December 17, 2008

Subject:  A new goodie in TVUBroadcast v2.5:  the Programs feature

Hello TVU Broadcasters!  

It’s been awhile since we’ve had a posting here on the Partner Relations blog – it’s nice to be back, and thanks in advance for reading on about the new Programs feature in the just-released TVUBroadcast software v2.5. 

Our last post was on the new “Now showing” and “Up next” features in TVUPlayer that allows viewers to see at-a-glance what’s playing now, what’s up next and when the next program will start. 

For file-based channels, the new Programs feature now makes it possible for you to give us program information about each of your files, such as the title, description, actors and year of production.  The info you give us enables two things immediately:

• 1.  The automatic creation of a TV Guide for your channel, and
• 2.  The ability to display the “Now showing” and “Up next” info

A bit further down the line, the same program information you have entered will make your files VOD-ready.  TVU continues to work on our Video-on-Demand (VOD) solution and we look forward to sharing details and dates on this with you soon.

In addition, the detailed information you enter will be useful in the future when we introduce a more detailed TV Guide, and enable Search capabilities.    

So here’s how it’ll all work for you: 

Introduction

• For TVU file-based broadcasters, you will be using TVUBroadcast for broadcasting and as a tool to enter program information. 
• Enter the program information by selecting a file and clicking the new “P” button
• The program name you enter is what will display in the TV Guide
• The other information you enter will be used in the future when we introduce a more detailed TV Guide and new Search capabilities
• Once the program information for a particular file is entered, it is recorded and maintained in the TVU system.  We use a “digital signature” derived from the file content as the key in the program table, so in the future should you decide to rename the file, the program information associated with it will still be there.
• All of your files do not need to have the program information.  The TV Guide will show the titles on the files that have the information, and for those files without the program info, it will display it as “(Unknown)”

Instructions

• 1. Download TVUBroadcast v2.5 from here:  http://pages.tvunetworks.com/downloads/broadcast.html
• 2. Install and run TVUBroadcast v2.5 in Internet Explorer
• 3. Log in and go to the “Source” tab, then select “File List”
• 4. Select your files, and add them to the file list
• 5. Click on the new “P” button to open the new “Program Window”

  

• 6. Input your program information and hit Save. 

  

• 7. It’s that simple!  

October 17, 2008

Subject:  Now Showing on TVUPlayer….

I’d like to call your attention to what we at TVU humbly believe is a very cool new feature in TVUPlayer. 

In the new TVUPlayer v2.4.x released last Friday, for those Broadcasters that have a TV Guide with us, we now have the capability of displaying programming info of “Now Showing” and “Up Next (xx Mins.)”

The “Now Showing” and “Up Next” info displays in the blue Channel Info area directly above the player window, and displays both when the channel is playing and when the viewer mouses-over the channel name in the Channel Line-up. 

For the best example of this today, check out Blue Highways TV, Channel 640. 

So for those of you who have schedules and TV Guides but don’t have them on TVU, please be sure to get them into us at tvguide@tvunetworks.com.    

For those of you without formal TV Guides, just send in your Channel number, the Date (in GMT), Program Start time (in GMT) and Program name.

Alternatively, if you have a schedule posted on your website, you can direct us to that page as well, and our Ops team will ensure your most current guide is loaded onto TVU. 

What’s showing now?  What’s up next?  Check it all out on TVU. 

March 4, 2008

Subject:  Make sure you don't miss the Federer vs. Sampras tennis match LIVE on TVU, March 10, 2008

Hopefully you all have watched the great sports programming on StarGamesTV, channel 212 on TVU.  Your fellow TVU Broadcaster StarGames, is producing the "NetJets Showdown" tennis exhibition, a match between all-time Grand Slam champion and International Tennis Hall of Famer Peter Sampras, and young Swiss sensation Roger Federer, ranked #1 in the world by ATP – and TVU has been granted the exclusive broadband distribution rights for this historic match. 

The "NetJets Showdown", produced by StarGames in association with The Marquis Jet Card and Men's Vogue magazine, will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 10, 2008 – and we'll be carrying it live, right here, on TVU Channel 1, starting at 8PM Eastern.   

Dubbed "A Battle for Tennis History", the NetJets Showdown will mark the first time in 8 years that tennis has been played at Madison Square Garden, a venue known as "the world's most famous arena".  This historic match will mark the mere 4th meeting between these renowned players, and their very 1st meeting in the U.S. 

Simulcast on the Tennis Channel and Fox Sports Net New York, the broadcast of this clash of the tennis titans will be available live, free, and on a global basis on TVU Channel 1, and should you miss the live event, make sure and catch it on our re-broadcast for a seven day period following the match. 

February 14, 2008

Subject: TVUBroadcast v2.0 is here!

TVUBroadcast v2.0 is built on the feedback of hundreds of professional and amateur broadcasters who have delivered live Internet TV programming to over 12 million unique viewers worldwide. 

TVUBroadcast v2.0

• allows for a very quick and easy set-up of a new channel in 3 easy steps, and
• enables the configuring and management of channels to a high level of detail.

Here are some of the new features and benefits:

• Built-in Encoder
• Simplifies your process
• No more need to run separate encoding and broadcasting applications
• Just tell us what your video and audio sources are, and TVUBroadcaster will both auto-encode and broadcast

• File List specification
• For enhanced file management
• Now you can specify an entire list of files
• The transition between files is improved
• And for on-the-fly, real-time file management, you can modify your file list in the middle of your broadcast

• Real-time monitoring of Viewers on your Channel
• For  improved information access
• Viewer information previously available in the reports section only, is now available right on TVUBroadcast itself

• Ad Insertions for file-based broadcasting*
• For stepped-up monetization capabilities
• Cue tone insertions between files
  
  * You must be a signed TVU Broadcast Partner to monetize your content via ad insertions. Click here for more information on how to start making money on TVU today.

• Web-based, improved User Interface
• Easier to use and intuitive navigation

Screenshot 1

Screenshot 2

These principal features and more, allow you to quickly launch and manage your live Internet TV channel. 

Once you create an account and download TVUBroadcast v2.0 – you can go live with your new channel in 3 easy steps:

1. Sign in
2. Select your video source, and
3. Press go - and your channel is broadcasting live.

• Download TVUBroadcast v2.0 here.

• View TVUBroadcast v2.0 Release Notes here.

• View TVUBroadcast v2.0 User Manual here.

January 18, 2008

Subject: TVUPlayer v2.3.5 Features and Instructions

Dear TVU Broadcast Partner,

We're very excited to share with you news on the release of the latest version of TVUPlayer, version 2.3.5. 

The new features of this release are designed for and targeted expressly to the Broadcast Partner. 

The new features are:

•       Broadcaster Blog
•       Email communication to/from you and your Viewers
•       Display and link to your URL

These features will be available on both the TVUPlayer application and on the Channels page at www.tvunetworks.com, and will be housed to the right of the video window in a new "Broadcaster" tab. 

We believe these features will benefit you immediately by

•       Increasing your ability to promote your channel and
•       Creating enhanced communication opportunities with your viewers.

Here are the details on the new features of TVUPlayer v2.3.5.  We hope you'll be as excited as we are on these features, and that you agree this release is "all about you". 

Sincere regards,
Mika Saitoh
VP Partner Relations

Broadcaster Blog

The Broadcaster Blog is a section dedicated to you, that you control.  Talk about your channel, promote your upcoming shows, share news with your viewers, message out branding slogans. 

The Broadcaster Blog is easily accessed through your log-in to TVU, as follows:

Start at Broadcaster Resources:  http://pages.tvunetworks.com/broadcasters/
Click "Change Channel Profile"
Click "Channel Blog"
Click "Add Blog"
Input your message
Click "Submit"

Your viewers now have the ability to send you emails.

2.     The email address to which Viewer emails will go to is your TVU account email.  If this is not the address to which you wish to have Viewer emails go to, please contact TVU Partner Relations at mika@tvunetworks.com with the correct email address.

3.      Viewers will not see your email address when writing to you.  The viewer also needs to check the box to include his/her email address to receive a reply from you.

When you receive an email from a Viewer, do not push the reply button as your message will go to an unmonitored TVU address.  Instead, write the viewer back directly to the email address provided. 

Your email communications to/from the Viewers are private and will not be posted on TVU.

Display and link to your URL

TVU Partner Relations will set up the display and link to your URL.   Contact Mika Saitoh at mika@tvunetworks.com with any requests to display a URL different from your channel or corporate site.

Download TVUPlayer v2.3.5 here.

Read TVUPlayer v2.3.5 Release Notes here.