new media player, page-5

I think this is what the suspension is for



ReelTime plans near real-time TV
Michael Bodey
NOVEMBER 20, 2006

LOCAL broadband TV provider ReelTime Media is negotiating with "at least two US studios" to enable Australian consumers to download episodes of US TV series 24 hours after transmission there.

If negotiations are successful, it will shake up free-to-air TV, which holds back broadcasting many US TV program seasons for the Australian ratings season between February and November.
Any deal would allow consumers to download episodes for 72 hours only. Any such partnership will be keenly contested by the Australian commercial networks.

While ReelTime Media would not name any studios, the Australian IPTV provider already holds licensing deals with the TV arms of Sony, 20th Century Fox and NBC Universal, which distribute programs including My Name Is Earl, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Heroes and House.

Hit US series such as Lost are hot property on the internet, and US network ABC's online strategy is seen as one reason for that show's rejuvenation now.

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US thinking is now swaying towards the idea that on-demand video is driving both greater interest in shows and, subsequently, bigger television audiences, rather than cannibalising them. ABC, for example, is aggressively promoting its first-run dramas with the tag, "Watch tonight on TV, watch tomorrow online". British network Channel 4 has also just announced that all its programs will be available online 30 days after transmission for less than pound stg. 1 ($2.47).

ReelTime's move is a major step by the burgeoning competitor to Telstra's Bigpond download service.

Its board includes former Network Ten CEO John McAlpine, former MTV Asia Pacific president Frank Brown and former Video Ezy CEO Stephen Johnston.

Its competitors have contested ReelTime's claims for download speed and processing, and questioned its inability to provide audience numbers. However, ReelTime TV's partnership with Yahoo7 will give it the potential for up to 5.6 million eyeballs a month.

This Friday, its website, ReelTime TV, will launch a world-first wherein Australian consumers will be able to download films, own them and burn them to DVD. The transaction will allow consumers to keep one copy of the film on their PC, transfer another copy to a portable device, such as a PlayStation module, and burn a DVD copy. Users will also be able to print front and back covers for the downloaded DVD. The pricing and film inventory are expected to be announced on Friday.

Download options for films are now available three months after DVD release.

The Australian