Yesterday, HBO announced that it had 800,000 subscribers on its standalone streaming service, HBO GO. CEO Richard Plepler was optimistic: “I wouldn’t say only 800,000 subs,” Plepler said in a response to an analyst who had used the word “only” in his question. “We’re just getting started. … I think we’re going to make a lot … Continue reading HBO’s Numbers
It seems that everyone – news outlets, sportscasters, poets, comedians and companies – is podcasting. How many people are profiting is another question, but, as The Economist pointed out this week, podcasting is in the midst of yet another renaissance: It is hard to identify the moment when podcasting took off, because it keeps having them. In … Continue reading Everybody’s Podcastin’
Netflix dropped a new House of Cards trailer on us yesterday. As expected, it features the Underwoods presumably involved in various nefarious acts, and, perhaps, facing the consequences. Based on the trailer, here’s what we know for sure: 1. As in previous seasons, House of Cards will feature motorcades of black SUVs and flashing sirens, generally … Continue reading An Ad for HoC
It seems as though the television landscape has become increasingly cynical, or at least as far as Washington is concerned. Idealistic shows like The West Wing have been replaced with jaded programming that seeks to paint Capitol Hill in either darker, more sinister colors – as in House of Cards – or lighter, absurd tones, like in Veep.
Not sure what tries my patience more – the length of the teaser, or the length of time between now and February 14th. Film noir feel? Check. HBO-ness? Check. Canceled Valentine’s Day Plans? You bet. Continue reading House…of…Cards…Returns…
Here’s our first episode of the Bondcast, where, true to our mission, we “make self-aggrandizing statements on things that we’re wholly unqualified to make statements about.” A brief breakdown of the ‘cast goes as follows:
Netflix’s new series House of Cards is a clear attempt to craft a show to rival broadcast favorites like AMC’s Mad Men or HBO’s Game of Thrones – or anything HBO has produced, for that matter. While many broadcast networks seek to produce reality television, talent contests, or chipper comedies, cable networks – most especially the aforementioned three-letter networks – have hollowed out a niche in high quality programming that focuses on character development and period set-design, achieving a result closer to film than traditional television. And in most ways, House of Cards is a fitting entrant to the ranks.
Some of you may remember our post about Netflix from earlier today. And some of you may notice the current stock price. So yes, we’re starting a hedge fund. Continue reading We Said So
There is a great metric by which companies’ success can be measured. Effectively, if the name of a corporation’s good or service becomes interchangeable with the product category as a whole, the company’s product – or at least its marketing – is probably pretty successful. Older examples would be the use of the word “Xerox” as a verb, or “Kleenex” as a catchall for tissues. In our generation, the use of “Google” as a verb is likely the best example.
Silicon Spatula 