hungryflix - the blog for video 2.0

HungryFlix is offered for sale

2008-04-08T20:28:00.000-07:00

HungryFlix.com is being offered for sale on Site Point. The web startup is looking to be acquired by a firm with more marketing resources to help grow the site into the premiere spot for indie filmmakers.

http://marketplace.sitepoint.com/auctions/33726

HungryFlix provides movie and music downloads for iPod, iPhone, PSP, Apple TV or computer. We are a distributor of independent media including feature films, short films, how-to video, music videos, sports, documentary, TV Shows and music.

HungryFlix provides a revenue share to content owners providing a way for indie media artists to earn income.

Site is custom CMS including Amazon S3 integration for large media storage and transfer.

HungryFlix iPhone application is included, with link from Apple.com domain.

Also included are all social network identities (myspace, facebook, twitter).
HungryFlix has growing traffic and excellent rankings in Google.

The Prisoner - Exciting Thriller HD Short Film on HungryFlix.com

2008-03-22T20:52:00.000-07:00

Revver sold to LiveUniverse; Stage6.com Closed

2008-03-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

Last month, video site Revver.com was sold in a fire salee. LiveUniverse, an online entertainment company led by MySpace founder Brad Greenspan purchased the online video sharing site for a reported $3.5 million. Revver had previously received $12.5 million in funding from such investors as cable giant Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) CMCSA and venture capital firms Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Bessemer Venture Partners.

Another video startup, Stage6.com, shut down operations last month. Stage6, owned by digital media pioneer DivX DIVX, pulled the plug even though its viewership had been rising since November. It had 10.7 million views in January. DivX has stated that they did not have the resources to run the site and that copyright issues were a growing concern. LiveUniverse is reported to be making an offer for Stage6.

The recent consolidations and closings leave a still crowded field of online video sites with Veoh.com, Break.com, Metacafe, HungryFlix, and many others battling for page views and visitors.

HungryFlix.com raises file size to 1GB in order to support HD content

2008-03-02T20:57:00.001-08:00

HungryFlix.com is releasing system improvements today that will greatly enhance the site's ability to handle larger file sizes and scalability to more users.

These improvements have led the site to increase their maximum file size from 500MB to 1GB. Content providers have always been able to store as many files as they wish but with the file size doubled, the door is open to more HD content.

"We are seeing growth on both sides of the HD equation" said HungryFlix CEO Brian Andrews. "Prosumer HD equipment is now in the hands of more filmmakers and producers. These people are shooting in HD and want to present their content in the best possible resolution. Likewise, we are seeing growth in the home media server market with game consoles, slingbox and Apple TV. So we now have both providers and consumers look for HD quality."

HungryFlix.com's goal is to provide consumers and providers with the most choice available anywhere. Users can purchase DRM-free content and move it from one device to another without restrictions.

Apple announces movie rentals via iTunes and Apple tV

2008-01-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

At the annual MacWorld Expo this week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the availability of movie rentals via both iTunes and now directly from the Apple TV.

Apple was able to secure deals from all major and independent film studios including Fox, Universal, Warner and Disney. Library titles will be offered at $2.99, new releases at $3.99 and HD verisons for an additional dollar.

The DRM restrictions are consistent with offerings from Microsoft's Xbox 360 Marketplace, Amazon Unbox and traditional cable pay-per-view. Customers will have 30 days to watch a downloaded film. Once a user starts watching, they will have 24 hours to complete the film before their download expires.

Included in the announcement were upgrades to Apple TV which now includes the tag line, "no computer required." Users can now rent movies directly from their Apple TV device without going through iTunes. This is a great benefit for Apple TV users and may push Apple's portable media dominance into the family room.

For people looking for independent content for their iPod or Apple TV, HungryFlix.com offers movie downloads with no DRM restrictions starting at just $0.99.

Apple and Fox to offer movie rentals via iTunes?

2007-12-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

As had been speculated earlier in the month, News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) and its studio Twentieth Century Fox have signed a deal with Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) to allow users to rent the latest Fox DVD releases by downloading a digital copy from Apple’s iTunes platform for a limited time, reports FT, citing sources. No pricing info in the story, though an earlier report in June pegged it at around $2.99 per rental.

The new deal will likely be announced at the Macworld show on January 14, and FT portrays it as a deal that “has the potential to transform film distribution.” I am not so sure the consumer market is ready yet...also, download speeds and time, usually on the higher side for movie files, still matter. Also, the Disney movie downloads on iTunes haven’t burned the charts yet in any meaningful way.

One interesting twist that will help, though: Besides the online rental deal, a digital file protected by Apple’s DRM scheme FairPlay will be included in new Fox DVD releases, enabling film content to ripped to a PC and video iPod. DVD content can already be moved to an iPod but this requires a bit of an effort.

Wal-Mart closes Movie Download service

2007-12-28T12:49:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT - News) quietly canceled its online video download service less than a year after the site went live, a company spokeswoman said on Thursday.
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Wal-Mart shut down the download site after Hewlett Packard Co (NYSE:HPQ - News) discontinued the technology that powered it, Walmart.com spokeswoman Amy Colella said in an e-mail. She added that it will not look for another technology partner.

HP spokesman Hector Marinez said the company decided to discontinue its video download-only merchant store services because the market for paid video downloads did not perform "as expected." He noted that the Internet video business remains uncertain and is changing rapidly.

The online video market has seen a number of closings as 2007 wraps up. 2008 may continue this trend of consolidation and closures.

Fans of indie films still have many online avenues including downloading iPod movies from sites such as HungryFilx.com.

Movie Gallery closing MovieBeam download service

2007-12-07T11:30:00.000-08:00

Video Business is reporting that Movie Gallery confirmed it will close its MovieBeam set-top box download service on Dec. 15.

The video chain acquired MovieBeam earlier this year from the Walt Disney Co. and others investors. Movie Gallery said the initial acquisition cost plus any ongoing development expenses would amount to less than $10 million this year.

The previous investors had spent more than $100 million on the service.

Movie Gallery filed for bankruptcy protection in October.

NBC to offer shows on Netflix

2007-11-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

NewTeeVee is reporting that NBC continues to expand its post-iTunes digital content offerings, with Netflix now added to the list of places you can watch episodes of Heroes, 30 Rock, and other NBC shows.

Epispodes will be available to Netflix subscribers on its web site the day after they air on the network. Past episodes of other NBC shows will also be available.

Netflix is working hard to offer it's subscribers multiple delivery options including DVD by mail and digital download.

We agree with NewTeeVee that the deal seems to make sense for all parties, including consumers.

Romantic comedy to premiere on iTunes today

2007-11-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

The first feature film to be launched exclusively on iTunes is opening today. Written and directed by Edward Burns, Purple Violets is a romantic comedy starring Selma Blair, Debra Messing, and Patrick Wilson. A preview page is already available on iTunes along with a trailer.

Moby giving away tracks to Indie filmmakers

2007-11-09T19:34:00.000-08:00

One musician out there is lending a helping hand to filmmakers in need of music for their films. Variety.com reported this week that Moby, the 'multifaceted dance music artist' who is the man behind hit songs like "Southside" and "We Are All Made of Stars," is giving away 44 unreleased tracks for use by indie, nonprofit and student filmmakers (11 instrumental tracks from "Hotel," six from "Play: B Sides" and three from "18."), which are available on mobygratis.com

On Set - New social network for filmmakers

2007-11-08T13:22:00.000-08:00

HungryFlix.com, one of the web's leading indie film sites, is proud to announce the beta release of "On Set", a new social networking site for indie filmmakers, video producers and film fans.

On Set allows users to create connections with other users, share videos and photos, create blogs and forums. Users can share their knowledge and passion for filmmaking and help educate new filmmakers on the art of making movies.

On Set is available now and membership is free. Users can create an account today. Visit On Set - Indie Film Social Network now.

HungryFlix On Set launches

2007-11-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

HungryFlix.com is proud to announce the launch of On Set, a new social
networking site dedicated to indie filmmakers.

Users can connect with other filmmakers, producers and fans by
creating blogs, forums and sharing photos.

The new resource adds great new features to HungryFlix's popular indie
film site.

On Set is in live beta at http://my.hungryflix.com

Sports & Online Video

2007-11-04T14:33:00.000-08:00

As the world of online video grows and expands, one area that continues to show positive gains is sports video. Maybe it is due to the fact that sports is easily edited down to key highlights or because sports has a loyal and vocal fan base, but whatever the reason online sports video is here to stay.

Sites such as ESPN, TSN, the Golf Channel and YouTube all serve hundreds of sports videos. Niches are even forming for fans of specific teams, such as this Pittsburgh Steelers Channel we found.

HungryFlix iPhone App Listed by Apple

2007-11-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

The HungryFlix Movie Trailers iPhone app has been listed in Apple's iPhone Web App Directory. You can find the link here HungryFlix iPhone Movies.

Users can use the app to view great indie film trailers directly on their iPhone. WiFi connection is recommended.

We are extremely proud to be listed in Apple's iPhone application list.

Hulu lauches beta

2007-10-29T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hulu is launching a private beta of its web video service. The NBC/Fox venture was formed as a direct reaction to YouTube becoming the number one destination for viewing content owned by the major studios.

Time will tell what role Hulu plays as early reviews are mixed. It adds another player (no pun intened) to the video-on-the-web mix.

WSJ Online: Editing big films is now down on small computers

2007-10-27T19:14:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at how more and more big time Hollywood editors are now using computers decked out with Avid or Final Cut Pro for editing. Looks like the digital word is not just for indie film any more...

Web delivers new audience to short films

2007-10-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Chronicle writes about how iTunes and Web sites are fueling new interest in short films. It focuses on Tiffany Shlain ('The Tribe'), Jon Bloom ('Overnight Sensation'), and Jesus Beltran ('The Grass Grows Green'), among others. From Joe Garofoli's piece:

Creators of short films (40 minutes or less) have finally found an audience through such online sites as iTunes, Revver.com and San Francisco's Frameline Films and Caachi.com, which specializes in distributing independent films. And those sites are even starting to bring a revenue trickle to older shorts that audiences are unearthing online.

Shorts haven't had this kind of exposure since before 1950, when pre-TV-owning audiences saw shorts on the same bill with features and newsreels at the local movie theater. Now, when Oscar viewers hear about a handful of really cool-sounding short films that screen at one the world's 5,000 film festivals, they can actually see them.

"We are at the beginning of a transitional moment" in the short-film industry, said David Straus, CEO and co-founder of Withoutabox.com, an 8-year-old Los Angeles outfit that has helped 150,000 independent filmmakers market their films using the Internet. "It's not just that people can download them and see films online, it's that filmmakers are learning what they can do to reach out to audiences themselves."

Test

2007-10-25T10:20:00.001-07:00

Test mobile

Sent from my iPhone

Next Burns Indie to Premiere in iTunes

2007-10-24T05:03:00.000-07:00

he iTunes Store will now debut Purple Violets on November 20, a $4 million film from indie director Edward Burns. It will be the first time a feature film debuts exclusively on the iTunes Store, according to the New York Times, and the latest step towards injecting life into the store's struggling movie section. For now, it seems as though only indies are steadily hopping on board and singing the praises of the iTunes Store.

There are other resources for indie filmmakers, including the iPod Movies site HungryFlix.com.

Time will tell on how much success indie have in these new models.

NBC pulls content from YouTube

2007-10-24T05:01:00.000-07:00

In preparations for the launch of Hulu.com, NBC has confirmed that it has removed it's content and channel from YouTube.

YouTube spokesperson Ricardo Reyes said in an emailed statement to http://newteevee:

"NBC informed us on Friday that they were taking down their branded channel and clips. Our relationship with NBC was a YouTube success story, so we hope NBC decides to post more original content and stay engaged with our users."

Apple supports student filmmakers with Insomnia Festival

2007-10-24T04:55:00.000-07:00

The Insomnia Film Festival provides an opportunity for high school and college filmmakers to show their talents, win prizes and gain some great experience.

The festival is another 24-hour competition. Where entrants write, cast, shoot, edit, score, and upload a 3-minute masterpiece within 24 hours. No problem, right?

International Open Source Film - straycinema.com

2007-10-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

The international open source film, www.straycinema.com, has released new raw film footage on their website.

This is the second open source film provided by Stray Cinema.

The new footage was directed by New Zealand filmmaker Naomi Lamb and features characters in period costume set amidst the spectacular New Zealand landscape and an eerie back alley.

Stray Cinema wants to give everybody the opportunity to have a say over what story is told with this footage.

To participate, people must edit a one-two minute version of the film they wish to make from the available footage. Participants are then invited to post their film edits back onto the Stray Cinema website, to be judged by their online community

Viacom offers The Daily Show online

2007-10-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Viacom's Comedy Central channel today will unveil a website for "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" that's designed to satisfy the most avid fans of the mock-news show with oceans of free video clips.

In a move away from the norm of providing just a sample of content, Comedy Central is offering the works: about 13,000 video clips representing every minute of the show since its 1999 inception. The site (http://www.thedailyshow.com) is meant to pull in advertising money from Day One, but it also provide a test run for Viacom and other "old media" players.

This is yet another attempt and finding the right mix of ads to content.

Tips on Producing and Directing Indie Films

2007-10-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

Heath McKnight of Digital Media Net has a great introduction article with tips to keep you organized while producing/directing an independent film.

The article gives insight into developing your script, pre-production and production tasks that every producer/director should know.