The week in over-the-topprovides a recap of recent news related to OTT initiatives from variousnetworks and platforms.
*Outerwall Inc.'sRedbox Automated Retail LLCis testing apotential new transactional digital video-on-demand and "EST"offering, Variety reportedJuly 21, citing an emailed statement by a company representative. According tothe report, the company introduced an app for 's iPad, called RedboxDigital, to let some customers test the new offering. The Redbox spokespersonreportedly said the test will determine how the company plans to proceed withthe streaming service.
*The National Basketball Association struck a deal to live stream USA Basketball exhibition games onFacebook Inc.'ssocial networking website, Recode reportedJuly 21. The deal covers nine games from the men's and women's teams, accordingto the report. Users will need to log in with their cable provider to accessthe NBA TV stream on Facebook, according to the report.
In other platformnews…
*Amazon.com Inc.added two originalseries to its Amazon Prime Video in Japan, VarietyreportedJuly 21. "Baby Steps," a 10-part tennis-focused drama based from apopular comic became available for streaming July 22, while the 13-part "CrayonShin-Chan: Alien vs. Shinnosuke," based on the long-running anime serieswill debut Aug. 3 in Japan, and will launch in the U.S., the U.K. and Germanyat yet unspecified dates.
*Sony Corp.'sPlayStation Vue service is offeringaccess to live local feeds of CBSCorp.'s CBS (US)in nine more markets, Multichannel NewsreportedJuly 20, citing a company executive. The stations added to PlayStation Vue'slineup are KEYE in Austin, Texas; WBTV in Charlotte, N.C.; WKRC in Cincinnati;CBS9 in Cleveland; Newschannel3 in Grand Rapids, Mich.; CBS21 in Harrisburg,Pa.; KUTV2 in Salt Lake City; CBS8 in San Diego; and CBS12 in West Palm Beach,Fla. The stations are present in SinclairBroadcast Group Inc., RaycomMedia Inc. and Midwest Television markets, according to the report.
*Amazon.com will premiereits original kids series, "The Kicks," on Aug. 26 on Prime Videoacross the U.S., U.K., Germany and Austria. Based on a book series by AlexMorgan, an Olympic gold medalist and current U.S. women's national team soccerplayer, the show is a live-action series targeted at children between the agesof 6 and 11, the company saidJuly 20.
* Inmore Amazon.com news, the company is planningto spend up to $300 million on original Indian content as it prepares to launchits over-the-top service Amazon Prime Video in India later this year, FactorDaily reported July18, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The company is reportedly intalks with local studios as well as independent directors and producers todevelop movies and series. Balaji Telefilms and Yash Raj Productions are amongthe Indian production houses currently taking part in the discussions, thesources said.
*Netflix Inc. inked alicensing deal withCBS Studios International to be the exclusive premiere home of the new "StarTrek" television series in 188 countries, excluding the U.S. and Canada,the company saidJuly 18. Subscription video-on-demand service CBS All Access will offerexclusive access to the series in the U.S. Each episode of the "Star Trek"series will be available globally within 24 hours of its U.S. premiere.Production of the show begins in September, with the premiere set for January2017.