04/28/17: YouTube’s ad boycott woes don't sink Alphabet in Q1

Good morning. It’s Friday April 28, 2017 and this is your your first early morning Digital briefing!

TODAY’S CODEBREAKER

Hot spot: In digital advertising, a hot spot is an area of an ad unit which, when rolled-over by the user’s cursor, such rollover triggers an event (such as an expansion of the ad).

TOP NEWS

Facebook
is following in YouTube’s footsteps, adding a feature to Facebook Rights Manager that will allow content owners to claim ad earnings off of pirated content. Previously, copyright holders essentially had two options: Allow infringing videos to stand, or have them taken down. Now they they’ll be able to select an option that lets them collect the revenue from mid-roll ads that run during the video, instead of allowing those earnings to flow to the uploader. The new features also give rights-holders the ability to automate their response to stolen uploads, customizing rules for whether they’ll block such content, allow it to stand while being shown viewing metrics, claim the ad revenue, or have the video manually reviewed.

Looks like Alphabet has fared pretty well through that whole YouTube advertiser boycott. The Google parent reported $24.75 billion in Q1 revenue – a 22% year-over-year increase – and earnings-per-share of $7.73. That beat Wall Street’s projections of $24.22 billion in revenue and earnings-per-share of $7.39. The biggest driver of Google’s revenue growth was mobile search advertising. YouTube has lost a number of high-profile advertisers since reports surfaced last month that some video ads were running on hate speech videos. But Google has since taken steps to curtail such occurrences. Analysts offered mixed projections as to just how much the crisis would eat into revenue. But while Alphabet doesn’t break out revenue figures for YouTube, it seems evident that the fallout hasn’t been too catastrophic.

VIRTUAL MVPDS

According to Frost & Sullivan principal analyst Dan Rayburn, Sling TV ended Q1 with about 1.3 million subscribers. Rayburn, who also serves as EVP of StreamingMedia.com, explained in a post that his assessment was based on information that Sling TV has been passing around to Wall Street analysts. (The Dish Network-owned OTT TV service doesn’t actually make such info public.) Rayburn was somewhat bearish on the immediate future of the OTT TV space as a whole. “Between Sling TV, DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, YouTube TV, and soon to be Hulu, I expect there will be less than 3M subs to all the services combined, by the end of this year,” he wrote.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Entries are open for The Cynopsis Kids !magination Awards

For the sixth consecutive year, Cynopsis is honoring the best in children’s, tween and family programming across platforms, technology, marketing and prosocial campaigns. Winners will be recognized at the 6th annual awards event on September 19, 2017 in New York City.
Enter NOW (while early rates apply)

ADVERTISING

Ad tech firm AppNexus has launched new multimedia auction technology. While most real-time bidding auctions are for a single ad format, AppNexus’s multimedia auction lets a number of dfferent media types compete with one another for a single ad slot. AppNexus says its primary goal is to increase demand for each ad placement.

OTT + SVOD

Netflix’s ramp-up in East Asia doesn’t stop with its recent licensing arrangement in China. The streaming giant has also partnered with South Korean broadcasting company JTCBC. The deal gives Netflix around 600 hours of scripted and unscripted TV shows.

PLATFORMS, APPS + DEVICES

The Asia Pacific unit of Discovery Networks has reached two new digital partnerships in Asia. The company will partner with VS Media, a Chinese multichannel network, to launch Tanba, a new platform short-form video platform designed to stimulate learning. Tanba will be available via Chinese social media platforms, and via Facebook and YouTube in other Asian markets. (Discovery has held a minority stake in VS Media since last year.) In addition, Discovery partnered with Tabilabo, a digital media and tech company based in Japan. Under that deal, the two companies will work to create a new video advertising solution across both linear and digital platforms.

RESEARCH

How’s this for growth: According to a new study from Leichtman Research Growth, 69% of U.S. TV homes now have at least one TV set that’s connected to the internet through devices like Apple TV or Roku Players, via a smart TV, or through a connected Blu-ray player. The number sat at 50% in 2014, and 24% back in 2010. Make no mistake: It’s only going to keep going up. The survey, called Connected and HD TVs XIV, reached 1,204 U.S. adults.

According to the latest Internet Advertising Revenue Report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), digital video ad revenues amounted to $9.1 billion in 2016. The semi-annual report was conducted by PwC US. That $9.1 billion figure represents a major increase from 2015, when digital video ad revenues added up to $5.9 billion. All told, the report finds online ad revenue as a whole added up to $72.5 billion last year. That’s a 22% increase from 2015, when the online ad space added up to $59.6 billion in revenue. One other notable tidbit: At $36.6 billion, mobile accounted for more than half of all online ad revenue in 2016 – the first time that’s ever happened. Mobile video rose by almost 150%, hitting $4.2 billion last year.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Heather Brewster and Pasa Mustafa have joined the digital media company Keshet Digital Studios. Brewster, who will now serve as VP and Head of Development, has previously held positions at Smokebomb Entertainment and Fullscreen. Mustafa, who has been named Creative Director, had previously headed up digital originals for Endemol. Together, Brewster and Mustafa will oversee Keshet Digital Studio’s programming agenda.

TRIVIA

Actor Jon Hamm has appeared in two Netflix series. (Well, technically he appeared in one of the two shows before it had become a Netflix original.) What are the two series? (Email trivia@cynopsis.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, and state.)

Our Last Trivia Question: Hulu’s first TV ad, which ran during the 2009 Super Bowl, described the service as an “evil plot to destroy the world.” What well-known actor starred in the ad? Answer: Alec Baldwin. Kudos to Andy Pittman-TAMU/TX, Luke Watson-Roker Labs/NY, Louis Lewow-Lewow Media Group/GA, David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/CA, Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/CA, Jaime Brand-Fullscreen/NY, And Lorrie Shilling/CA

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Find the perfect match with CYNOPSIS JOBS

With our loyal and targeted audience of media professionals, feel confident that your posting is reaching the right audience for your company.

Thanks to the outstanding customer service from Cynopsis, my experience was easy and hassle free!
– HR Recruiter, Tennis Channel

For info on how to place a job ad – Email:
[email protected]

DIGITAL SPOTLIGHT

Gotta hand it to them: The New York Times did a pretty decent job of compressing a 36-hour visit to Tokyo into an experience lasting less than two minutes. 360-degree video can work wonders. Check it out here.

David Teich
Roberta Caploe Publisher @robertacaploe	Diane K Schwartz Senior Vice President Media Communications Group	Cynopsis Ad Sales Mike Farina \| 203-218-6480 VP, Sales	Cynopsis Job Listings Sales Trish Pihonak \| 203-899-8459 Director of Operations

CYNOPSISJOBS – For More jobs, please visit Cynopsis.com

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL AD OPS TRAFFICKER (PROJECT)/A+E Networks/NY: execute day-to-day tasks of the Ad Ops team, including the testing, execution, optimization & troubleshooting of all A+E Networks non-linear advertising campaigns. Full Info/Apply HERE (5/6)

JOB OPENING: SALES EXEC/DANNY LIPFORD: Seeking dynamic/highly motivated Eastern Regional Ad Mgr for its expanding nationally synd TV & Radio shows & Digital platforms. Min 5yrs direct sales exp. Proven track rec of working successfully w/lrg nat’l accounts. Home improvement, TV or Radio exp a +. Resumes HERE (5/6)

JOB OPENING: SR DIR, MARKETING & PARTNER INSIGHTS/Viacom/NYC: Strong number two to the dept VP. 8+yrs in ad sales related media rsrch. Dynamic individual with strong client facing exp to develop strategy, supervise, motivate, and mentoring a team. Full info/apply HERE (5/6)

JOB OPENING: INTEGRATION PRODUCER/Scripps Networks Interactive/Knoxville TN: Conceive/ write/produce mult creative solutions that meet advertisers’ goals, while also driving ratings for HGTV and DIY programming. 5+ yrs’ exp TV prod; BA deg broadcast, journalism or related field pref’d. Full info/apply HERE (5/6)

JOB OPENING: NATIONAL SALES MGR/WFAA-TV/Dallas: General supervision of & responsibility for, all nat’l sales efforts previous nat’l TV sales exp w/ a strong att to details & excellent knowledge of the DFW mkt. Min 4yrs brdcst sales. Full info/apply HERE (5/5)

JOB OPENING: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/OFFICE MGR/NYC: Phones, calendars, travel, filing, office tasks, tidying, PC proficient, good writing skills. Flexible schedule when needed. Resume: [email protected] (5/5)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT/NYC: Reality/non-fiction TV (not documentary) development for cable nets. Formats, casting, one sheets, editing skypes. Minimum 3+ yrs exp with established track record of shows on the air. Resume: [email protected] (5/5)

JOB OPENING: ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/NYC: Associate Producer for PBS documentary. Must have strong journalism background, extensive field experience, basic knowledge of gear, archive research and rights bibles. Absolutely must have strong knowledge of global politics/history. Min 4+ years exp. Resume: [email protected] (5/5)

JOB OPENING: DIR MARKETING/BBC America/NY: 8+ yrs industry exp dev and executing key mkting campaigns w/a focus on brand strategy, audience development and communications planning. Oversee asset production of key mkting campaigns & leverage cross-platform digital & social media mkting initiatives. Strong ancillary platform marketing strategy required. Full info/apply HERE (5/3)

JOB OPENING: LOG SCHEDULER/MBN/Springfield VA: Supports daily log creation for MBN. The Log Scheduler performs daily entries, communicates with various depts and creates daily log packets. Strong computer and organizational skills required. Traffic system exp. a plus. Full info/apply HERE (5/3)

JOB OPENING: SR ACCOUNT EXEC./Warner Bros. Digital Networks/LA: Responsible for performance against personal sales goals on a specific list of target accounts and agencies. Selling across WB’s portfolio of digital assets. 5+ yrs digital media sales exp. pref. with digital video sales exp. Full info/apply HERE (5/2)

JOB OPENING: PRGRM ACQUISITIONS MGR/Films Media Group/NY: 3+ yrs exp acquisi.; factual prgmng knwlg; solid ind contacts; exp: educ & learning; self-starter & deal-maker; BA/BS req, Res:
[email protected] EOE (5/2)

JOB OPENING: DIR RESEARCH & PLANNING/LPGA/FL: Lead market research, analytical tracking & data for partners. 7 yrs research exp. Strong kwldg of sports & golf pref’d. Resume to: http://bit.ly/2pII9lW (4/29)

JOB OPENING: MGR INT’L PR/LPGA/FL: Manage key int’l sports PR plans & media coverage. 5 yrs Int’l PR exp. Bilingual English/Asian language req’d. Strong kwldg of sports & golf pref’d. Resume to: http://bit.ly/2orxzMs (4/29)

JOB OPENING: SR MGR, REVENUE STRATEGY & ANALYTICS/Discovery Comm/NYC: Identify key revenue drivers and developing revenue strategies for the end-to-end Linear Ad Sales business. 7+yrs media sales exp. Full info/apply HERE (4/29)

JOB OPENING: SPONSORSHIP SALES-esports/NYC: Responsible for driving sponsorship revenue for mega esports events (US/Int’l). Candidate should have 7+ yrs of relevant exp. & knowledge of esports space. Resumes: [email protected] (4/29)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: TV PRODUCTION INTERNSHIP: National TV show, Raw Travel TV has opening for 1 serious intern interested in learning hands on TV production 4 college credit. Submit to [email protected] (5/6)