Happy Friday! Welcome to Issue 4 of Rerun, your weekly digest of digital storytelling, interactive video and VR curated by Axonista.
There was an absolute mountain of news this week, but fear not, we've sorted through it all and curated the best of it for you. Through it all runs a clear theme; the future of broadcasting is streaming, and it's not just for broadcasters.
If you enjoy Rerun we'd really appreciate you sharing it with your colleagues, and as always if you have any tips, suggestions or just want to say hi, you can connect with us by emailing connect@axonista.com.
The truth is out there...
Top Pick
Meet Periscope, Twitter’s new live video app
Last week the media and tech world was buzzing about Meerkat, this week the attention shifts to its hottest competitor, Periscope. "This isn’t live-streaming — it’s teleportation." - Periscope founder Kayvon Beykpour certainly believes in his product, which was recently acquired by Twitter. We're divided on which one will be the most popular, but we all agree that live-streaming is about to become a big deal.
Features
Is social video winner-take-all?
This Medium post by David Carroll is quite a long read by web standards—it'll probably take you a good 10 minutes—but if you're at all interested in the current rise of live-streaming apps it's an essential read. It travels through everything in depth from the apps themselves, to the modern technology that has enabled them, to the challenges with content discovery and distribution.
Amazon’s Twitch is a sleeping giant of media
Twitch.tv is a platform that has quietly risen to become one of the most popular video content networks in the world. At its peak only Netflix, Google and Apple command more internet traffic in the US. It looks like broadcasters are beginning to realise this, as Discovery are launching a new property 'Super Panic Frenzy' on it.
Netflix, Amazon and Hulu no longer find themselves upstarts in online streaming
Where once the likes of Netflix and Hulu were disrupting the traditional TV industry by streaming online, now they find themselves in the position of 'the establishment'. HBO, CBS and Sony are now releasing their own streaming packages to complement their existing content, while Netflix pouring more money into creating their own original content. But they're both heading towards the same point which is that the future of broadcasting is clearly in streaming.
Former Hulu CEO and CTO officially launch their new service 'Vessel'
We've been eagerly awaiting the launch of Vessel, a beautifully executed new subscription-based short form video service from Jason Kilar and Richard Tom, former founding CEO and former CTO of Hulu. For a small subscription it offer exclusive access to content by the web's best short-form video creators. One to keep an eye on.
All the ways a new Apple TV could dominate your living room
There's strong evidence that the Apple TV will be getting a big refresh this year, with it now perfectly placed to live at the center of Apple's ecosystem. Apple's TV service , the App Store, games and controlling your Internet of Things are just some of the features this article imagines will be a core part of the new TV. Who knows, maybe Airplay will finally work properly!
Google ads are watching you
Imagine the ads you saw on TV were tailored specifically to you, just like they are online. With Google's new Fiber TV package—currently only available in Kansas City—they'll be able to do just that. Ads will be served up based on your viewing history and ad sellers will have access to all the same data they do online.
Briefs
The X-Files revival
There's a current trend for reviving old series due to their popularity on social media and services like Netflix. We're delighted to see Mulder and Scully are coming back for a limited six episode run on Fox! Especially for those in the Axonista office who are too young to have watched it air originally... Have a great weekend!