10/09/17: AOL to shut down AOL Instant Messenger

Good morning. It’s Monday October 9, 2017 and this is your your first early morning Digital briefing!

TODAY’S CODEBREAKER

Hreflang Attribute: A Hreflang Attribute (also known as a Hreflang Tag) is a code in the html of a website that tells search engines like Google which spoken language a webpage is using. Search engines can then serve the correct result to users searching in a specific language.

JUST IN…

If you’re a millennial, a part of your childhood is about to die. AOL announced it’s shutting down AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) on December 15. Users will have access to the service until that date. Afterwards, all of their data – including their buddy lists – will be deleted. The messaging service first launched in 1997.

Group Nine Media, the digital media company backed by Discovery Communications, announced the formation of Group Nine Social Studios. The new unit will develop original short- and mid-form social content for external platforms and partners. Group Nine Social Studios is a part of Group Nine Studios, the company’s production division. Based in L.A., the unit will be led by Senior Director of Development Jeffrey Wisenbaugh, and overseen by Head of Development Hayley Lozitsky. Not surprisingly, the unit’s first partner is Discovery Communications: Group Nine Social Studios will develop and produce content for Discovery Digital.

OTT + SVOD

U.S. Netflix subs weren’t the only ones that were hit with price increases. New U.K. subscribers will now have to pay £7.99 per month for the standard two-stream HD plan, a 7% increase over the previous £7.49 price. And the price of Netflix’s premium four-stream plan, which allows access to some 4K video content, has increased by 10 percent for U.K. subscribers, from £8.99 per month to £9.99 per month. Current subs won’t see the price increases until November. In addition to the U.S. and U.K., Netflix is raising fees in Germany and France. The company already hiked prices for a number of other territories, including Latin America, the Nordics and Canada, earlier in the year.

Netflix’s DVD-by-mail business is a thing of the past, right? Actually, no: There are still 3.7 million U.S. subscribers who make use of it. That may pale in comparison to the service’s nearly 52 million U.S. streaming subscribers, but it’s not nothing. And as Recode explained in a recent story, the DVD subs won’t be affected by Netflix’s new price hike. In fact, they weren’t even affected by the last one. DVD subscribers still pay $7.99 per month; Netflix has given no sign that the price is going to change anytime soon.

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APPS + PLATFORMS

Facebook has dealt with some scandals lately, including the revelation that thousands of Russian ads appeared on the platform during the 2016 election. But as detailed in a new piece from Business Insider, Wall Street doesn’t seem to care very much. In late September, Deutsche Bank raised its estimates and price target for the company to $220 per share. Bloomberg estimates that Facebook will generate $9.8 billion in revenue during Q3, a 40% year-over-year increase. And 42 of the 47 top Wall Street analysts covering Facebook currently have a “buy” ratings on its stock. The company’s Q3 earnings report, which comes on November 1, will tell us more – but most analysts expect it to be very strong. Suffice to say, Facebook may be facing some PR troubles, but it’s likely to weather the storm just fine. You can check out the BI article here.

Facebook has released a beta version of Workplace Chat, a new desktop-based messaging service geared toward businesses. The app lets users send group and individual messages in a window that doesn’t get lost amongst web-browser tabs. (Yes, it’s basically a Slack competitor.) The new beta product is available for devices that run Windows 7 or higher, and devices that run macOS 10.9 or higher.

INFLUENCERS

YouTube ran into conflict with Casey Neistat, one of the platform’s most popular creators. In a recent video, Neistat announced his new “#LoveArmyLasVegas” campaign, designed to raise money for victims of the Las Vegas shooting and their families. He also announced that all ad revenue for the video would go to charity. The problem: YouTube immediately demonetized the video. When Neistat took to social media to express his outrage, YouTube responded that its policy is not to run ads on any videos about tragedies.

RESEARCH

Interpublic’s Magna and IPG Media Lab units published the results of a new scientific market trial. Their most significant conclusion: Interactive video ads that are seen on mobile devices, desktops or tablets generate attention levels that are similar to those generated by TV ads. The report, called The Interactive Effect: A Key to Surviving in the Attention Economy of a Mobile-First World, surveyed an online panel of 2,157 users. It was conducted in partnership with Tremor Video DSP. The study found that interactive video units make ads 32% more memorable than non-interactive ads – whether or not consumers are actually interacting with them. “Such attention metrics are normally reserved for the viewing of television advertisements and contradict the prevailing conventional wisdom that shorter is better for capturing consumers’ attention,” wrote Ariane Gut, Tremor Video DSP’s VP, Head of Insights and Analytics.

UPCOMING DIGITAL PROGRAMMING…

… for the week of Monday, Monday, October 9, through Sunday, October 15

– People Now at People.com, Monday-Friday at 8:30 AM ET and 11:30 AM ET.

– Netflix: Christina P: Mother Inferior, a new comedy special, debuts Tuesday, October 10

– Hulu: Season 2 of Chance debuts Wednesday, October 11

– Hulu: I Love You, America, a Sarah Silverman-hosted weekly topical series, debuts Thursday, October 12

– Netflix: The Babysitter, a new horror-comedy film, debuts Friday, October 13

– Netflix: El Especial de Alex Fernández, el Especial, a new comedy special, debuts Friday, October 13

– Netflix: Kingdom of Us, a new documentary film, debuts Friday, October 13

– Netflix: The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected), the newest feature film from director Noah Baumbach, debuts Friday, October 13

– Netflix: Mindhunter, an original drama series from David Fincher, debuts Friday, October 13

– Netflix: Animated family series Super Monsters debuts Friday, October 13

– Netflix: Animated family Voltron: Legendary Defender debuts Friday, October 13

– Amazon Video: Lore, a new anthology series from The Walking Dead producer Gale Anne Hurd, debuts Friday, October 13

– Amazon Video: Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, a new family series, debuts Friday, October 13

TRIVIA

Our Last Trivia Question: Which veteran comedian stars as a fictionalized version of herself in Netflix’s Lady Dynamite? Answer: Maria Bamford. Kudos to Andy Pittman-TAMU/TX, Candice Cain-Gemelli Films/NY, Andrew Bellamy-Producers Guild of America/NY, Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/CA, David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/CA, Lorrie Shilling/CA, Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/CA, Samantha Wessel-NBCUniversal/CA, Aaron Paquette-Screen Engine/ASI/TX, and Anjali Desai-Departure Films/NY

Since 2010, Maria Bamford has provided a number of voices for a Cartoon Network animated series. Which one? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and state.)

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Deadline is this month!

Cynopsis Digital’s Model D & “It List” Awards

Nov. 10, 12pm – 2pm | ThreeSixty | New York City

The Cynopsis Model D Awards brings together innovators and creators at the forefront of online video, elevating the industry with their contributions to branded content, technology, ad campaigns and original content. We’ll also be celebrating our honorees who will be named to the Cynopsis Digital “It List” , recognizing digital media’s movers and shakers.

SEE MODEL D FINALISTS SEE “IT LIST” HONOREES REGISTER YOUR TEAM

SHORT FORM SPOTLIGHT

San Junipero, the Emmy-winning installment of Netflix’s Black Mirror, imagines a future where a human being can download her consciousness into a computerized reality. The logical question is…did Ross from Friends predict all this before it happened? Netflix seems to think so. A new video posted on the service’s YouTube page – titled, simply, The One Where Ross Invents San Junipero – might just blow your mind. Watch it 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: SR RESEARCH ANALYST AD SALES/GSN/NY: 2yrs exp in Media (TV, Digital, Social, CBL) Knowledge/Skill in (Nielsen NPower, Nielsen AdViews, comScore, Rentrak, Wide Orbit, Custom Show & Simmons) Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint & Excel) Detail Oriented. Send res and CL to [email protected] (10/14)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS/BBCWA/NYC: Design/deliver short & long-term strategic plans related to internal comms & events, as well as external corp comm. Apply if you are bright, energetic & enthusiastic about BBC brand values & content. Min 4-6 yrs exp. Full info HERE (10/14)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATION/IFC/Santa Monica: Supervise physical prod & administrate contractual payments for all IFC Originals; Interact w/3rd party prod entities ensuring compliance guidelines. Able to cultivate prod relations w/industry contacts externally & internally. Full info/apply HERE (10/14)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCTION COORD/UP/ATL: Provide creative & admin supprt to SVP, Prod. & Dev.; mgt prod. sched; deliver treatments, scripts, rough cuts, etc.; serve as liaison to Ad Sales Exec & prod. companies; At least 1 yr exp. in T.V. or film prod. Strong verbal, written & org skills. Full info/apply HERE (10/13)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL ANALYST RESEARCH/Katz Broadcasting/ATL: Emphasis on digital analytics trusted w/innovation & application of critical insights for SVOD, BounceTV.com & social media analytics for 4 brdcst nets. Ext. exp. w/Google Analytics. 5+ yrs exp Rsrch, dig. analytics &/or data science. Full Info/Apply HERE (10/12)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, SPONSORSHIP & INNOVATION/Nickelodeon/NYC: Mktg dir responsible for leading team in creating innovative new sponsorship opportunities, ad products, and supporting materials. Ability to execute turn-key sponsorship packages. 7-10 yrs of exp in marketing, media co or ad agency. Full info/apply HERE (10/12)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR MOBILE BRAND SALES/Jump Ramp/NYC: Design strategy & drive sales w/mobile ad partnerships with East Coast agencies & brands. 7+ yrs of exp in digital media/mobile, advertising, or ad-tech sales. Strong ntwk of high-level relationships across agencies/advertisers pref’d. Full info/Apply HERE (10/12)

JOB OPENING: SR ACCOUNT MOBILE MGR/Jump Ramp/NYC: Collaborate closely with the Account Management team in scaling our existing advertising accounts. Minimum 3 years of account management experience in digital advertising, mobile, video, or programmatic sales. Full info/apply HERE (10/12)

JOB OPENING: SR. ACCT EXEC/Machinima/New York: Resp for driving ad sales efforts & reaching ad sales targets for Machinima, the premiere digital video programmer of gamer & fandom-focused content. 4-5 yrs exp digital media sales w/in a content-driven publisher, ent/media co / ad agency. Full info/apply HERE (10/12)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL PREDITOR/NBCU/CT: Freelance Part-time to produce/edit digital videos for nationally syndicated talk shows. 2 to 3 years of work experience as an AVID Video Editor/Producer. Experience in news, entertainment, or promos & strong story telling sensibility. Resumes HERE (10/12)

JOB OPENING: ON AIR PROD MGR/VICELAND/Brooklyn NY: Resp for prod & delivery of all promotional video assets. Creative team’s point person on all promo materials. Min 5 yrs prod mngmnt exp TV/ent industry pref in On-Air. Knwldg of Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects, prod & post prod workflows. Full info/apply HERE (10/12)

JOB OPENING: PHOTOGRAPHY MGR/AMC & SUNDANCE TV/NYC: 8+ yrs brand, ent or magazine photo editing. Extremely detail oriented. Wide understanding of dig photography & fluent in importance of asset mgmt. Strong knwlg Adobe Creative Suite, file processing & digital cameras. Able to do light-medium retouching. Full info/apply HERE (10/12)

JOB OPENING: DIR, SALES RESEARCH/CW Network/NYC: Tracking/trending analysis on all bcst & cable nets linear/VOD/Digital. Presentation, strategy dev. Social metrics dev. Oversee linear/dig sales estimates Ntwk TV exp (linear & digital Min 6yrs) Full info HERE (10/12)

JOB OPENING: SR AD SALES PLANNER/SBGTV/NYC: Provide support for all aspects of the ad sales process. A team-player mentality & ability to work under pressure meeting deadlines for clients a must. BA deg & min 2-3yrs Sales exp related field or industry req’d. Media math skills a must. Full info/apply HERE (10/11)

JOB OPENING: JR SALES PLANNER/SBGTV/NYC: Det oriented entry-level Sales Asst w/strong written/oral comm skills to support the Sinclair Ntwk sales team mult areas, incl admin asst. Admin support/1-2 yrs exp pref’d. Profic in PP, Word, Excel a must. Brdcst/media buying or agency sales exp a +. Full info/apply HERE (10/11)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, PRICING AND PLANNING/FUSE MEDIA/NY: Oversee Planning dept, manage On-Air and Digital proposals process. Oversee Pricing, inventory Utilization and Ad Hoc Reports. Strong analytical skills & media math. apply HERE (10/11)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXEC/Machinima/Burbank: Resp for driving ad sales efforts & reaching ad sales targets for Machinima, the premiere digital video programmer of gamer & fandom-focused content. 3-4 yrs exp digital media sales w/in a content-driven publisher, ent/media co. or ad agency. Full info/apply HERE (10/11)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCER CREATIVE SERVICES/SpectrumNetworksNY1/NYC: Produce on-air promo spots & campaigns, from initial concept to finished prod. 3yrs media exp,producing on-air promo spots, media sales billboards & tagged spots.TV news exp pref’d. Exp working with cross functional teams. Full info/apply HERE (10/10)

JOB OPENING: SCHEDULING COORDINATOR/GSN/Santa Monica: Dist prog. Schedule grids, Monthly VOD planners, artwork & folder structures, coord. & maintaining schedule & databases & admin duties; online rsrch. Excellent attention to details; Knwldg of Excel & all Microsoft applications; College deg req; Send Res/CL: HERE (10/10)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/WMAQ TV/Chicago: Dynamic Account Executive to join the Local Sales team. Own, manage, and develop relationships with clients, agencies and advertisers through day-day interaction. Min 5 yrs exp sales and/or mktg roles. Full info/apply HERE (10/10)