Digital technology has had a big impact on the creation of films, ranging from the latest cgi(computer-generated imagery)techniques to user-selectable alternative plot lines and narratives. Developments in technology also offer enormous potential for the creation of a wide range of new formats and associated interactive services, which can support advertising and merchandising. But the biggest impact is in the distribution of films, with big changes in 'release' windows, channels and pricing. These in turn have created both 'upstream' and 'downstream' challenges in dealing with content and performance rights issues, where existing contractual frameworks are now inadequate.
Disney's investment and joint-venture partnership with ad-supported streaming video site Hulu, will seriously impact existing players like Google's YouTube and Apple's iTunes service.
Arun Muthirulan, 02 May 2009
With Ad revenues falling, content owners are looking to develop alternate revenue streams more closely tied to their users' online behaviour. In a slowing worldwide economy, these initiatives are key to their survival until growth returns to the market. YouTube exemplifies the challenges that...
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26 April 2009
Warner Brothers Entertainment will release its films online in South Korea before they are released in the country on DVD, in a major break from the established Hollywood distribution model which could lead to a big increase in movie downloads. The film studio, which is part of Time Warner, has...
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15 October 2008
The Walt Disney Company's Asian subsidiary The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) Pte. Ltd. has increased its strategic investment in UTV, India's only integrated media and entertainment company with content creation abilities across platforms and genres. With this investment, Disney will be...
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11 June 2008
Lovefilm's 'asset-swop' with Amazon has finally happened. The UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has cleared Lovefilm's acquisition of Amazon's DVD rental business despite significant earlier competition concerns. Under the deal Amazon is handing over its UK and German DVD mail order business to...
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21 April 2008