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Apple to sell music through Starbucks

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starbucks.jpgFollowing the launch of iPod touch, Apple and Starbucks entered into an exclusive partnership that lets customers wirelessly browse, search for, preview, buy and download music from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks onto their iPod touch, iPhone or any laptop running iTunes while at a participating location.

Making its debut at more than 600 Starbucks company-operated locations in New York and Seattle this coming October 2, this new service will run on the robust T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi network which is available at participating Starbucks locations across the US.

“Getting free access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store and the ‘Now Playing’ service at Starbucks is a great way for customers to discover new music,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Imagine walking into a participating Starbucks, hearing a great song, and being able to instantly download it onto your iPod or iPhone. We think this is very cool.”

Imagine the reach and awareness Apple will gain if they can turn all coffee shops and other establishments into digital downloading centers. Well, we might never need iTunes stores anymore if that will happen, right?

Originally posted on September 6, 2007 @ 6:47 am

Consumers not happy with video downloading

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Despite the popularity of video downloading, particularly the unlicensed ones, most consumers are not satisfied with this service even with licensed online services like iTunes. The culprits are high prices and low quality.

According to a new research by Park Associates, only 16% say the selection of videos available online is good and only 13% say video downloads are sold at a reasonable price.

“People don’t see a reason to use video downloading services,” said John Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates. “Sure, it saves a trip to the video store, but it takes longer, looks worse, and you end up watching it on a 17″ screen. No wonder consumers are dissatisfied with the experience.”

Currently, there are only 2 methods available to consumers – licensed online services and peer-to-peer (P2P). This is a glimmer of hope both to DVD makers and brick-and-mortar rental stores against the seemingly insurmountable online downloading trend. Additionally, this is a good marketing handle for these companies to play up this current dissatisfaction.

Originally posted on August 10, 2007 @ 2:47 pm

Blockbuster Acquires Movielink

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movielink.jpg The scuffle in the online video rental industry is heating up with the acquisition of Hollywood-backed online download service, Movielink, by Blockbuster Inc.

“Blockbuster is committed to keeping pace with the changing needs of customers by offering them an expanding array of convenient ways to access entertainment content,” said Blockbuster chairman and CEO Jim Keyes. “Our acquisition of Movielink, with its associated digital content, is the next logical step in our planned transformation of Blockbuster.”

Still, the pioneer company NetFlix controls the market with about 4 million customers. This recent development is expected to draw some blood in the coming months.

Before projecting any increase in market share, Blockbuster’s first assignment is to make Movieline competitive. Although it has strong connection with MGM, Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, Universal Studio, and Walt Disney, it has failed to gain significant following with only 3% share in the download market.

Originally posted on August 9, 2007 @ 2:39 pm

BBC iPlayer launches

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bbc.jpgBBC, one of the biggest broadcasting corporations in the world, has launched to the general public its own on-demand TV service, BBC iPlayer.

This new service allows viewers to download programs for the last 7 days and will have the opportunity watch them for up to 30 days. Once watched, these programs will be automatically deleted.

However, it is still in its beta phase and full marketing is slated in autumn. Interested viewers need to register at the site to get invitations.

“It’s a revolutionary service which offers audiences more value, because from now on they never have to miss out on their favourite programmes – or those that they didn’t previously have the opportunity to try,” said Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision.

BBC iPlayer is far more than a standalone application. Later this year, it will become widely accessible across bbc.co.uk, as well as via links from YouTube and a number of other potential distribution partners. These potential partners include MSN, telegraph.co.uk, AOL, Tiscali, Yahoo!, MySpace, Blinkx and Bebo.

Originally posted on July 27, 2007 @ 10:15 am

Association for Downloadable Media formed

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adm.jpgIndustry leaders from the podcasting community announced the formation of the Association for Downloadable Media (ADM). The goal is to develop standardization of audience measurement and advertising for downloadable media. The ADM will focus primarily on the world of podcasting, downloadable media and portable content monetized by advertising and sponsorship. The ADM will create a landscape that facilitates the commercialization of this growing audience.

The purview of the ADM includes revenue generation from advertising and sponsorships of podcasts, vodcasts, and other audio/video digital content distributed via RSS, ATOM, peer-to-peer, mobile devices, downloads from web sites and other platforms to come.

The organization has been formed to focus specifically on any content downloaded by consumers, and will work in collaboration with related industry organizations, publishers, and agencies such as the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA).

The ADM will support the needs of publishers, producers, advertisers, agencies, vendors, research/measurement companies, as well as hardware and software manufacturers who are involved with the production or distribution of downloadable media. Monetization of podcasts is a growing opportunity for these parties, and the ADM supports the momentum of this channel through the collective mindshare of its members.

There has been a need for industry standards in the podosphere, and the ADM will help accelerate its growth into a commercially viable medium. Podcast advertising is a burgeoning medium for marketers. Spending on podcasting advertising will quintuple over the next five years, from an $80 million market in 2006 to $400 million in 2011 according to eMarketer, Inc. Apple Inc. has sold more than 100 million iPods, more than 350,000 iPhones have been reported sold in its first weekend of availability and more than 300 million copies of iTunes have been installed. According to an Arbitron/Edison Internet and Multimedia 2007 study, the number of people in the U.S. who have listened to a podcast has grown to 13% in 2007.

The ADM will comprise an interim board of representatives from the following companies who met initially to establish the organization: Apple Inc., BlogTalkRadio, Kiptronic, LibSyn, IndieFeed, NPR, Nielsen/NetRatings, Personal Life Media, Inc., Podbridge, PodTech, PodShow, Podtrac, Porter Novelli, Rev3, and Vogele Law.

Five initial committees will be formed immediately to address: advertising standards, measurement, outreach/education, terminology and membership. Membership application is now open on the ADM website. Nominations for the executive seats, advisory board and committee chairs will take place this summer.

Originally posted on July 16, 2007 @ 12:08 am