AT&T looks to be one of the first American television operators to enter the online distribution race. “AT&T Entertainment,” a streaming TV and movie portal, is live.

The site’s layout resembles Hulu, the online video service that features TV shows, movies and clips from nearly 190 leading content companies. Mashable state the TV portal is more similar to Comcast’s Fancast or AOL’s new SlashControl.

AT&T Entertainment content can be browsed by title, creator, and network/studio.

So far, AT&T doesn’t appear to host any videos on its own, but is instead streaming from Hulu, CBS, MTV, etc. There don’t seem to be any ads beyond the ones included from the content hosts.

From the press release:

“We know our customers want to be able to access their favorite content anytime, anywhere,” said Dan York, executive vice president of content and programming, AT&T.

An FAQ reads:

AT&T Entertainment is an ATT.net property that offers a market-leading content experience featuring full episodes of TV shows, movies, clips, and more for FREE! In addition, AT&T U-verse subscribers can view their U-verse guide and manage their DVR recordings from within the AT&T Entertainment experience.

While you can embed and watch videos without logging in, the site encourages registration to see age-restricted content, create a queue, and share or rate videos.

Currently, only US users can watch videos on the site, due to content agreements. As we’ve mentioned on WebTVWire many times before, territorial restrictions suck and rights holders will eventually have to wake up to the borderless world of TV that is being created by the internet.

Links with Paid TV Service?

Earlier this year, AT&T was reported to be working on an authentication system which would enable subscribers to login online to watch content they pay for on their TVs.

There doesn’t appear to be any integration of this system on AT&T Entertainment, nor any mention of it on the site, which is odd, because that would have prevented AT&T Entertainment from being a Hulu clone.

Maybe this is AT&T’s long term plan.

Useful Links

• AT&T Entertainment Website

You may also be interested in:

• More about AT&T on WebTVWire
• More about watching TV online on WebTVWire
• How to Connect your PC to a HDMI TV – AT&T Entertainment works great on a TV set.

DVR deals on eBay

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Below you will find live streaming coverage and a selection of video clips from the 2009 NCAA College Basketball Tournament. We’ll also include links to the top videos of the March Madness games and update this post regularly with the results.

The NCAA Tournament TV and online coverage begins on March 17 with the opening game (Morehead State vs. Alabama State) and ends with the championship game in Detroit, Michigan on April 6. There will be 65 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national men’s NCAA college basketball champions.

Watch The NCAA Tournament Live Online

When games are on you should be able to watch the live coverage in the video player below. If it doesn’t work check the list underneath for alternatives.

Link:

More Streams

• March Madness on Demand – Live streaming coverage from CBS Sports
• March Madness on YouTube – Official CBS/ESPN YouTube Channel
• USAToday.com – Live streaming coverage and highlights from USA Today
• ESPN360.com – full games streaming (mostly available to students and military personnel only)
• Live coverage from Mineshaft @ Ustreamtv
• Live coverage from stickittotheman @ Justin.tv
• Live coverage from badspeed @ Ustream.tv
• Live coverage from Mastersports @ Ustream.tv

Downloads & Hot Videos of the NCAA Tournament

• ESPN College Basketball on iTunes (US link, $1.99/game, $19.99/full tournament)
• ESPN.com videos – Game highlights and news (US)
• Yahoo Sports – NCAA coverage from Yahoo
• Joost – A selection of NCAA video highlights from Joost

Search More

• Search for The NCAA Tournament Online
• Find The NCAA Tournament Torrents
• Graboid (pre-recorded) – Graboid is a very easy to use program that allows you to download pre-recorded videos online through P2P technology. It won’t have live coverage but after the NCAA Tournament will have a number of videos of the events that you can download. (Read more)

Qualifying Teams

(last updated April 2)
Final Four

• Michigan State (2) vs. Connecticut (1)
• Villanova (3) vs. North Carolina (1)

Full list of game details and winners

Highlights from the 2009 NCAA College Basketball Tournament

Coming soon!

NCAA Tournament Products on eBay

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Below you will find live streaming coverage and a selection of video clips from the 2009 Oscars. We’ll also include links to the top videos of the 81st Annual Academy Awards and the results.

The Oscars TV coverage in the U.S was on ABC on Sunday, February 22 starting at 8:30 Eastern/7:30 central. Hugh Jackman hosted the live event. Coverage of red carpet arrivals was on E!, the TV Guide Network, and ABC. Check your local listings for times and channels.

Watch The Oscars Live Online

• Associated Press Oscars 2009 – Live red carpet coverage and video highlights
• Backstage at the Oscars – The official Oscras site will have live coverage from backstage.
• Live coverage from El_Parcero
• Live coverage from Club Penguin

Hot Videos of the Academy Awards

• Hulu coverage – Rred carpet coverage and highlights (Available in U.S only).
• Road to Oscars – A video series with the latest oscar buzz and gossip
• Behind the Dress – A fashion focused video series with behind the scenes coverage of the Oscars. Hosted by Nick Verreos.
• BBC – Various news coverage from the Academy Awards (U.K Only)
• Yahoo Movies – More Oscar coverage from Yahoo
• Joost – A selection of Oscar videos from Joost.
• YouTube – The YouTube official Oscars Channel
• ABC News – Videos and news from the awards on ABC News

Search More

• Search for The Oscars Online
• Find The Oscars Torrents
• Graboid (pre-recorded) – Graboid is a very easy to use program that allows you to download pre-recorded videos online through P2P technology. It won’t have live coverage but after the Oscars will have a number of videos of the events that you can download. (Read more)

Nominations

Winners in bold

Best Picture

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Frost/Nixon
• Milk
• The Reader
• Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor

• Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
• Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
• Sean Penn – Milk
• Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Best Actress

• Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
• Angelina Jolie – Changeling
• Melissa Leo – Frozen River
• Meryl Streep – Doubt
• Kate Winslet – The Reader

Best Supporting Actor

• Josh Brolin – Milk
• Robert Downey, Jr. – Tropic Thunder
• Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
• Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
• Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road

Best Supporting Actress

• Amy Adams – Doubt
• Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Viola Davis – Doubt
• Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

Best Director

• Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
• Stephen Daldry – The Reader
• David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
• Gus Van Sant – Milk

Full list of nominees & winners

Highlights from the 81st Academy Awards

Best Picture:

Also check out last years highlights.

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Weeds Synopsis

Weeds is a sit-com which follows Nancy Botwin (played by Mary Louise Parker), a widowed housewife from a wealthy Californian suburb. When her husband died Nancy became a marijuana dealer serving the local upper-middle-class in order to make ends meet.

Nancy set up her ‘business’ using a bakery as a front with the assistance of a city councilman and sourced her weed from streetwise dealer Conrad Shepard.

The comedy series reveals the hidden underworld and dirty secrets that lie behind the seemingly peaceful and affluent homes of the gated community.

The first series aired on Showtime in August 2005 and will run for 5 series.

• Watch On Demand at Amazon (U.S Only)
• iTunes users: Get Weeds Episodes on iTunes
• Search for Weeds Episodes
• Find Weeds Torrents

Episode List

Season 1

• Special – Suburban Shakedown
• 1 – You Can’t Miss the Bear (S01E01 – 101)
• 2 – Free Goat (S01E02 – 102)
• 3 – Good Shit Lollipop (S01E03 – 103)
• 4 – Fashion of the Christ (S01E04 – 104)
• 5 – Lude Awakening (S01E05 – 105)
• 6 – Dead in the Nethers (S01E06 – 106)
• 7 – Higher Education (S01E07 – 107)
• 8 – The Punishment Light (S01E08 – 108)
• 9 – The Punishment Lighter (S01E09 – 109)
• 10 – The Godmother (S01E10 – 110)

Season 2

• 11 – Corn Snake (S02E01 – 201)
• 12 – Cooking With Jesus (S02E02 – 202)
• 13 – Last Tango in Agrestic (S02E03 – 203)
• 14 – A.K.A. The Plant (S02E04 – 204)
• 15 – Mrs. Botwin’s Neighborhood (S02E05 – 205)
• 16 – Crush Girl Love Panic (S02E06 – 206)
• 17 – Must Find Toes (S02E07 – 207)
• 18 – MILF Money (S02E08 – 208)
• 19 – Bash (S02E09 – 209)
• 20 – Mile Deep and a Foot Wide (S02E10 – 210)
• 21 – Yeah, Just Like Tomatoes (S02E11 – 211)
• 22 – Pittsburgh (S02E12 – 212)

Season 3

• 23 – Doing The Backstroke (S03E01 – 301)
• 24 – A Pool and His Money (S03E02 – 302)
• 25 – The Brick Dance (S03E03 – 303)
• 26 – Sh*t Highway (S03E04 – 304)
• 27 – Bill Sussman (S03E05 – 305)
• 28 – Grasshopper (S03E06 – 306)
• 29 – He Taught Me How To Drive By (S03E07 – 307)
• 30 – The Two Mrs. Scottsons (S03E08 – 308)
• 31 – Release the Hounds (S03E09 – 309)
• 32 – Roy Till Called (S03E10 – 310)
• 33 – Cankles (S03E11 – 311)
• 34 – The Dark Time (S03E12 – 312)
• 35 – Risk (S03E13 – 313)
• 36 – Protection (S03E14 – 314)
• 37 – Go (S03E15 – 315)

Season 4

• 38 – Mother Thinks the Birds Are After Her (S04E01 – 401)
• 39 – Lady’s a Charm (S04E02 – 402)
• 40 – The Whole Blah Damn Thing (S04E03 – 403)
• 41 – The Three Coolers (S04E04 – 404)
• 42 – No Man is Pudding (S04E05 – 405)
• 43 – Excellent Treasures (S04E06 – 406)
• 44 – Yes I Can (S04E07 – 407)
• 45 – I Am the Table (S04E08 – 408)
• 46 – Little Boats (S04E09 – 409)
• 47 – The Love Circle Overlap (S04E10 – 410)
• 48 – Head Cheese (S04E11 – 411)
• 48 – Head Cheese (S04E12 – 412)
• 49 – Till We Meet Again (S04E13 – 413)
• 50 – If You Work for a Living, Why Do You kill Yourself Working? (S04E14 – 414)

Also See:

• Graboid – Free Movies and TV Shows
• Weeds Official Site
• Weeds on Wikipedia

Weeds Episodes on eBay

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Michael Moore’s latest documentary film, Slacker Uprising, is set to be available for free on the Internet. Does this signal a change in the movie industry or just Moore’s desire to see Obama in the White House?

When Radiohead released their latest album, In Rainbows, for free over the Internet last year, it was seen as a forward-thinking step which could revolutionise the way music is distributed.

Changing The Status Quo?

The album did well, but most people still ended up downloading it via less legal means. And the experiment didn’t really do anything to end the monopoly that the big record companies enjoy.

Could film-maker Michael Moore do any better in persuading the movie industry that there is an alternative to releasing movies in to cinemas?

Available For Free Online

Michael Moore, known for his hard-hitting documentaries attacking the status quo, is releasing Slacker Uprising for free on the Internet before it gets released on DVD.

The 97-minute-long film will be available to watch on BlipTV for three weeks starting from September 23rd. It will then be released on DVD on October 7th through Amazon and Netflix.

Unfortunately it will only be available to watch for free online in the United States and Canada, which alienates a lot of the world who would want to watch the documentary.

Slacker Uprising Trailer

Get Bush Out!

Slacker Uprising is a film following Michael Moore’s 62-city tour around the US swing states in the build-up to the 2004 US Presidential Election. Moore wanted Bush out and democrat John Kerry in.

While Moore’s hope wasn’t fulfilled, the documentary is now being released for free over the Internet in order to reach as many people as possible before this year’s US Presidential Election between Barack Obama and John McCain.

Moore Speaks

Moore released a statement explaining the move:

“This is being done entirely as a gift to my fans. The only return any of us are hoping for is the largest turnout of young voters ever at the polls in November. I think Slacker Uprising will inspire (millions) to get off the couch and give voting a chance.”

The film cost an estimated $2 million to make, and Moore thinks that this method of release will end up costing him $1 million. But neither Moore or the distributor, Brave New Films, plan to profit from the release.

Conclusions

This is an intriguing development, especially as Moore could have guaranteed a pay day by releasing this film in cinemas. He has instead decided to give his fans a present in the hope of inspiring more people to vote.

This comes just a week after No End In Sight was announced as being the first widely-released feature film to be screened in its entirety on YouTube.

Will this revolutionise the movie industry? Not a chance. But it does at least show the Web is becoming a more accepted form of distribution for long-form content.

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No End In Sight is a documentary movie by director Charles Ferguson which has won many awards, including the Documentary Special Jury Prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

In Full On YouTube

The Academy Award nominee has now been announced as the first widely-released feature film to be screened in its entirety on video sharing site YouTube.

The film looks at the political decisions made before, during, and after the invasion of Iraq and America’s continuing occupation of the country.

Coinciding With Presidential Election

It was released theatrically in 2007 but will now be aired for all to see on YouTube between September 1st and November 4th. This coincides with the US Presidential election.

The film will be available completely free and without adverts on its own YouTube channel as well as the YouTube service on TiVo HD DVRs.

The Director Speaks Out

According to MarketWatch, the director Charles Ferguson said:

“I wanted to make the film, and the facts about the occupation of Iraq, accessible to a larger group of people. My hope is that this will contribute to the process of making better foreign policy decisions moving forward in Iraq and elsewhere.”

During this election year, it’s important to examine the leadership mentality and policies that caused Iraq to descend into such a horrific state that after 4,000 American deaths, at least a quarter million Iraqis killed, 4 million refugees, and over $2 trillion spent, Iraq remains in a state of near collapse.”

Great For All

This is a great move for both YouTube and the film’s director as it makes a film which would only have got average audiences in cinemas to a much wider demographic of people.

The Future For YouTube?

With deals such as these coupled with the recently announced Screening Room showing independent films, YouTube is certainly embracing more types of video than it has been known for up to now.

YouTube seem to making great strides in turning away from unprofitable, unmeaning short-form content such as a dog doing tricks and moving towards more long-form content with a point to make.

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The majority of us won’t be in attendance to see Barack Obama and newly announced running mate Joseph Biden set the stage for their run at the White House, but thanks to the power of Web TV, that no longer matters.

Watch The Democratic Convention Online

Last week, NewTeeVee compiled a list of the places to watch the Democratic National Convention on the Internet, and here they are for your perusal.

The Democrats, who seem to be embracing new technologies and the power of the Web much more than the Republicans, are airing the whole Convention at DemConvention.com. And even better, it’s all in glorious high definition.

Less Biased Options

If you’d rather have a less biased look at the action, then the big networks are also getting involved, although how unbiased they really are remains a matter of opinion.

ABCNews.com will be providing live streaming of the Convention, as well as offering up interview with delegates and analysts, and behind the scenes footage.

MSNBC.com will also be offering live streaming, while The Washington Post and Newsweek will be partnering for live coverage at certain times of the day.

Lifecasting Services

UStream are offering live streaming coverage of The Big Tent. This is where journalists and bloggers will be gathering during the Convention, so you can be sure of some explosive interviews and takes on the Democrats politics.

The Huffington Post and public radio station KCRW are each going to be using mobile lifecasting service Kyte to provide liver updates as the Convention progresses.

If you’re a Democrat, or at least interested in what Obama and Biden have to say, then this year sees Web video providing all of the coverage you need. And if you’re a Republican, then you’ll have to wait until their Convention begins in September.

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The NBA is looking to open up its Broadband rights for the coming 2008/2009 season, which begins in late October.

The biggest result of this decision is that games could now be streamed live online locally.

VOD & Streaming

Video streaming would go hand in hand with interactive TV and video on demand coverage, but it’s the one of the three services being launched by the League that would have the biggest impact.

According to Sports Business Journal, the plan would see each team having the right to cut a local deal. So Chicago Bulls fans would be able to watch matches on the Bulls.com website and/or the website of the regional sports networks.

Internet users from outside of the local area would be prevented from watching the matches online by the use of geo-blocking technology.

Paying For Interactive Features

Costing is currently unknown, with each team being able to individually work out whether it wants to show them for free with advertising feeds included or charge for the privilege instead.

Streaming games would include interactive elements such as scores and statistics, and multiple camera angle options. While the video on demand offerings would include replayed games and highlights packages.

These interactive elements are the core reason for the NBA attempting to open up viewing rights as it believes they are key to attracting new fans and keeping younger fans interested for longer periods of time.

Conclusions

Details are currently being hammered out and if this plan were to come to fruition, it would set up an almighty battle between the NBA and the cable and satellite operators who currently enjoy exclusive rights to broadcast games.

The NBA is following in the footsteps of the NFL in embracing the Web. From September, every Sunday Night Football game will be available to watch for free on NBC and other sites.

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Warner Brothers announced in April that it would be bringing back formerly dead The WB Network TV brand. The ad supported video on demand venture would include two sites, TheWB.com and KidsWB.com.

From Beta To Public

TheWB.com then launched in private beta at the beginning of June. At the time, the site was said to be half-finished and containing only a few episodes of a few shows.

Now, two months later and a date has been set for a full public launch. Warner Bros. has until August 27th to iron out all of the original problems as that’s when we’ll all be able to visit the site and make our own minds up.

Old And New TV

The online TV portal is playing host to a number of shows, with a mixture of old classics and new shows from the likes of McG (Sorority Fever) and Gossip Girl producer Josh Schwartz.

Classic shows to be given the repeat treatment include All Of Us, Blue Water High, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dangerous, Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, Smallville, and The OC.

Not Televised?

The site is being billed as “the next great network that won’t be televised.” This is despite the fact that Comcast will be making 1,000 episodes from the Warner Bros. TV library available through its cable video-on-demand service. So it kind of will be televised.

Other deals will see content from TheWB.com appearing on Facebook, Filmcast.com, and AOL. WBTVG issued a statement regarding the launch, which read:

“TheWB.com affirms our new media business strategy to build new brands and programming destinations, create compelling original online content and to distribute that content on all platforms in ways that best serve consumers and advertisers.”

Conclusions

AdWeek reports that Warner Bros. may be using the site as a trial to see if TheWB brand can draw enough of the 18-34 female audience in to warrant a WB cable TV network.

I hope it is a success as it will be another feather in the cap for the worth of networks putting their content on the Web. Unfortunately, as I’m resident in the UK, I won’t be able to enjoy the site – damn those territory licensing agreements.

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From September, fans of American football will be able to watch NFL games live online for free. This is massive news, which signals a significant change of strategy from the National Football League.

The NFL has until now kept a tight rein on the rights to its games, but this move to the Web shows a willingness to move with the times and experiment with Internet streaming.

NBC Streams Live Online

According to the LA Times, NBC will make its television feed of Sunday Night Football, including play by play, and commentary from John Madden, available on multiple websites. Some will be NBC sites, while some will be owned by the league.

Steve Bornstein, chief executive of the NFL Network, called the venture a one year experiment. He refused to discuss financial terms of the deal, but NBC will sell advertising and share the revenue with the NFL. He said:

“We are looking at this as a learning opportunity to see what applications work online. We are trying to be innovative and creative to make the viewing experience better for our fans.”

Excluding The Super Bowl

The online stream will begin with the September 4th game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants. It will then feature every Sunday night game, except for the play-offs and the Super Bowl.

It’ll be interesting to see how this venture does, not only in terms of advertising revenue, but also how it affects the traditional television audience.

Whatever happens, this is another indication that the Web is being seen as a viable alternative for viewers who need catering for. NBC is also streaming its coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics online.

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