According to an Ipsos study commissioned by Google, younger moviegoers are more inclined to watch movie trailers on YouTube than on television. While 54 percent of respondents age 13-24 indicated they are more likely to watch trailers via YouTube, an impressive 65 percent said that trailers they watch on YouTube will influence what films they end up seeing in theaters. In addition, a related study from Google and Millward Brown Digital found that 81 percent of moviegoers age 18-64 who watch movie trailers online turn to YouTube as well. Continue reading Movie Trailers Popular on YouTube, Mobile Viewing on the Rise

Meerkat has launched a new real-time video feature called Cameo that allows users to invite friends on the mobile app to take over their live streams. The new feature could lead to an interesting opportunity for brands to work with celebrities and social influencers. For example, a company such as Red Bull could promote upcoming livestreams with their sponsored extreme-sports athletes. Fox, Hulu, MasterCard, Southwest Airlines and The Weather Channel are among those already signed up to use Cameo. Continue reading New Meerkat Feature Makes Real-Time Video More Interactive

After investing $1 million to acquire Aereo’s customer lists and trademarks, TiVo has begun pitching former subscribers of the defunct streaming service. TiVo is marketing its Roamio over-the-air DVR (via email bearing Aereo’s logo) as a service “conceived, developed and introduced for people just like you.” The current offer is $19.99 per month with a two-year commitment — $5 more per month than TiVo’s usual offer (and $12 more than the original Aereo service), but the hardware is being offered for free. “The devices together allow customers to record live antenna TV and watch on multiple devices — that is, if you already own an antenna,” notes The Wall Street Journal.

The Apple-Spotify relationship could face new pressure after Spotify began distributing emails recommending that users avoid buying subscriptions to the streaming service through Apple’s app store. The subscriptions run $13 through Apple, compared to $10 on Spotify’s website. Apple charges a 30 percent cut in a model that many companies rely upon to get their products to consumers. “The emails explained how to cancel the app store subscriptions and sign up on the Spotify website,” reports Bloomberg. “Apple doesn’t encourage this kind of thing. The company forbids any buttons or links within apps that could allow people to buy things externally that they would otherwise purchase through the app.”

According to mobile analytics startup Mixpanel, more than 38 percent of iOS mobile devices are now running iOS 8.4, Apple’s latest mobile operating system. That means a growing number of consumers now have access to a free trial of the new Apple Music service, reports VentureBeat. “Dangerous for Spotify,” said Suhail Doshi, Mixpanel’s chief exec. “That’s hundreds of millions of people who can get a free three-month trial with Apple Music.” While Spotify recently expanded to include videos and podcasts for its 75 million users, Apple Music could prove to be a threat to existing music services such as Spotify and Rdio.

For those who may be questioning the growing value of YouTube celebrities, you may be interested to learn that 24-year-old Felix Kjellberg (aka PewDiePie) of Sweden now has 37.7 million subscribers on YouTube, while PewDiePie Productions generated about $7.4 million in revenue last year. According to Engadget, Kjellberg made $4 million the year before by “playing video games, recording his reactions and uploading the resulting videos to YouTube.” Kjellberg has defended himself following social media backlash by noting his many charitable contributions. In addition, he claims his “bro army” (fans) raised more than $1 million for various charities.

Netflix is ready to expand its original content beyond TV series to feature films. First, the service will release Cary Fukunaga’s “Beasts of No Nation” on October 16. The film will debut via Netflix and select U.S. theaters, which will make it eligible for industry awards. On December 11, Netflix will release “The Ridiculous Six,” the first of four Adam Sandler films it plans to distribute. And in Q1 2016, the sequel “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend” will be released globally on Netflix, theatrically in China and on IMAX. Continue reading Netflix Looking to Build its Brand with Original Feature Films

Showtime’s over-the-top streaming service, which provides on-demand access to the premium cable network’s content and live East and West Coast feeds, is now available to consumers. The service is offered for $10.99 per month for subscriptions on Apple mobile devices including iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, in addition to Apple TV, PlayStation Vue and Roku. Hulu customers can add the new service to their current subscription for $8.99 per month, reports TechCrunch. All are offering a 30-day free trial subscription. The service’s launch is coinciding with the July 12th season debuts of Showtime originals “Ray Donovan” and “Masters of Sex.”

On July 12, GoPro will debut Hero4 Session, its latest action-video camera, priced at $399 and featuring a dramatically different form factor: a 1.5-inch cube that weighs only 2.6 ounces, with one button for on and off. In addition, GoPro founder Nick Woodman has announced the company’s expansion into virtual reality with a 16-camera array for an as-of-yet undisclosed price, to debut in August. Scheduled for next year, GoPro also plans to launch a quadcopter drone with built-in GoPro camera. Continue reading GoPro Unveils Smaller Hero Camera, Plans for VR and Drone

Virtual reality and marketing is a match made in heaven, say many VR experts, but so far very few examples of that pairing have come to pass. OnlyInVR CEO Michael Hodson hopes to change that with videos for the tourism and travel industry. His company’s videos have already been big hits at trade shows, he claims, and he lists STA Travel and the Aspen Chamber of Commerce among his clients. He also shows off VR tours of New York, Las Vegas and Venice, Italy optimized for Samsung’s Gear VR. Continue reading OnlyInVR Sells Immersive Videos to Tourism, Travel Clients

In the wake of the abrupt dismissal of Reddit employee Victoria Taylor, CEO Ellen Pao apologized to the site’s disgruntled users, acknowledging a history that goes back several years of broken promises and poor communication. But apologies by Pao and co-founder/executive chairman Alexis Ohanian haven’t yet mollified users, who are circulating an online petition demanding Pao’s termination. The 10-year old San Francisco-based company has 70 to 80 employees but relies on its power users to govern the site. Continue reading Reddit Chief Promises Better Communication with Community

Facebook-owned photo-sharing service Instagram is quietly rolling out support for 1080×1080 pixel resolution for its images, which up until now had remained at 640×640 resolution. “An Instagram spokesperson tells us that the company started ‘gradually rolling out 1080 across iOS and Android’ last week, meaning that most people should already be seeing the higher-resolution images in the mobile app,” The Verge explains. However, the desktop version of Instagram does not include the upgrade. According to the spokesperson, “right now we are focused on mobile, with no plans to share on Web.”

Anyone who has ever read a story to a child knows the drill: children want to hear their favorite stories over and over again. That’s the major ingredient in Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu’s success in courting young audiences (and their parents). On-demand video makes it easy for a child to replay, over and over again, his or her favorite TV episodes or movies. Acutely aware of the phenomenon, these companies are actively working to provide video content for the young set, turning toddlers into life-long viewers. Continue reading Netflix and Amazon Aim to Shape Children’s Viewing Habits

Periscope both was and was not at Wimbledon this year. The tournament’s digital content team used Twitter’s live video broadcasting app to take fans on a Roger Federer-led walking tour of the facility. Federer also anchored Wimbledon’s Periscope feed of the matches at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. But Wimbledon simultaneously banned attendees from using the live-streaming app in the stands. Periscope CEO Kayvon Beykpour wasn’t fazed by the seemingly contradictory move. “Their motivation is preserving the sanctity of play,” he said. Continue reading Periscope Streams Wimbledon But Is Banned at Tournament

Silicon Beach has become home to a number of tech startups, publicly traded companies and business incubators. Recent years have seen a wave of talent, innovation and investors that have fostered compelling new companies and, in some cases, acquisitions by larger Silicon Valley tech leaders. However, a number of startups have opted to stay in Los Angeles, while larger companies such as Google, Microsoft and Yahoo are building a presence. While still early in its development, the LA tech scene now has the core ingredients that helped launch Silicon Valley. Continue reading Silicon Beach Now the Main Tech Hub of Southern California