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Why are some TV show streams web-only?

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon in a scene from "30 Rock."(Photo: Ali Goldstein AP)Story HighlightsBlame the contracts that services negotiate with networks, studiosIn some cases, in-app viewing is a premium featureTip: Save money by buying Apple cables on Amazon and other sitesQuestion: Why is it that I can watch some TV shows on a company's Web site but not in its apps? Answer. This can be a singularly annoying experience — you fire up the app on a tablet or a connected TV, search for the programming that you know is available online, and see it listed as "Web only" or not appear in search results at all. But it doesn't happen for a single reason. In some cases, such as Hulu not offering NBC's 30 Rock in its mobile and TV apps, you can blame the contracts that the service negotiated with the studio or network that owns the show. Hulu originally negotiated only rights for Web viewing; when it began to ship separate apps, it had to go back to those same companies and strike a separate deal.NBC publicists said they'd look into the situation but had not responded by Friday.(You can still watch the dearly-departed comedy[1] in NBC's own iOS app. But if we wind up having to run a different app to watch each network's fare, I will not be happy.)In other cases, the company that owns the TV content elected to make in-app viewing a premium feature you must pay extra for, either via a direct subscription or by signing up for a separate service first. That's how ESPN handles its ESPN3[2] online-only channel. Its WatchESPN.com site[3] welcomes subscribers of more than 340 participating Internet providers to watch as much as they want of ESPN3 subject only to regional blackouts.But tuning into that same channel…
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Reviewed.com: HBO streaming moves further from cable

February 13, 2013 By Liam McCabe In a move that bodes well for the future of TV[1] but has few immediate, real-world benefits, the HBO Go[2] and MAX Go[3] mobile apps are now compatible with the AirPlay feature on Apple TV. So, if you subscribe to HBO through your cable TV package, and own an iOS device, and own an Apple TV, you can watch HBO on your big-screen TV—just like you’d be able to do without the iOS device or Apple TV. What’s the point? Theoretically, your iPhone and Apple TV can work in tandem as a roving HBO broadcast hub (as long as you already subscribe to HBO, that is). You can hold your Boardwalk Empire finale party anywhere with a TV and a WiFi connection. Cool? HBO President Eric Kessler also suggested that an HBO Go app for Apple TV is in the pipeline “as part of a larger trend of HBO trying to get on as many different devices as possible,” according to a story posted on The Verge[4]. “We never want to become your father’s Oldsmobile,” Kessler said. Kessler said that there are no plans to offer HBO subscriptions outside of traditional cable bundles, because the current model still makes buckets of money. But plans change, and with dedicated apps on a growing number of platforms, HBO is positioning itself well for a la carte, internet-only subscriptions when the time is right. Now we just wait for the tipping point. References^ future of TV (www.televisioninfo.com)^ HBO Go (itunes.apple.com)^ MAX Go (itunes.apple.com)^ The Verge (www.theverge.com)...
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Twitter, American Express let users buy with hashtag

Twitter, American Express let users buy with hashtag Will that be cash, charge, or hashtag? Credit card company American Express has announced a partnership with Twitter that allows cardholders to purchase items by simply typing in a hashtag. For those Post to FacebookPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Sent!A link has been sent to your friend's email address. A sign showing the American Express logo is seen outside of a restaurant in Des Plaines, Ill..(Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images)Will that be cash, charge, or hashtag?Credit card company American Express has announced a partnership with Twitter that allows cardholders to purchase items by simply typing in a hashtag. For those unfamiliar with Twitter, the hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by the "#" symbol.American Express members can visit the company's website[1] to sync their accounts to Twitter.Here's how it works: when a user sees an item they want to purchase, they type a special hashtag. For example, American Express is offering a $25 gift card for $15 users can snag by posting the hashtag #BuyAmexGiftCard25.Twitter users then check the Mentions tab for replies from @AmexSync that include a confirmation hashtag. Users have 15 minutes to tweet the confirmation, then their item will be shipped to the billing address tied to their credit card.Other items American Express will offer through this service include an Amazon Kindle Fire HD, a Sony Action Cam and an Xbox 360 4GB video game console.The partnership marks an interesting move by Twitter, which adds digital commerce among its many uses. Although many companies use the social network to reach customers, this might be the first time Twitter has been used as a way to make purchases.Readers, would you use this service? { "assetid": "1912325", "aws": "tech", "aws_id": "tech", "blogname": "", "contenttype":…
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Curiosity rover completes 1st drill into Mars rock

Curiosity rover completes 1st drill into Mars rock To scientists' excitement, the Curiosity rover has completed its first drilling on Mars and is preparing to analyze a pinch of powdery rock. Post to FacebookPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Sent!A link has been sent to your friend's email address. The rotary-percussion drill of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity sits on a patch of rock called "John Klein" on the rover's 178th Martian day in preparation for the first drilling of a rock by the rover.(Photo: AFP/Getty Images)LOS ANGELES (AP) — To scientists' excitement, the Curiosity rover has completed its first drilling on Mars and is preparing to analyze a pinch of powdery rock.Images beamed back to Earth overnight showed a fresh drill hole next to a test hole the rover made earlier.The feat marked yet another milestone for Curiosity, which landed last summer to hunt for the chemical building blocks of life.While previous Mars rovers have chiseled away at rocks, it's the first time one drilled down to obtain a sample. The exercise was so complex that engineers spent several days commanding Curiosity to drill test holes.The next task is to transfer the powder to Curiosity's onboard laboratories to study the chemical makeup.After the drilling activities, Curiosity will spend nine months driving to a mountain.Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. { "assetid": "1904705", "aws": "tech", "aws_id": "tech", "blogname": "", "contenttype": "story pages ", "seotitle": "Curiosity-drill-mars-rock", "seotitletag": "Curiosity rover completes 1st drill into Mars rock", "ssts": "tech/nation", "taxonomykeywords":"Los Angeles", "templatename": "stories/default", "topic":"los-angeles", "videoincluded":"no", "basePageType":"story" } ...
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Yahoo taps into Google's ad network, expertise

A sign in front of Yahoo offices in Santa Clara, Calif.(Photo: Paul Sakuma, AP file)Story HighlightsYahoo will draw on Google's massive online advertising network to show marketing messagesGoogle distributes similar ads to thousands of sitesYahoo CEO Mayer has pledged to produce impressive growthSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Yahoo is counting on rival Google to help accelerate its revenue growth.As part of a nonexclusive arrangement announced Wednesday, Yahoo's website will begin drawing upon Google's massive online advertising network to show marketing messages related to the content that's being perused.Google already distributes similar ads to thousands of websites, a service that has helped establish it as the Internet's most prosperous company.Yahoo has been struggling to attract more advertisers in recent years, even though more marketing budgets have been shifting to the Internet. The company's revenue had fallen in three consecutive years before registering a small gain last year. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, a longtime Google executive before being lured away nearly seven months ago, has pledged to produce more impressive growth in future years.Google retains part of the revenue generated from the ads shown on its partners' sites. The revenue split with Yahoo wasn't specifically disclosed, but Google has previously said that website owners that display the kind of ads covered in this agreement usually get to keep 68 percent of the revenue.Last year, Google's ad sales on its partners' sites totaled $12.5 billion. That amount includes ads shown next to the search results on other websites, a service it isn't providing to Yahoo.That's because Yahoo already depends on Microsoft for most of its search-driven advertising as part of a long-term deal signed in 2009. Yahoo aligned itself with Microsoft Corp. after a proposed partnership with Google in 2008 unraveled when the U.S. Justice Department threatened to file a lawsuit to block it.…
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Tech stocks: Dell buyout reportedly near

Tech stocks: Dell buyout reportedly near Shares of personal computer maker could jump if buyout becomes official. Post to FacebookPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Sent!A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Dell's Texas headquarters, in the Austin suburb of Round Rock.(Photo: Joe Raedle, Getty Images)This could be a busy week for one of the world's top personal computer makers. Let's take a look at the technology stocks to watch:Dell deal near? Shares of the Texas-based company have dropped 1.5% at $13.42, as reports swirl on a buyout that would take them private.According to Bloomberg[1], founder Michael Dell is working with firm Silver Lake Management on a deal that would give him majority control of the company. Microsoft is reportedly adding funds to help usher the deal along.Rumors of a buyout first reported in mid-January have helped give Dell stock a lift, with shares vaulting $3 since January 11.Yelp, LinkedIn earnings on the way. The online review site Yelp reports fourth-quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday. During its third quarter, revenue ballooned 63% to $36.4 million, while the company also netted big jumps in the number of reviews and average monthly unique visitors. Shares are currently trading right around $20.On Thursday, business-focused social network LinkedIn reports fourth-quarter and full-year earnings. Last month, the company announced it topped 200 million members worldwide.Shares of LinkedIn are down 1% to $102. { "assetid": "1890091", "aws": "tech", "aws_id": "tech", "blogname": "", "contenttype": "story pages ", "seotitle": "Tech-stocks-monday-dell", "seotitletag": "Tech stocks: Dell buyout reportedly near", "ssts": "tech", "templatename": "stories/default", "videoincluded":"no", "basePageType":"story" } References^ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-30/dell-founder-said-to-seek-majority-control-using-personal-funds.html (www.bloomberg.com)...
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