Seth Gilbert, 02-4-2009
Much as it seems a wild tangent from core focus, especially given recent financial performance, the news from Redmond today is Microsoft has set up a unit to create original short form video content for the Zune. Microsoft’s gone Hollywood.
“Cinemash,” the first planned release will launch on the Zune marketplace as an eight episode series in May. Crafted in partnership with MEAN Magazine, the program will feature TV and Film actors re-imagining classic Hollywood roles in three to five minute segments. All of the episodes will be free but ad-supported.
Microsoft says they will develop additional pilots over the next twelve months that range in focus from live action to urban and music programming.
Offering platform exclusive content is a strategy that works for selling video game consoles. Microsoft’s relied on it with the Xbox platform (the Halo series has driven sales), and even explored creating exclusive non-game video content for the Xbox Live environment.
Will using the approach here help stimulate demand for a portable media player? There’s no doubt assistance would be appreciated. Click to Read More
Seth Gilbert, 02-3-2009
Amazon was a pioneer in e-commerce. Moving well beyond the books it started with, the company built a strong business around the efficient sale and delivery of most any kind of packaged goods. For its second act, the company now seems intent on achieving nothing less than similar success with the sale of digitally delivered merchandise.
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Seth Gilbert, 01-28-2009
Last April, in a surprise announcement, Lions Gate, Viacom (Paramount) and MGM announced plans to launch their own, then unnamed, premium cable channel and video on demand service. Soon after, former Showtime executive Mark Greenberg took the helm and the joint venture, dubbed Studio 3 Networks, began to roll toward a planned Q4 2009 launch.
Little by little, details have trickled out about what’s planned. In November, it was regulatory filings that revealed some of the initial cost data. Last month, it was the brand name for the channel, Epix, discovered. This month, it’s more info on launch plans.
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Seth Gilbert, 01-27-2009
Yahoo rolled into the Carol Bartz era about two weeks ago. Today, the company closed the books on Jerry Yang’s brief executive stint with the release of Q4 earnings. Buried under nearly $603m in one time charges, Yahoo came in with a loss of $303.4m.
$108m in restructuring costs. $488m in Goodwill Impairment from overseas. $7m on the quarter in lingering expenses from defraying Microsoft’s takeover overtures.
It wasn’t the news that was expected, but looking past the one time elements, it wasn’t all bad either.
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Seth Gilbert, 01-26-2009
Many companies are struggling through the economic environment with weak earnings or weak outlook. Netflix, the mail-order DVD rental pioneer, is so far managing to sail through on smooth waters. Confirming “strong results” previously hinted, the company announced fourth quarter and year end earnings today ahead of expectations.
Revenue for the fourth quarter was $359.6m, a 19% year over year gain and a 5% sequential improvement. Earnings, at 38 cents a share, were up 65% year over year. Analysts had expected EPS of 34 cents on revenues of $354m.
Admitting the kind of mistake many are happy to accept, CFO Barry McCarthy said on the conference call, “Our October forecast of slowing growth turned out to be wrong.”
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Seth Gilbert, 01-23-2009
With Microsoft bumping its earnings news to an earlier time slot, after the close of markets Thursday all eyes were on Google. Would worsening ad trends show heavily in the Q4 and full year results? Or like Apple the day before, would Google outperform the economy and best expectations? The numbers tell the tale:
Analysts were expecting EPS of $4.95 a share, excluding onetime elements (non-GAAP). Net revenue was forecast at 4.12b. Paid click growth was estimated to be 17%.
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Seth Gilbert, 01-22-2009
"Nobody loves you when you’re down and out….Everybody’s hustlin’ for a buck and a dime” sang John Lennon. Sony and Microsoft may know exactly what he meant (at least with regard to how shareholders treat their stocks). The two companies were the first to make big earnings announcements today. The news from both was poor. The lead storylines were cost savings and disappointments. Breaking out the two announcements side by side:
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