Web sites are rapidly preparing for a big day today, as coverage of Michael Jackson's funeral is expected to strain servers. The ceremony is expected to start at 9:30 am PST at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be streamed live online via Hulu. The memorial service will also be broadcast on network and cable television, including CNN, E! Entertainment, MSNBC and ABC.
ABC has finally begun streaming content on Hulu months after it's parent company, Disney, became part of the News Corp, NBCU joint venture. ABC's Grey's Anatomy, one of its most popular programs, was the first to stream on the popular online video site. ABC is set to begin streaming shows like Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty in the near future.
The Department of Justice is reviewing the Apple, AT&T exclusivity deal for the iPhone. While it has yet to become a full fledge investigation, the DoJ is putting increased pressure on similar deals, claiming that exclusivity with larger carriers hurts competition. Under their current deal, the AT&T-Apple iPhone exclusivity agreement ends in 2010.
Netscape Founder Marc Andreesen and business partner Ben Horowitz have started a new VC firm dubbed Andreesen Horowitz. The new firm, which has already raised $300 million in seed capital, will invest in cloud computing, virtualization and consumer electronics, amongst other new tech businesses. The firm plans on investing in roughly 70-80 new software companies, before making larger investments in the future.
NBC's coverage of the Wimbledon finale on Sunday was the fifth highest in Wimbledon men's championship history. The epic battle between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick drew a 4.2/12 overnight rating, which despite, being high, was not able to eclipse last year's Federer/Nadal final in ratings. Wimbledon's highest ratings occurred in 2000, when Pete Sampras won his final championship. Sampras was the last American to win the men's championship.
Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV. Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here. Shelly can be reached at shelly@palmer.net For information about Get Digital Classes, visit www.shellypalmer.com/seminars