Google Praises White Space Vote - While NAB promises the fight has only just begun....
NAB yesterday quickly issued a press release proclaiming that the fight was only just beginning. NAB also argued, despite the fact that the use of this spectrum has been under consideration and open discussion for nearly six years, that the Commission "appears to have bypassed meaningful public or peer review in a proceeding of grave importance to the future of television." Despite findings to the contrary by FCC engineers, NAB continues to argue that the technology could interfere with TV service, though fear of broadcast competition is likely a stronger motivator.
Video Startup Veoh Cuts 18% of Staff
Online video site Veoh
is laying off 20 people, or 18% of its staff of 110. The move comes a month after a Paidcontent reported layoffs in Veoh’s Russian office in St. Petersburg, which CEO Steve Mitgang says was a strategic decision rather than a financial one, as Veoh wanted to move its development staff to San Diego (where it has hired a replacement team).
YouTube adds new features
With close to 44 percent of our users watching embedded videos, we're committed to constantly refining the player. Today, we are pleased to announce four new features:
- High-quality start images (thumbnails) – Before you press play on embedded YouTube videos, the thumbnails for the video will be presented in high-quality. We're pleased with the results – let us know if you agree.
- Search in embeddable player – At the close of an embedded video, along with the usual recommended videos and URLs, a search box will appear. Not only will you be able search from within the embedded player, you will be able to watch videos through the same window. That's right, you can search all of YouTube from the comfort of your favorite blog, news, or humor page.
- Integrated video annotations – Annotations enable video producers to incorporate text information into their videos, create choose your own adventure-style stories or add links to any YouTube video. People watching videos through the embedded player can now join the fun.
- Integrated closed captions – Back in August we started allowing video creators to add captions to their videos. Closed Captions are now available in embedded videos like this one:
Vudu CEO to spend more time with his lovely wife
Vudu, which makes a nifty little set-top box that no one is buying, beat the rush by laying off employees in August. Today, an alert tipster notes that CEO Mark Jung has disappeared from the company's management page. Jung's LinkedIn profile has also been updated, putting Vudu in past tense.
NYC To Fund Year-Long Study On How To Help Media Industry
The New York City Economic Development Commission has a plan to increase employment for consultants: hire a team of them to produce the "NYC Media Scenario Series," at minimum, a year-long look at the media industry in New York in these uncertain times. NYCEDC, as stated in the RFP, "seeks to understand how the City and the private sector can work together to maintain NYC's position as the leading center of the media industry as the sector goes through the dramatic transition to digital production and distribution." One area of concern: the city's less than 25 percent market share when it comes to new media, while the West Coast and Boston are "perceived to be preferred." Proposals are due Nov. 18.
Warner Brothers will stream videos in China
Warner Brothers followed MTV and MySpace's unique entry into the anti-piracy battle Tuesday with the announcement that it would begin a legal streaming video service in China. Users will "rent" Warner Brothers titles for between 60 cents and $1 per video, according to the company's statement. The release mention movies I Am Legend, Fool's Gold and Speed Racer as some of the first titles to be made available through the deal.
