Amazon Is Courting YouTube Networks for Short-Video Push
Not content to contend only with Netflix and Hulu for long-form video content like movies and TV shows, Amazon is exploring a push into the short-form territory dominated by YouTube.
http://adage.com/article/digital/amazon-courting-youtube-networks-short-video-push/244700/
Economist Warns a Bitcoin Backlash May Be Coming from Governments and Banks
Governments and established financial institutions are likely to launch a campaign to quash the decentralized digital currency Bitcoin, according to a leading economist and academic. MIT Professor Simon Johnson expects Bitcoin to face political pressure and aggressive lobbying from big banks because of its disruptive nature.
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/520296/leading-economist-predicts-a-bitcoin-backlash/
Privacy Fears Grow as Cities Increase Surveillance
A program in Oakland, Calif., is one of the latest and most contentious examples of cities using big data technology, and federal dollars, for routine law enforcement.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/technology/privacy-fears-as-surveillance-grows-in-cities.html
Google Jousts With Wired South Korea Over Quirky Internet Rules
South Korea, while leading in so many wired ways, has strong rules governing the Internet, including some on mapping services.
Cablevision Blasts Bcstrs’ SCOTUS Filing
Cablevision criticized the arguments made by broadcasters in a Supreme Court filing seeking to shut down Aereo, a start-up company that delivers local television. Cablevision said the case that broadcasters including Fox, CBS, ABC and NBC are attempting to make against Aereo is a “willful attempt to stifle innovation.”
Hulu’s New CEO Expected to Help Pay-TV Industry
Mike Hopkins, the Fox exec expected to be named the new CEO of Hulu, has close ties with cable and satellite operators. The relationship between those carriers and Hulu is expected to grow closer under his watch. “Mike’s bias is to maintain the pay-TV industry.”
Twitter Woos TV Stars to ‘World’s Biggest Couch’
Fred Graver, Twitter’s head of TV, has been wooing TV-show actors to the microblogging service to post behind-the-scenes photos from the set, live-tweet episodes and converse with fans. The goal is to make sure that the people who enjoy TV take to Twitter to enjoy it even more.
http://www.fastcompany.com/3018620/twitter-woos-tv-networks-advertisers-ipo
Report: DVRs Help Erase Decline in TV Ratings
Twelve network series gained 4 million viewers between their original air dates and seven days later, from delayed viewing on DVRs or cable on-demand features, according to Nielsen data for premiere week. Delayed viewing is “significantly higher” than last year.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/10/13/premiere-week-dvr-delayed-tv-viewing/2976045/
NSA surveillance revelations prompt EFF resignation from Global Network Initiative
The reported participation of technology companies in the NSA’s surveillance programs has prompted digital rights watchdog the Electronic Frontier Foundation to resign from the Global Network Initiative, a multistakeholder group whose members include Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Facebook.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2013/101113-nsa-surveillance-revelations-prompt-eff-274775.html
Brazil investigates Google over antitrust charges
Brazil is investigating Google Inc. for anticompetitive practices alleged by Microsoft Corp and Brazilian rivals, adding to government pressure in one of Google’s fastest-growing major markets.
http://news.doddleme.com/news-room/brazil-investigates-google-over-antitrust-charges/
TV Tweets Rise 38%, Cross-Promotion Expands Twitter TV Audience
As Twitter activity about TV continues to climb, saturation can occur. While a Nielsen report says the TV-related tweets are rising, “the ratio of the Twitter audience to authors decreases as the number of authors grows” — due to an overlap in the number of followers.
Smartphones, tablets gain ground in the U.S.
About three-quarters of U.S. mobile phone owners have smartphones, up from 58% a year ago, and among this group, nearly half own tablets, up from a third last year, according to a survey by research company Frank N. Magid Associates. Notably, the corresponding figures for Hispanics were 87% and 60%.
http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Smartphone-Tablet-Uptake-Still-Climbing-US/1010297
Google Not Going Down Without a Fight
Google is seeking further review in two cases. In the Gmail case, where Google was charged with improperly reviewing subscribers’ emails, Google asked Judge Koh to certify her decision for interlocutory appeal to the Ninth Circuit. But even if Judge Koh grants Google’s motion, the Ninth Circuit still has to agree.
The Digital Daily Dozen is distributed weekdays (usually) by Dom Caristi as a service of the BSU Digital Policy Institute. The articles are culled from various e-newsletters. The content is not original – only their compilation in this mailing is.