News Round-Up

Here are some other interactive TV-related stories we didn't have room for in this issue:

• Apple is in "advanced talks" with News Corp. that could result in iTunes users being able to rent Fox TV episodes--within 24 hours of their broadcast and with a 48-hour viewing window--for $0.99, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. According to the news service, the company--which has apparently abandoned earlier plans for a subscription-based TV service--is also in talks about implementing such a rental program with CBS, NBC Universal and Disney/ABC. Bloomberg also reported that Apple will launch its much-anticipated Apple TV successor, the Apple iTV (which is expected to cost $99), at an event in San Francisco, September 7th.
• Video search engine company, blinkx, has announced a partnership with AccuWeather.com. "Under the terms of the agreement, AccuWeather.com's local and international weather information and videos will be available at www.blinkx.com," the company states in its press materials. "Leveraging its unique AdHoc platform, blinkx will place advertising against these videos, and share resulting revenue with AccuWeather.com."
• DISH Network has now officially announced DishOnline, its new TV Everywhere service which was covered in an article published on itvt.com, August 23rd. It has also released a demo video of the new service, which is embedded above.
• Foxsoccer.tv, the online video service from Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus, has announced the relaunch of its premium broadband video service. The service, which is priced at $159.99 per year or $14.99 per month, will feature over 700 live matches annually, 450 more than last year, Fox says. "Users will find numerous enhancements throughout the 2010/11 season," Fox states in its press materials. "Foxsoccer.tv features HD-quality video, Flash smoothstream player, a pop-out media player, full DVR capabilities as well as upcoming picture-in-picture viewing of simultaneous games and Facebook and Twitter integration. A unique offering across iPhone and iPad, to be released in the coming months, will deliver the ultimate mobile experience, including live streaming via a premium subscription service, as well as services free to users including league tables and statistics, in-game highlights, and editorial coverage from Foxsoccer.com."
• Online video advertising network operator, Tremor Media (note: the company recently announced a strategic partnership with in-stream video advertising solutions provider, Innovid, to offer interactive pre-roll ads across Tremor Media's network of 1,500+ sites--see the article published on itvt.com, June 7th), plans to offer HTML5 support for its interactive video ad units, and says that it is working with Brightcove to ensure that its HTML5 formats can be easily integrated by the latter's clients. MediaPost's Mark Walsh has more.