waiting around for the legacy industry (with the good content) any more. In a move that presages what could happen more widely, particularly if Apple and Google started into production.

There’s zero reason why any of the new content aggregators or distributors couldn’t go to the exact same producers and production companies that produce for the network and cable outlets, for exclusive content for their distribution.

EXCLUSIVE: Video streaming juggernaut Netflix is becoming an original programming player. In what is probably the biggest gamble in its 14-year history, I hear Netflix has outbid several major cable networks, including HBO and AMC, for  Media Rights Capital’s drama series House of Cards, executive produced and directed by David Fincher and exec produced by and starring Kevin Spacey.

Negotiations are still going on, but I hear Netflix landed the drama project by offering a staggering commitment of two seasons, or 26 episodes. Given that the price tag for a high-end drama is in the $4 million-$6 million an episode range and that a launch of a big original series commands tens of millions of dollars for promotion, the deal is believed to be worth more than $100 million.

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Distribution Item of Interest

Massive Research On ‘Piracy’ Debunks entire Foundation of US Foreign IP Policy

Massive Research On ‘Piracy’ In Emerging Economies Released; Debunks Entire Foundation Of US Foreign IP Policy http://tinyurl.com/6lfu6dp

I’ve long said that I welcome good research into the issues surrounding unauthorized distribution, because the “studies” sponsored by industry groups are elaborate hoaxes debunked by none less than the US Government Accounting Office.

I could quote sections of the article on the report but really, if you’re concerned about “piracy” and have believed any of the BS from the MPAA or RIAA’s debunked reports, then you owe it to your business future to read at least about the report. Either at the Techdirt.com article above, or over at TorrentFreak.com.

Categories
Distribution Item of Interest Monetizing The Business of Production

Power to the People: The Democratization of Film.

Power to the People: The Democratization of Film http://tinyurl.com/4d6o3wq

This is a really good read by Jeff Steele that starts with how production has been democratized through the use of less expensive tools. That ignores a whole lot of costs associated with quality production that aren’t associated with less expensive tools of production, but let’s allow the point for the moment.

His primary point is that, while production is democratized, financing and distribution are not. Again, I wouldn’t argue.

Continue reading “Power to the People: The Democratization of Film.”

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Distribution Item of Interest The Business of Production

YouTube Buys Next New Networks

YouTube Buys Next New Networks in First Big Content Acquisition http://tinyurl.com/45zosv6 As well as beet.tv’s coverage, paidcontent.org and Silicon Alley Insider have coverage.

As I suggested over a year ago, Google are getting into the content business. As rumored two months ago, Google have purchased Next New Networks for an undisclosed sum. This makes sense as Next New was heavily dependent on YouTube for distribution.

Continue reading “YouTube Buys Next New Networks”

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Distribution Item of Interest

Tools for Connecting with Bloggers, Tweets et al

Tools for Connecting with Bloggers, Twitterers, Superfans and Groups http://tinyurl.com/2vpuv2e

In the modern era of independent production and distribution, the “first audience” is a core concept. Find the first audience – those that will be interested in the topic of your independent project, and reach out to them first.

Finding appropriate bloggers, tweeters, groups (and hopefully) superfans, is the challenging part. These tools are designed to help with that.

No really suitable section for quoting as it’s all just good reference material.

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Business & Marketing Distribution Item of Interest

For Every Entertainment Industry Job “lost” to Infringement….

For Every Entertainment Industry Job ‘Lost’ To Infringement, – 12 Jobs Be Created Elsewhere? http://tinyurl.com/4vtott2

It’s an interesting piece of research particularly int he light of the discredited (by the US Government Accounting Office) “studies” by the RIAA and MPAA, which never take into account any potential positive of unauthorized distribution, aka free publicity.

Continue reading “For Every Entertainment Industry Job “lost” to Infringement….”

Categories
Apple

The iPad version of iMovie is “the real deal”?

This paragraph from John Gruber’s reflections on Apple’s iPad 2 event really stood out for me:

iMovie for iPad seems like the realization of Randy Ubillos’s vision for movie editing software. Seldom does an app as popular and useful as iMovie get a genuine “let’s just start over from scratch” redesign like iMovie did on the Mac several years ago. And the current Mac version is, without question, a major improvement over the initial redesigned version. This iPad version, though, feels like the real deal, and makes the Mac version seem like the imitator. The concept, visual layout, and intended workflow are naturally suited to touch. This is what the new iMovie is supposed to be.

Continue reading “The iPad version of iMovie is “the real deal”?”

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Distribution Interesting Technology Item of Interest Media Consumption

When Will Apple Cave And Accept Flash?

When Will Apple Cave And Accept Flash? http://tinyurl.com/4gphemz

To answer the question: probably never. What the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch have shown, 160 million users don’t seem to be having a problem in a Flash-free world.

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Apple Interesting Technology

What is Apple doing with QuickTime?

As expected, AV Foundation from iOS 4 will be added to Lion. My take is that signals the end of QuickTime as we’ve known it. But it’s not only that there’s a new Framework for working with time-based audiovisual media – there’s a lot more to QuickTime than that, and it’s all the interactive and additional technologies in QuickTime that don’t appear to have a future. Features that were important when QuickTime MOVs were the preferred (at Apple) distribution format.

Continue reading “What is Apple doing with QuickTime?”

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Business & Marketing Distribution Item of Interest Monetizing

What did TED learn from “Giving it Away”?

How TED Learned That ‘Giving It (their talks) Away’ Increased Both Popularity And Revenue http://tinyurl.com/4qo4g6k

Continue reading “What did TED learn from “Giving it Away”?”