In this week's rundown of recent news items for cord-cutters: Live streaming from Bonnaroo, optimism about improved streaming TV quality, Amazon plans more shows for kids, FCC head says net neutrality is just a slogan, and more.
Bonnaroo, the annual four-day music festival in Manchester, Tennessee's is underway and runs through Sunday. If you're reading this, then you likely aren't there. But you can still watch thanks to Red Bull TV, which will offer live streaming of performances from the festival. Acts include Alabama Shakes, Mumford & Sons, Earth, Wind & FIre, and Billy Joel. Red Bull TV is available on iOS and Android devices, Roku, Apple TV, Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TVs.
If you think streaming TV quality sucks compared to broadcast, you aren't alone - but TechHive author Jared Newman reports that "at the Streaming Media East conference in New York in May, industry executives seemed optimistic about their ability to get over... hurdles" that include low frame rates, lag times, and lack of surround sound. Furthermore, "there was a feeling that the live streaming TV experience will even surpass broadcast and cable TV in the long run."
MarketWatch reports that "younger millennials don't know what networks are responsible for TV shows, unless it's Netflix." A study by advertising and consulting firm Anatomy Media determined that "millennials age 18-26 generally can't identify the networks behind TV shows."
Tara Sorensen, head of kids’ programming for Amazon Studios, told Variety that Amazon has more plans for kids. The moves comes after winning Emmys for series for younger viewers such as 'Lost in Oz,” "The Snowy Day," "Little Big Awesomej," and "Tumble Leaf."
Net neutrality is just a slogan according to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson. Ars Technica reports that "Johnson thinks ISPs should be able to sell 'fast lanes' to websites and online services that are willing to pay for quicker access to customers."
Bandwidth consumption could triple in the next five years, and "video will make up 82 percent of all internet traffic in 2021" according to networking equipment seller Cisco. Cisco expects that "global IP networks will be pumping out 3 trillion Internet video minutes per month by 2021, equal to 5 million years of video per month, or about 1 million video minutes every second."
PlayStation Vue has dropped beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español from its programming, right after the removal of Viacom channels. According to WorldSoccerTalk, the loss is "due to Sony Interactive Entertainment being unwilling to pay a fair market value for the beIN SPORTS channels."
