The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Sam Schechner cites sources as saying that Sony “is considering launching an Internet-based alternative to cable-TV service … posing the latest threat to the cable and satellite operators that dominate pay TV.” The sources said that the Japanese electronics and entertainment company “has approached several big media companies to negotiate the rights to offer their TV channels over the Web in the U.S.” Sources also said that Sony is “proposing to beam the channels over Internet connections to Sony-made devices, including PlayStation gaming consoles, TV sets and Blu-ray players.” Sources said that one stumbling block “could be Sony's desire to license a smaller bundle of channels than existing cable operators offer to undercut the incumbents on price and flexibility” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/16).
FIGHTS ON YOUR PHONE: In N.Y., Garett Sloane writes UFC is “launching a beefed-up app for Android smartphones and tablets that will allow users to stream" its bouts. The league has “already delivered apps with bonus content surrounding its matches, but it is expected to announce as soon as tomorrow that for the first time fans will be able to pay-per-stream one of its fights for $45 -- or $55 for high definition.” UFC execs said that they are also “working on bringing the streams to popular Apple mobile devices” (N.Y. POST, 11/16).
REQUEST DENIED: MULTICHANNEL NEWS’ John Eggerton reported the FCC has “denied a request by Madison Square Garden and Cablevision Systems to review a decision requiring that the high-definition feeds of regional sports networks MSG and MSG Plus be made available to competitors.” The commissioner “affirmed that original order and refused a request to stay its effective date, though it found that ‘in order to provide sufficient time for compliance,’ it would give the companies 15 days from the Nov. 10 order release date to provide the programming.” The Media Bureau “had initially said the feeds had to be provided by Nov. 14, while a deal had to be struck on reasonable terms and conditions by Oct. 22.” They now have until Nov. 25 “to make the feeds available” (MULTICHANNEL.com, 11/14).
