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Google is a mightily impressive company, but I think even they would admit they've made very little progress on VOD services. Games aside (and it's ambitious to think they're anywhere near ready to tackle Xbox and PS in their field - mobile gaming, sure), they embraced the wrong method on YouTube VOD (pay-per-view as opposed to a subscription model a la Netflix). They would have hoped to do more in making YouTube a bigger revenue stream, no doubt. And Android TV as a VOD service will be competing in a heavily crowded market, and until I see the proposition, I'm not convinced they would be able to create something so fresh or impressive that it changes existing behaviours.
In terms of the impact of Andrioid... yes, by sheer volume it's number 1, but it still lags iOS in terms of developers releasing the big hitters first - and in the world of apps, that's a big problem. iOS has classic first mover advantage - just look at Instagram. It was an age before Android got it on the platform. Google have closed the gap, but it still exists. Same with both phone and tablets. So in terms of an intergrated solution whereby Andriod dominates, it's still a long way off.
Apple has a huge advantage - one hardware platform and one OS, Android has to cater to multiple devices and it's up to the developers of those devices to release updates, that's IF they decide to.
Also, each device needs to subscribe to Google Play - even if you have a generic Android device, if's not authorised on Google Play, you can't get apps!
Of course, Google themselves won't have this issue - I don't think they are an immediate thread to Xbox and Sony - 2 established names with lots of companies developing games for their platforms - but a dedicated Android console could shake things up.
Not to morph the thread but what then is the better option for a writer?
Money up front or look for backend cash and hope it shows a profit?
Back-end is different from a share of the net (profit). Most of the time, you're not going to be given any of the net - same as actors & directs, usually only the most succesful get a profit share.
You're front-end is the safest money, so go for as much as that as you can -- your back-end will depend on stipulations, so is less of a guarantee.
Netflix gets so wrapped up in making original content that it lets rights deals expire on its existing library of streaming movies/shows. Google starts a subscription service, snatching up rights to those films and more, and offers a vault's worth of streaming media for not much more than Netflix Instant.
Netflix's selection of old titles is starting to suck. Even if you search by actor, there are very few big actors that have a lot of movies on there. If they do, it's not their bigger hits. Example: Tom Hanks only has The Man with One Red Shoe. No Philadelphia, no Splash, no Da Vinci Code. Not even The Burbs! Brad Pitt's just as bad. Hell, I don't even like popular actors. My idea of a perfect evening is a Joe Dante marathon, but there's not much to work with there: Explorers, Small Soldiers, The Hole, and Runaway Daughters. I've watched Explorers to death. Wish they'd add Gremlins, Innerspace, Matinee, something. And how much could those rights cost? If Google can make a decent Joe Dante marathon a reality...my money's heading its way!
"I remember a time of chaos. Ruined dreams. This wasted land. But most of all, I remember The Road Warrior. The man we called 'Max'."
Apple has a huge advantage - one hardware platform and one OS, Android has to cater to multiple devices and it's up to the developers of those devices to release updates, that's IF they decide to.
Also, each device needs to subscribe to Google Play - even if you have a generic Android device, if's not authorised on Google Play, you can't get apps!
Of course, Google themselves won't have this issue - I don't think they are an immediate thread to Xbox and Sony - 2 established names with lots of companies developing games for their platforms - but a dedicated Android console could shake things up.
I think I'm derailing the thread now . . .
Eoin
Nothing wrong with a bit of derailing - besides, this is all very, very relevant to the direction of the industry. Lucas and Spielberg have both been waxing lyrical recently about what they see as the imminent implosion of Hollywood's current model, and how big budgets will be a thing of the past. Lucas even think that cinema as a venue will become like theatre - more expensive and exclusive. If we're to believe this, then we should be looking at the next step, 'cos the market promises to be very dynamic these coming years, and any savvy writer serious about his/her trade and craft will be looking at the changes and how this can benefit them.
Agreed, it's definitely a big advantage for Apple, but their proprietary attitude may come back to bite them at some point. An actual Apple TV set could change things up, but I just can't see Apple cornering the content with movies and TV in the way they did so successfully with music; which is under threat from the Spotifys of this world anyway. Which brings me back to my original trail of thought in that Facebook is uniquely positioned to dominate by intergrating the content into their social platform. I just cannot understand why their attempts thus far have been tie-ups with Spotify but not an outright purchase or at least better intergration. The whole point for Facebook is that users spend time on the website. Would be very interested in hearing the Zuck's thoughts on it.
Netflix gets so wrapped up in making original content that it lets rights deals expire on its existing library of streaming movies/shows. Google starts a subscription service, snatching up rights to those films and more, and offers a vault's worth of streaming media for not much more than Netflix Instant.
They're definitely going the right route by producing content. I'm not sure what the deal is with rights and period of time they get access, 'cos if it's negotiable over 5, 10 year periods, you could end up in the situ Sky find themselves in with Premier League rights.