Universal: Studio Has ‘Closed Doors’ on Content Leaks with CDSA Vendor Program

Universal was first among major studios to work with the Content Delivery and Storage Association (CDSA) on a vendor accreditation program that incorporates the association’s content protection standards. Now, with “just about all” of its international vendors either accredited or “well on their way” to certification with CDSA, Universal’s Paul Chesney reports that the initiative has “closed doors and prevented some opportunities for content theft.”

In an interview with Digital2Disc, Chesney, who serves as Universal’s VP of International Operations, says that working with CDSA was a “no brainer” after the executive “looked at the international landscape” and “realized that there was no common standard of content protection across the entire supply chain.” The CDSA’s independent audit certification system, Chesney says, “appeared to offer the best possibility” of a uniform content protection approach for all vendors that handle the studio’s pre-release assets.

Full story is available for download here.

April 21, 2011
Categories: News you can Use . . Author: MyMotorways . Comments: Leave a comment

Stay On the Cutting Edge at ESCA 2011

Now in its 7th year, ESCA EDGE is where home entertainment executives gather to share best practices and learn what’s next. Annually over 300 operations and technology leaders, from the studios and their production partners, consider ESCA EDGE the must-attend conference event. Whether you’re business is physical or digital media, the conference covers the latest technology trends, operational success stories, and cutting-edge innovations.

It’s about more than just supply chain. It’s about leading EDGE ideas, cutting EDGE innovations and knowlEDGE leadership in the home entertainment. ESCA began as the industry’s annual business conference responsible for driving efficiencies in the delivery of physical and digital home entertainment. In these dynamic times, ESCA’s role continues to evolve to enlighten and inspire the industry with the new perspectives, thought leadership and most esteemed collection of keynoters and panelists.

Details at:

http://entertainmentsupplychain.com/esca2011/

April 20, 2011
Categories: Events . . Author: MyMotorways . Comments: 1 Comment

I think this Internet thing may be for real.

– $26 billion in U.S. Internet ad revenues in 2010
– 15% growth over 2009
– Bigger than U.S. newspaper advertising revenue for the first time


April 16, 2011
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Social Media – Facebook wants to make daily deals more social – Internet Retailer

Interesting article for Facebook to bring in more revenues.  Check the details at:


Social Media – Facebook wants to make daily deals more social – Internet Retailer.

April 15, 2011
Categories: News you can Use . . Author: MyMotorways . Comments: Leave a comment

“Blue Blood” show has most Commercials

It might not be the sexiest of this year’s new U.S. shows, but Blood Bloods has proved the most commercial at home and internationally combined. The Tom Selleck cop show has topped a chart of how this season’s freshman shows have performed. Blue Bloodshas sold around the world, and not just to tiny channels but to big ones like Sky Atlantic in the UK, Australia’s Network Ten and Discovery Latin America. Armando Nunez, president CBS Studios International, has told TV tradeTelevision Business International, “It’s perhaps not as sexy to talk about, but it has proven a success both on the network and in terms of global distribution.” TBI is due to publish its survey of U.S. network pick-ups Monday. Indeed, CBS’ strategy of showing procedurals might hug the shore creatively, but it has paid off globally. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, another CBS procedural, is in second place. Says Nunez, “The road is littered with pilots and broken series and high concepts that didn’t work. We are in broadcasting.”

Blue Blood Cast During last year's PR Tour

The Event, NBC Universal’s mystery sci-fi show, would probably have been cancelled by now has it not sold so strongly around the world, TBI deputy editor Peter White tells me. NBC Universal sold The Event to more than 200 territories early on, and it has gone on to have a full U.S. season. Of course, some of this year’s new shows still haven’t aired yet, including Fox’s Terra Nova, due to air in October, and ABC’s Happy Endings. Shows graded “F” for fail in the survey because they have all been canceled include JJ Abrams’ Undercovers, Lonestarstarring Jon Voight, and the Jimmy Smits legal drama Outlaw. And the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced Chase and NBC’s superhero drama The Cape have both bitten the dust even in the short time since TBI compiled the survey.

 

April 15, 2011
Categories: Inside Hollywood . . Author: MyMotorways . Comments: Leave a comment

Obama and the Tax Man Song

 

 

 

 

April 14, 2011
Categories: Events . . Author: MyMotorways . Comments: Leave a comment

NAB – Las Vegas – Report

Monday was surprisingly busy as normal this is setup day, but many international broadcasters made their appearances today.  Sony, Harris and Grass Valley along with Panasonic seem to be the heavy hitters this year.   Many vendor appear to be much more price conscience offering more value for the money.  

Sony Make.believe logo dominates the booth.  Find full report of technology findings here shortly.

April 13, 2011
Categories: News you can Use, Vendor News . Tags: . Author: MyMotorways . Comments: Leave a comment

What Would the Music Industry look like without Napster?

According to the labels, record sales would have burgeoned if not for the existence of file-sharing site Napster. The labels’ optimistic forecast comes in the form of a chart included in a trial brief for their case against LimeWire.

The above chart was born out of a case brought by major labels like Sony Corp.’s Arista Records and Warner Music Group Corp.’s Atlantic Records against LimeWire. The trial is scheduled to begin May 2.

In the brief, the labels say:

“The evidence will demonstrate that there has been a $55 billion decline in record industry revenue over the last decade. Plaintiffs and Defendants disagree as to whether mass filesharing through peer-to-peer services has been the primary cause of this decline (Plaintiffs’ position), or just one of several causes (Defendants’ position). But even if LimeWire caused only a fraction of this decline, Plaintiffs’ damages would still be in the billions of dollars. Plaintiffs will offer evidence at trial demonstrating that far greater than a fraction of this harm was caused by LimeWire.”

 

 

April 12, 2011
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Verizon to eliminate 1 year Contract Option

Verizon customers interested in signing a one-year contract (as opposed to the standard two) should lock in their selections now; the company has confirmed that it is eliminating the one-year contract option as of April 17.

Verizon claims the policy change is taking place because the “greater majority of customers sign up for a two-year contract.”

The nation’s largest wireless provider (at least until that AT&T/T-Mobile deal is approved) previously offered users the ability to sign one-year contracts or contract extensions in lieu of the standard two-year agreement. Customers who opted for the one-year contract were still able to purchase new equipment at a discount, albeit a lesser discount than the subsidized two-year agreements.

In an email to BGR, Verizon reiterated that its contract-free month-to-month plans would still be available to consumers.

Meanwhile, according to draft circulars obtained by DroidLife, Verizon may be introducing a new month-to-month prepaid plan that offers users unlimited voice and text for $50 a month. Data will cost extra (reportedly $30 a month for unlimited data).

AT&T recently increased the early-upgrade price on some of its smartphones and feature phones.

April 12, 2011
Categories: News you can Use, Technologies, Vendor News . . Author: MyMotorways . Comments: Leave a comment

Google Gets Green Light From Justice Department for Travel Acquisition

Google’s purchase of ITA Software, a travel and airline software company, has been given a thumbs-up by the U.S. Department of Justice — with a few important stipulations.

The DOJ had subjected the deal to some eight months of scrutiny to determine whether the search giant’s foray into travel and flight search might pose antitrust issues.

The sale was first made known to the public via media reports about a year ago, and Google confirmed the acquisition in July 2010

.

ITA‘s flight search technology powers the company’s public airfare search engine, Matrix. Its QPX airfare shopping system is used by airlines and travel distributors around the world, and the company is also offering a new airline passenger reservation system.

Since ITA’s software powers many other businesses, the DOJ is requiring Google to continue “to develop and license travel software, to establish internal firewall procedures and to continue software research and development.” QPX and ITA’s other travel search products will continue to be licensed to other companies, even companies that might be competing with whatever travel search app or apps Google might introduce.

In this way, the Department hopes to keep competition for travel search fair. Department reps said that the original deal terms “would have substantially lessened competition among providers of comparative flight search websites in the United States, resulting in reduced choice and less innovation for consumers.”

Looks like the Google juggernaut continues…

April 10, 2011
Categories: Technologies, Vendor News . . Author: MyMotorways . Comments: Leave a comment

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