Fox has signed a deal with Internet TV service Brightcove to offer ad-supported Internet video channels for Fox, FX and Speed.

“Brightcove’s tools and services enable us to quickly and easily deploy broadband video on our network Web sites while retaining control over the quality, brand experience, and monetization of our content.” said David Baron, vice president, Fox Digital Media.

Unfortunately, “retaining control” means that Fox’s offerings may seem like Internet TV on training wheels - limiting you to watching their content on their terms - or as Fox describes it - “managed syndication to select website affiliates.” Nevertheless, the move shows that Fox understands that...

Microsoft today announced the availability of Microsoft Mediaroom, an update to its Internet Protocol television (IPTV) software platform. While Apple is coming at Internet TV from an end user perspective with its Apple TV/iTunes platform, Microsoft is targeting the lucrative service provider market.

Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president, Microsoft TV Business, right, offered his thoughts on the introduction.
“Microsoft Mediaroom is the latest update to Microsoft TV?s award-winning IPTV software platform”, said Rodrquez. “As the digital TV services market continues to grow, service providers will search for competitive differentiators that set them apart in terms of features...

Microsoft today announced the availability of Microsoft Mediaroom, an update to its Internet Protocol television (IPTV) software platform.

With this release, Microsoft is rebranding its IPTV platform as Microsoft Mediaroom to “reflect the broader set of new connected entertainment experiences made possible today”. Microsoft hopes that service providers will use the Mediaroom brand and identify to market their services.

Building upon existing Microsoft IPTV features, such as enhanced digital video recording, video on demand,...

CNN and YouTube have announced plans to bring broadcast two presidential debates that will feature video questions submitted via Youtube. The questions will be broadcast and answered by the candidates during the CNN debates. CNN?s Anderson Cooper will moderate the two-hour debates and pose follow-up questions.

The Democratic debate, the first Democratic National Committee-sanctioned presidential forum of the 2008 election cycle, will be held at the Citadel in Charleston, S.C. from 7:00 to 9:00 PM (ET), on Monday, July 23, and will air live on CNN. The Republican presidential forum hosted by CNN and YouTube will take place from 7:00 to 9:00 PM (PT), on Monday, Sept 17, in Florida.

YouTube users can submit their questions at www.youtube.com/debates.

?YouTube enables voters and...

YouTube has introduced a new mobile offering that promises to blow out your mobile Internet plan.

The mobile version of the site, available at m.youtube.com, provides a selection of popular videos from the site, including top videos from the Featured, Recently Added, Most Viewed, Top Rated, Top Favorites, Entertainment, and People categories.

YouTube warns:

YouTube Mobile is a data intensive application. We highly recommend that you upgrade to an unlimited data plan with your mobile service provider to avoid additional charges.

English artist David Hockney knows what’s to blame for the decline of western civilization.

It’s not homosexuality.

It’s not expressionistic art.

It’s iPods!

Speaking on the eve of his 70th birthday, Britain’s best-loved living painter said the proliferation of iPods and other digital music players has combined with a decline in art education to create a “fallow period of painting”.

According to Hockney, the iPod is contributing to a decline in visual awareness that is damaging art and painting. It even makes people dress badly.

“It’s all about sound,” said Hockney. “People...

Warning: This post is not safe for work, violent and just plain wrong.

The Bikinirama vlog features the collective work of three German bikinimädchen that specialize in wearing bikinis and destroying things.

Here, an Apple Powerbook feels the hammer of Tatjana:

Maybe it’s just sexist. Maybe, like they claim, it’s a form of social commentary “with woman in combination with the traditional weapon of the man.”

Either way - next time your laptop acts up, you know who to call.

via

A new version of Skype for Windows, now in beta, introduces several features:

• Auto redial
• Call Transfer
• Device Indicators
• Edit chat messages
• Message history loading granulated
• Private Telephone Numbers
• Send contacts inside chat
• Visual indicators for Audio In / Audio Out in options
• Show examples of notifications / alerts in options
• Added Latvian localization - Intars Students
• In-Client Hardware store button

Skype is a popular tool with podcasters for recording interviews and discussions over the Internet.

Details are available at the Skype site.

Google posted an article yesterday that explains their thinking on introducing content filtering to YouTube.

“We are beginning tests on an automated system to identify and match specific videos,” writes YouTube co-founder Steve Chen. “We?re excited about the progress so far, and we?re dedicated to making these tests successful, but as always with cutting-edge technologies, there?s no guarantee of success.”

Chen goes on to say that Google plans to continue to put the burden of policing copyright violations on content creators. “Copyright status can only be determined by the copyright holder,” adds Chen. “Our upcoming video identification system will be our latest way of...

The Bush administration on Thursday attacked a congressional bill that would help protect the First Amendment rights of news gathers, including bloggers and podcasters.

According to a U.S. Department of Justice official, the Free Flow of Information Act (pdf) would pose a grave threat to national security and federal criminal investigations by protecting the free speech rights of far too large a segment of the population.

The latest version of the Free Flow of Information Act would protect anyone engaged in journalism, which is defined as “gathering, preparing, collecting, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting or publishing of news or information that concerns local, national or international events or other...