Joost Inks More Deals 
By Sherri - (2) comments April 16, 2007



It might not be quite ready for primetime, but that's not stopping the folks at Joost from making sure the lineup is just right come launch day.

The soon-to-debut online television site has inked a number of deals in recent days. The company has entered into distribution partnerships with ALL3MEDIA, Alliance Atlantis, September Films and Wall to Wall. It's also signed on IndieFlix and Shorts International.

The content from the companies will appear on Joost, which is being billed as the "world's first broadcast-quality Internet television platform."

“With Joost, our film makers and artists have a greater opportunity than ever before to showcase their remarkable talents and to reach new audiences,” said Carter Pilcher, CEO of Shorts International, in a media release. “Joost’s secure, global platform is ideal for our artists as it ensures that the films are viewed with the level of quality which was intended by their creators.”

Shorts International will deliver content from its English, French and Spanish short film channels.

All told, the new additions will deliver such things as independent television and films, children's programming, fiction and more to the new site, which is now in beta testing.

Once live, Joost will be accessible to broadband users and will offer content to viewers free of charge. These latest partners join CBS as some of the first to join the Joost platform.

Related:
CBS Joins Joost
Joost Moving Forward

Labels: indie films, joost, online movies, online tv, shorts international

Starz Sues Disney Over iTunes, Wal-Mart 
By Sherri - (0) comments March 25, 2007



The folks over at Disney might not be zippedy do dah’ing this week.

Starz Entertainment has slapped a lawsuit against Disney’s Buena Vista Television for its alleged violation of a 2005 licensing agreement that gave Starz the exclusive rights to market big-name Disney movies for download.

Starz is saying Disney’s agreements with iTunes and Wal-Mart for download sales of movies such as “Pirates of the Carbbean: Dead Man’s Chest” violates the deal, which Starz has paid more than $1 billion for.

“Our issue is that the contract has a clear prohibition from them doing this and we gave them notice, had a number of exchanges and had meetings and they denied our request for relief," Starz Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Clasen has been quoted as saying. "We are absolutely adamant in protecting our contractual rights and licenses.”

The suit might seek all revenue enjoyed by Disney as a result of any sales via iTunes and Wal-Mart.

The suit in and of itself isn’t what’s interesting here. What is, however, is the fact that download rights are becoming big enough business to warrant territorial battles and lawsuits. Digital viewing has come a long way.

Related:
Starz, Azureus Pair Up
Disney Downloads Top 4 Million On iTunes

Labels: disney, itunes, online movies, online tv, starz, vongo, wal-mart