Cynopsis: DIGITAL
6/19/07
Good Morning, it’s Tuesday, June 19, 2007 and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
Disgruntled shareholders got their wish. Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel will step aside, to be replaced by co-founder and long-time board member Jerry Yang. The board also named former EVP and head of the Advertiser and Publisher Group Susan Decker as President. Semel has faced criticism for months over the company’s online ad strategy as its new Panama search platform has failed to boost revenues thus far. He has also been questioned for sitting on the sidelines of the latest acquisition binge that included Google buying YouTube and Microsoft snapping up DoubleClick. Yang gave a pep talk to investors on Yahoo’s company blog, looking forward to a Yahoo that differentiates its products and better monetizes its audience.
Brightcove signed a deal to become the online video platform for the Fox Entertainment Group, naming Fox, FX and Speed as the first ad supported channels to be launched. FEG will use Brightcove to syndicate content throughout its network, allowing it to be shared, mashed up and embedded on blogs and social networking pages. The announcement follows CBS’s deal to use Brightcove to syndicate CBS News properties, but it is the first network deal to enable sharable, embeddable video code.
The Weather Channel signed a deal with MSNBC.com to become the site’s exclusive weather provider, providing customizable forecasts, maps and current conditions. MSNBC.com’s newly revamped weather section links back to hourly and extended forecasts on Weather.com and stories and videos on TWC’s climate-themed Forecast Earth.
ESPN launched a new casual gaming section to its site featuring sports, cards and puzzle games supplied by game developer Skyworks. ESPN Arcade offerings are all ad supported and Flash-based, requiring no download. Casual gaming is growing like gangbusters in the U.S. among women; it will be interesting to see if guys will pick up on the trend.
NBC.com announced it has served “a third of a billion” video streams since launching its full episode video player in October of 2006. Full episodes of 11 shows are currently available along with clips from the new fall season.
Nickelodeon’s virtual kids community Nicktropolis has signed nearly 4 million registered users since launching in late January, providing kids with a safe haven in which to create virtual rooms, play games and watch Nick videos. This month Nicktropolis will launch two new themed zones: Space Center and an area based on the Naked Brothers Band.
MTV Studio‘s Super Sweet 16: The Movie will be the first feature-length film to premiere on Verizon Wireless’ FLO TV service on June 29, prior to the movie’s on-air premiere and DVD release.
WCSN is launching a branded channel on YouTube to deliver Olympic and lifestyle sports programming and events that WCSN covers. WCSN also announced a partnership to supply AOL Video with video segments from more than 60 different sports including cycling, gymnastics and taekwondo.
Brisbane, California-based Glam Media overtook NBCU’s iVillage to become the top web property for women, according to ComScore’s data report for the month of May. Glam’s network of magazine sites and blogs covering beauty, fashion, health and shopping gathered 17.3 million unique users last month compared to 17.1 million for the still-growing iVillage.com. Glam negotiates long-term contracts with independently owned sites for a share of advertising they generate.
Digital media start-up MetaBeam introduced new social media modules for its Metamenu platform to enable DVD producers to create social media applications as bonus features within their movies. The Chatterflix feature allows viewers to have a conversation with other viewers watching the same movie. Fannotate offers a secure environment for viewers to input comments, tags, and customized mashups.
Sweden-based girls site Stardoll launched its first celebrity page based around punk-pop singer Avril Lavigne. Users can stream mp3s and videos of her songs, purchase merchandise and gather with friends to form private chat/listening parties.
Recommendation engine provider MyStrands raised $25 million in a second round of financing. The company plans to focus on delivering mobile advertising around the social networks that use its music recommendation services.
Blockbuster chose Sony’s Blue-ray format as its high def DVD format of choice, dealing a huge blow to the competing HD DVD format aligned with Microsoft’s Xbox gaming platform. The chain has been offering both formats side by side in a selection of stores since late last year and found that consumers chose Blue-ray discs 70% of the time. Blockbuster plans to expand its HD DVD offerings next month across its 1,450 stores.
Microsoft renamed its IPTV middleware platform “Mediaroom,” placing a bigger emphasis on multimedia and content sharing that should help providers differentiate their services from plain old cable. The new system will feature enhanced DVR, VOD and HD capability and improved music and photo sharing between the PC and TV. The company is also opening the platform to allow third party developers to create revenue-generating applications and adding new features such as picture-in-picture capability that allow users to view multiple views or channels at the same time. Ten service providers are currently deploying the Microsoft IPTV platform including AT&T’s U-Verse service in the U.S, which experienced more than its share of bugs with the system.
Cadillac signed on as presenting sponsor of Sundance Channel‘s upcoming Live From Abbey Road music documentary series premiering June 21 on the channel. The multiplatform deal includes placement of pre-roll “My Cadillac” vignettes that will go in front of on demand and online episodes from September. A web component for the show is already up and running.
Delivery Agent is producing music video “shopisodes” featuring Interscope Geffen A&M Records artists Pussycat Dolls showcasing retail items for purchase. The videos are streaming on the both band’s official website and a co-branded SeenOn! site , utilizing new “hotspotting” technology that enables users to click on an article of clothing one of the dolls are wearing to be directed to a point-of-purchase. The e-commerce deal is Delivery Agent’s first foray into the music business, following deals with many top media brands.
Online ad rep firm Gorilla Nation signed a deal to represent Playboy Online‘s network of sites, which reaches more than 6.4 million unique users a month according to the company.
Nielsen is considering a plan to make internet measurement mandatory in all of its TV households in order to insure broad coverage, according to MediaPost. The plan calls for installing new meters that would track online and TV usage simultaneously, in preparation of the eminent merger of Nielsen’s TV measurement firm with its online Net Ratings firm and its ongoing A2/M2 multiplatform measurement initiative. Several households recruited for an early test sample refused to add internet measurement due to privacy concerns.
Premium SMS revenues totaled more than $273 million in Q1 2007, according to the latest Telephia survey, accounting for nearly a third of all mobile content revenue. Within the SMS category, off portal store front purchases (such as ringtones) accounted for 79% of the revenue, followed by voting and sweepstakes entries (13%).
The national Edward R. Murrow awards were announced. The top web awards went to CNN.com (network), KING5.com (large market), WAFF.com (small market), KCBS.com (radio) and WashingtonPost.com (non-affiliated). Go to the RTNDA site for a complete list of winners.
Greg Verdino, VP/Director of Emerging Channels at Digitas, is leaving the Publicis Groupe digital shop to join new media marketing start-up Crayon as Chief Strategic Officer. He will help brands navigate emerging channels such as virtual worlds, blogs and podcasting.
Jonathan Bird’s Blue World is an underwater adventure series co-produced by Jonathan Bird himself and the non-profit Oceanic Research Group he presides over. The magazine-style podcasts each contain a complete adventure story with an educational component and feature some pretty stunning HD camera work. Bird, an author, cinematographer and former professor, knows how to talk excitedly to the camera to keep kids engaged. You can’t fake this kind of enthusiasm!
A new website will be featured here everyday for you to check out. Some are TV-centric, some creative, some just plain strange, but all have something to do with this crazy business. Email me your suggestions at [email protected] and if I include the site you mention, your name, company and city will be credited. Only one mention per calendar week, to make it fair.
New Cynopsis: Digital Glossary Entry:
Hotspotting – The practice of embedding hyperlinks within online video to enable users to click on actors, characters’ articles of clothing or other objects within the frame for more information or the opportunity to purchase.
Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digitals
06.19.07
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JOB OPENING: MKTG COORD/WE TV/NYC: Support Advertising/Brand w/mktg campaigns & events, admin & special projects. 1-3 yrs exp TV pref. Solid comp/comm skills. res to www.cablevision.jobs ref #3393BR. (6/26)
JOB OPENING: DIR- ADV & BRANDING/WE tv/NYC: 5+ yrs at TV Network w/brand mgmt or strategic agency exp. Creative/Media plan dev & Dig Mktg exp. MBA or Biz degree a + . Must love tv. www.cablevision.jobs ref # 3647BR (6/26)
JOB OPENING: SR RESEARCH DIR TNT/TBS/Court TV Ad Sales/NY:Strategic & innovative analyses & positioning, sales support. Key job req primry rsrch exp, proj mgmt, leadership/supv skills, 10+ yrs exp, [email protected] #72173BR (6/26)
JOB OPENING: W/P On Air Promos/CSTV,NY. Shoot, direct, write & prod topical, image and branding promos from concept to air. Promo exp req, sports background a+ . Send reel & resume: CSTV/Promos 85 Tenth Ave, 3rd Fl, NY NY 10011 (6/26)
JOB OPENING: DIR, TECH OPS/NY: Mng/Direct the operation of all IT syst, sys admin, brdcst assets, new bus ventures (web, interactive TV, VOD/SVOD). IT Systems & Brdcst exp a must. Fluent in Spanish & Eng. desired. Res: [email protected] (6/26)
JOB OPENING: PROMO WRITER/PRODUCER/EDITOR/2C Media/Miami Beach: Develop promo campaigns for major nat’l clients. Strong writing skills & strategic conceptual thinking a must, great editorial a plus! Contact: [email protected] (6/26)
JOB OPENING: MANAGER, NEW MEDIA BRAVO-NBC UNI/NY: Responsible for all new and emerging media platforms for Bravo. Min3 yrs related exp. www.nbcunicareers.com keyword job#604642 (6/26)
JOB OPENING: CREATIVE DEVELP: Assist, to manage dept. daily operations, file, track contracts, maintain database & assist in reviewing pitches. Req’d. Phtshp, Illust, Script& final draft. [email protected]. (6/23)
JOB OPENING: DIR LEGAL & BUS AFFAIRS/NatGeo/ Wash DC: Help guide our mission by leading a team w/ your JD + 5 yrs in TV, film or new media. Draft agreements & advise. Competitive salary & benes apply @ www.nationalgeographic.com (6/23)
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JOB OPENING: MGR, DIGITAL MEDIA & CONSUMER MKTG/National Geo Channel/Washington, DC: develop digital media, mktg & promo strategies to support NGC’s tune-in & awareness; 5+ yrs promo/mktg w/in media/entertain; www.foxcareers.com 6/23)
JOB OPENING: NATIONAL CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP SALES/WGBH’s Sponsorship Group for Public Television: sell nat’l sponsorship of WGBH & partner productions as integrated media packages to F500 corps, 5+yrs sales exp. [email protected] (6/23)
JOB OPENING: PROGRAM ACQ-SCHED MGR/HD VOD/Marina del Rey: Assist SVP in content acq, prog rights mgmt, schedules/playlists, screen & eval, licensing, buy reports; 2+ yrs. exp. TV or new media, adv Excel; [email protected] (6/23)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ASSOCIATE/Silver Spring MD: Support rsrch initiatives. 2yrs Rsrch exp. in Brdcst/Media pref. Quantitative/Qualitative rsrch background. Excellent growth opp. Apply: discovery.com/careers Position 5407 (6/22)
JOB OPENING: MANAGER OF STANDARDS & PRACTICES/MTV Tr3s/NYC: Review on-air & digital content for MTV Tr3s. Knowledge of FCC regulations. Bi-lingual Spanish. 3 yrs related experience. EOE/M/F/D/AAP www.mtvncareers.com (6/22)
JOB OPENING: SALES ASST/Oxygen/NY: Support 2 AEs and Sales Planner w/ all aspects of sales process. Must be detailed oriented w/strong PC Skills and a team player. 1+ yr cable exp or advertising agency. Resume to: [email protected] (6/21)
JOB OPENING: VP MKTG/ Retirement Living TV, DC/Balto area: BA, 7 yrs Sr Mgmt exp, tv or media exp req/ oversee dev of mktg strategies & campaigns, create & implement mktg plan, short to long term strategy, apply @ www.rl.tv (6/21)
JOB OPENING: PRODUCERS, ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS & FIELD PRODUCERS/NY based Nationally Syndicated TV show. All needed and each position must have experience in talk. RESUMES: [email protected] (6/21)
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JOB OPENING: COORD, PROGRAMMING/VERSUS/Stamford, CT: Assist w/all aspects of scheduling for fast growing sports cable net.1-2 yrs prior exp, knwldg/interest in sports & strong computer skills req’d.EOE.Apply at www.versus.com (6/20)
JOB OPENING: CONTENT DVLPMNT/RIGHTS MGR for NY Metro Area leading cable ntwrk.Leveraging content assets across multi-platform.Prod & Rights clearance exp. Req’d.Contract negotiation skills a +. Apply [email protected] (6/20)
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SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: WE Public Relations, NY, NY opportunity to learn the mechanics of a major cable network tv comm dept by working w/ the publicists & participate in daily ops. Visit www.cablevision.jobs req Id 3694 for more details. (6/23)
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SITUATION WANTED: ASST. PRODUCER/PROD. COORDINATOR/NYC: 3+yrs Freelance exp. Excellent skills incl. multitasking, organization, computer. Hard worker. Fast learner. Motivated. Available immediately. Contact: [email protected] (6/23)
SITUATION WANTED: CONSULTANT w/20 yrs transactional/biz affairs/biz dev/legal experience in cable, broadband, broadcast. Successful and creative solutions. Available project basis/hourly rate. contact [email protected] (6/21)
SITUATION WANTED: SALES /NYC. Exp. professional with strong interest in media looking to transfer Wall Street sales & analytical skills to ent. industry. Seeks position in sales dept. w/ability to learn & grow. [email protected] (6/20)
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