The week in over-the-topprovides a recap of recent news related to OTT initiatives from variousnetworks and platforms.
In other platformnews…
*Facebook Inc. istesting a videodownload option for offline viewing in India, to address issues of limitedmobile data and connectivity, TechCrunch reported July 6,citing an emailed statement from Facebook. The scheme, which kicked off July11, is available to a small percentage of Facebook users in the country. Whileconnected to Wi-Fi, users can sync the videos to their gadgets for laterviewing. A security lock feature will reportedly prevent people from illegallydistributing the videos. Users will also be unable to locate the content ontheir device's local memory.
*Netflix and Comcast Corp.struck a deal tointegrate Netflix's streaming content into Comcast's X1 set-top box beginninglater this year. In a statement, Comcast said the agreement, the financialdetails of which were not disclosed, will provide "seamless access"to content offered by both companies.
…and from networks
*AT&T Inc. on July9 launched aprogramming slot, Snack on Fullscreen, on AUDIENCE Network for its DIRECTV andU-verse TV subscribers with weekly and daily segments. The one-hour programmingslot will feature premium Fullscreen content and scripted originals, thecompany said July 8.The shows were previously only available for users who had the $4.99 a monthFullscreen subscription video-on-demand service.
*Scripps Networks Interactive Inc.'sHGTV (US) andFood Network (US)launched new "watchand shop" apps for Amazon.com's Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. The new appswill let subscribers watch original home and food lifestyle videos, browseproducts related to topics highlighted in the shows, select their shippingpreference and purchase the products they want, all through their Fire TVremotes. The shopping-enabled Fire TV apps are free to download through August.The apps include HGTV Gardening, HGTV Home Improvement, HGTV Smart Solutionsand Food Network Summer Entertaining, according to a July 7 .
*Netflix and The CW (US)entered a newexpanded multiyear content licensing agreement. As part of the deal, Netflixusers will have access to all current and future series of The CW eight daysafter the end of each show's season, according to a July 5 . The CW is jointly owned byCBS Corp. and TimeWarner's Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.