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Networks turn to web for previews

Seven, Nine and TEN are now offering online media hubs to journos to promote their product and save on costs.

After years of seeing the internet as a threat to their business, networks are now embracing its powers to help promote their product and save on costs.

Commercial networks are now offering online hubs for media to view previews of their content instead of the old method of posting DVD previews.

Seven was first cab off the rank with a fully-functioning “Screening Room” earlier this year. It allows journalists to log in and watch streaming episodes on their computers, instead of couriering DVDs. It features click-and-play eps of Packed to the Rafters, Bones, Desperate Housewives and more. They also include episode synopses, a complete network schedule and promo photos.

Last week Nine launched its own “Access” website with episodes of Tricky Business, The Block, The Mentalist and more. It also offers Press Releases, schedules, photos and talent bios.

Yesterday TEN invited media to register for its online media hub with episodes, press kits, images, episodic synopses, highlights, and ratings info.

Offering log-in platforms means journos can access materials with the click of a button instead of having to contact Publicity departments and wait for materials to be sent. They save on costs and labour.

But the old method does have a few advantages.

The quality of a DVD outstrips a streaming video every time. There’s nothing like watching a crystal clear Downton Abbey DVD on a big plasma instead of a patchy version on your computer that is subject to the speed of servers. The new platforms mean many journos will need to bump up their monthly download limits. And I love to multitask, watching an episode of Amazing Race while I’m happily working away on my laptop. These new-fangled platforms require me to stop work in order to watch every single episode, so it’s taxing on my time…

Aside from these issues these media hubs are the way of the future (and the headache of storage space for DVDs vanishes too).

ABC, SBS and Foxtel have offered online FTP sites for photos for years (something the commercials have foolishly ignored) but are yet to fully join the media hub race with previews. ABC has included a Preview Player for a long time, with select episodes being added for shows with a short turnaround from shooting to screening, such as The Gruen Transfer. Until now ABC Innovation has led the field here.

But now commercial networks have lifted their game, it’s a win for everyone.

Why didn’t they think of it earlier?

18 Responses

  1. Thanks to everybody’s suggestions I can report I have successfully managed an “extended desktop” set-up with my TV and can multitask at last. Surprised it was so easy! Very happy now I can watch and work at the same time. The other method was so sluggish…

  2. David, I used to be in IT Procurement, and bought these as a cheap and easy solution for dual monitors. computercables.com.au/res/infos/CB-USB2-92.htm

  3. If it’s a Windows laptop and less than 3 years old you should be able to right-click on the desktop background and select Graphics Options. There you can choose which screen is the primary, whether to span or clone the primary, their relative positions, and their individual resolution.

    Failing that, you can purchase a Dynadock port replicator which will give you the same functionality via a separate little box at the cost of some of your mobility.

  4. At the moment I’m watching a web catch-up of Masterchef on one screen (fullscreen on a TV), and typing this and reading your blog on the other screen. As other people have said, this is by adding a second monitor (in this case a TV) to my laptop using the external output. Should be doable.

  5. If you have a PC laptop with a TV-out port, you should be able to span your desktop across the two screens. Use the laptop as your primary for writing, etc, and drag your browser to the TV for streaming. I’d be surprised if you couldn’t also do it with a Macbook but Apple do sometimes make some odd decisions on your behalf such as no USB or Flash on the iPad.

  6. I sort of meant a secondary monitor connected to the laptop. If your graphic card supports multiple displays – you can stream video to the secondary display while you type on your primary (laptop screen)

    Re the Ipad. – Great! – but I keep wishing for a delete key as well as the backspace.

  7. I get what you mean David, which is why I prefer to put something on the PVR rather than use online catch up services. Better quality picture, no buffering, and you can fast forward through boring bits too.

    1. Yep, use an iPad too. It’s ok for emails and comment moderation, but doesn’t beat the laptop for serious writing etc. Problem is, the laptop gets connected to the big screen TV to view the previews, so it really slows down my multitasking ability. I wish I could stream from my laptop and still work on its screen but yet to find a solution. Once the networks are all streaming videos it’s gonna be hell. But I get why they are doing it.

  8. David, do you mean to say that no network in Australia has distributed press kit and screeners online until *now*? (or even still not screeners, just low quality previews)

    So that’s like 10 years behind the US networks. I’m actually kind of gobsmacked.

  9. @ jonno

    Channel Nine does have a Facebook page as well as GEM and GO! I look at the GO! one quite often in the seeming vain hope they will announce when Fringe will air. I don’t really look at the others.

  10. A tad off subject but still internet related. I have noticed that TEN is the only network to have an operating Facebook page. Yes, some of the comments are not whatTEN want to hear but at least they have one. I am wondering why Seven and Nine don’t have the guts to do the same.

  11. So they have finally realized it’s the 21st century?

    Like you said previews and such have been online for others for years, why do they think torrent sites took off so well. I do agree streaming services can’t match a DVD right now, maybe they should offer if so users can DL the clip which self deletes or stops working after a set time?

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