Disney is in talks with NBCU-Fox joint venture Hulu on becoming a partner. While details are scant, a partnership would likely open up the popular online streaming video service to ABC programming, as well as content from other Disney owned properties like ESPN and the Disney Channel. The news comes after Hulu reportedly served over 333 million videos in February, effectively making it one of the most popular streaming video sites on the web.
On the other hand, Paid Content is reporting that Disney is also in the final stages of discussions with Google about distributing content on YouTube. The supposed deal, which could come before a deal with Hulu, would legally put selected clips from ESPN, ABC, and other Disney outlets on the streaming video site. In return, Google and Disney would share ad rev, with Disney controlling the inventory.
eBay's Skype plans to release a version of its VOIP software for the iPhone. The free iPhone application will allow users all the functionality of its regular software, including calling people on computers, cellphones and landlines (for a fee). The free software will only work when a user is connected to a Wi-Fi network and puts Skype in direct competition with wireless providers.
AMC has reached a deal with Sony to equip all AMC theaters with digital projectors. The deal will make AMC's 309 theaters and 4,628 screens capable of displaying a digital picture, as well as handling Real 3-D films in true format. Installations will begin in the second half of 2009 and are expected to be complete by the end of 2012.
Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV (2008, York House Press). Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy® Awards). You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here. Shelly can be reached at shelly@palmer.net.