A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE HISTORY

Cynopsis: DIGITAL

08/07/09

Good morning, it’s Friday, August 7, 2009, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
 
Thursday brought a reminder of the vulnerability of web based services as multiple social networking services including Facebook and Twitter were hit by “denial of service” attacks, designed to overwhelm servers with traffic to prohibit users from accessing them. As sites have limited capacity to handle a deluge of such requests, huge slowdowns or crashes inevitably ensue. Security experts note that such attacks are becoming more and more common and that stiffer penalties should be enacted to dissuade hackers from launching such malware. (Google’s motto alone, Don’t be Evil, just isn’t enough to dissuade them.)

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE WESTDOC

 
Challenged by diminishing ad returns but encouraged by the precedence the WSJ has set (1 million+ paid subscribers), News Corp. is now determined to charge for online news content across all of its sites, according to comments made by Chairman Rupert Murdoch during the company’s earnings call this week. “Quality journalism is not cheap,” Mr Murdoch said. “A newspaper that gives away its content is simply cannibalizing its ability to produce good reporting.” He also hinted of breaking the publisher’s relationship with Amazon‘s Kindle device due to a lack of control over its own subscribers. (Amazon manages the financial relationship between publishers and consumers who subscribe for magazines and newspapers on the e-reader.)
 
ESPN and the Australian Football League (AFL) have reached a multiyear rights deal for live multiplatform coverage in the United States and Canada. In the U.S., matches will be streamed live on ESPN360.com while the Grand Final will be televised live on ESPN2. In Canada, TSN or TSN2 will televise at least one live or delayed match per week. Coverage begins tonight with the Round 19 match between Carlton and Geelong.
 

 
Movie fan site Hollywood.com, created by SyFy Channel founders Mitchell Rubenstein and Laurie Silvers, launched its first web series, Chasing Hollywood. A low budget first person interview series, it provides day-in-the-life footage and explores how select celebrities got their first big break.
 
Revision3‘s popular gadget-focused web show Tekzilla, hosted by Patrick Norton and Veronica Belmont, celebrated its 100th episode yesterday. Congrats guys!
 
Funny or Die has a glimpse of what really happens among the Real Housewives of New Jersey in an exclusive clip starring Jamie-Lynn (Meadow Soprano) Sigler.
 

 
Online ad spending dropped by 7% during Q2 to $6.2 billion and we may have not hit bottom yet, according to the latest projections from consulting firm IDC. Display ads declined by 12% and classified revenue fell by 17% as ad sales for all major publishers declined, typically at double digit rates.
 
Seattle-based Getty Images unveiled two new web and mobile image products featuring very small file sizes – 170 pixels and 280 pixels – designed specifically for online and mobile marketing campaigns. The catalogue enables customers to license high volumes of high quality imagery for the digital elements of their campaigns and communications.
 

 
News Corp.’s 20th Century Fox has instructed DVD distributors and wholesalers to withhold new DVD releases from Redbox vending-machine kiosks for 30 days, a start-up business owned by Coinstar. Fox imposed the restriction after talks with Redbox broke down, claiming the $1 rental price grossly undervalues the product. Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes also lashed out at Redbox last week, comparing the rental kiosks to $1 movie theaters, notes the LATimes.
 
Digital revenues were a bright spot for Lin TV Corp. during Q2, amid an overall 20% drop in net revenues to $82.5 million. Digital revenues, which include internet advertising revenues and retransmission consent fees, increased 52% to $10.2 million, compared to $6.7 million in the Q2 of 2008. Internet advertising and other interactive revenues increased 18% for the second quarter of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008. Total unique visitors on Lin’s station sites totaled 22.1 million, an increase of 61% compared to Q2 2008. Average time/user nearly doubled to 23 minutes, 25 seconds. Mobile impressions were also up to 18.6 million while the company’s iPhone applications were downloaded 80,000 times.
 

 
Nickelodeon, which launched its first set of iPhone apps in Feb., conducted its first comprehensive study into how kids and families use the iPhone and iPod Touch, surveying 500 parents who have the devices in their household. The group found that kids not only play games on their parents’ devices but that they’re also getting their own units to play with and that parents are cool with this.

• A majority of parents surveyed consider the iPhone/iTouch to be appropriate for use by children under the age of 18. Perceived appropriateness skews older with the ages of 12+ where at least 50% of parents would begin to consider either device most appropriate to use.
• In comparing the two devices (iPhone vs. iTouch), the iTouch is considered more child-friendly (no usage charges to worry about)
• music, games, photos, and phone apps (iPhone only) are considered the most appropriate for children
• Distraction (keeps the kids occupied), entertainment and education are the top benefits parents consider when allowing or thinking about allowing usage
• Kids of all ages prefer games that have objectives – scores and timers are viewed as important and add excitement

 
News Corp. and other publishers looking for a light at the end of the tunnel should be encouraged by some findings released this week by private equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS.) An analysis of spending growth patterns indicates that while advertising is declining  – it fell to become the smallest of the 4 sectors it tracks in 2008 for first time since 1986 – paid for media is gaining in revenue. Institutional end-user spending will remain the largest and fastest-growing communications sector, rising by 5.6% annually as a result of strong gains in business information services, particularly marketing and financial services sub-segments, and the for-profit higher education sub-segment of educational and training media and services. “Consumers are spending more time with media which they support and pay for as opposed to ad-supported media,” says VSS co-founder, president and general partner John Suhler. “This development is a culmination of two decades of this secular shift towards consumer-controlled media, and shows no signs of slowing.”
 
What is Growing?                             What is Shrinking?
Internet Media                                     Newspapers
Word-of-Mouth Marketing                     Yellow Pages
Professional Information                       Consumer Magazines
Subscription Television                         Business to Business Magazines 
Business Information                           Broadcast Television
Mobile Advertising and Content             Home Video
Education  Videogames                         Radio
Direct Marketing                                  Recorded Music
Business-to-Business e-Media               Traditional Out-of-Home
Event Marketing                                  Traditional Consumer Books
Tradeshows 
Public Relations
Digital Out-of-Home 
e-Books
Source: VSS
 

 
Note taking app Evernote has released upgrades for both its web and iPhone-based apps adding a couple of essential new tools. Available now with the premium online version is PDF search, which allows users to scan PDF documents for text. Evernote’s iPhone app has completed an integration with the AP app, enabling you to clip and transfer any article you would like to save to your Evernote account.
 
Global mobile content retailer Mobile Streams, operator of ringtones.com launched its first series of Google Android Games storefronts, which have recently gone live with operators in the Asia Pacific and Australia regions.
 
Bookmark House is a new web-based bookmark manager from K2 Research to help you keep track of websites and web pages you visit on your travels. Compatible with Internet Explorer, Opera and Mozilla FireFox, the app analyzes your visits to generate favorites you may forget to save, imports and shares bookmarks from other browsers and also ports over to Pocket PCs or mobile devices. There’s also a social component, enabling tagging and sharing with friends.
 

 
Former MTV digital chief and Atom Entertainment founder Mika Salmi has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Sulake, the parent company of kid-focused virtual world Habbo.
 
Dave Fall has joined New York-based online advertising company Clickable as SVP/Product And Operations. Dave spent eleven years in senior technical, product and managerial roles at DoubleClick, and then Google, following its acquisition of DoubleClick.
 

 
Live video streaming site Ustream.TV joined others such as Kyte and 12cast, introducing a new free mobile recording app on the Apple app store that allows you to upload video directly from your 3GS iPhone to the web. Ustream describes the app as a free live-to-recorded video recorder and that’s a bit disingenuous; it doesn’t stream “live” video in real time. (Apple’s not allowing this function as of yet.) But it does contain a nice idiot-proof interface that allows users to instantly share videos to multiple sites in addition to Ustream.tv, including Twitter, YouTube, Facebook or Ustream’s own Facebook portal. It also enables rudimentary editing and management of videos that you’ve already uploaded to Ustream remotely – a much needed feature for independent publishers who aren’t always tethered to their desks. The Media Stream also provides broadcasters with the ability to aggregate content on their show page from other Ustream users, based on specified topics indexed via hashtag. Broadcasters can accept videos from folks and manually approve them for their show page, or even approve certain users ahead of time so that their videos will go straight to the Media Stream.
 
Later — Wayne
 Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
08.07.09

Cynopsis Media Facebook Page here – all of our Job Listings and Top Stories reported here first!

Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom, Pres/COO – 646-468-6180 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

Member of Interactive Advertising Bureau (iab)

To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here . 
To unsubscribe , click here or click the button at the end of this email.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Cyn opsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here    .

JOB OPENING: INVENTORY ANALYST/Metro Traffic: Help maximize rev generated by MetroNetworks. Strong analytic, strategic problem-solving & decision-making skills. 2+ yrs relevant exp. Cvr, res & sal req: [email protected] (8/13)

JOB OPENING: AFFILIATE RELATIONS MANAGER/Beanstalk Marketing Group/LA: For CPA division. Must have 2+ yrs. experience in Ad Sales and Mgmt. Must live in the LA area. Resumes to: [email protected] (8/13)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCTION ASSISTANT (permalance)/NY: Cable television network looking for PA with network experience. Candidate should aspire to write and produce promos. Apply: [email protected] (8/12)

JOB OPENING: SR RESEARCH ANALYST/ABC Burbank: Min 2 yrs exp in TV/digital research, apt at Nielsen, strong written, PC & analytical skills, college degree req. Apply at: www.disneyabcjobs.com (8/12)

JOB OPENING: FRLNC CELEBRITY STYLE BLOGGER: For major network. Exp in celeb & fashion. Must have HTML & Photoshop & active blog w/avid audience. Apply: at http://www.mylifetime.com/about-us/welcome include writing sample (8/11)

JOB OPENING: LOCAL SALES MGR/KGTV/McGraw-Hill/San Diego: Lead/motivate Local Sales Team. Mng Team for both ABC and 10News.com. Exc analytical & comm skills & proven negotiating skills. www.mcgraw-hill.com/careers (8/11)

JOB OPENING: ANALYST, AFF MKTG/FOX CABLE/LA financial tracking, forecasts, analyze various mktg campaigns, calculate ROI, make strategic recommendations on findings. BA, finance skills 3+ yrs cable exp. Apply http://tiny.cc/NUUl4 (8/8)

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM IFC

INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. These ads are always posted for free , and students work for school credit only. For more information on the specs for posting an Internship ad, email Trish at [email protected] .

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: PUBLICIST INTERN: needed for Manhattan based PR firm in the Music Industry. Interns will be working directly with media, artist mngmnt, & publicists. Email cover letter and resume to: [email protected]  (8/14)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: FINANCE INTERN – Working w/Theatrical & TV ultimates in asst. budgets/forecasts, & long range plans.  Excel (macros, pivot tables & V lookups) & Access. Email: [email protected] RE: UCTC/#113855BR (8/14)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Bravo Network/Oxygen Media/ iVillage.com –seeking Fall 09 interns in NYC. Positions available for ALL DEPARTMENTS. Digital, Design, PR, Marketing, OnAir Promos, Developmt, Programming. [email protected] (8/13)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Trylon SMR ( www.trylonSMR.com), a NYC PR agency, is seeking a Fallintern that has familiarity with the media industry and tech sector, and strong internet skills. [email protected] (8/13)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Boutique Los Angeles PR Firm has an opening for an INTERN this fall. School credit only. Writing, pitching, client contact. Email writing sample, letter and resume to [email protected]   www.amylevypr.com (8/13)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: TV AD SALES/Katz Media/NY: a leading rep firm, is seeking go-getter interns for13 week NYC fall program. Learn TV Ad Sales working with Sales Assistants and Account Execs. Please contact [email protected] (8/12)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: TV SALES RSRCH/Katz Media/NY: a leading rep firm, is seeking go-getter interns for13 wk NYC fall program. Analyze & interpret TV sales research, create rsrch materials. contact [email protected] (8/12)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Alexandria VA Tourism Assoc has an opening for a MEDIA RELATIONS INTERN this fall. School credit only. Go to http://visitalexandriava.com/media-pr/media-contact/job-opportunities for details. (8/11)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Live daily talk show seeking fall 09 interns. Positions available and wanted for ALL DEPARTMENTS. Script, control room, audience, talent, production mgmt. & more. [email protected] (8/11)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED …  There is no charge for placing your Situation Wanted ad … for more information contact Trish Pihonak at [email protected]

SITUATION WANTED: Award-Winning Entertainment MARKETING STRATEGIST; 4+ years experience Television and Theatre; seeking FT opportunity in NYC; Passion for Arts and all Media contact [email protected] (8/14)

SITUATION WANTED: TV/FILM EDITOR: 10 yrs+ exp, Emmy-nominated, clients incl’d HBO, NBC, MTV, FOX, SONY, MGM. Seeking F/T or Freelance scripted/non projects in NY.  Avid & FCP reel at www.InnunedoInc.com Pls contact [email protected] (8/13)

SITUATION WANTED: BROADCAST BUYER/SUPERVISOR with 10+ yrs of exp seeks full time, part time or freelance position in NY area. I specialize in the entertainment category & have excellent references. contact [email protected] (8/13)

SITUATION WANTED: SENIOR COPYWRITER/NY: Package goods writer with over 25 years experience.Testimonial advertising a specialty. View my reel! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PC3iZW8o48 … &can produce own work! [email protected] (8/13)

SITUATION WANTED: Professional poised for transition to Producer. Int’l Prog/Proj Mng exp, creative, organized, strong work ethic, self-starter. [email protected] (8/12)

SITUATION WANTED: Experienced Freelance REPORTER/PHOTOG looking for work in newspaper/internet/magazines. Email [email protected] (8/12)

SITUATION WANTED: NY-based, seasoned,special sales pro, (background in children’s books) seeks opp with media company. Proprietary sales, content licensing, brand management, new biz development. [email protected] (8/12)

SITUATION WANTED:  DIGITAL MEDIA/CABLE/BUSINESS AFFAIRS ATTORNEY Broad in-house exp in content prod & distribution, new media, operations, cable affiliate & ad sales. Avail for project/consultant/FT. Contact [email protected] (8/11)

SITUATION WANTED:  WEB DESIGNER (LA): Designer/Entrepreneur seeks partner to take social network web site to next level. WWW.Tagmyspace.tv . Contact  Randy – [email protected] (8/11)

SITUATION WANTED:  DOCUMENTARY. PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER A.C.E. in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email: [email protected] (8/11)

E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 203.926.9878 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email [email protected] for specs.

Cynopsis Media LLC
One Corporate Drive, Suite 724
Shelton, CT 06484
203.926.9878

All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free. Copyright Cynopsis 2009