Gigantic investment in Go90. What do they know?

Go90 has been on the radar for a long time. Watch for big investments in mobile video --- these will eventually pay off

Pouring money like this into mobile video only makes sense if you know that something out there is going to change the landscape of mobile video. 

They probably could have done this more efficiently -- and clearly they are, but when you're trying to get big pieces of a puzzle to work together, you just do what you can when you can do it. If you're Verizon, you can afford to. 

*****

Verizon spent $200 million last year on programming for its millennial-focused video service go90, according to a former member of the go90 team with knowledge of the matter.

Multiple other former go90 employees confirmed that this number sounded accurate, based on their knowledge. Verizon declined to comment on the figure. That figure doesn't include the $80 million marketing push reported by The New York Post.

Go90, which was conceived as an ad-supported cross between YouTube and Netflix that would broadly appeal to young people, has struggled since its debut in October 2015.

In preparation for go90’s debut, Verizon made big content deals with little oversight, often for slates of shows over multiple years, according to multiple go90 insiders interviewed by Business Insider. The initial wave of content, however, didn’t get the type of massive audience go90 was hoping for.

Since that time, the hiring of a trio of execs with deep experience in online video has brought more discipline to the go90 process. Go90 is more narrowly targeting audience segments based on what has worked in the last year and half, go90 GM Chip Canter told Business Insider in a recent interview. That includes live sports; sci-fi and gaming; music; and dramas primarily focused on young women.

But still, at 2.1 million monthly active users in the US in February — according to the app-analytics firm App Annie — go90 hasn’t gotten the user numbers that would make its ad-supported model a big moneymaker for Verizon.

One piece that has hampered go90 since launch has been the tech platform. Put simply: It’s been really hard to navigate the go90 app and discover new videos beyond the ones prominently featured.

Mobile carriers getting more into Media

These telecom companies are figuring out how to deliver media and advertising through mobile phones. They don't charge for data when you're viewing the media they distribute.

Advertisers will pay more for advertising that multiple people see at once than they will for one head bent over the screen of a smart phone.

So, when you present a short funny cat video to your four friends and you're all laughing together -- they pay more, more fun is had, more message is out.

I do not think it's an accident that they are working on this kind of media before PicoP is widely available.

Wall Street Journal ( Much more at the source)

The show, which plays online and on Verizon’s smartphone video app, is part of a more than $10 billion gamble by Verizon to build a digital-media business to compete with Facebook and Google for advertising dollars.

*

It is a radical move for a corporate giant long treated by investors as a utility with a safe dividend, and is a strategy that has previously stymied other players, including Yahoo itself. Even if it succeeds, it may have little impact “on the battleship that is Verizon,” said Craig Moffett, an analyst at MoffettNathanson.

Verizon isn’t alone among telecom carriers in trying to figure out a different form for the future. AT&T Inc. also had sought Yahoo, and last year AT&T spent $49 billion to acquire DirecTV and become the largest U.S. provider of pay television.

Mr. McAdam said the core of Verizon’s business will always be its wireless network and he isn’t expecting quick returns from the media investments, which are about 5% of capital spending. “It’s not a bet-the-company kind of play,” he said.

The executive has a history of making unorthodox moves. When he ran Verizon’s wireless unit, he joined with Google to develop what became the Android operating system for smartphones. That paid off, helping counter AT&T’s then-exclusive deal for the iPhone.

Last year, Mr. Piligian, whose Pilgrim Studios is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., and other producers figured they could revive the idea by using mobile technology to enable the chase and get viewers involved.

AR Future uses and current craziness

There are two very interesting things going on here that an Investor in Microvision needs to pay attention to.

The first is that the next mountain that Microvision is already starting to climb has captured the imagination and a lot of people are thinking about the ways that it can enhance our lives -- and the ways it can. 

The second is that something that only a very few people were even aware of a month ago is now an enormously popular topic -- a game went from zero to hundreds of millions of players in just a few weeks.

This is the kind of reaction that PicoP will get in the public - Don't doubt this. When people can use their mobile device to get a 1 foot screen in daylight and a six foot screen in the dark? You will see this kind of reaction to it.

Go90, Binge on & other media developments at wireless companies are being created for a reason. AOL was sold for media advertising. 

There is also a reason for the NDAs -- because this kind of attention would happen before the companies that want to implement it are ready for it.

Art in New Places

AR could change resorts for the better

Pokemon Go is obviously a fad, not a long-term marketing strategy. But the game’s success at combining virtual quests, an interactive setting, and social interactions could change the future of resort vacations. How? By creating a scalable, personalized recipe for adventure.

Enhance Education

Too much of our education system is structured like virtual reality. We create an artificial world where subjects like history, science, and physical education are separated into distinct, and unreal, classes without reference to each other.

This approach has a name, at least in the computer gaming world: Augmented Reality, or AR. In AR, extra information is digitally overlaid onto the real world to enhance the experience either for information or entertainment purposes. If you have ever been to a museum and listened to a “virtual tour” on a headset while you look at the very real exhibit or pieces in front of you, then you have experienced AR. That these tours are misnamed “virtual” demonstrates the somewhat confusing, but important, distinction between “Augmented Reality” and “Virtual Reality” (VR). In a nutshell, VR creates an entirely made up world that can be as divorced from reality and its rules (like gravity) as the designer wants, while AR takes what is real and enhances or overlays information to get more out of exploring our world.

Binge-on vs Go90

Why are these mobile companies competing so hard for consumers of video? 

Android Authority

Today T-Mobile’s controversial CEO John Legere took his video blog to announce that T-Mobile has added 16 new partners to their streaming service Binge On. For those not in the know, Binge On is a program that allows users to stream music and video content over their LTE network connection without that data use contributing toward their monthly allotment. 

The addition of these new partners pushes the number of video services available for Binge On over the 100 mark. T-Mobile claims that this service has “sent shockwaves through the mobile industry” by enabling consumers to stream unprecedented amounts of content without concern for data overages.

Marni Walden Behind Verizon's Acquisition of Yahoo

More content focus by telecom companies -- short video clips, and entertainment that doesn't count against your data cap. 

Why?


ReCode  (More at the source)

These days, though, Walden is in charge of new business opportunities for Verizon. Some of those are things that involve the cellular business, such as connected cars, but much of Walden’s work has been in areas new to both her and Verizon.

“People are surprised about Verizon getting into the content space,” Walden told Recode last year. “I think that’s really important to bring eyeballs and audience. Our media business will play a much more significant role in the Verizon of the future.”

It hasn’t all been easy going for Verizon, particularly its efforts in video programming. The company launched a mobile video service known as Go90 last year, but it remains a relative nonentity.

Rather than boasting well-known shows, big sports deals or original programming, Go90 has relied on short clips it hopes will appeal to the YouTube generation. In that vein, Verizon recently hired former YouTube executive Ivana Kirkbride to be Go90’s chief content officer.

Probably the biggest thing going for Go90 is that it can undercut rivals on price. Not only is there no price for subscribing, but for Verizon Wireless customers, using the service doesn’t even count against their data cap.

Streaming Content

Go90 Explanation

Verizon CFO Fran Shammo wasn't keen to talk in depth about the telco's reported $3 billion bid for struggling Internet company Yahoo at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2016 Telecom & Media Conference. He did however draw a line between Yahoo and Verizon's own Go90 video service.

"Obviously we've gone on a strategic roadmap here around mobile-first activity. We purchased AOL for the ad-tech platform. AOL has brought a lot of viewership to the platform, and you're going to see us over this next three to six months start to cross-pollinate our products utilizing the Verizon Digital Media Services platform. And when I say cross-pollinate, I mean the Go90 assets more integrated with the AOL assets so that we can broaden the viewership. And then really when you get down to it, viewership matters because viewership drives advertising dollars which drives the top line revenue."

HOOPLA

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From Hollywood blockbusters to best selling artists and authors – not just the hits, but the niche and hard-to-find as well – you’ll soon discover that hoopla provides you the freedom you've been searching for to experience, explore and enjoy what you want, when you want, and where you want.

Simple to access and use, without the hassle of having to return the items you’ve borrowed, all you need is your library card, a web browser, smart phone or tablet to get started. The freedom you want is here, now. Sign up today! "

HOOPLA Available at library

Start downloading movies and tv shows, music and audiobooks.

Check out up to 10 items per month. Loan periods are:

• 3 days for movies and TV shows
• 7 days for music
• 21 days for audiobooks

Overview Instructions

Register for an account by visiting hoopladigital.com or using the hoopla app on your iOS or Android mobile device and clicking on Sign Up. You will need to provide an email address, create a password, and have your library card information (card number and pin). The free mobile app can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Easily browse titles on your computer or mobile device by clicking Browse and choosing Music, Movies, or Television tab. You can search for specific titles by clicking in the Search box and typing in your title or keyword.

To borrow a title, click on its icon and then click the Borrow button. The borrowed titles can be found under the My Titles tab for viewing/listening. Enjoy!

Borrowed titles will be automatically returned when your lending period is over.

If you need additional help visit hoopladigital.com/support

Free Video on T-Mobile

The Ecosystem for PicoP adoption continues to improve. This is great news. John Legere also expressed great enthusiasm for RoBoHon on Twitter. Mobile and video are together, and PicoP powered devices will be there.

Geekwire

From Yahoo News

T-Mobile (TMUS) announced a new program on Tuesday to allow customers to watch many popular online video services on their phones without counting against their monthly data allowances.

The new "Binge On" service, which will include HBO, Hulu, Netflix (NFLX) and ESPN among others, will show video in slightly lower quality, comparable to a DVD, not a high-definition TV picture, T-Mobile CEO John Legere said at an event in Los Angeles. The Binge On service starts Nov. 15 for new customers and Nov. 19 for all existing customers on monthly Simple Choice plans who pay for at least 3 GB of data per month, T-Mobile said.

Legere said the service will start with 24 partners but more will be added over time. Asked if a pornographic service could be added, Legere said: "yes, of course," adding that any legal video stream could be included eventually.

The lower quality picture could be a risk for T-Mobile, since the newest smartphones are capable of displaying higher resolution video, Jan Dawson, chief analyst at Jackdaw Research noted. But, the headline of "free video" will be "hugely appealing for customers," he said.

T-Mobile executives insisted that the differences in video quality were indiscernable on a phone. Much online video is streamed at high resolutions dubbed 1080P,  which offers 1,080 horizontal lines of pixels per screen, and 720P, which offers 720 lines, to look good on big screen TV sets. T-Mobile's service will drop down to 480P, or 480 lines of pixels.

However, the Binge On service will automatically default to the normal, higher resolutions if a user shifts their phone onto wifi from the mobile network. And customers can use a T-Mobile app to turn off the service to watch higher resolution video, if they so desire, which would then incur data usage. The lower quality 480P picture reduces the amount of data needed to transmit video by about two-thirds from a 1080P picture, Grant Castle, T-Mobile's vice president of engineering, said in an interview.

Mobile video services to launch & Google Chromecast

We're very close to a world-wide launch of a big-screen that fits in your pocket.

Everyone likes mobile. Everyone likes big screens.

Is it a coincidence that two major mobile companies in the US launch or re-launch their mobile content services? Services that they've set up at enormous expense?

I don't think so.

C|Net Go90 on Thursday 

"Go90, a free ad-based service that will play a selection of short and long videos, will be available in the app stores for both Apple devices and those running on Google's Android software."

Go90 Original Content
Verizon invested 5 Billion in Mobile Video

Watchable at ReCode

"The fact that you can watch Watchable without being a Comcast subscriber is worth noting, since many people believe Comcast will end up trying to make real money outside its “footprint” of areas where it sells Internet and TV access."

This article isn't very positive, but it's because apparently because the the fact that there is so much competition in the space, and that Watchable is replacing a different streaming service. (thanks Bill.)

Watchable

This is additionally interesting because of Comcast's WiFi sharing program. 


.... And Google's NEW Chromecast -- which scans all of your streaming services to help you find the content you want to watch. (I'm looking for details, but I'm assuming this is an HDMI connector that will be able to fit an MPCL1.)

Google's new Chromecast

Portability is Priceless

Go90 $80 Million Dollar Marketing Blitz

If there are people who don't know about streaming TV, they'll know soon. 

I'm still interested that MCPL1 and Go90 are being released so closely together - are Verizon and SONY aware of what the other is doing? Are they working together? If that's the case, this is going to be huge for MicroVision.

If they're being forced to advertise because competition is stiff -- all the better.

Check the full article at the source.

From New York Post

"Verizon, surrounded by a feisty group of rivals, will look to further stand out from the crowd this week when it debuts go90, a mobile video service that, sources tell The Post, will be backed by a powerful $80 million marketing blitz."

Go90 Original content

From TechTimes

Check it out at the source! Ad-supported content specifically for mobile devices.

Series Titles

• Cold
• Mr Student Body President
• The Fourth Door
• Do Over
• Miss Earth

Go90 will partner up with other big names, such as ESPN, Scripps Networks Interactive, AwesomenessTV, Vice Media Viacom and Discovery Communications. Three original lifestyle programs will be launched by Endemol Beyond USA's lifestyle network, ICON. Verizon plans to feature primetime TV shows, live broadcasting and original content. Around 5 million clients from the millennial audience are beta testing and providing feedback on the Go90 to make the launch as flawless as possible.

One way for Verizon to monetize Go90 is to sell targeted ads on the platform. The company also expects a surge in data traffic, as it aims to create a vibrant "social entertainment platform." Users can discover shows by following peers with the same preferences, and, in a more engaging feature, they will be able to clip and share segments of a show.

Verizon - $5 BILLION Invested in Streaming Video

From Nasdaq

Maybe they know something about PicoP and its utility with mobile devices and the trend towards mobile from fixed.

This service will be free to users and supported by advertising.

Whatever you may think of PicoP -- it will be greeted on arrival with a primed and ready ecosystem for its adoption.

Have SONY and Verizon been coordinating their efforts? The timing couldn't be better if they planned it that way.

Five Billion invested, with the biggest cellular network -- and they're worried about the competition.

Verizon is preparing to launch its free, ad-supported streaming video service called Go90 later this month. Adoption of the new application will be closely watched by investors, given that the company has dedicated considerable resources to building its streaming video and mobile advertising capabilities, via a series of acquisitions over the last two years at a cost of roughly $5 billion. There is a larger trend to watch here as well; the service should provide an indicator as to how combining an ad platform with a wireless carrier pans out. Below we discuss Verizon's growing interest in mobile content and advertising and the prospects of the new streaming application.

Advertising spending is moving away from traditional media such as newspapers and TV, onto the Internet and mobile devices. Total digital ad spending is expected to increase 15% to $58.6 billion in 2015, according to research firm eMarketer, and mobile ad spending is expected to rise 50% to $28.7 billion.

Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/will-verizons-streaming-video-service-catch-on-cm522614#ixzz3mZ8msQ4V

Ecosystem on Steroids Verizon 5G

C|Net Verizon 5G

The nation's largest wireless carrier will begin field trials on so-called fifth-generation, or 5G, technology within the next 12 months, Roger Gurnani, chief information and technology architect for Verizon, said in an interview last week. He expects "some level of commercial deployment" to begin by 2017. That's far earlier than the time frame of 2020 that many in the industry have pegged for the initial adoption of 5G technology.

So, what would that mean for PicoP?

How fast is 5G? Verizon's tests have shown a connection speed that is 30 to 50 times faster than our current 4G network, or higher speeds than what Google Fiber offers through a direct physical connection into the home, Gurnani said.

With 5G, that copy of the movie "The Guardians of the Galaxy" would zip to your device in 15 seconds instead of 6 minutes via 4G.

Combine this with Go90. MicroVision WINS.

Verizon "No cord Required" Go90

The ecosystem for PicoP is improving. For a long time now, we've been watching content offerings improve for mobile devices.

That there are some details that were released too soon is interesting. Also, the AOL acquisition is for advertising.  -- and that the AOL addition helps them advertise with online content -- which could allow free or very inexpensive video entertainment through cell networks.

Traditional TV is what you build your living room around. When PicoP is widespread, it will change our indoor landscapes. Not everyone will abandon the television, but a lot of people will. (I expect it will be like the change in computers when tablets became widespread -- there are a lot of PCs, but not nearly as many as their used to be.

Inquisitr

"Some exclusive content will reportedly be available to Go90 users, similar to Netflix Originals. By offering exclusive content to its users, Verizon hopes that it can attract more cellphone customers.

Verizon has recently been working with several partners like Viacom, ESPN, DreamWorks, and others. The companies Verizon has been working with lately will most likely provide some content for Verizon’s new service."

Verizon’s Go90 service will launch by the end of summer, according to reports.

From MediaPost

While Verizon had spoken publicly about a pending video offering, a mistakenly posted pre-launch beta test site (now inaccessible) leaked details of Go90. Variety reports that the site describes the service as “live music, exclusive events, best of web content, sports, prime time and more.” Partners previously declared and listed on the now-missing site include Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, DreamWorks, Vice, ESPN, CBS Sports, Scripps and AwesomenessTV

In an interesting characterization of old media, the site calls traditional TV “an appliance you rearrange your living room around.” Go90 will be designed from the ground up as a mobile-first experience: “no cord required.” The service will include the ability to share clips from longer-form video, which the app dubs “Moments.”