The real problem with Star Trek Into Darkness‘s bungled Blu-ray release
Settle in for a tale of retailer exclusives, international editions and the Bittorrenting that ensues when a Blu-ray release goes wrong. Read more at GigaOM »
HitBliss lets users ‘pay’ for streaming movies and TV shows by watching ads
A new streaming video service called HitBliss lets users earn virtual cash by watching targeted ads. They can then redeem their earnings for new movies and TV episodes. Read more »
Google Books, movies and Nexus 7 tablet head to Japan
Google added new Japanese reading features to its ebooks app yesterday and is now selling the Nexus 7, ebooks and movies through the Google Play store in Japan. Kobo expanded to Japan in July, and Kindle is expected to launch there in October. Read more »
Chinese VOD operator YOU on Demand adds Paramount titles
photo: Paramount Pictures
The government-licensed operator of cable-based VOD and PPV services in China now has four of Hollywood’s six major studios in its portfolio. Read more »
Paramount Sues Puzo Estate Over ‘Godfather’ Sequels
The studio behind the famous Godfather trilogy is asking a court to make the franchise’s literary heirs an offer they can’t refuse. Read more »
Shakeup At Paramount Claims Digital Vet Lesinski; Maguire Gets Home Media
photo: Flickr / Staci D. Kramer
Tom Lesinski, who has headed digital at Paramount (NYSE: VIA) as long as it’s mattered, is out in a major reorganization that folds the Para… Read more »
Mobile Lowdown 5-23-11: Foxconn; iPhone 5 Curve; Rooted Android; Paramount
Our look at some of the big stories in mobile today: more details on the Foxconn factory explosion; reports of a curvaceous future for the i… Read more »
Two Studios Hold Out On YouTube Movie Rental Deal-Piracy Is The Issue
Word leaked earlier this week that YouTube (NSDQ: GOOG) was going to start renting out premium movie content, putting it in a position to co… Read more »
Will Congress Push Google To Tweak Its Algorithm To Punish Pirate Sites?
Judging by today’s hearings, some members of Congress are willing to consider radical measures to rid the internet of “rogue” websites accus… Read more »
Google Poaches From Paramount Again, But Why?
They may be embroiled in a legal fight to the death, but that doesn’t mean Google (NSDQ: GOOG) can’t be admiring of Viacom’s employees. Alex… Read more »
Paramount Bucks Trend; Will Provide Redbox With New Releases On Day Of Sale
photo: Eddie Does Japan
Viacom’s Paramount Home Entertainment will provide Redbox with its new releases on the same day they go on sale, under a long-term agreement… Read more »
New Epix Deal With Dish Gives Premium Net A Shot At Critical Mass
photo: Corbis / Simon Marcus
Another win for fledgling premium net Epix HD: a deal with Dish Network to offer the service to those of its 14.1 million customers who subs… Read more »
Paramount, Redbox Extend Rental Rev-Share Trial — With Focus On New Releases
photo: Andyrob
Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) and Redbox have extended their trial rental rev-share agreement by six more months. The two companies fir… Read more »
Swedish VOD Provider Voddler Raises $2.2 Million; Inks Deals With Disney, Paramount
Voddler, a Swedish VOD tech and content provider, has raised $2.2 million in funding, per an SEC filing. The company is backed in part by De… Read more »
New Premium Net Epix Pushing To Add Distribution Partners Before Oct.30 Launch
Last month, Viacom (NYSE: VIA) CEO Phillipe Dauman confidently said he expected new premium network Epix to add more distribution partners b… Read more »
DivX, Film Fresh Get Studios' Blessings For Download-to-Own Movie Service
photo: lanuiop
Funny how certain Hollywood studios have chosen to embrace certain new movie distribution strategies, and yet fight hard against the evoluti… Read more »
Paramount To Test Rental Rev-Share Deal With Redbox
photo: Eddie Does Japan
The Hollywood/Redbox saga continues, though Paramount has added an interesting twist. The Viacom-owned movie studio is testing out a new ren… Read more »
Paramount Considering Merging Some Or AlI Of DVD Division With Other Studios
Update: A source has confirmed that the talks are ongoing, but are preliminary (not advanced, as FT reported), and include the other studios… Read more »
Premium JV Movie Service Still Optimistic On Cable Distribution; Online-Only Fate?
The high-profile premium movie JV from Viacom (NYSE: VIA), Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate, now called Epix, is still optimistic on getting a d… Read more »
With No Pay TV Distribution Lined Up, Premium Movie JV Epix Will Launch On Broadband
Back when I started writing about cable programming, if a wannabe network couldn’t get distribution on cable, it tried satellite in the hope… Read more »
