Here’s a roundup of portable media news for Saturday, Sept. 15th: TorrentFreak has an expos√© on Media Defender, publishing internal emails that appear to show how the company created a website and leaked copyrighted content to entrap people into infringement. According to TorrentFreak, “The sole purpose of the site is to trap people into uploading […]

NBC’s and Apple’s negotiations over terms for digital video download sales has turned into a PR war. Apple announced earlier in the week that it would no longer be carrying NBC shows for download, because of failure to reach an agreement over terms. According to Apple, NBC wanted to double its wholesale pricing for shows. […]

U.S. video rental spending is well off its 2001 peak of $10.3 billion, but revenue from online subscriptions is beginning to put some steam back into the rental industry, according to Adams Media Research (AMR). AMR projects online subscription spending to increase by 41% to $1.9 billion in 2007. ‚ÄúThe five-year decline in the video […]

If Steve Jobs gets his way, iTunes and Apple TV may soon become the digital version of Blockbuster or Netflix. Apple is working with Hollywood studios to make movies available for rental via iTunes, according to a story today in the Wall Street Journal. The rental service is being pitched aggressively by Apple, with titles […]

Local TV broadcasters are worried about the rise of Internet television. They’re seeing popular prime-time content like Fox’s 24 go online, and wonder if the rise of Internet TV will put them out of business. While Internet television is creating new opportunities for content providers, local affiliates think that the Web may give networks more […]

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) and Apple today announced that MGM is now offering titles from its catalog of feature films for purchase at the iTunes Store. iTunes customers can now get films such as Dances With Wolves, Mad Max, The Great Train Robbery and Rocky, with other titles to be added in the coming weeks. Titles […]

New options for Apple TV appear to be in the works. Blogger Eirik Solheim noticed that the Apple Store now shows a “Select your Apple TV” option, though only one option is available. The “Select” option is displayed when you can select from several Apple products. We haven’t seen any announcement from Apple about this, […]

Media conglomerate Viacom is suing Google for $1 billion dollars, arguing that YouTube’s business is built on ripping off other people’s work: “YouTube is a significant, for-profit organization that has built a lucrative business out of exploiting the devotion of fans to others’ creative works in order to enrich itself and its corporate parent Google. […]

Amazon and TiVo have announced Amazon Unbox on TiVo, a soon-to-be-launched service feature that will provide TiVo subscribers with the ability to rent and purchase movies and television shows from leading studios and networks including CBS, Fox Entertainment Group, Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. Entertainment. Amazon Unbox on TiVo is […]

Apple Recon reports that orders for the recently announced Apple TV have already exceeded the original 100,000 unit order that Apple had placed with its manufacturer, and Apple is preparing to place a second order for twice that number. According to the site, Apple now expects to sell over a million Apple TV devices leading […]