JUST IN…   All’s not well in the land of BuzzFeed. The digital media company just fired about 100 staffers – roughly 7% of its workforce. The company is also planning some big changes to its monetization efforts, according to an announcement from CEO Jonah Peretti. (Indeed, most of the new layoffs hit BuzzFeed’s ad sales and business operations teams.) In a memo to staff, Peretti indicated that BuzzFeed will now expand its efforts to areas such as e-commerce and programmatic ad sales, as opposed to just native advertising. As part of the reorganization, BuzzFeed President Greg Coleman will vacate his position, though he’ll stay on as an advisor. The company’s drastic new measures aren’t terribly surprising: Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the company is on track to fall 15 to 20 percent short of its 2017 revenue projections.   After Snap Inc.’s disastrous Q3 earnings report, CEO Evan Spiegel promised a redesigned Snapchat app that would be more accessible to users. Now the company has previewed the changes, which will roll out to a limited number of users over the course of this week. According to the company, the new version of the app is designed to more clearly divide media content from content that comes from friends, making it easier for users to keep the two separate. The company also says it will spend 2018 focusing on ways to give Snapchat creators better means of distributing and monetizing their content. For a closer look at the redesign, hop on down to the Digital Spotlight section.     ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE   Amazon Web Services just unveiled DeepLens, a wireless video camera that can make use of “deep learning” – an advanced branch of machine learning in which a computer teaches itself with minimal input from programmers. The camera can run custom A.I. models to execute tasks such as sentiment analysis, facial recognition, and object identification. The DeepLens doesn’t come particularly cheap; it’ll sell for $249. It’s scheduled to ship in April 2018.   As the DeepLens camera makes clear, there are endless applications for A.I. And for TV pros, advertisers, and marketers, the technology is getting more important by the day. You still have time to register for the December 6 Cynopsis Webinar, Using Artificial Intelligence to Capture & Captivate Audiences. Learn everything you need to know about how to integrate A.I. into your media strategy. Speakers will include experts from IBM Watson Advertising, Scripps, Mindshare, and ZoneTV. Register here.      PLATFORMS + APPS   Facebook isn’t the only platform knocking off Snapchat these days. YouTube announced Reels, a new video format that bears a not-so-subtle similarity to Snapchat’s Stories product. One place where the Reels format will be available to creators is through YouTube’s “community” tab. Speaking of which, YouTube announced that the community tab is now available to any channel with 10,000 subscribers or more. The community feature lets creators poll fans, promote content, and offer previews of soon-to-launch videos.   NBC just launched a TV Everywhere app for Vizio SmartCast TVs. Authenticated pay-TV subs will be able to use the app to stream episodes of NBC TV shows. It’s not the first video app to hit Vizio’s SmartCast platform; others include Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, and Crackle.   Digital music streaming service iHeartRadio is now available through Comcast’s Xfinity X1 platform. In addition, a new feature – set to roll out over the coming weeks – will enable customers of both services to launch iHeartRadio, and browse through its stations, using their voice remote.      CYNOPSIS SOCIAL GOOD AWARDS   The Cynopsis Social Good Awards program salutes TV’s commitment to community – and what better way to highlight your digital network’s demonstration of that dedication than by entering your best social good-themed episode? Start the online submission process before the holiday rush hits! The deadline is December 20: http://www.cynopsis.com/events/2018-social-good-awards/      OTT + SVOD   OTT-based live TV services, or “virtual MVPDs,” won’t dominate the pay-TV market anytime soon – but their reach is steadily growing. That’s the conclusion of a new report from research firm The Diffusion Group ( TDG), which estimates that virtual MVPDs will reach about 14% of the pay TV market by 2030. (Today, by comparison, it’s closer to 4%.) Virtual MVPD growth notwithstanding, TDG finds that the pay-TV market as a whole will decrease by 7% over that same time period. The firm estimates that, by 2030, 30 million U.S. households will have no multi-channel pay-TV service whatsoever, be it virtual or traditional. TDG estimates that the traditional linear pay TV market will shrink by 26% over that time period, reaching only 60% of U.S. households by 2030.     VIRTUAL + AUGMENTED REALITY   Syfy is promoting Happy!, its upcoming series, with a new augmented reality app. (The app’s launch was first reported by Variety.) The series, which debuts on December 6, centers on a hit man who one day begins to see a cheerful, winged unicorn – appropriately named Happy – wherever he goes. The app, not surprisingly, aims to bring that experience to users, who can use their smartphones to view and interact with Happy within real-world environments. As in the series, actor/comedian Patton Oswalt provides Happy’s voice. The app is now available for both Android and iOS devices.     MEASURING UP   Tubular Top Ten Global Sponsored Videos Monday, November 20, 2017 – Sunday, November 26, 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.     Canvs, the emotion measurement company, analyzed tweets about TV and streaming programming from Nov. 22-28 using Twitter data from Nielsen. Check out their findings below.       EXECUTIVE MOVES   RYOT, the branded content group owned by Verizon’s Oath unit, is losing one of its co-founders. Molly DeWolf Swenson, who also serves as RYOT’s Head of Brand, announced that she will leave Oath by the end of 2017. DeWolf Swenson co-founded RYOT in 2012, serving as its Chief Operating Officer until 2016. The company was sold to the Huffington Post (a subsidiary of Verizon’s AOL before AOL and its properties were integrated into Oath) in 2016. DeWolf Swenson said her decision to leave came “after a number of months of reflections on my personal ambitions.” She made the announcement at Variety’s Innovate Summit.     TRIVIA   Our Last Trivia Question: On which streaming series does Kathy Baker recur as a Cracker Barrel waitress? Answer: Netflix’s The Ranch. Kudos to Susan Nessanbaum Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/CA, Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/CA, David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/CA, Lorrie Shilling/cA, and Reese Forbes- Leroyandrose/CA    Follow-up: Who are the two co-creators of The Ranch? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and state.)

Supervise the physical production and administration of all contractual payments for IFC’s Originals. Ability to cultivate productive relations with industry contacts externally & internally. 5 yrs exp w/ scripted production preferred.

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JOB OPENING: PROJECT MGR/PARAMOUNT NETWORK/NYC: Mng, plan & track all deliverables for project team incl. social, digital, mktg & creative assets. Work closely w/media plan’g, design, press, integrated mktg & talent. Exc client-facing & internal comm skills. Strong written & verbal comm skills. Resume HERE (12/7)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, AD SALES/INSP/Charlotte SC: Drive new/incremental revenue & also one that services an existing list of mostly DR clients. Req’s a specific focus on new bus dvlpmnt & presentation skills. 3-5 yrs sales exp. Nat’l media plan’g/buying @agencies relationships a must. Full info/apply HERE (12/7)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER, PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATION/IFC/LA: Supervise the physical production and administration of all contractual payments for IFC’s Originals. Ability to cultivate productive relations with industry contacts externally & internally. 5 yrs exp w/ scripted production preferred. Apply HERE (12/7)

JOB OPENING: DIRECT RESPONSE SALES PLANNER/Crown Media Family Networks/NY: Provide sales and analytical support to the Direct Response Team.  Monitor and manage inventory for Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama. Provide internal analysis on inventory and sell-out levels. BS req. Apply HERE (12/7)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/ANALYST/NCM/NYC: Generate/calculate accurate proposals for mult acct directors supporting national sales, mktg, bus. dvlpmnt & regional sales teams. Knwlg of sales, advertising, mktg or related field industry a benefit. 2-3 yrs related business exp necessary. Full info/apply HERE (12/6)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, AD SALES PLANNING/SIRIUS XM/NYC: Detail oriented & orgnz’d candidate to efficiently monetize inventory to maximize revenue. BA Deg &/or 6yrs relevant exp working in an Ad Sales dept in Pricing/Plan’g function in media advertising (radio a strong +) Wide orbit a +. Full info/apply HERE (12/5)
 
JOB OPENING: PLANNER AD SALES/SIRIUS XM/NYC: Work closely w/Acct Execs to understand scope of proposal req’s to independently review media schedules in an effort to monetize inventory. 3+yrs exp media advertising (radio &/or pricing & plan’g/sales analysis a strong +). Strong analytical/quant skills. Wide Orbit a + Full info/apply HERE (12/5)
 
JOB OPENING: VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/Z Living (2 positions) NY & LA: Exceptional concept sellers in TV AD sales a must. Work closely w/Business Head and Ad Sales for brand activations assignments and quarterly projects. Previous portfolio of handling 3 to 7 M $ in Ad Sales w/strong relationships. Resume HERE (12/5)
 
JOB OPENING: MARKETS PRODUCER, BREAKING NEWS/CNBC/NYC: Dvlp/produce live reporter segments. Generate original ideas and market ideas daily, Min 4yrs exp producing in a live and breaking news TV environment with a demonstrated writing ability, research skills and communication skills. Full info/apply HERE  (12/5)

JOB OPENING: SR DIRECTOR MARKETING/NBC Ent/NYC: Identify/dvlp/implement consumer & trade media buying initiatives for 1^st run syndication series. Dvlp mktg assets for ad sales team. Max exposure for companywide priorities. BA deg & 5 yrs exp w/media plan’g, digital mktg, ad sales w/focus TV. Full info/apply HERE (12/5)

JOB OPENING: FREELANCE SCHEDULER (PART-TIME)/CharmTV/Baltimore: Seeking a part-time freelance scheduler. Interested parties should ideally reside in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area and forward resume and contact information HERE (12/2)

JOB OPENING: SOCIAL MEDIA PRODUCER (PART-TIME)/CharmTV/Baltimore: Seeking a part-time social media producer to assist w/organic & paid campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Interested parties should ideally reside in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area & forward resume & contact info HERE (12/2)

JOB OPENING: FREELANCE PUBLICIST (PART-TIME)/CharmTV/Baltimore: Seeking a part-time publicist to assist with award submissions, earned media, and digital PR. Interested parties should ideally reside in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area and forward resume and contact information HERE (12/2)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER/DIRECTOR AUDIENCE ANALYTICS/BET/NYC: Dvlp innovative & insightful initiatives that position & distinguish BETN on-air & digital brands in the marketplace. Work closely w/Sales Management on presentations and strategies. 5-8+ yr related media rsch media rsrch. Full info/apply HERE (12/1)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER/DIRECTOR, RESEARCH/BET/NYC: Mng strategic initiatives in support of Sr Ad Sales mngmnt. Identify process improvement & profit opps thru analysis of very large data pools. 6+ yrs related media rsrch. Understanding of Pricing & Plan’g/Inventory is ideal! Expert Nielsen apps a must. Full info/apply HERE (11/30)

JOB OPENING: SALES ASSISTANT/NBCUOTS/TLM WNEU/Newton Mass: Assist Acct Mgrs in preparation of sales material & presentation to advertising agencies & provide sales admin support. 3 yrs of sales asst; customer service rep at a TV station or rep firm a +. Full info/apply HERE (11/30)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, CONSUMER INSIGHTS STRATEGY & ACTIVATION/Viacom/NYC: Mng overall communication & insights activation approach & plan between the GCI & other internal insights teams. Great att to detail a must. 5 +yrs exp project mngement, mktg, comms, strategic planning or consumer insights. Full info/apply HERE (11/30)

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