YouTube Preps Video Channels

Reports continue to surface that Goggle is prepping its YouTube website for a launch of several linear-esque channels that will feature regularly-scheduled content from the worlds of sports, celebs, fashion and news.

Publicly the company isn't saying much about the developments but according to the WSJ  the internet giant is finalizing contracts for more than a dozen "channels" and is requesting content for viewing within the next 60 days.

Google has reportedly been shopping the "channels" idea around television circles for months as it tries to leverage YouTube as a more credible competitor to traditional TV models.  The Journal says the search giant is looking for original content to build the foundation of a stand-alone video service that will attract viewers away from pay-TV and "not just compete with other web video sites."

As a possible sign of things to come, YouTube is making the 1941 Orson Wells classic film "Citizen Kane" available for rental online. (A first, the site says.) Viewers can now watch the first 10-minutes for free, with a full rental cost of $3 for a 24-hour period.•

Netflix Lands DreamWorks Animation

Hoping to wake from its nightmarish ride the past couple months, Netflix has announced a content deal with DreamWorks Animation to stream the studio's big-time movies. Reportedly worth upwards of $30M per picture, the deal is being seen as a game-changer with the major Hollywood studio opting for an internet streaming service over premium network HBO.

According to reports, the agreement will allow Netflix to stream the studio's blockbuster films beginning in 2013. DreamWorks CEO Jeff Katzenberg said the deal represents a bet that consumers would eventually be unable to tell the difference between content brought to the home via internet or cable.

The deal comes on the heels of Netflix's recent announcement to stream TV content from Discovery Communications and the company's plans to spin its DVD-rental operation into its own entity called Qwikster. Company officials said its new contract "signals to people that we are in no way moving away from movies."

DreamWorks is responsible for creating such big-time animated titles as the Shrek franchise, Kung-Fu Panda and many others. •

Etc.: DISH Considers Wireless Options - Nets Could Lose Big on NBA - Sezmi No More

Strategy: DISH Chief Joseph Clayton tells Bloomberg that the satcaster may took to partner with (or outright buy) a wireless carrier (i.e. Sprint or Clearwire) for future expansion. The company is "missing pieces" for its plans to offer high-speed internet service, and the exec says to "stay tuned" for big news down the road. --- Just days before the anticipated release of its own tablet computer, Amazon revealed a deal with Fox for streaming rights to many of the nets' popular series and movies. The content deal increases Amazon's video library to more than 11K titles.

Advertising: If the NBA doesn't play its 2011-2012 season, networks like ESPN and TNT stand to lose $1.25B in ad sales revenue. Variety has the story.

Alt. TV: Sezmi, the hybrid antenna/internet TV DVR company, notified customers this weekend that the service is shutting down. The company is allowing users to access its VOD library for a little while, but soon that will go dark, too. Details at Engadget.

4G: LightSquared signed a wholesale agreement with AirTouch enabling the communications company to offer AirTouch-branded wireless connectivity using the LightSquared network. In related news, LightSquared CEO Sanjiv Ahuja published an open letter in several national newspapers Monday saying incumbent wireless providers have failed to keep pace with market demands and the 4G-LTE start-up is more-than happy to fill in. The exec also said the company is taking GPS interference concerns seriously by setting up a rigorous testing program to solve any problems.  The letter can be read in its entirety here.

Research: In-Stat says 86% of tablet owners will view video on their devices with 50% not only watching feature-length movies but episodic TV shows as well. In addition, the research firm says 60% of tablet owners will be viewing OTT video at home this year.

SkyREPORT: Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD 7 satellite was successfully placed into orbit this weekend. The unit will deliver video services to 30M customers across Northern Africa and the Middle East.

Up, Down & Over There: YouView, the hybrid television platform planned by a consortium of British broadcasters and broadband providers, has appointed Chris Bramley from Sky to the vacant role of chief technology officer. The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, BT, TalkTalk and Arqiva joint venture still plans to launch early next year. --- Ruckus Wireless was selected by BSkyB's The Cloud, the UK's largest public access Wi-Fi provider, to supply advanced indoor wireless services as the company looks to expand its national footprint. --- France will terminate the 6 analog channels being broadcast from Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD 3 and all terrestrial analog broadcasts on November 29.

Programming: Several cable nets (FX, SyFy, Sundance) signed development deals with independent producers at last week's New York Television Festival. B&C has the story. --- Preschooler network Sprout is launching a new series in tandem with the Jim Henson Company called Pajanimals. The show helps parents and caregivers deal with "one of the most challenging times of the day… bedtime." What can't singing puppets do?

Folks: Comcast Engineering and Operations SVP Susan Adams won this year’s "Women in Technology" Award, chosen by Communications Technology magazine, Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) and the SCTE. --- HGTV named Loren Ruch as VP of programming partnerships.

Letters to the Editor: (In response to Monday's Maxwell):

• There is a middle ground to the A la Carte debate.  Canadian satellite provider Shaw Direct offers a bundling approach.  You have to get the Essentials which are the various CBC and CTV network affiliates and a few Canadian super stations.  Then you can add on "bundles."  The bundles are themed: Children, Sports, News, Movies, Comedy, etc.  The more bundles you add the cheaper they are.  It lets subscribers vote with their pocketbooks and pay for what they actually watch without Shaw having to worry about masses of subscribers adding and deleting individual channels every month.  I think it's a good compromise. -Fred Cantu

• Loved your piece on the economy.  How about this for an idea:  Instead of issuing pink slips at Viacom because the ad sales aren't as rosy as expected ... the "job creator" Dauman lets go of some of his $87 million in earnings for the year.  If we wonder where the jobs are going the old adage is true: follow the money.  Every time I see lost jobs I go to my computer and put in the CEO's name and "salary increase" ... guess how that turns out? Boiling blood ... even before the week gets started.  We need to change some things. Sorry to vent ... but you seem like the voice of reason.  Maybe an article on upper management salary increases in the industry as they correlate with job losses. -Unsigned

Catch all of the day's market news from today's The Evening BRIDGE.