The Sphere at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas has formally opened its auditorium with 18,000 seats and a massive immersive 19,000×13,500-pixel wraparound screen. The exterior of the sphere, called the exosphere, is also a screen. With 1.2 million programmable lights, it is the largest LED screen on Earth. Costing over $2 billion to build, the Sphere is the most expensive entertainment venue in the city and at 111 meters tall it is the largest spherical building in the world. A similar venue has been announced for London, planning permission permitting.
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A parliamentary committee in the United Kingdom has called for strengthening of obligations on smart televisions and other devices to ensure that public services are prominent on their platforms. It is calling for ‘significant’ rather than ‘appropriate’ prominence in listings and searches on connected devices, so that public service media is always carried and easy to find.
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LG says it is suspending support for the ATSC 3.0 NextGenTV standard for 2024 models of televisions in the United States. However, contrary to some reports, it looks like a warning shot in a negotiation over patents and whether royalties are payable on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.
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Having risen rapidly in recent years, revenues from online video services will continue to increase but at a lower rate. Global revenues from online video subscription services will reach $127 billion by 2029, up from $107 billion in 2023. Revenues for advertising supported online video services will rise to $69 billion, up from $39 billion in 2023.
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Amazon Prime Video will introduce limited advertisements, although it says its shows and movies will have “meaningfully fewer ads” than traditional television and other online television providers. It will also offer an option without adverts for an additional $2.99 a month, although live programming such as sports will still include commercials. Meanwhile, Amazon is continuing to upgrade the viewing experience through its Fire TV ecosystem.
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Online television channels on smart televisions in the United Kingdom could be brought in line with existing rules under the communications regulator Ofcom. The Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer, outlined her plans in a speech at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention. She also launched a review into how changing viewing habits and technology will affect how programmes are delivered over the next decade and beyond.
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