Its control over premium programming will see it through the risky early years of digital television.
Dish is in a more precarious position than DirecTV as the latter has strategically built out premium sports programming, like the popular NFL Sunday Ticket.
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Channels), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.
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The Samsung Galaxy S portfolio is packed with premium features and services, including a brilliant 4-inch Super AMOLED display screen, 1GHz Hummingbird Application Processor, Samsung's Media Hub premium movie and TV programming download service and a full array of entertainment, messaging and social networking capabilities.
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No doubt that other venues focusing on original programming, especially premium channels, will be looking at this promotion in the same way.
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These premium services are more profitable than traditional programming.
Sure, cable companies already have VOD for a lot of programming, but it's typically premium content like HBO, and doesn't have commercials anyway.
Time Warner faces risks especially because of its notable dependence on premium cable network HBO that boasts of new movie releases and original programming.
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Cable operators have been trying forever to offer such programming a la carte, or at least as a premium tier that most non-fans could avoid.
In fact, these original series are even eligible for Primetime Emmy awards thanks to a recent rule change allowing broadband programming to be nominated alongside any broadcast, cable or premium network show.
It has also increased its focus on children's programming in a move seen as taking a different tack than traditional premium pay TV channels such as HBO, Starz and Showtime, whose original shows are tailored more to adults.
In the Fourth Quarter of 2009, EPIX will launch its next-generation premium entertainment channel, video on demand and Internet service that combines new and classic feature films and original programming, including series, music and comedy specials.
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