VERIZON TAKING ON NETFLIX

According to Reuters, Verizon is getting ready to enter the streaming media market. Reports are that the company is in talks with programming partners to provide content for a Netflix-like video service that it could offer to customers not currently covered by its high-speed FiOS network. Obviously, details are scant, and there's no telling when it might actually launch, but you can bet its competitors will be watching closely

GOGO AND AMERICAN AIRLINES TO OFFER IN-FLIGHT STREAMING MOVIES

Gogo Wireless announced its first foray into wireless movie streaming on Wednesday, signing up American Airlines as its first partner. AA said it plans to roll out the technology across its fifteen Boeing 767-200 aircraft, and what AA is calling its "Entertainment on Demand" service is now available on flights between San Francisco and New York/JFK, as well as the Los Angeles-New York/JFK service.

American will charge an "introductory" price of 99 cents per TV show and $3.99 per movie, the company said. Users will need to own a "select personal Wi-Fi-enabled laptop" that is compatible with the service; support for Apple iPhones and iPads is coming soon, according to the American Entertainment on Demand page.

Once streamed, however, the movies will remain on a user's laptop, and available for 24 hours; TV shows will remain viewable for 72 hours. American will stock more than 100 movies and TV shows from major Hollywood studios, with the option to stream a trailer before making a selection.

HULU STRIKES CONTENT DEAL WITH FOX AND DISNEY, NBC IN TALKS

Now that Hulu's owners have apparently decided the best thing to do is sell it to someone else, long arrangements for content are needed to bring the highest price. Bloomberg is reporting that after cutting a deal with Fox a few days ago Hulu has now tentatively reached a deal with another of its owners, Disney. While both arrangements could keep the TV shows flowing, they also reportedly include provisions to increase the number of ads shown on the service. That would also put it in position to reach a similar agreement with Comcast-owned NBCUniversal, because of the media giant's FCC promise to reach similar agreements as its competitors for online content.

RUMOR: YAHOO LOOKING TO ACQUIRE HULU

According to the LA Times, Yahoo Inc. recently approached Hulu to discuss a possible acquisition of the popular online video service, citing a source with knowledge of the matter. Hulu, whose owners include media giants News Corp., Walt Disney Co. and Comcast Corp., has been struggling to find a balance between the desires of consumers to watch shows free online and its owners' interest in protecting the value of their programming. Late last year, it launched a paid subscription service to complement its free offerings.

Although there has been interest in the company, it remains unclear whether its owners have any desire to sell. Hulu has not taken any traditional steps associated with a sale such as retaining an investment bank to field offers. However, it is currently undergoing a restructuring that would give Chief Executive Jason Kilar and his executive team greater autonomy while imposing new rules on the availability of television content.

On Tuesday afternoon, word of the unsolicited offer spread and was subsequently confirmed by people close to the company. It is not known whether the offer came from Yahoo or another entity. Spokespersons for Yahoo, Hulu, News Corp. and Comcast declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CBS TO REMOVE SOME SHOWTIME SHOWS FROM NETFLIX

CBS confirmed today with Dow Jones that it will pull some of its Showtime television shows from Netflix, and apparently Netflix is pretty shocked by the news. A Showtime spokesperson said that it will remove the episodes of shows that are currently still airing on television from Netflix’s portfolio when the current partnership deal between the CBS and Netflix ends this summer.

“We’re perplexed by this,” Steve Swasey, a Netflix spokesperson told Dow Jones. “We have great Showtime shows available on our service, and we expect to continue with those shows. We have a very good relationship with CBS and all its channels.” Two popular shows that are currently offered by Netflix and are still airing are “Californication” and “Dexter.”

RUMOR: HULU'S CEO JASON KILAR TO BE FIRED

Business Insider is reporting that the guiding hand behind the rise of Hulu is about to be fired. Sources within News Corp say it is as "good as done" and that it has been in the works for some time now.

Hulu is locked in heated negotiations with content providers over how shows should be consumed on the internet and what the cost should be. Kilar believes all content should be made available on-demand, but others are on the opposite end of that thinking. If the rumor is true, it will be interesting to see what direction Hulu takes after Kilar's departure.

RUMOR: AMAZON LAUNCHING STREAMING MOVIES FOR PRIME SUBSCRIBERS

A rumor is circulating that Amazon will soon be launching a Netflix movie/tv streaming service. The rumor goes on to say that the service will launch free for Amazon's Prime subscribers. Currently, Prime subscribers pay $79/year for a few reduced/free shipping options. Adding a streaming service to their subscription will definitely help boost the value.

The selection will have "unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of 5,000 movies and TV shows" with selections that mirror the Watch Instantly catalog closely. Resolution is apparently limited to a "pretty solid" 480p SD, but there's no word on audio or subtitle options.

Also helping to fuel the rumor, the domain primeinstantvideos.com has been registered by Amazon's DPReview.

NETFLIX LOOKING TO STREAM CURRENT TV EPISODES

The New York Post is reporting that DVD rental giant Netflix has been in talks with television studios as they try to acquire the rights to in-season TV episodes. The Post cites “a person familiar with the matter” and writes that Netflix is willing to offer content owners between $70,000 and $100,000 per episode for more current media. The in-season episodes would bolster Netflix’s somewhat dusty streaming content lineup. The report goes on to note that a current hiccup in the negotiations is between studios and broadcast networks. Studios are claiming to own the streaming rights to content produced for television networks while TV network executives are also laying claim to the same rights.

As of late, Netflix has turned its focus to streaming media services; recently the company announced the addition of a streaming-only monthly subscription plan in the U.S., something it has never offered before. Netflix declined to comment on the report when asked by the New York Post. [BGR]