Entertainment and Arts

Universal Studios’ ad campaign for the upcoming "Heroes: Season 2" DVD, launched on Metacafe today, brings collaborative commercial mashups to the online video space. Viewers can use Kaltura’s collaborative editing tools on the Metacafe Heroes 2 channel to remix videos and create their own "Heroes moments." This campaign is the first of its kind in […]

New 12-episode web series Model.Live, which follows three international models as they strut runways around the world, launches today Vogue.TV and social networking site Bebo. Viewers can leave comments for the models on the Bebo page as well as receive text message updates about their activities throughout the day, making the television experience more interactive.

Toronto-based video platform mDialog lets users upload, share and watch user-generated and professional content online, on Apple TV, and on iPhones. mDialog launched its authorized  iPhone application in time for the release of the iPhone 3G, and gained attention for being one of the first video sites to do so. (Check out TechChrunch’s early review […]

The number of unique visitors to NBC Olympics video site soared to over two million on Monday as viewers tuned into the Games from the workplace, Nielsen announced today. These numbers show that the much-grumbled about time delay of the online coverage hasn’t had a negative effect on online ratings. Not all of the coverage […]

Chinese video sharing sites like Tudou and Youku are proliferating and growing quickly. Recent data has shown that China now has 253 million Internet users–more than any other country. So, how are these sites kept from publishing what the government might see as inappropriate? They have internal censors, says veteran China watcher Rebecca Fannin, author […]

At the two-month-old start-up IBeatYou, "celebrities and average consumers alike" can "roll up their sleeves, get dirty, and have fun competing," cofounder Cash Warren says. Users challenge each other to contests, from "Best 60 second rant" to "Best ‘While You Were Sleeping’ Photo," and vote for the winner based on the video, photo and text […]

  PALO ALTO — It’s back to the future for the business of Web video: Advertiser-sponsored programming from the early days of television, when Texaco, Geritol and Lucky Strike paid to develop or sponsor new programming, is the most viable business model now for episodic content created for the Web, says Jigar Thakarar, Director, Web […]

PALO ALTO — Wide distribution, or “deeplinking” to ABC online video programming is essential, says Albert Cheng, head of digital operations for Disney/ABC Television.  I interviewed him on Tuesday evening at Stanford after he opening night panel  of the AlwaysOn conference.

Television networks actually want their viewers to go online, according to Mary Kathleen Flynn, Senior Editor at Tech Confidential. Flynn, a veteran technology reporter who has covered the industry for CNN and MSNBC, describes describes how networks are using the Internet to deepen audience engagement.

PALO ALTO — Creative online video programming is getting funding and proliferating, but its financial success won’t rival television’s until it can reach a much larger audience, TelevisionWeek editor Greg Baumann says. A key breakthrough will come when consumers can watch online video easily in their living rooms.

Adobe will announce today its expanded content available offering on its Adobe Media Player, the desktop application that allows users download and save video clips.  The company is also unveiling a new user interface.

Kyte has substantially transformed from being a video camera phone sharing site, to a full-blown online video delivery tool for big brands.  It is much more akin these days to the Platform or BrightCove, than Flixwagon or Qik. Uploads from mobile phones are a small part of the content on the Kyte platform.  It’s really […]

Far beyond the limitations of the 30 second television spot, marketers now have the opportunity to connect with audiences through episodic, branded content.  Of course, marketers must connect with consumers who have migrated in mass numbers from television to online. 

The Third Act, the newly formed branded content arm of mega advertising agency Digitas, launched the second season of The Smart Show for Holiday Inn Express last week. To learn about branded online video content and how The Smart Show is shaping up in its second season, I visited  Digitas VP/Creative Director Ben Jones at […]

JibJab today debuted its McCain/Obama comedy video. Just got a huge debut on the Today Show.  JibJab has created a business around comedy video and has gotten some serious funding from Polaris Ventures. Last month in Hollywood, I interviewed founder and CEO Gregg Spiridellis.  I’ve reposted the interview today tied the campaign video debut. — […]

Karin Gilford, who heads entertainment for Yahoo! is leaving for Comcast, TechCrunch reported yesterday.  This evening, paidContent’s Staci Kramer reports that Gilford’s duties will be assumed by James Pitaro, General Manager of Yahoo! Sports. In May, I visited Karin in her Santa Monica offices for a rundown on the success of Yahoo! entertainment, which has […]

MSNBC correspondent Courtney Hazlett, who has been reporting on the celebrity gossip scene in a series called “Scoop,” has just gotten her own branded destination with customized video player.  The site is up and looks pretty good.  This would be the second microsite over at msnsbc.com — the first was launched for Keith Olbermann.

When I first blogged about film distribution site Jaman, I noted that the company had carved out a niche for itself in a crowded market by focusing on independent and international films. Jaman’s deal with Paramount means the site will host mainstream content–and that it will now have to compete heavyweights like Apple, Wal-Mart, Netflix, […]

What do a high-school documentary, an Elvis Costello record, and a photo shoot of phone sex operators have in common? They were all recently recommended on Very Short List, a free, daily e-mail that recommends under-hyped media gems to its 110,000 subscribers. Very Short List helped boost YouTube views of a Zurich Chamber Orchestra commercial […]

HOLLYWOOD — 50 Cent, who is touring with his G-Unit crew to promote his new album,  has been getting good notices, including this story from Thursday’s (7/3) The New York Times. Fueling his popularity is a successful fan site which prominently displays fan-uploaded videos onto a Kyte player.  Watching a video on my desktop, iTunes […]