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Sony's Crackle Video Site Launches Moving Targets Comedy Channel

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 10, 2007 - 12:32pm.

Sausalito, Calif. - Crackle, a video entertainment site from Sony Pictures Entertainment (formerly known as Grouper), on Monday announced the launch of Moving Targets, a new channel that will focus on sketch comedy, digital shorts and animation. Contributors to the channel will include professional producers like Jerry Zucker ("Airplane!," "The Naked Gun"), Starz and animator Jennifer Shiman, comedy writer Brian Dalton (Mr. Deity), and will also solicit submissions from emerging talent.

tags: Video | Grouper | Jerry Zucker | Sony Pictures Entertainment | Crackle | Moving Targets |

Sony Rebrands Grouper as Crackle; Will Develop User-Generated Content

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 16, 2007 - 10:41am.

Sausalito, Calif. - Sony Pictures Entertainment announced on Monday that it has re-launched its Grouper video-sharing site as Crackle, which will now focus on developing user-generated content for wider distribution.

tags: TV | Sony | Movies | Animation | Video-Sharing | Grouper | User-Generated | Crackle |

Analysis: Sony Goes Online for Offline Talent?

Authored by Jay Baage on July 16, 2007 - 5:34am.
The online video site formerly known as Grouper — the one purchased by Sony for $65 million last August — is being rebranded as Crackle - a Sony Pictures-backed online talent studio. It seems like just about everyone else is doing something similar these days – from Metacafe and Funny or Die to 60 Frames – so what is the winning original concept going to be in this space?
tags: Internet | Video | Marketing | Sony Pictures | Grouper | Crackle |

Searchles Receives Cease and Desist Letter from Grouper.com

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 16, 2007 - 11:10am.

Washington - Searchles, the developer of a social search platform, has received a letter demanding that the site "immediately discontinue" its practice of making available videos from Sony-owned video-sharing site Grouper.com, TechCrunch reported.

tags: Video | Law | Search | Video-Sharing | Grouper | User-Generated | Searchles |

Report: Google to Use Audible Magic Copyright Filter on YouTube

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 23, 2007 - 11:28am.

San Jose, Calif. - Google will use technology developed by Audible Magic to filter out copyrighted videos on its YouTube service, The San Jose Mercury News reported, citing two sources familiar with the deal.

tags: Video | MySpace | Google | YouTube | Copyright | iMesh | Grouper | Audible Magic | User-Generated |

Grouper to Post Sony TV, Movie Clips, Sell DVDs and Downloads

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 9, 2006 - 2:18pm.
Culver City, Calif. - User-generated video site Grouper, which was recently acquired by Sony Pictures Entertainment for $65 million, announced on Thursday the launch of "ScreenBites," a new channel that will feature clips of Sony Pictures movies and TV shows, with links to purchase the full programs on DVD or as a digital download.
tags: Video | Downloads | TV | Movies | Sony Pictures | DVD | UGC | Grouper | ScreenBites |

Grouper to Host Sony Pictures' "Ultimate Internship" Video Contest

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 27, 2006 - 2:34pm.
Sausalito, Calif. - Grouper Networks, a user-generated video sharing service recently acquired by Sony Pictures Entertainment, announced this week that it will host the video elements of Columbia Pictures' "The Ultimate Internship Contest." Participants can submit a video audition for the chance at an internship at the Gap, The Hollywood Reporter, Morgan Stanley, NBC, the NFL, People Magazine, PlayStation or Yahoo. A human resource specialist will choose a group of finalists, whose videos will then be voted on by Grouper visitors.
tags: Internet | Video | Marketing | Sony | Career | Sony Pictures | Contests | Video-Sharing | Grouper |

Universal Music Sues Bolt, Grouper Over User-Posted Music Videos

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 18, 2006 - 1:54pm.
Los Angeles - Major record label Universal Music Group has filed copyright infringement lawsuits against two websites - Bolt.com and Grouper.com - that feature music videos and other copyrighted content posted by users, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Universal's lawsuits, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, seek injunctions against Bolt and Grouper and the same $150,000-per-instance damages claimed in the record labels' lawsuits against the original Napster file-sharing service, and could run into the millions of dollars.
tags: Law | Lawsuits | Music | Universal Music | Music Videos | Copyright | UGC | Grouper | UMG | Bolt |

Sony Pictures Acquires Video-Sharing Site Grouper for $65 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 23, 2006 - 1:21pm.
Culver City, Calif. - Sony Pictures Entertainment announced on Wednesday its $65 million acquisition of Grouper, a video-sharing site. Under the terms, Sausalito, Calif.-based Grouper will retain its current management. Sony said Grouper is currently the second-largest independent online video community; the site lets users upload and edit videos and share them on their own websites, blogs and social network pages, as well as download them to portable devices like the iPod and PSP.
tags: Deals | Internet | Video | TV | Sony | Movies | Sony Pictures | Acquisitions | Video-Sharing | Grouper |

Morning Links: August 23, 2006

Authored by Robert Spears on August 22, 2006 - 7:34pm.
AP: Sony Pictures Buys Video Site Grouper
NYT: Microsoft to Sell Ads on Facebook
WSJ: ABC Sells Historic News Clips on iTunes
HR: TV Guide Mobile & 4INFO to Collaborate
HR: TBS Launches VeryFunnyAds.com
Reuters: Microsoft Sues Cybersquatters
WildTangent Games Network Named Fastest Growing US Web Property
WSJ: Try-Before-You-Buy Game Downloads Get Tested
WSJ: An Interview with Home Depot’s SVP of Marketing
BW: Seven Predictions for the Future of Gaming
tags: Games | Deals | Internet | Video | Sony | Grouper | Links |

Friendster Offers P2P Photo, Video & Music Sharing Through Grouper

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 28, 2005 - 3:40am.
Mountain View, Calif. - Social networking site Friendster, which claims 20 million members, this week added new features, such as the ability to share files like pictures, and stream music and video files to one another. The features were enabled through a partnership with peer-to-peer software firm Grouper, whose software must be downloaded and installed to access them.
tags: Video | Friendster | P2P Photo | Music Sharing | Grouper |