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NBA TV Hires Isiah Thomas as Studio Analyst

Hall of Famer to Make Debut Dec. 21 during Net's Coverage of Bulls-Knicks
By: Tim Baysinger (Broadcasting & Cable) Dec 19 2012 - 3:14pm
Hall of Famer to Make Debut Dec. 21 during Net's Coverage of Bulls-Knicks

NBA TV has hired Hall of Fame point guard Isiah Thomas as a studio analyst. He will make several appearances each month and also contribute to NBA.com.
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Nintendo Turns Wii U Game Controller Into TV Remote

Company’s TVii Service to Launch in U.S. and Canada on Dec. 20
By: Todd Spangler Dec 19 2012 - 11:44am
Company’s TVii Service to Launch in U.S. and Canada on Dec. 20

After a one-month delay, Nintendo on Thursday expects to launch a service for its new Wii U game console in North America designed to let users find programming in pay TV listings and online video sources, and control their cable or satellite set-top box.

Nintendo’s TVii (pronounced “TV”) service merges multiple content sources, such as a Comcast channel lineup or Hulu Plus subscription, letting Wii U owners use the GamePad touchscreen controller to find and launch video content.

Hulu Tops 3 Million Paying Subscribers

Internet TV Site to Generate $695 Million in Revenue for 2012: Kilar
By: Todd Spangler Dec 17 2012 - 1:59pm
Internet TV Site to Generate $695 Million in Revenue for 2012: Kilar

Representing a growing threat to traditional pay TV services, Hulu will close out the year with more than 3 million paying subscribers for its Hulu Plus service -- more than doubling over the last 12 months -- and will pull in about $695 million in revenue, according to CEO Jason Kilar.

Aereo Cuts Carriage Deal With Bloomberg TV

Internet TV Startup Adds Financial News Channel to Over-the-Top Service
By: Todd Spangler Dec 14 2012 - 10:54am
Internet TV Startup Adds Financial News Channel to Over-the-Top Service

Aereo, the Internet TV startup being sued for copyright infringement by major broadcasters, has added Bloomberg TV to its over-the-top streaming and DVR service available for a little as $8 per month -- its first deal with a cable network.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, although the companies confirmed Aereo is paying to carry the financial news network. Aereo spokeswoman Virginia Lam said there is “no timeline on additional [content] partnerships at this time.”

TV Shows Absent from Redbox/Verizon's Netflix Rival at Launch

Joint Venture Between Telco and Coinstar to Debut Streaming Plan Starting at $8
By: Todd Spangler Dec 12 2012 - 2:21pm
Joint Venture Between Telco and Coinstar to Debut Streaming Plan Starting at $8

Verizon Communications and Coinstar’s Redbox expect to debut a movies-only Internet streaming service later this month -- priced starting at $8, the same as Netflix -- but initially the Redbox Instant by Verizon will lack any TV show content and far fewer movies than Netflix.

Sony, Ensequence to Pitch Over-the-Top ITV Ads and Content

CE Maker Cuts Deal to Embed Ensequence’s Platform Into Connected HDTVs
By: Todd Spangler Dec 4 2012 - 9:56am
CE Maker Cuts Deal to Embed Ensequence’s Platform Into Connected HDTVs

Sony Electronics struck a multiyear pact to embed Ensequence's interactive TV platform software on all of its Internet connected TVs, with Ensequence planning to sell the ITV capabilities to programmers and advertisers.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Beginning in the first quarter of 2013, all new Sony TVs will ship with Ensequence’s ITV platform software. In addition, the software will be available for Sony’s 2011-12 models of connected TVs through software updates.

UVideos Launches on Xbox Live

Bilingual Digital Network Now Available to Xbox Live Gold Subscribers
By: Mike Reynolds Nov 28 2012 - 9:56am
Bilingual Digital Network Now Available to Xbox Live Gold Subscribers

Univision Communications is making its content available on Xbox Live.

Xbox Live Gold subscribers can now access content from bilingual digital video network UVideos.

The UVideos application is available at no extra cost to current Xbox Live Gold subscribers via the Xbox Marketplace. Within the first 24 hours of becoming available on Xbox Live, UVideos was downloaded more than 10,000 times, according to officials at the U.S. Hispanic media leader.

TV Sets Dip Into BitTorrent Stream

Embedded Code Allows for Playback of Legal, Illegal Video
By: Todd Spangler Nov 19 2012 - 1:00am
Embedded Code Allows for Playback of Legal, Illegal Video

BitTorrent, the notorious file-sharing application used by more than 150 million people worldwide, is tuning into TV.

Internet-connected TV sets from some 20 manufacturers will soon be able to stream video content — including both legal and illegal material — with the click of a remote, via embedded BitTorrent software. CEO Eric Klinker declined to identify Bit- Torrent’s TV partners.

BitTorrent Inks Deals With 20 TV Set Makers

Net-Connected Televisions Will Let Users Stream Both Legal, Illegal Video Content
By: Todd Spangler Nov 14 2012 - 6:45pm
Net-Connected Televisions Will Let Users Stream Both Legal, Illegal Video Content

Consumers using Internet-connected TV sets from some 20 manufacturers will soon be able to stream video content -- including both legal and illegal material -- downloaded via embedded BitTorrent software, with the click of a remote.

BitTorrent has reached deals with 20 consumer-electronics manufacturers, according to CEO Eric Klinker. He declined to identify them.

Most of BitTorrent’s deals are for TV models that will launch -- as early as this holiday season -- in Europe and Asia, Klinker said.

Icahn Takes 10% Stake in Netflix

Independent Investor Says Company 'Should Be Consolidated'
By: Todd Spangler Oct 31 2012 - 4:14pm
Independent Investor Says Company 'Should Be Consolidated'

Netflix shares closed up 13.9% Wednesday, to $79.24 per share, after billionaire investor Carl Icahn announced a 9.98% stake in the Internet video-streaming company.

Icahn disclosed the investment in a regulatory filing Wednesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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