APPS + PLATFORMS
Google is extending a number of tools to publishers, including products that support data visualization, insights, and integration. The company aims to grant publishers access to types of information that were already available to advertisers. Publishers will now able to see and create audience segments based on users’ interests and demographics, and then use that info to support programmatic ad campaigns through DoubleClick Bid Manager. The new publisher tools come as part of Google’s recently announced Insights Engine Project, an effort to bring machine learning to Google’s DoubleClick offerings for publishers, and to share more data with publishers in general.
At its “Made by Google” event in San Francisco, Google announced a slew of new and updated devices. Those included the 5-inch Pixel 2 and 6-inch Pixel 2XL, the newest entries into Google’s original line of smartphones. The company also announced the Google Home Mini and Google Home Max, two new smart speakers. From a digital media perspective, perhaps the most notable announcement involved the newly-announced Pixelbook laptop: Google says it’s been working with Snap Inc. to bring an optimized version of Snapchat to the device. No word yet on when the Snapchat integration will be available; the Pixelbook itself will be in stores starting October 31, selling for $999.
Netflix has launched Stranger Things: The Game. Designed to promote the October 27 premiere of the shows’ second season, the mobile game mimics the look and feel ‘80s arcade games. (Mighty appropriate, given show’s ‘80s setting and aesthetic.) Complete with 8-bit style graphics and goofy beeping sound effects, the game lets users explore the show’s setting, solve puzzles, and fight an assortment of enemies. Stranger Things: The Game was developed by indie studio BonusXP. It’s available for both Android and iOS devices.
ADVERTISING
Adelphic, the mobile-first demand-side platform owned by Time Inc.’s Viant, announced that it has added digital out-of-home ad inventory. Specifically, the inventory is available on its platform through the Private Marketplace of ad tech company Rubicon Project. Two other partnerships figure prominently into the new integration: Clear Channel Outdoor Americas will provide ad inventory, and marketers will have access to Captivate’s network of out-of-home screens. Enplay, an out-of-home ad agency within MDC Media Partners, has already signed on to access Adelphic’s new inventory for its clients.
CYNOPSIS SALARY SURVEY
PROGRAMMING
Netflix will stream an upcoming variety show from Hilarity for Charity, the Alzheimer’s awareness organization led by Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen. The show, which will feature an assortment of comedic and musical guests (all yet to be announced), is slated run early next year in Los Angeles. It’ll be shot in front of a live audience.
OTT + SVOD
Quebec officials put forward a proposal to impose a provincial sales tax on U.S.-based streaming services like Netflix and Amazon. The proposal comes shortly after the Canadian federal government announced that it wouldn’t require U.S. digital services to collect a goods-and-services tax from subscribers.
MEASURING UP
Tubular Top Ten Global Sponsored Videos Monday, September 25, 2017 – Sunday, October 1, 2017. Based on Tubular Video Ratings measuring 8 million video publishers, 3 billion videos, and 400 million viewers. Sponsored videos are ranked by V3, total views in the first three days after upload.
SHAREABLEE SOCIAL TV RATINGS: Top 10 U.S. Primetime and Streaming Shows for September 25 – October 1. Based on Shareablee’s Video Power Index (VPI), which combines viewing, consumer interactions and audience scale across all active platforms, and includes the video performance of primetime and streaming shows.
Source: Shareablee Inc. The total actions metric includes the total volume of post-level likes, shares, favorites, retweets and comments across social platforms.
Tweet of the week: @theNiaLangley: OH MY DAYS. AMELIA! OH MY DAYS. WOWOWOW. #GreysAnatomy #TGIT
Canvs, the emotion measurement company, analyzed tweets about TV and streaming programming from Sept. 27 through Oct. 3 using Twitter data from Nielsen. Insights from the 2,461,215 tweets expressing a specific Emotional Reaction (ER) include:
– There was an outpouring of congratulatory messages as the Boston Red Sox clinched the AL East championship in a game against the Houston Astros, which was broadcast on Fox.
– A sizeable amount of negativity swirled around the Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers NFL game (broadcast on NFL Network/NBC in local markets), with people scorning the Bears after linebacker Danny Trevathan delivered a nasty hit to Packers wide receiver Davante Adams that resulted in him being taken off the field on a stretcher.
– People went crazy for the season premiere of Grey’s Anatomy on ABC, with the final moments in particular evoking plenty of viewer shock when it was revealed that Amelia (portrayed by Caterina Scorsone) had a tumor.
– The latest episode of American Horror Story: Cult on FX had viewers scared to the point that many said they were going to have nightmares.
– Canvs
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Group Nine Media, the Discovery Communications-backed digital media company that launched last year, has hired Adam Shlachter. The agency veteran most recently served as President of Global Innovation at PMX, the investment arm of Publicis Media. At Group Nine, he’ll serve as Chief Marketing Officer for Advertising and Creative Services, a newly created position. He’ll head up Group Nine’s marketing-solutions division, overseeing efforts such as ad strategy, creative services, and branded content production. Group Nine’s brands include Thrillist, NowThis, Seeker, and The Dodo.
Ad-Juster, a provider of data reporting and analytics for digital advertising, has named Dennis Clerke as its new CEO. Clerke most recently served as President of Monetization of the ad tech company NetSeer.
Fantasy sports giant DraftKings announced that it has hired Ezra Kucharz as its new Chief Business Officer. In the newly created role, Kucharz will oversee business development and corporate development, and will work to expand the company’s digital content through ad sales. He previously spent over seven years at CBS Corporation, first serving as President of Local Digital Media, and then as a Special Advisor to CEO Leslie Moonves.
TRIVIA
One of the co-creators of Big Mouth, the adult-oriented animated series that recently premiered on Netflix, spent years as a writer and producer for Fox’s Family Guy. What’s his name? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and state.)
Our Last Trivia Question: David Harbour, best known for playing police chief Jim Hopper on Netflix’s Stranger Things, once had a role in a James Bond movie. Which one? Answer: Quantum of Solace. Kudos to Andrew Bellamy-Producers Guild of America/NY, Andy Pittman-TAMU/TX, Alejandro Sacasa-Albavision/FL, Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/CA, David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/CA, Lorrie Shilling/CA, and Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/CA
