|
|||||||
|
|
Akimbo Unveils Largest Video-On-Demand Service for TV |
||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|
Under an innovative business model, Akimbo will work directly with providers to host, promote and deliver content, providing new distribution channels for movies, films, music video, specialty programs and other video. The Akimbo Service is the first to deliver DVD-quality video over the Internet directly to TVs. Video from the Akimbo Service is downloaded and stored on the stylish Akimbo Player for on-demand viewing. The Akimbo Service will begin with 50 categories of content, including independent films, foreign language, news, health and fitness, sports, children's programs and education. For example, Akimbo Service customers can educate and entertain their children with safe, dedicated programming. Sports enthusiasts can experience rock climbing, snowboarding, kayaking, fishing and billiards tournaments on-demand, programs that are not available on network, cable or satellite channels. The Akimbo Service also offers a wide variety of foreign language programming for those who want shows from their homeland, and in their native tongue. Nature exploration, concerts, home improvement and competitive dance are just a few of the other personal passions that consumers can explore using Akimbo. The Akimbo Service is expected to grow rapidly, with new categories and programs added on a regular basis, to provide the most comprehensive selection of video-on-demand programming available on TV. Over time, Akimbo will add content with broad appeal to the Akimbo Service, such as popular movies and TV show archives. (For more information about Akimbo's first video partners, see addendum below.) "We've already had an exceptional response from video providers who have long dreamed of this kind of new distribution channel, a way to cost-effectively deliver high -quality video programs directly to consumers' living rooms," said Josh Goldman, CEO of Akimbo. "Akimbo is the first to marry the popularity of television and the unlimited capacity of the Internet. We have created software and hardware that utilizes the latest advances in technology to benefit both consumers who are bored with the choices currently offered on television, and the many providers of fascinating new programs who cannot find distribution through existing methods." The Akimbo Service has only recently become possible thanks to a confluence of technological and economic breakthroughs. The cost of transporting video over the Internet has decreased to under $1 per gigabyte, down from $20 per gigabyte just a few years ago. In addition, the recent availability of high-quality codecs (new ways to compress video for transfer on the Internet) allows Akimbo to deliver DVD-quality video at 1.5 megabits per second. At the same time, broadband has gone mainstream -- an audience of nearly 50 million people is connected via broadband today, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. Many people are also buying new, inexpensive and easy-to-install home networks. And with the industry rapidly standardizing on digital rights management systems, content providers are increasingly enthusiastic about Internet distribution. [an error occurred while processing this directive] Steve Shannon, a former ReplayTV executive who helped pioneer the digital video recorder (DVR) is Akimbo's founder and executive vice president of sales and marketing. "Millions of consumers are watching video on their PCs, even though many of them prefer to actually watch it on their TVs," said Shannon. "Until Akimbo, there hasn't been a solution for consumers to get specialty video on their TVs. Now, consumers can enjoy videos of their hobbies and interests in their living rooms -- whether award-winning documentaries or golf lessons." Akimbo Service and Akimbo Player The Akimbo Service will initially be available via the Akimbo Player, a stylish set-top box that can store 200 hours of video, and provides consumers with viewing controls such as pause, rewind and archive. The Akimbo Player is easy to use, with an intuitive onscreen program guide and a customized remote control. The Akimbo Player utilizes widely adopted technology for playback including Windows Media 9 technologies for audio and video compression, and digital rights management. The Akimbo Service automatically delivers an onscreen program guide filled with channels, video previews, editorial information and viewer options like parental controls. From the guide, Akimbo subscribers choose which programming they would like to download to the Akimbo Player for later viewing. Then, each time Akimbo subscribers turn on the TV, they will have new video, previews and editorial information waiting for them. The Akimbo Service works with any broadband connection, either DSL or cable modem, and a home network. Consumers simply connect their wired or wireless home network to their Akimbo Players, which are then connected to their televisions through standard A/V cables. Availability and Pricing The Akimbo Player is expected to start at $199. The monthly subscription to the Akimbo Service will be $9.99. The Akimbo Service and the Akimbo Player will soon be available for order from Akimbo's Web site. The Akimbo Player is expected to be in retail stores nationwide in late 2004. Akimbo was chosen by Chris Shipley, executive producer of the DEMO conferences for Network World Events & Executive Forums and lead columnist of DEMOletter, to launch at DEMO, a premier launch pad for emerging technologies. Every year, top technology executives from across the globe, venture investors, journalists and analysts converge at DEMO to preview and understand the emerging products and technologies that are impacting their market segments. About Akimbo Akimbo is the first company to deliver DVD-quality video-on-demand to any television via a broadband-Internet connection. The Akimbo Service with the Akimbo Player lets consumers choose from thousands of hours of programs specifically suited to their tastes, so they can watch them whenever they choose. By partnering with Akimbo, video providers gain a new opportunity to cost-effectively reach targeted audiences with content ranging from special interest to broad appeal, without building new infrastructure. Akimbo partners with leading providers of specialty video to deliver more than 50 categories of unique entertainment, including film, comedy, music, health and fitness, sports, education, youth, foreign language, and cooking. With offices in Los Angeles and San Mateo, Calif., Akimbo is a privately held company funded by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Sprout Group and Zone Ventures. The company is founded and managed by executives from ReplayTV, Macromedia, CNET Networks, mySimon, Microsoft and Apple. For more information, visit www.akimbo.com Akimbo Video Partners Akimbo is proud to introduce its first video partners, wide-ranging distributors of specialty programs that cater to every interest. In sum, these partners offer more than 10,000 hours of specialty programming for television viewing. Action Television For over 10 years, Action Television, based in Vail, Co., has been creating high quality programming and reaching millions of viewers. Its flagship show, Ski-TV has featured everything from downhill ski racing and free-skiing events to topical magazine shows like Evolve and Ski TV Mountain. Another show, Snowrider, will introduce you to the world of snowriding, featuring the best there is to offer in skiing and snowboarding. Snowrider will take you to some of the best ski resorts in America, featuring some of the biggest names in snowriding today. Other shows include Golf Life, which features unique travel and golf resort information along with pro golf tips and drills to improve any player's game. Africa Movies The premier site for African entertainment, Africa Movies features Nigerian, Yoruba, and Ibo films, as well as home videos. Africa Movies also has African comedy, drama, news, thriller, and gospel genres. AmazeFilms Since its inception, Los Angeles based AmazeFilms has become a prominent film producer and distributor of feature films and short films. Most noted for their "Short Series," the company's catalogue of films includes winners and selections from the Academy Awards, Cannes and Sundance. Billiard Club network Billiard Club network offers the world's only weekly television show dedicated to the game and sport of pool. Viewers can watch Billiard Club television (BCtv) and see professional matches, season highlights, or get tips and tricks from the pros. Pool and billiard programming, traditionally available only on videotape, is now broadcast to sports fans in their homes, on their own schedules. BCtv features pool as a world-class exciting sport, from coverage of the tournament scene and top players, to the major events that impact the sport. CinemaNow CinemaNow holds Internet distribution rights to the most extensive and comprehensive library of on-demand feature films available. The CinemaNow library contains over 4,200 feature-length films, shorts, music concerts and television programs for more than 150 licensors. CinemaPop.com CinemaPop.com offers hundreds of programs including offbeat films, documentaries, adult programming, and full-length, full-screen movies. CinemaPop.com also features extensive Latin film content through the Latin American Independent Network. DanceScape DanceScape is the premiere dance television network for dancers. Viewers can watch instruction and performance videos for all types of dance including Latin, Salsa, Ballroom, Argentine Tango, Swing, Hip Hop, Ballet, Flamenco, Line Dancing, Belly Dancing, Erotic, and more. In addition to professional performances, DanceScape offers instructional videos as well as dance celebrity interviews, events coverage, fashion tips and other dance news. Programming includes DanceScape sponsored social and competitive dance events, workshops, and seminars. Danni's Hard Drive Danni's Hard Drive is the exclusive home of Danni Ashe, the Most Downloaded Woman on the Internet and an early entrepreneur in the world of adult entertainment on the Internet. Danni searches the world over to find the most luscious women on the planet, then lets viewers enjoy their every curve and delicious detail from the comfort of their own home. Danni's content is sexy, sensual and explicit, but also fun, playful and humorous. It includes unscripted and personal talk-show-style interviews with sexy women conducted by sexy women, as well as the original fantasy virtual lap dance series, burlesque-style strip shows, and special features that raise the libido and spoof the issues of the day. Danni's Hard Drive is the bright side of adult entertainment. Digicast Digicast offers a library of specialty sports events such as 55 years of Brazilian soccer, boxing, extreme motor sports, and snowboarding. Covering nearly 1,000 events, Digicast is one of the top sports content rights producers and managers worldwide. Digicast also distributes numerous film titles in the G, PG, R, and NC-17 rated area. In addition, Digicast distributes a number of music-oriented titles from Elton John, Hip Hop, dance and the world's largest Punk Dance Music, O.G. Hip Hop, and Break Dance artists' library. Endorphin Endorphin Productions offers original commercial-free programming you won't find anywhere else. Show topics range from classic cars to modern sports cars and racing cars, surfing and snowboarding, underwater and nature, interviews with interesting people, food, and even WWII airplanes. Fight Authority Fight Authority features martial arts, mixed martial arts, and hand-to-hand combat events and videos. With more than 500 programs expected by 2004, Fight Authority is the source for all martial arts. Fight Authority has the rarest and most exciting martial arts media available. GolfSpan GolfSpan provides exclusive video golf tips and lessons from 16 of the world's top instructors including Jim McLean, Hank Haney and Jimmy Ballard. Anyone interested in enhancing their golf skills can watch more than 500 videos to target specific problem areas. Users can choose a teaching philosophy best suited for their particular ways of learning. This is the quintessential supplement to instruction from a local pro at the driving range. How To Web TV How To Web TV is the leading producer of videos about remodeling and home improvement, offering consumers the right ideas and trends for their particular remodeling needs. At How To Web TV homeowners can search and watch hundreds of 2 - 3 minute videos on kitchens, bathrooms, home furnishings, basements, roofing, flooring, landscaping, pools, patios, decks and general construction. IFILM IFILM is the leading broadband entertainment content network for consumers and marketers. With the world's largest collection of short films and movie clips available to watch online, IFILM is now one of the top 10 streaming video sites on the Web. Image Entertainment Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading provider of music-related DVD programming. Image Entertainment holds titles from a broad spectrum of genres such as pop/rock concerts and music videos; operas and classical music; children's programming; animation; special interest/classic films; foreign films; cult feature films; episodic television; feature films; country music concerts and music videos; urban videos & music concerts; Broadway performances & shows. In addition, Image Entertainment has a line of exclusive audio programming. latelelatina latelelatina is the premier provider of Latin music, culture, and arts programming, all from the creator's point of view. Sponsored by SGAE, the author's society of Spain, and netcast by sDae (sociedad digital de autores y editores), latelelatina is a part of Portal latino, which launched in January 2000. m2c The m2c is the premier South Asian video on-demand service, offering exclusive high quality content otherwise unavailable on the usual channels. Through its extensive alliances in the world of news and entertainment, m2c produces original documentaries and news and entertainment shows that tell unusual and riveting stories from India and South Asia for audiences worldwide. Naked News Naked News is the first Internet news program to present the news with nude newscasters, delivering international, national, sports, and entertainment news together with health and fitness, movie reviews and in the street interviews. It truly is the program with nothing to hide. A dozen beautiful and articulate women make it the only news worth watching. NarrowStep NarrowStep will be making exclusive footage from its High.tv and Sail.tv channels available on Akimbo's platform. High.tv's content will feature world tours in surfing, windsurfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, climbing and kite surfing, as well as stunts, action and profiles from the sports of kayaking, BASE jumping, and street luge. Sail.tv will feature coverage of all the great regattas and race series, including the Swedish Match series. There will also be profiles, training films and a look at the world's great yachts and boats. Oasis TV Oasis TV is a global television programmer of cutting-edge Body-Mind-Spirit news, inspiration and entertainment. Program topics include Spirituality, Metaphysics, Visionary Arts, Earth Changes and the Environment, Personal Growth, World Peace, Natural Health and Healing, New Sciences, Love and Sexuality. Oasis TV's mission is to provide viewers with new, compelling program choices to help transform their lives and make our planet a more loving and peaceful world. StepOutdoors StepOutdoors offers a vast video library for outdoor enthusiasts. Collaborating with recognized experts in their fields, such as saltwater fly fishing expert Trey Combs, freshwater fly casting guru Steve Rajeff, and hunting whiz Billy Gianquinto, StepOutdoors has produced hundreds of episodes of high-quality, well-researched content for the outdoor enthusiast. Current productions include the Great Fishing of North America DVD Series, as well as a database of online fishing instruction. In the works are upcoming series on hunting and scuba diving. Studio 4 Networks Studio 4 Networks offers the best fitness, educational, and early childhood development home videos available. Viewers can choose from a library of more than 1,000 hours of award-winning programming in three distinct networks. Studio4 Fitness offers viewers a choice of Yoga, Pilates, body sculpting, aerobics, and Tai Chi/Martial Arts videos. Studio 4 Learning offers educational programming for students from third grade through adulthood. Studio 4 Kids offers award-winning early childhood development videos for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, as well as basic subject material covered in first and second grades. Undergroundfilm.org Undergroundfilm.org seeks to empower filmmakers, screenwriters and musicians working outside the establishment's radar by providing them with a new -- and interactive -- forum for their work, and by serving as a platform for industry professionals to discover new talent. WBE-TV Devoted to teaching total life prosperity and personal achievement strategies in the four major areas of FAITH, FAMILY, FITNESS and FINANCES, WBE-TV offers programming as varied as the interests of the people that they serve. From financial literacy, health & wellness, parenting & relationships to business and career training or inspirational & motivational programming, WBE-TV is a powerful new alternative to mainstream television. Offering some of the greatest authors, motivators and success coaches available, WBE-TV brings important and powerful topics to life for audiences of all ages. Source: Akimbo [an error occurred while processing this directive] 
|
|
|||||
