Never enough time…

• Eirik Solheim ponders the future of TV distribution. (eirikso)
• Constantine to be first HD-DVD with In-Movie Experience features. (HD Beat)
• Digital content goes outside the box. (Mercury News)
• Brightcove to add media formats. (Brightcove)
• TV advertising’s DVR challenge. (CNET)

Check out this over-the-top convergence of technologies! Jim Courtney monitors PGA.com live stats while watching the action from his Slingbox and discussing it with fellow fanatics via Skype.

Never enough time…

• Download your TV; the current options. (TechCrunch)
• ABC.com users watch more than two million streams. (PVRBlog)
• TV networks blissfully ignore TiVo problem. (CNN Money)
• Windows Vista requires analog tuner. (jkOnTheRun)
• Paramount embraces blogosphere. (Technorati)

Enrollment and distribution has begun for folks interested in receiving a weekly CNET tech news segment, as announced last month. The service is being offered to both Cox cable customers, and in this case, broadband-enabled TiVo units. CNET had also announced their intention to include advertising, partnering with Best Buy as a charter sponsor. The inaugural 15 minute episode took slightly over an hour to trickle down and contains E3 footage from the floor… without any Best Buy references.

I find this only mildly interesting (where’s my VOD?), but I took Thomas Hawk’s advice and bought a tripod — so consider this a photographic test.

Never enough time…

• TiVo VP podcast: DVR meets broadband. (iMedia)
• NBC Nightly News rebroadcast on web. (MSNBC)
• Windows Media Player 11 Beta released. (Microsoft)
• How TiVo is cashing in on the interactive age. (Thomas Hawk)
• Samsung intros plasmas with built-in DVR. (HD Beat)
• Elgato EyeTV software updated. (MacNN)

Never enough time…

• Time Warner Cable to test “Start Over” service in Greensboro. (News Record)
• Discovery Channel content arrives on iTunes. (Apple Insider)
• Movielink and CinemaNow suck. (Thomas Hawk)
• Pioneer Inno XM2GO video review. (PC Mag)
• Netflix adds Blu-ray option. (Hacking Netflix)

As I originally reported, TiVo and Blockbuster has had a partnership in the works. TiVo inadvertently revealed the deal first, and Blockbuster just returned the favor… They’ve prematurely published the TiVo Blockbuster promotion web page. Oops! Additionally, TiVo.com has launched their page and reactivated the Blockbuster bundle shopping cart links (here, here, and here).

This doesn’t appear to be anything more than a cross marketing arrangement. In fact, individuals can cancel the Blockbuster movie rental portion of the subscription and drop down to a TiVo-only $19.95/mo service. I expect we’ll see a formal press release in the next day or so.

For a limited time, sign up to receive a 1 (one) year TiVo® Package Subscription (including an 80 hour TiVo Series2™ DVR) and a 1 (one) year subscription to BLOCKBUSTER Online, with up to 3 movies out at a time. Offer valid for new BLOCKBUSTER Online customers only; limit one offer per household. You must have internet access and provide a valid e-mail address and a valid credit card, check card, or checking account to participate in the TiVo-BLOCKBUSTER Combined Subscription. A minimum 1-year TiVo-BLOCKBUSTER Combined Subscription commitment is required. If during the 12 month term of your TiVo-BLOCKBUSTER Combined Subscription, you cancel your BLOCKBUSTER Online subscription portion of the TiVo-BLOCKBUSTER Combined Sbuscription, you will automatically revert to the $19.95 per month one-year TiVo Package Subscription. If you cancel your BLOCKBUSTER Online membership, BLOCKBUSTER Online rentals must be returned no later than ten (10) days past your cancellation date to avoid additional charges. Membership in the BLOCKBUSTER Online subscription service is subject to the Terms of the BLOCKBUSTER Online service.

While you are a subscriber, you will receive four free rental coupons each month delivered to your email address. Each coupon is good for a free movie rental at any participating BLOCKBUSTER® store location in the U.S. These coupons are only valid in-store and are not redeemable online. Separate in-store membership required. In-store membership rules apply to in-store rentals.

MovieBeam, originally priced at $249 plus $30 activation, dropped to $199 without an activation fee about a month into sales. As I wrote, that price still struck me as barrier to entry given the per-movie rental fees. Well, how does 49 bucks sound? MovieBeam’s online media account manager sent me a note to spread the word about a blog & forum special — just enter code PR49B at checkout to get this deeply discounted rate! At $49 a pop I can see them selling enough units to reach a critical mass, perhaps allowing them to recoup infrastructure investments and hardware costs through movie rentals.

Before pulling the trigger, you might want to review this… “Please confirm that you have a land-line phone before you purchase the MovieBeam Player. Sorry, the MovieBeam Player cannot connect to mobile or Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phones at this time.” Ben over at HD Beat did get the unit working on Vonage, but your mileage may vary. Also be aware MB is not available in all areas (remember, local stations “beam” the movies), but their online address widget will quickly let you know if you qualify.

I’m in!