Riding high on nearly 30 million domestic subscribers and over 4 billion hours of streamed video, Netflix continues to be the streaming darling. Though, that reputation may come into question with one important demographic now that Netflix no longer has the rights to stream content from Viacom, which holds the rights to popular children's shows like Blue's Clues and Dora The Explorer. However, Amazon Prime, Netflix's main competitor, wasted no time scooping up the Viacom licensing deal in a reported $200 million, two-year contract, Reuters reports. 

Amazon won’t divulge how many customers subscribe to its $79 annual Prime membership, but it did say that children’s shows are “one of the most watched TV genres" on their service, CNN reports. The company couldn’t be prouder of its new deal, devoting a major chunk of its homepage to a note to its customers, particularly highlighting the major increase in kid shows on the service. The deal is quite the dig at Netflix, whose CEO Reed Hastings told CNBC last week, "If you're a parent and your child's looking for Blue's Clues, you know, that is definitely a problem," while also noting that his company still offers plenty of kids’ programming.Continue reading...

Cyber Monday is being pronounced a success, with shopping up 13.7% and Amazon reportedly edging Wal-Mart.

The folks at the US Federal Trade Commission had their heads screwed on straight for once, by deciding to wait until the day after Cyber Monday to launch new rules requiring bloggers and celebrities to disclose when they promote a product online for pay, or in exchange for free stuff. (I know: as if anyone there even made the connection.) Well, we kind of joked about who might get caught up in these rules -- and questioned whether celebrities who tweet for pay will test the trust of their audience -- but, we suddenly notice (just in time!), we are included.

The FTC has been under fire from bloggers for issuing strict rules without sufficient guidelines or consumer education, considering that fines can range up to $11,000. It has promised to target advertisers, not bloggers, or maybe just big fish, or maybe not heavily fine the little fish -- which has raised concerns of selective prosecution. In a "heated but civil" interview between blogger Edward Champion and the FTC's Richard Cleland, it's noted that partner marketing links such as Amazon Associates are included in the disclosure requirements.

Well, as brandchannel readers have likely noticed, we use Amazon Associates. This is a well-known program that pays participants for referring business to Amazon, via links which are easily seen (because the URL string includes "brandchannelcom") and which will bring a fairly small amount of revenue to the site if you follow that link and make a purchase. We've included them for many years when we link to media (books that are reviewed, or films in our brandcameo section), and have been using them on this blog when referring to certain products Amazon sells. (Those references being there because they belong in the story, not so as to send business to Amazon.)Continue reading...

Sesame Street better watch out. There's a new kid on the block -- who makes Elmo look like a dinosaur.

Now in its second season, Nickelodeon's  children's show Yo Gabba Gabba! has won accolades and become an overnight sensation for children and adults alike. Mixing live-action segments hosted by DJ Lance Rock and a cast of puppets along with animated sketches and pop, hip-hop and rock dance sequences, the series plays frequent host to a cast of high-profile celebrities like Elijah Wood, Jack Black, Tony Hawk and The Roots among many others.

The crew of characters -- Muno (a red cyclops), Foofa (a pink flower bubble), Brobee (a hairy green monster), Toodee ( a blue cat-dragon) and Plex (a yellow robot) -- have not only won the hearts and minds of pre-schoolers and their "hip" parents but have made the brand a media darling. Touted by Slate as "the best preschool programming" on television, the show is poised for widespread appeal with its irreverent sketches, educational and family values messages, and captivating imagery.Continue reading...