Nielsen rates Netflix shows whether Netflix ants it or not, Verizon keeps delaying its TV service. and TiVo has a new 4K box!
With special guest Jason Murphy.
CordKillers: Ep. 192 – Unsyncable Molly Brown
Recorded: October 23 2017
Guest: Jason Murphy
Intro Video
Primary Target
- Nielsen will now measure TV audiences on Netflix
– Nielsen Subscription Video on Demand
– Ratings, reaches, frequency and segmentation reporting for Netflix (and eventually Hulu, Amazon and others)
– Testers to include NBCUniversal, Disney-ABC, A+E Networks, Lionsgate, Warner Bros. Television, and three (unnamed) others.
– Will not cover mobile
– Different than 2014 opt-in reporting service that only gave raw number estimates
How to Watch
- Verizon Is Eyeing Spring for the Start of Delayed Online TV Service
- Verizon struggling to launch streaming TV service in crowded field
– Verizon’s online TV service delayed to Spring 2018 according to Bloomberg sources
– Technical issues, staff turnover
– Yet to finalize distribution agreements with top media companies
What to Watch
- New Punisher trailer. Punisher comes to Netflix November 17
- CBS says Star Trek: Discovery has driven subscriber growth and it has renewed the show for a second season.
- Amazon’s ‘Pilot Season’ returns November 10th
– New Amazon Pilots will be available for your review starting November 10.
– Sea Oak will start Glenn Close as an aunt who comes back as a zombie because of dissatisfaction with the rest of her family.
– Love You More stars cabaret’s Bridget Everett (as a “big personality” with a “big heart”) and has legendary comedian Bobcat Goldthwait in the director’s chair.
– The Climb, meanwhile, has The Last OG’s Diarra Kilpatrick both creating and starring in a comedy about pursuing the American Dream in a “rapidly changing” Detroit with Star’s Chris Robinson as the director.
What We’re Watching
- Brian: Mr. Robot 301 and 302, Firefly, Mindhunter (ep 1 and 2), Last Week Tonight, Pirates of the Caribbean, rewatched Michael Bolton special
- Tom: Mr. Robot (302) Mindhunter (101), Outlander
- Jason: Mindhunter, Exorcist
- On the Lookout: Babylon 5
Front Lines
- TiVo’s upcoming DVR, the TiVo BOLT VOX, will include voice support
– Dave Zatz at Zatz Not Funny spotted a product listing on Amazon for a new TiVo BOLT called the BOLT VOX with support for 4K Ultra HD. It’s listed as having 500 GB storage and support for OTA and cable. It also has voice control in the remote. - YouTube Red greenlights a Tinder-themed romantic comedy series called Swipe Right
– YouTube Red greenlit a comedy series about Tinder called Swipe Right, starring Carly Craig from Role Models. Carly plays a single 35-year-old who decides to date all her 252 Tinder matches. - Topshop’s ‘Stranger Things’ collection is a fitting tribute to Barb
– Netflix has partnered with UK’s Topshop and US Target on Stranger Things merchandise including T-shirts and figurines. Netflix also said it will take on $1.6 billion in debt to help it pay for new productions in 2018. - Netflix, Amazon, movie studios sue over TickBox streaming device
– Netflix and Amazon have joined several movie studios in suing TickBox, one of those many Android-based boxes that promises to deliver free TV. While TickBox explicitly says it does not condone piracy and that its box is not to be used for such purposes it also says you can “access movies and shows that are still on Demand and episodes of TV that were just aired. You will never pay to watch any of them.” - Snapchat to make original TV-style shows
– Snap Inc. and NBCUniversal are partnering on a new digital content studio to make original scripted video in the three-five minute long format. The first original show will be produced with US film and TV producers Mark and Jay Duplass and and their new Donut creative studio - Chelsea Handler’s Netflix talk show will end after two seasons
– Chelsea Handler’s Netflix talk show will come to an end after season two. Handler will release a documentary on Netflix where she engages with “people of different ethnicities, religions and political philosophies. She also plans become more engaged in the US political process.
Dispatches from the Front
Hi –
I loved the discussion about Movies Anywhere in Episode 191. I was so excited, I signed up at my first available opportunity. Connecting all the services went VERY smoothly on my cell phone EXCEPT for iTunes (I’m an Android), but I even got that connected once I got to a desktop. Libraries on the various services either updated immediately or with a refresh.
According to this article in The Verge, 4K upgrades are apparently limited to Apple titles:
https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/13/16464000/how-to-use-movies-anywhere-app-features
Example: I own Glory in HD on Vudu (Disc upgrade). It is available on all of the other services, but there is a 4K version on Amazon. I do not have access to that one, even after registering with Movies Anywhere.
I hope other studios get on board with the 4K upgrades. It also irks me that the 4K versions of some movies are only available on one service (two I know about: Star Trek Beyond is only 4K on Vudu, Glory is only 4K on Amazon). This obstacle will slow the adoption of 4K – convenience trumps fidelity!
Your Boss 🙂
– Chris
On the most recent episode (10/16) you mentioned that MoviesAnywhere links to partners to purchase content. Total bummer (but not surprising) that it does not do price comparison. I use the JustWatch app on my phone to do comparison shopping. It does a good job of aggregating rental and purchase pricing.
Thanks!
– Mark
Not sure if you’ve mentioned this website before or not, but gowatchit.com is an extremely useful website showing all the places you can watch a movie, to buy, rent or get tickets to. Includes all kinds of services and on demands from cable.
(Found while looking up a movie called Dealt about a Richard Turner, a blind magician. Brian would probably be interested)
Keep up the great work you guys!
– Justin
Hey Tom and Brian have you heard about Sinemia? I just recently discovered it when I was considering signing up for MoviePass. They have plans starting off at $10 a month. It’s not unlimited movies like MoviePass, yet you are able to see 2D 3D and IMAX movies. And from what I can tell you’re able to reserve your seat ahead of time unlike MoviePass which requires you to be near the theater.
Keep up the good work guys
Your boss
– Pete
Links
Cisco buys BroadSoft, the UK cracks down on gambling kids, Tesla launches Shanghai plant. 
1906 – Alberto Santos-Dumont flew an airplane in the first heavier-than-air flight in Europe at Champs de Bagatelle, Paris, France. Some argue he should be credited with the first flight at all. But that’s a long controversy.
Lyft raises a cool billion from CapitalG, Twitter releases a safety calendar, and Blue Origin fires its rocket.