Satellite TV News

Livestream is launching an innovative new platform, http://new.livestream.com. It was announced by Max Haot, CEO of Livestream. This new service furthers the company’s mission to help event owners extend the coverage of their physical events to viewers online and on mobile devices.

The New Livestream (http://new.livestream.com) will allow users to combine streaming coverage with real-time photos, text, and video clip updates, letting fans feel completely immersed in live events, like never before. All of this will be seamlessly integrated with the industry’s best HD live streaming technology (powered by Akamai HDNet).

The New Livestream player features adaptive quality selection based on the viewer’s connection speed and computer power — all the way to 720p HD. The player also includes DVR functionality that will guarantee a moment is never missed.

“With this new platform, the New Livestream is really redefining live event coverage,” Mr. Haot said. “We are confident that the new innovations — streaming coverage combined with real-time photos, text, and video clip updates, will benefit viewers and make it easier for event owners to identify the New Livestream as the only choice for their live programs.”

Livestream has built a full social network of live video and chat, allowing viewers to follow channels and receive notifications when new content is available. Every user also gets a personalized dashboard mixing all the content from the channels they follow. Users can discover New Livestream channels through following friends and influencers.

New Livestream’s first content partner is the Volvo Ocean Race, the world’s premier off-shore sailing race and one of the most demanding sporting events in the world. This race challenges crews to sail over 39,000 nautical miles of the world’s most treacherous seas ending in July 2012 in Galway, Ireland.

Beginning on Saturday, October 29th, 2011 in Alicante, Spain (8h00 local-time, 2:00am EST), with high definition live coverage of all starts and in-port races, the New Livestream service will allow sailing fans worldwide to experience coverage of this race, in real-time, for the first time ever.

“The New Livestream is the only platform that allows us to share the full story of the Volvo Ocean Race with sailing fans, in real-time. That’s why we are so excited to be partnering with them,” Knut Frostad, CEO of Volvo Ocean Race said. “Telling the Volvo Ocean Race story requires not only live streaming but also the way to connect the audience with other points of view in real-time including photos, videos, audio and text updates received by satellite, while they are at sea.”

Live text and photo updates from the Iberdrola In-Port Race in Alicante, Spain will start early morning of October 29 — engaging the audience with the event in real-time, before the live video feed is available. In addition, viewers will receive by-the-minute text updates from the Volvo Ocean Race editorial team.

When the fleet sets sail for the Leg Start to Cape Town on November 5, New Livestream will take the viewer out to sea with raw access to photos, text, video, and audio clips sent by the six racing yachts through satellite directly to fans on http://new.livestream.com/volvooceanrace. All of this is seamlessly integrated with the industry’s best HD live streaming technology.

The service launching today is available as an open beta for any viewer wishing to follow the events of our launch content partners at http://new.livestream.com. The creation of new channels is restricted to approved partners (the first one being the Volvo Ocean Race). In December 2011, Livestream will unveil the web and mobile producer tools and invite selected event owners and existing Livestream customers to create their own channel on the platform. Livestream is planning to open the platform to any event owner wishing to create Free channels (ad-supported) or Premium channels (paid service) by April 2012.

T.J. Miller brings his live-wire delivery, irreverent characters and ridiculous notions to his first-ever COMEDY CENTRAL original one-hour stand-up special, “T.J. Miller: No Real Reason” debuting on Saturday, November 12 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Named one of Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch” and one of Entertainment Weekly’s “Next Big Things in Comedy,” Miller continues to ascend the comedy ladder with an exciting performance in his first-ever one hour stand-up special.  Taped in front of a raucous audience at the Boulder Theater in his home state of Colorado, Miller shares his tenacious escapades at the DMV and explains why he always requires a bad turkey sandwich and a pinata at every show.  Miller’s hilarious and bizarre original characters, outlandish physical comedy and self-deprecating humor make this a breakout performance not to miss.

On Tuesday, November 15, “T.J. Miller: No Real Reason” will be released in the U.S. on DVD by COMEDY CENTRAL Home Entertainment.  The uncensored and extended DVD includes bonus features and over 20 minutes of content not seen on COMEDY CENTRAL.  Outtakes include “Paul’s T.V. (A Work in Progress),” “Drug Mime” and “Griffin: Not What You Expected.”  Two short films, “The Building Blocks of a Great Day” and “The Stoop” are also included.

“T.J. Miller: No Real Reason” is executive produced by Miller, Dave Becky, David Miner and Michelle Caputo, produced by Arts & Industry and directed by Shannon Hartman.  Jonas Larsen and Toni Magon are the executives in charge of production for COMEDY CENTRAL.

Miller is becoming one of the most sought after young comedians and actors in the comedy world.  He is known to many from big screen hits including “She’s Out Of My League,” “Cloverfield” and “Our Idiot Brother,” as well as being a COMEDY CENTRAL favorite (“The Benson Interruption,” “Hot List,” “Live At Gotham” and “Mash Up”).  Miller’s other film credits include the upcoming comedy “Seeking A Friend For the End of The World” starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, “Yogi Bear,” “Gulliver’s Travels,” “Unstoppable,” “Extract,” “How To Train Your Dragon” and “Get Him To The Greek.”

Miller is currently touring the country performing his critically acclaimed and uncritically defamed stand-up act.  In September, COMEDY CENTRAL Records released his comedy oriented pop/hip-hop music album titled “The Extended Play EP.”

Splat Interactive has announced the availability of the U-verse enabled TV Foundry app for iPhone. The TV Foundry app gives AT&T U-verse customers more control, richer context and a TV remote control experience unlike any other.  Now, TV Foundry app users can search AT&T U-verse for their favorite scheduled or on-demand movies, shows and songs right from their iPhone.  The TV Foundry app for iPhone is packed with deep, curated content on movies, TV episodes, cast members, trending celebrities, soundtracks and locations that make TV viewing more fun, social and immersive.

The U-verse enabled TV Foundry app for iPhone is powered by the TV Foundry Platform, a cloud based, multi-screen TV engagement platform that is a production resource for companies that want to reach the connected TV audience.

The TV Foundry app and platform was built by Splat Interactive, a Seattle based software-as-a-services company that enables multi-screen engagement for the connected TV viewer.  Affiliates, studios, enterprises, app developers and media companies use the TV Foundry Platform to build immersive, multi-screen, IP-based TV and media apps across multiple distribution channels and screens.

“The U-verse enabled TV Foundry app is the first of many screen shifting experiences coming from the TV Foundry Platform,” said Splat’s Vice President of Products, Pete Schwab. “So stay tuned.”

“Smartphone and tablet owners are expecting a new kind of TV experience,” explained Splat’s CEO Tom Freeman. “TV is changing before our eyes. Connected consumers are driving the two-screen, companion app TV viewing experience from the bottom up. We’re proud to work with AT&T on TV Foundry. They understand the motivation of a connected TV viewer using their iPhone in the living room. It makes TV more fun. Simple as that.”

Visit iTunes to download the U-verse enabled TV Foundry app today.

To learn more about TV Foundry products and services, visit our corporate web site or send us an e-mail message at info@splat.tv. You can also find TV Foundry on Facebook, Twitter or the web http://www.tvfoundry.com.

Just in time for football season, White Castle offers you a chance to get in the game. White Castle is partnering with Zelosport for a regional Finger Football® tournament this fall. Champs from each region will compete in the national White Castle Slider Bowl in Indianapolis the week of the Super Bowl.

“Teaming up with Zelosport is a natural fit since many of our Cravers are football fans and White Castle has restaurants in regions that are home to professional football teams,” said Jamie Richardson, official White Castle “commissioner” for Finger Football® and vice president of corporate relations. “White Castle has been family-owned for 90 years and the NFFL promotes family-fun with Finger Football®, as well as other games.”

Players must register for the tournament online at WhiteCastle.com or by clicking on White Castle’s Facebook page. The entry fee is $10. Each player receives a $10 White Castle gift card and an official White Castle-NFFL T-shirt. All gridiron fans can follow the regional tournaments on Facebook and Twitter.

The tournament kicks-off Saturday, September 17, 2011, in Minneapolis, MN. Other tournament locations include Chicago, Indianapolis, New York, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Louisville, Nashville, New Jersey and St. Louis. Regional winners advance to the White Castle Slider Bowl on January 31, 2012, in Indianapolis. Top regional players will receive prizes and the National Champion will win White Castle hamburgers for life plus $2,500 cash.

“When I created the finger football games, I approached the design with the entire family in mind,” said Spud Alford, founder and CEO of the NFFL and Zelosport and a long-time fan of White Castle. Spud and his brother Mike, President and COO of Zelosport, will be traveling to each regional tournament to officiate the games. All games will be played under tents in White Castle parking lots.

Rookies should study the playbook of official rules and instructions for how to play Finger Football® at WhiteCastle.com.

For all of the football fans watching the games from their couch or tailgating, it’s time for tabletop tailgating with a White Castle Crave Case. As the official sponsor of the NFFL, White Castle is selling a limited-time only Crave Case featuring a tabletop Finger Football® game. To tackle that hunger, the Crave Case includes 30 fresh mix-and-match Sliders and features a mini-finger football field, two removable footballs and a 20 percent-off coupon for NFFL merchandise.

“The White Castle-NFFL Crave Cases are a great alternative to the traditional pizza and fried chicken for tailgating parties,” Richardson said. “Not only can friends and family enjoy the meal, they can play Finger Football® afterwards.”

The NFFL Crave Case is available at all White Castle restaurants and online at WhiteCastle.com. Customers may order a Crave Case any way they want it – Original Sliders® or Cheese Sliders or go wild and try the Bacon Cheese Slider or Jalapeno Cheese Slider.

“We always want to bring something new and inventive to our Cravers,” Richardson said. “Whether it’s the online ordering we introduced earlier this year, serving Castles at the Capitol or hosting the Cravers Hall of Fame, we’re always thinking of how best to serve our customers.”

NFFL Tournament Schedule

Sept 17 – Minneapolis – 5055 Central Ave NE. Central Hts., MN 55421
Sept. 24 – St. Louis – 12025 Dorsett Rd. Maryland Hts., MO 63043
Oct. 1 – Chicago – 306 W. North Ave., Villa Park, IL 60181
Oct. 8 – Indianapolis – 4520 S. Emerson Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46203
Oct. 15 – Detroit – 24000 Schoolcraft, Redford, MI 48239
Oct. 22  – Columbus – 4525 Kenny Rd. Columbus, OH 43220
Oct. 29 – Cleveland – 5151 Pearl Rd. Cleveland, OH 44129
Nov. 5 – Cincinnati – 3980 Hauck Rd., Sharonville, OH 45241
Nov. 12 – Louisville – 105 E. Market St. Louisville, KY 40202
Nov. 19 – Nashville – 2901 Nolensville Rd. Nashville, TN 37211
Dec. 3 – Newark – 2151 U.S. Hwy 9. Howell, NJ 07731
Dec. 10 – New York City – 1677 Bruckner Blvd., Bronx, NY 10472
Jan. 31 – Indianapolis – White Castle Slider Bowl – 55 W. South St., Indianapolis, IN 46225

*Registered players must sign-in at each regional tournament site beginning at 9 a.m.

Cleaning for Cancer is set to hold its inaugural golf charity event on Saturday, September 17 at the Boca Greens Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla.

“Boca Greens is a wonderful venue to hold our first charity golf outing,” said Nadege Desravines, Founder and Executive Director of Cleaning for Cancer. “This championship golf course is built on 175 acres of lush greenery and designed by world renowned golf architect Joe Lee.  We are very fortunate to be able to hold this event at Boca Greens.”

The Cleaning for Cancer golf event begins at 8:00 a.m. with a Shotgun Start. The cost is $125 per golfer, which includes breakfast and on-course refreshments. Golfers also receive free valet parking, polo shirt and goody bags.

A buffet lunch that includes a silent auction and awards begin approximately at 1:00 p.m. All proceeds for the course will be used to support Cleaning for Cancer’s efforts to help cancer patients, many of whom are low-income.

Starz, LLC, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Albrecht, issued the following statement today regarding the status of affiliation agreement renewal discussions with Netflix.

“Starz Entertainment has ended contract renewal negotiations with Netflix. When the agreement expires on February 28, 2012, Starz will cease to distribute its content on the Netflix streaming platform.  This decision is a result of our strategy to protect the premium nature of our brand by preserving the appropriate pricing and packaging of our exclusive and highly valuable content.  With our current studio rights and growing original programming presence, the network is in an excellent position to evaluate new opportunities and expand its overall business.”

As the Official Vehicle of the US Open, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is returning to the courts in Flushing with the all new S350 BlueTEC clean-diesel sedan that is part of its fleet of vehicles used for athletes, staff and officials while supporting the USTA’s commitment to green initiatives.

The first diesel-powered S-Class in the U.S. market since the 1995 model year, the new 2012 S350 BlueTEC 4MATIC all-wheel drive model is powered by a purpose-built 3.0-liter V6 diesel with 240 horsepower, an astonishing 455 lb.-ft. of torque and estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg city / 31 mpg highway.

Beyond the new S350 BlueTEC, a driving force behind supporting green transportation for the US Open is the S350′s innovative sibling, the Mercedes-Benz S400 HYBRID sedan in addition to a fleet of Sprinter Vans.  These Mercedes-Benz eco vehicles represent over 60 percent of the fleet used for player and VIP transportation in an effort to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the US Open tournament.  The S400 HYBRID features the world’s first lithium-ion battery designed specifically for automotive use.  The light-weight, high-capacity lithium-ion battery works with a 20-horsepower electric motor and a 275-hp V6 gasoline engine to provide hybrid power with impressive fuel economy estimated at 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

The US Open launched its comprehensive environmental program in 2008 and continues to expand its green initiatives each year.  In 2011, key initiatives include recycling, energy management, composting and utilizing paper products comprised of at least 30% post-consumer waste.

“As an innovator in luxury eco-transportation and the Official vehicle of the US Open, we are in a good position to positively impact the USTA’s green initiatives.  The S350 BlueTEC clean diesel is another innovative mode of transport in our portfolio of eco vehicles that provide green transportation without having to sacrifice luxury or safety,” said Stephen Cannon, Vice President of Marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA.

About Mercedes-Benz USA

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States.  MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 14 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar.

MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans and smart in the US.  More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com.

ShortsHD, the world’s leading TV network dedicated exclusively to short movies, announced today that it is now available to Taiwanese audiences on DishHD Asia.

Featuring the work of a variety of critically-acclaimed filmmakers and big name actors and actresses from around the world, ShortsHD further expands its universally-minded offerings with its launch in Taiwan on DishHD Asia channel 6335.

ShortsHD has experienced explosive growth since the debut of its standard definition network, ShortsTV, in France in 2007. With the addition of Taiwanese living rooms, ShortsHD and ShortsTV together reach viewers on three continents in more than 40 million homes. Coupled with the Shorts™ movies sold via the iTunes Movie Store, the Shorts™ brands are entertaining viewers in 24 countries across Europe, Asia, Australia and North America.

The network celebrates the art of short cinema with programming that highlights the creativity and aesthetic genius of Academy Award winners, International Film Festival awardees and high quality CGI animators in a variety of genres – from comedies and musicals, to documentaries and dramas.

“Movies are the world’s most popular art form. What’s more – short film is the fastest growing movie category on international television today,” said Carter Pilcher, chief executive of Shorts International. “Global audiences love short movies; their high-impact entertainment transcends language and culture.”

Pilcher recently led efforts to create the first annual “Shorts Awards” this year, highlighted by the Lifetime Achievement Award in Short Film for John Lasseter, the two-time Academy Award®-winning director of Pixar Animation Studios.

The launch in Taiwan follows ShortsHD’s DIRECTV premiere in May and comes on the heels of a highly successful theatrical release for “The Oscar Nominated Short Films of 2011.” Shorts International also recently partnered with Movies On Demand to bring the feature presentations of the Oscar ® Nominated Shorts 2011 to VOD with major operators and is the iTunes Movie Store’s short film partner in all of its 16 countries across the globe.

Illinois police officers will stake out Dunkin’ Donuts rooftops to benefit Special Olympics Illinois for the 9th year in a row.

Once again, on Friday, May 20, beginning at 5 a.m. through early afternoon, hundreds of police officers from across the state are scheduled to cover 116 Dunkin’ Donuts rooftops to heighten awareness and raise money for the 26th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.

Illinois Torch Run Director and Channahon Police Chief Joe Pena says that despite the economy, “Every year, we raise more in donations for Special Olympics Illinois than the previous year.  The story speaks for itself….it’s about good and dedicated police officers working to support Special Olympics athletes and their families.”

The stakes for this year’s rooftop stakeout are high.  To meet their goal, Special Olympics Illinois hopes to top last year’s total of $207,000 raised at 111 Dunkin’ Donuts locations.

In return for the police officers “doing time” at their restaurants, Dunkin’ Donuts will donate $10,000 to the Torch Run fund.  In addition, each guest who visits a Cop on a Rooftop location that day and makes a donation to the Torch Run will receive a free donut.  Guests donating at least $10 will receive a Law Enforcement Torch Run travel mug and a coupon for free medium coffee.

The Special Olympics fund-raiser has grown considerably since police officers first took to Dunkin’ Donuts rooftops in 2003.  That year, 12 police departments participated and raised $20,000.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run, celebrating its 25th anniversary, was started in 1986.  Each year, more than 3,000 officers cover 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their hometowns and to the State Summer Games in Normal in June.  The intrastate relay and its various fundraising projects have two goals:  to raise money and increase public awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics.

Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 19 sports for nearly 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and more than 6,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family support.

Calvin Ayre, the flamboyant founder of the world’s largest online betting brand, Bodog*, is not averse to seizing an opportunity, last year he famously bought the domain Slots.com for GBP4,000,000 at an online auction while sat at the bar of L’Atellier restaurant in London.

As his surname would suggest his ancestry lies in Scotland and specifically Ayr itself and so when he heard United’s shirt sponsorship was up for grabs the temptation was too great.

Ayre stated: “When I heard that the club was looking for a sponsor I knew I was going to make an offer but the fact that the colours are also the same as the Bodog brand colours sealed it.”

“I won’t pretend I know the area well but with a fondness for a drink and in particular Cabrach and Hendrick’s Gin, barely a day goes by without me toasting the local economy in some way. When I heard about this I just couldn’t resist and I hope that between the Bodog brand and myself we can bring some more good times to Ayr United. We have plans to really get behind the team, not just hand over a cheque, and I am looking forward to paying a visit this summer and raising a glass to The Honest Men.”

Hugh Cameron, Commercial Director Ayr United, added: “Ayr United are thrilled to unveil Bodog as our main sponsor for next season and look forward to building a successful partnership with Calvin and the Bodog brand, although clearly we will now have to review the choice of spirits we offer our guests in the boardroom.”

“It’s great news for everyone connected with Ayr United to have attracted a global brand like Bodog to our club and to the Scottish football league. The substantial financial agreement we secured was, of course, very welcome but we were also aware from our negotiations with the company that we were signing an agreement with a business that has people with a real desire and intention to engage with the club, our supporters and the wider community, and I’m sure in time this will become apparent.”