06/03/19: Cynopsis Media Tech Update

Good morning. It’s Monday, June 3, 2019 and this is your first Media Tech Update. Join us every Monday morning!

Amazon has positioned itself as a potentially serious competitor for Google’s ad business with the confirmation of its agreement to acquire the ad server operation of bankrupt ad tech firm Sizmek. Once the deal closes, Sizmek Ad Server and Sizmek DCO will operate separately from Amazon Advertising, at least at first, said the company on its website. “Sizmek and Amazon Advertising have many mutual customers, so we know how valued these proven solutions are to their customer base,” said Amazon. “Sizmek has been searching for a buyer for Sizmek Ad Server and Sizmek DCO, and we are both committed to continuing serving their customers at the high standards they’ve come to expect.” Sizmek declared bankruptcy in March.

Foursquare has agreed to buy location-based measurement company Placed from Snap Inc. Placed Attribution will become Foursquare’s flagship measurement product, and Placed founder and CEO David Shim is joining Foursquare as president. Snap acquired Placed in 2017; its partnership with Foursquare, which powers Snap Geofilters, will continue.

The Trade Desk stock closed at $201.89 on Thursday, up almost 74% for the year and over 270% in the last two years (it closed at 198.81 on Friday). Pivotal Research analyst Michael Levine called the company a “truly unique asset, growing at among the fastest rates in the industry as they penetrate the opportunity in programmatic advertising.” TTD recently launched its programmatic platform in China, allowing multinational advertisers to work with a Western agency to easily buy ads in China, and is diving deeper into connected TV, with the number of advertisers running connected TV on its platform up 100% over the past year.

Extreme Reach announced the launch of AdBridge for Sellers, a solution aimed at helping teams ensure that ads align with content, connecting the buy and sell sides to simplify the distribution of ad creative to OTT, VOD, CTV, digital and linear TV. “Fragmentation of audience based on new and innovative video delivery platforms is creating complexity on the sell side as ads need to be positioned everywhere,” said Bunker Sessions, VP Sell-Side Solutions at Extreme Reach. “AdBridge for Sellers is shedding light on these challenges and the friction that exists in campaign execution on the sell-side.”

Comcast is set to launch a new commercial-free, on-demand movie service called Hitz that will replace Cinemax in some channel packages. The service, which will feature over 200 movies from a variety of studios and rotate over time, will be available at part of Xfinity Premier, Super and certain other TV packages at no extra cost. For Xfinity subscribers who still want Cinemax for its original content, Comcast will continue to sell $12-per-month subscriptions to the premium channel.

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RESEARCH

Blockgraph released “Building the Future of Data Driven TV: The Quest to Create a Safe Identity Layer for the Industry,” a report that offers advice for companies moving towards the data-driven future and the findings from a survey of over 150 advertisers and agencies commissioned from Advertiser Perceptions. According to the survey, the mean percentage of advertisers’ total TV spend that is data-enabled has grown at a 42% three-year compound annual growth rate, and it appears that growth is about to accelerate in 2020. There was 20% TV spend data-enabled in 2018 and 29% in 2019, and the number is expected to reach 40% in 2020. “Our research confirmed that advertisers are optimistic about applying data to TV as they shift toward audience-based buying… However, they also recognize that a number of challenges must be solved before TV can realize its full, data driven potential,” said Jason Manningham, General Manager, Blockgraph.

Most adults see technology as the biggest driver of change and think that that’s a good thing, according to findings in the seventh annual trends report by Ford. The report examines the drivers of behavioral change around the world via a survey of 13,000 adults, conducted by Harris Insights and Analytics. Some 87% of adults say technology is the biggest driver of today’s change, while 79% say that technology is a force for good. However, that doesn’t mean that consumers like all tech prompted change. Some 69% of millennials, 68% of Gen Z, 62% of Gen X and 53% of Baby Boomers would like to undo some behavioral changes that happened because of technology.

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LEGAL ISSUES

Google is being investigated by the US Justice Department for possible anti-trust violations regarding search and advertising policies, reports the Wall Street Journal. The investigation is based on complaints forwarded to the Justice Department by the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC closed an investigation into Google in 2013 after the company said it would make changes to its search practices.

Apple has been sued by three consumers who live in Rhode Island and Michigan and allege the company violated their privacy by sharing information about their music listening habits with third parties. The lawsuit was filed in California and alleges that Apple has been selling this data directly and also giving iOS app developers access to other related data. The plaintiffs are seeing class-action status for their lawsuit. If found guilty, Apple could be forced to pay damages to residents of the two states who had their music listening habits disclosed.

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DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION & TRADE MARKETING/Viacom International Media/NYC: Plan & mng trade events. Mng Viacom’s international B2B branding. Min 7 yrs mktg exp within Product Licensing, Trade Marketing or Business to Business (B2B) mktg. Full info HERE (6/18)

DIRECTOR, TALENT DEVELOPMENT/PAC-12/SF: Identify, evaluate, and recruit on-air talent for the Pac-12 Networks. Full info/apply: HERE (6/18)

MARKETING RESEARCH MGR/ION/NYC: Arm the sales team with network performance metrics, competitive advantages, and thoughtful research stories. The ideal candidate for this role has a hybrid skill set of both data analysis and storytelling ability. Exp w/Nielsen research & other research tools. Full info HERE (6/18)

WRITER/PRODUCER ON-AIR PROMOTIONS/YES Network/Stamford: Resp for writing/producing daily topical promo & image spots for all YES Network properties. Candidate must have 5+ years’ experience in On-Air Promotions or similar agency/production company. Full info HERE (6/14)

MOTION GRAPHICS DESIGNER/Yes Network/Stamford CT: Seeking a highly-creative, passionate and curious designer who will constantly strive to stay ahead of relevant design and communication trend. 3+ yrs broadcast design and animation exp. Full info HERE (6/14)

DIRECTOR, BUSINESS & LEGAL AFFAIRS/Discovery/NYC: Looking for an experienced business and legal affairs exec to provide network support, responsibilities include handling deal negotiations & drafting/review of agreements for development, production & acquisition of docs and nonscripted TV programs. Full info HERE (6/14)

RESEARCH MANAGER/Discovery/LA: Strategic mind to utilize Nielsen ratings to inform prgmming, mktg, press, biz strategies. Turn data into stories w/ actionable/valuable. Find consumer insights/trends to support aud building initiatives, Expert on changing TV landscape. 4+ yrs TV rsrch req. Full info HERE (6/13)

MGR, DIGITAL AUDIENCE ANALYTICS/BET/NYC: Resp for a portfolio of media platforms (incl linear TV, video, VOD, social media, etc.) using primary & syndicated research tools/methods. Min 2+ yrs of digital media rsrch exp. Exp working w/cross-platform rsrch incl VOD and OTT/Advanced TV platforms. Full info HERE (6/13)

AD SALES – ACCOUNT SERVICE REP/Crown Media Family Networks/NY: This position is responsible for maintaining and growing business on the assigned agency list, training and mentoring Sales Planners and Sales Assistants in the company and acting as liaison for the Sales team in key areas of sales development, marketing and research. BA/BS req & Min 2 yrs exp. Apply HERE (6/13)

PRODUCER/WRIGLEY MEDIA GROUP/Lexington, KY: Seeking energetic and experienced PRODUCER for work on creative projects ranging from corporate and branded to original TV & digital programming. 3 – 5 yrs TV/media prod experience incl editing field & prod. Full info HERE (6/12)

MANAGER, AD SALES RESEARCH/UPtv/NYC: Well-rounded & exp’d ad Sales rsrchr – adept at using ratings, mktg analytics & custom data to create a complete & accurate picture. 5+ yrs ad sales rsrch exp. Fast thinking, collaborative, data miner & strategic storyteller. Join an amazing Team & have an impact. Full info HERE (6/12)

MARKETING MGR/CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR/NYC: work closely w/sales team to develop and lead dynamic media presentations to grow our client partnerships across the NE region NY specific. 3-5 yrs mktg and/or Advertising experience. Media experience preferred. Full info and apply HERE (6/11)

WRITER/E! People’s Choice Awards (E!)/Universal City: Write daily articles for PCA’s website on E! Online. Voting preparation in coord w/mktg on categories, celebs selection, voting tool entry & updating nominee’s lists. Min 1yr prior writing and/or editing exp pref an online ent news org. Strong knwldg pop culter ent news. Full info HERE (6/7)

MEDIA MGR, NATIONAL ACCOUNTS/Ad Council/NYC: Responsible for building/managing relationships w/existing & potential media partners that will help us drive impact for Ad Council’s 40+ social impact campaigns. Prospect new business w/a focus on growth areas such as streaming audio, OTT & new video platforms etc. Full info/apply HERE (6/7)

SALES PLANNER/UP TV/NYC: Resp. for dev/implementing media proposals and working directly with Acct Execs. and Pricing & Planning. College deg. & 1+ yrs cable exp. in ad sales ind. Strong Microsoft Office & DealMaker skills a +. Good comm, interpersonal & organzt’l skills. Send Resume: HERE (6/7)

AD SALES ASSISTANT DIRECT RESPONSE/OPPORTUNITY MEDIA/NYC/LI: Seeking an energetic achiever w/excellent written & organizational skills for role to assist in supporting growing revenue for dynamic DR Team: BA Degree, Min 2 yrs DR Experience req. Wide Orbit Knowledge a + Full info HERE (6/7)

SR SYSTEMS ENGINEER/GSN/SM: 8+ yrs. Active Directory, Azure, VMWare, Veeam, Office 365, Power Shell, OS: Server 2012, 2016, Windows 10, Mac OS, Storage Area Networks, telephony, network routing, and switching, OS and network security. Lead and mentor other Engineers and IT staff. Full info and to apply HERE (6/6)

PROJECT MANAGER/WideOrbit/NYC: Partner closely w/clients, overseeing large, complex implementation projects. 5+ yrs exp managing/delivering enterprise software or IT projects, Media indstry exp, Knwldg of proposal & inv mngmnt systems used by nat’l cable networks is highly desirable. Full info HERE (6/6)

FREELANCE STRATEGIC PLANNING & OPS COORDINATOR/Nickelodeon Velocity/NY: Support VP in all strategic planning ops, communications & training initiatives for Nick team that dvlps custom mktg campaigns for Advertising partners. Proactive/strategic thinker with excellent comm skills. 2-4 yrs of mktg or strategy plan’g exp. Full info HERE (6/6)

INVENTORY & PLANNING MGR/Katz Networks (Bounce, Court TV, Escape, Grit, Laff, Brown Sugar) /NYC: Support VP, Pricing, Planning and Inventory w/all things related to inventory & managing the day to day business processes & sales assistants & planners. Min 5-7 yrs exp including; sales planner exp and/or Inventory mngmnt and commercial operations. Full info HERE (6/6)

SALES DIRECTORS/VideoAmp/NY/LA/Chicago: Experts needed to identify opportunity, articulate value & close deals that deliver value to clients & VideoAmp a must. Dedication to value-based solution selling & delivering value for clients. Exceptional track rec for breaking into & building major acct relationships. Full info HERE (6/4)

AD SALES ASSISTANT/Weather/NYC: Provide support to Ad Sales Acct Execs to srvc clients, and all aspects of media schedules. Extremely detail oriented w/orgnzt’l skills to keep efficient work sched. BS or 2 yrs exp. req. Full info HERE (6/4)

BRAND DIRECTOR/NBC 7 & TELEMUNDO/San Diego: Ensure all platforms are consistent with the overall voice and tone of our stations’ images. BA deg or equivalent work exp. Min 5 yrs of mktg, brand development, or creative prod exp. Working knowledge of editing platforms, final cut pro. Full info HERE (6/4)