Hulu adds Nickelodeon shows, renews Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert

Hulu lovers, rejoice: the online video service has widened its current standing with Viacom, and as a result, will now offer a range of Nickelodeon TV shows. If that’s not good enough for you, the new expansion will also include another two years of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, both of whom are responsible for a large percentage of Hulu’s visitors. Viacom and Hulu reached their first deal back in 2011.

Nickelodeon shows destined for Hulu include “Spongebob Squarepants,” “iCarly,” and “Big Time Rush.” Unfortunately for those with younger kids, the deal doesn’t include any Nick Jr. shows like “Max and Ruby.” This may be due to licensing issues that would arise, given that several of the shows are currently licensed for other video providers, including Amazon.

Recently, Viacom has been criticized for offering content online and via Netflix, with some claiming that by doing so, the network is shooting its TV ratings in the proverbial foot. In addition, Hulu is apparently in for some major changes, with an alleged leaked internal memo that reads: “Outline transition plan for new CEO. Discuss potential candidates and process.” Fortunately, Hulu’s seemingly uncertain future hasn’t affected its relationship with Viacom.

Hulu is owned by NBCUniversal, Fox, and Disney-ABC. It offers content from its own networks, as well as content from CBS and Nickelodeon, to name a few. Viewers can watch clips and many episodes online for free, with access to premium content available via a Hulu Plus subscription.

[via All Things D]


Hulu adds Nickelodeon shows, renews Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Zeebox adds Viacom to its list of second-screen partners

 Zeebox adds Viacom to its list of secondscreen partners

We love riffing on TV shows like a latter-day MST3k, which means that companies are desperate to harness our homespun satire to their own ends. Second-screen start-up Zeebox has inked a deal with MTV and Comedy Central owner Viacom, offering exclusive content in exchange for on-screen advertising. That said, we’re not sure if the promise of behind-the-scenes clips would be enough to draw us away from just cattily judging the Project Runway contestants on Twitter, where we’re less likely to be moderated into oblivion.

Continue reading Zeebox adds Viacom to its list of second-screen partners

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Zeebox adds Viacom to its list of second-screen partners originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monster DNA Headphones: No Beats Included

At the beginning of the year, there were rumors that Dr. Dre and Monster were going to split ways. Since then, Monster announced that it would no longer be producing Beats headphones and started marketing their own branded ones.

monster dna headphones

Monster now seems to be diversifying their headphone line-up. They’ve learned how to make good headphones and now are offering quite a few different models. The new Monster DNA headphones were created in part with Viacom. The triangular shaped design sports a unique earpad and speaker housing, which is supposed to be quite comfortable, and made to reduce background noise.

monster dna headphones blue

They are available in black, white, cobalt blue and teal. There are a bunch of custom skins available as well, to tailor the look. The Monster DNA headphones are available right now from Monster for an introductory price of $199.95 (USD). The regular price will be $229.95.

monster dna headphones teal side

[via Ubergizmo]


Monster And Viacom To Release DNA Headphones

Monster And Viacom To Release DNA Headphones

Monster and Viacom have collaborated to release the new Monster DNA headphones. Designed with both the music and fashion consumer in mind, these triangular headphones feature ear cushions that are light and comfortable, a two-tone color design, and a “buddy” jack for users to share what they’re listening to. The Monster DNA headphones will make its official debut at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards on September 6th, 2012. The Monster DNA will be available in the U.S. this September, and in Europe this October. The on-ear models, which come in black, white, cobalt blue and perfect teal, are priced at $199.95. The earbuds, which are offered in black and white, retail for $99.95.

Monster And Viacom To Release DNA Headphones

[Press Release]

DirecTV waves goodbye to 52,000 subscribers in first ever net loss of customers

DirecTV lost 52,000 subscribers in first ever quarterly customer loss

Viacom’s frenemy, DirecTV, has announced that it suffered a net loss of subscribers for the first time in its history. The revelation came in its second quarter filing, which claimed that the exodus is actually a purge — due to a tighter credit policy and a change of focus toward “higher quality” customers. The dip in numbers hasn’t hurt the balance sheet, however, with revenues up seven percent to $5.65 billion, leading to a net profit of $604 million. This time out, there’s no reference to the recently-minted deal to keep Viacom’s stations on the service, believed to be in the region of $600 million per year — but we expect it to appear on the books in the next quarterly report.

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DirecTV waves goodbye to 52,000 subscribers in first ever net loss of customers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DirecTV and Viacom Finally Come to an Agreement, Nick Returns

DirecTV and Viacom have been battling over contract negotiations for over a week now. Viacom had forced DirecTV to pull all of its networks including Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, and Comedy Central from its satellite TV service. Negotiations have been ongoing between the two companies and Viacom has announced that a deal has finally been made.

directv viacom

The terms of the deal haven’t been announced. All 26 channels available once again on DirecTV as of this morning. Viacom notes that DirecTV also has the option to add its EPIX movie network to its channel lineup.

Interestingly, DirecTV claimed this week that Viacom’s insistence that it pay $500 million to carry EPIX was the reason negotiations had reached an impasse. It seems that Viacom backed away from that condition and Spongebob Squarepants has been restored to homes around the country.


Viacom Gives All Its Channels Back to DirecTV [Television]

DirecTV and Viacom were in something of a spat, unable to reach a broadcast agreement. This resulted in channels such as MTV and Comedy Central disappearing from DirecTV’s satellite beam. However, the two companies worked things out with a long term agreement, and all is well again. More »

DirecTV and Viacom kiss and make up

We’ve been following the negotiation battle between DirecTV and Viacom for over a week now. Viacom forced DirecTV to pull all of its networks, including Nickelodeon and Comedy Central, from the DirecTV lineup. The reason Viacom had its networks removed from DirecTV had to do with contract negotiations. According to DirecTV, Viacom wanted what amounted to an extra billion dollars in licensing fees.

Viacom has announced today that it, and DirecTV have reached a new agreement that will see all 26 Viacom networks, including Nickelodeon and Comedy Central among others return to DirecTV. Word surfaced yesterday that talks between the two companies were at an impasse because Viacom slipped in a requirement for its EPIX network to be picked up at cost of about $500 million.

DirecTV apparently backed out of the deal when that condition was added. Viacom says that DirecTV has an option to add the EPIX network to its lineup. That would seem to indicate that Viacom backed off the requirement for DirecTV to add the service in order to get the other networks back. This is good news for people on DirecTV. I know my daughter will be happy to get SpongeBob and Victorious back. Terms of the new deal aren’t available.


DirecTV and Viacom kiss and make up is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


DirecTV and Viacom deal brings MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and the rest back on the air

After a week or so of increasingly contentious negotiations Viacom and DirecTV have come to some sort of agreement, returning the missing channels to satellite TV subscribers as of… now. Naturally, each side is sticking to its guns, and even with a long term deal inked they still disagree on the number of channels involved.

So who won? The exact financial numbers have not been revealed, but you can check out the dueling press releases after the break. The contested Epix package is an option (but not a requirement) for DirecTV, while the satellite broadcaster is happily adding access to Viacom content on mobiles, PCs and “other media devices” as a part of its DirecTV Everywhere service. Thanks to support from other pay TV providers, DirecTV is taking the more aggressive position, but we’ll wait for the inevitable “people in a position to know” to chime in with some dollars and cents figures before calling a victor.

Update: As expected, Bloomberg reports “people with direct knowledge” claim the new agreement is another seven year contract priced at more than $600 million per year, about 20 percent more than what Viacom was getting before. At least one analyst called it a win for both sides — we’ll see how subscribers fared if (when) there’s a rate hike any time soon.

Continue reading DirecTV and Viacom deal brings MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and the rest back on the air

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DirecTV and Viacom deal brings MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and the rest back on the air originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 06:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viacom and DirecTV talks have hit a wall

It’s been little more than a week since Viacom pulled a bunch of its channels, including kids programming on Nickelodeon, from the DirecTV service after contract negotiations failed. Viacom and DirecTV have been conducting talks in hopes of coming to an agreement on a contract that would bring the channels back to DirecTV customers. Viacom is now saying the talks between it and DirecTV have reached an impasse.

According to DirecTV, it had agreed on major points for a new fee agreement that would restore Viacom channels to its network and the deal was close to a finished. DirecTV says that Viacom then demanded its movie channel Epix be included in the deal. According to DirecTV Viacom wanted an additional half billion dollars for Epix.

I mentioned before, as the parent of young child who loved programming on Nickelodeon that I wasn’t happy at all, and neither was my daughter, about Nickelodeon being taken away. Now that we’re about a week on the other side of no Nickelodeon programming available, my daughter has found other shows to watch during TV time. What Viacom has done is give Disney Channel and its programming a chance in my house. My daughter never watched Disney Channel while Nickelodeon was around, but she has switched now and hasn’t asked when SpongeBob will come back in days. I’d wager there are many homes where the same thing is taking place. I hope this contract tactic blows up in Viacom’s face.

[via BusinessWeek]


Viacom and DirecTV talks have hit a wall is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.