Broadband Content Bits: Movies Not Online; FX Streams; LG15 Spinoff; PCH
This story was written by Amanda Natividad.
-- Hollywood classics unavailable for legal download, Blu-ray not coming soon: With the online availability of movies becoming more widespread, it's a wonder there aren't more classics that can be legally streamed or downloaded. Variety reports that of the 25 most successful movies at the U.S. box office, only five are available digitally. This is due to the red tape of clearing these older titles' digital rights, and newer releases still airing via their pay TV, cable and broadcast windows before they can be offered online.
-- FX to begin streaming full episodes: As part of the FXnetworks.com relaunch, FX will offer full episode streaming and later this fall, a redesigned community area. Previously, FX shows were streamed only on Hulu and Fancast and available for download at the iTunes store. There will be an eight-day window from when an episode airs to when it appears on FXnetworks.com, Hulu and iTunes. During that period, FX's affiliates will be able to show the episode via their video-on-demand platforms. At launch the catalog will consist of seasons one and two of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and 30 Days, and for each of the shows currently on the airexcept The Shield, which FX does not own the streaming rights toFX expects to have three episodes available on demand. The episodes will feature pre-roll advertising and ads where commercials would normally appear on TV.
-- LonelyGirl15 spinoff premiering on various video sites: For all those who couldn't get enough of the original series, LG15: The Resistance will premiere on Sept. 20 across Hulu, MySpaceTV, imeem, Veoh and YouTube. New six-minute episodes will debut every Saturday for 12 weeks and feature characters from LonelyGirl15 and UK series KateModern. The Resistance will also offer daily blog and photo updates, and the ability to create profile pages and chat with the show's characters.
-- Publishers Clearing House extends online territory with video site: Adding to its digital portfolio including search engine PCHSearchandwin.com and games site PCHGames.com, the company has launched PCHtv.com, a video site where fans can watch as the sweepstakes grand prize winner is surprised by the Prize Patrol. The new site will go live at 7 PM tonight, right after the prize winner is announced during NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. After the winner's clip is shown, viewers can enter to win their own prizes, and within the coming months, will be able to upload their own videos acting out their reactions if they became a sweepstakes winner.
By Amanda Natividad