News Round-Up

The [itvt] editorial team is currently traveling in the UK, and, because of time restraints, we are covering a number of this issue's news stories in round-up/summary form. We anticipate some additional interruption of our regular news publishing schedule in the coming days, so we apologize in advance for any inconvenience to our readers. Here is the round-up:

• Cambridge, UK-based IPTV set-top box company, Amino, has launched an IPTV HD DVR for the European market. Dubbed the A532, the box is notable for its small footprint. When equipped with the appropriate middleware, it can support multi-room DVR functionality, Amino says, and it can also be extended to support hybrid applications. Amino's press release on the new box can be found here.
• Over-the-top TV specialist, Boxee, has launched new applications for children's broadband video site, Kid Mango (http://www.kidmango.com); and for eGuiders (http://www.eguiders.com), a site designed to facilitate discovery of broadband video through the help of expert guides. The company has also just launched an upgraded application for broadband video programmer, Revision3. More information, together with screenshots, is available on Boxee's blog.
• According to a report in the UK broadcast-industry trade publication, Broadcast, the BBC is "moving full steam ahead" with Project Canvas, its joint over-the-top venture with UK commercial broadcasters ITV and Five, and UK incumbent telco BT, which seeks to develop a common standard and interface for the delivery of online catch-up services such as the BBC iPlayer and the ITV player, as well as other Internet-based VOD services, to broadband-connected set-top boxes--specifically, set-top boxes designed for reception of the UK's free-to-air multichannel TV services, Freeview and Freesat. The BBC's push for the project--which sees it working with the Digital Television Group to finalize Canvas's technical details--comes despite the fact that the venture is still awaiting regulatory approval from the BBC Trust. The report is available here.
• According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, YouTube is in discussions with Lionsgate, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. about offering a streaming movie rental service that would feature new-release titles. The movies would be priced similarly to movies on iTunes and cable VOD systems (i.e. at around $3.99 each), and revenues would be split 70/30 between the studio and YouTube. The Journal's report is available (behind a subscription firewall) here; the LA Times' coverage is available here; and the AP's is available here. Meanwhile, in a posting on its business blog Tuesday, YouTube announced that it has reached a settlement with UK music rights collection society, the PRS for Music.