Cynopsis: DIGITAL

12/04/09

Good morning, it’s Friday, December 4, 2009, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.

Comcast pulled the trigger on a definitive agreement to buy a controlling 51% share of NBC Universal in a deal that, if approved, could have far reaching consequences in the way content is sold, rented and distributed “Everywhere” across digital platforms. Early indications are that broadcast content will continue to be made readily available for free on an ad supported basis on platforms such as Hulu, but that cable content will be placed firmly behind an authentication-required pay wall. (Comcast’s chief motivation, after all, is to protect its core business.) Meanwhile, windows for movies on cable, VOD and broadband are expected to shift, if gradually. Experiments such as day-in-date theatrical or DVD VOD releases could become commonplace as Comcast will be able determine the strategy for future Universal blockbuster releases. The deal, which could take more than a year to close after regulatory review, was valued at a higher-than-expected $37.25 billion before debt, thanks to a higher valuation on NBCU’s cable channels.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM NATPE

 
Movie trailers have long ranked as one of the most popular web video genres. But let’s face it – the format gets a little boring. MovieClips.com launched into beta yesterday offering some 12,000 30 second- 2 min. embeddable clips from the archives of 6 major studios: 20th Century Fox, MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures. The idea is to collect memorable scenes (best kiss, best chase scene, etc.) to provide fodder for blogs and social networks. MovieClips is ad supported and generates affiliate revenue from content purchases and rentals via Amazon and iTunes. The site’s search engine is pretty impressive: search for clips by actor, title, genre, occasion, action, mood, character, theme, setting, prop and even dialogue.
 
Discovery’s Planetgreen.com unveiled Planet 100, a new online video show from K2B Productions presenting the top environmental news stories of the day in 100 seconds or less. A special Friday edition called “Planet 100: Recycled” presents the week’s top stories taken from earlier shows and will be available for syndication across the web via an open embed code. All episodes will be compiled in a playlist and archived.
 

 
San Francisco-based Vizu closed on a $6.75M round of financing co-lead by iNovia Capital and Greycroft Partners with participation from existing investors including Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Esther Dyson. The online ad start-up provides a real time online brand ad effectiveness metrics platform.
 
Behavioral targeting firm OwnerIQ has raised $5.8 million in third round funding led by Kepha Partners with participation from current investors including Atlas Venture and Egan-Managed Capital. The Funding will be used to fuel the company’s New York based ad sales operation, expanding the scope and depth of its proprietary data solutions.
 
Mobile advertising start-up Smaato closed on a $4.5 million second round of funding led by Aeris CAPITAL. Smaato provides mobile advertising optimization and a mediation platform capable of delivering ads in 215+ countries for mobile web and apps.
 

 
EZTarget Media, the advertising network launched by Hispanic digital media company Terra, is launching a mobile ad platform to convert web ads to be available on mobile platforms. The network hopes to reach 100 mobile Web sites with 11 million users in Latin America and the United States by 2010. EZTarget Media is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month, claiming a reach of 10 million uniques in the U.S.
 

 
Key points of the Comcast/GE deal for NBU Universal:

• Comcast and GE are forming a content joint venture initially owned 51% by Comcast and 49% by GE
• NBCU will borrow $9.1 billion from third party lenders and distribute the proceeds to GE
• GE will contribute its interest in NBC Universal to the new jv valued at $30 billion
• Comcast will contribute its cable channels, regional sports networks and two internet assets (Fandango and Daily Candy, NOT Fancast), valued at $7.25 billion
• Subject to certain adjustments, Comcast will pay GE approximately $6.5 billion in cash
• GE and Comcast will have redemption rights that provide a path for Comcast to achieve 100% ownership of the new company

 
Online video platform provider Digitalsmiths unveiled a revamp of its flagship product, VideoSense, with new features designed to streamline asset management, harness advanced intelligence and analytics and optimize monetization opportunities. New tools include direct asset upload, easy segment editing, advanced clip creation, YouTube integration and a streamlined reporting dashboard for analytics.
 
Britain’s ITV Studios announced it has secured a major £5 million investment for its Kirkstall Road studios in Leeds. The funds will be used to upgrade and refurbishing the original main building so it can accommodate the Emmerdale production center which is currently situated on Burley Road, and put in place state-of-the-art High Definition facilities. Plans are being made to start the work in the New Year and it is expected to take up to 12 months to complete.
 
Online video asset management specialist KIT digital announced a partnership with vivocom, a Spanish company specializing in IP video solutions and Web TV, to deliver IP-video management technology and solutions in Spain.
 

 
Nearly 55% of all TV Households in the Americas will have access to internet video by the end of 2010, with 25% of these capable of displaying broadband video onto the TV set, according to preliminary data from the IMS Research study, Market Opportunities for Internet Video to the TV. Evidence of the trend includes:

• Retailers are actively marketing internet-enabled devices
• Game consoles prices are dropping quickly and shoring up broadband content partnerships
• Blu-ray players have dropped below $200, putting downward pressure on other devices
• It will take about five years for the gap to close between connected TVs and other devices; in the meantime, consumers continue to select devices that offer ease of use

 
Spammers sent more than 40 trillion spam messages across the internet in the past 12 months, according to internet security specialist Symantec. That’s more than 5,000 spam messages per person with a pulse. Not unlike politicians or marketers, spammers play upon people’s fears, hopes and desires to get you to click. Their pitches provide an interesting snapshot of the year:
 
Top 10 Spam subjects of 2009 (Not necessarily in rank order)

“RE: Do you owe tax debt? Read on”

“Sign Up for Our Halloween Workshop for Party Plans, Pumpkins, Decorations, & More!

“No health care and can’t afford pills? You can now! Obama Sponsored Med Program”

“Who killed Michael Jackson?”

“Full eBook Harry Potter”

“Your friend invited you to twitter!”

“Motor Company OFFERS: 35% discount to purchase a new car”

“Get a diploma for a better job”

“Get swine flu medicine here”

“Don’t go into foreclosure”

Source: Symantec
 

 
HSN is finally weaning itself off of the “call to order” model introducing a “Shop by Remote” iTV product in both Comcast and Verizon FiOS systems. The EBIF application has been deployed across 8 million Comcast digital homes and will enable consumers to select quantity, color, features and sizes. On Verizon the iTV app appears as a widget, featuring the last 15 products featured on air including the “Verizon FiOS Deal of the Day.”
 
Inergize Digital announced mobile support for its Seek it Local hyperlocal business directory that partners with television stations to generate local ad revenue. The Seek it Local WAP site enables consumers to search for local businesses and offers. Inergize Web CMS clients can now also offer BlackBerry shortcuts for local news and information.
 

 
Congratulations Mr. Zucker. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts confirmed that Comcast has made a “long term commitment” to keeping Jeff Zucker as CEO of NBC Universal in an interview with CNBC, although specific timeframes were not discussed. Mr Zucker will reports to Comcast COO Steve Burke if the merger is approved.
 
Rob Gelick was upped from VP to SVP and GM of CBS Mobile, reporting to Sam Parker, SVP/Operations at CBS Interactive. Rob will oversee the development, production and distribution of all mobile products across CBS Interactive properties including CBS.com, CBSSports.com, GameSpot, and TV.com.
 
Discovery Communications announced that COO and long-time Discovery executive Mark Hollinger has been named President and CEO of Discovery Networks International, reporting directly to David Zaslav, President and CEO. Mark will continue his COO responsibilities as a successor is sought. He replaces Greg Ricca, who will leave the company following a period of transition.
 

 
As behavioral targeting and other technologies enabling advertisers to more intelligently target potential customers online have developed, so has fear and, at times, misunderstanding of what individuals are giving up in terms of privacy. The FTC has already put it to the industry to take a shot at regulating itself before it has to come in and do it itself. The IAB launched a new Privacy Matters consumer education campaign to raise awareness about the importance of protecting one’s privacy online and across digital platforms. The website, designed by WPP’s Schematic, combines hip mid-century typography (think Saul Bass’s title sequence for Vertigo or Anatomy of a Murder) with a number of boilerplate-length truths about how all this stuff works. For instance, the section on Cookies – the pieces of data that websites leave on your computer to identify you as anonymous user – is wonderfully informative and succinct. The site also includes message boards to promote questions, discussions and debates. A number of IAB members are donating media to promote the campaign, with commitments to more than 500 million online impressions. That’s a lot of cookies.
 
Later — Wayne
 Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
12.04.09

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

Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Mike Farina – Sr. Dir/Business Development & Sales – 203-218-6480 / [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.

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

JOB OPENING: DIR DIGITAL MEDIA/LA: Lead dev/execution of short/long-term creative & production strat for digital initiatives-ABC Daytime, SOAPnet. BA/BS req. Min 8 yrs digital, & managerial exp. Apply at: www.disneyabcjobs.com  (12/11)

JOB OPENING:  ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AD SALES/CHICAGO/REELZCHANNEL: 3+ yrs media ad sales exp. Exp cable, network, online, mp biz, strat integ mktg solu. Resp for ad sales & sales activity of WC ofc. Send res: [email protected] (12/11)

JOB OPENING: DVLPMNT ASST/DC: Int’l TV prod co. Dvlop ratings driven, commercial concepts for cable & brdcst clients. 1 to 5 yrs exp nat’l TV dvlpmnt/prod req’d. Current TV trends & sched knwlg a must.Res/references: [email protected] (12/10)

JOB OPENING: SALES AE/Plum TV/Colorado: Successful, Creative, Aggressive, ad/sponsorship sales pro familiar w/ solutions mktg for local/regional/national clients. 5+ yrs exp in cable TV, other nat’l media. Posting @ plumtv.com (12/10)

JOB OPENING: MGR, TECH PROD/Santa Monica: Report to VP/HBO’s West Coast Tech Ops group. Provide prod & post-prod support & consultation svcs to HBO’s internal prod & post-prod depts. www.timewarner.com/careers Req#115777 (12/10)

JOB OPENING: SR CLIENT ANALYST/MSA Media/NY: Manage cable nets on Gabriel/other SW. Perform biz svcs, issue resolution, training, Jr acct mgmt duties, prod planning. Tech knowledge preferred. Send res/$ to [email protected] (12/8)

JOB OPENING: VP, CREATIVE SVCS/Disney ABC Domestic TV/LA: Min 8 yrs in broadcast advertising; lead all aspects creative production (a/v, trade, consumer, print). Solid leader/mgmt skills. Apply www.disneycareers.com #215363  (12/8)

JOB OPENING: VP, BUS & LEGAL AFFAIRS/MTVN/NYC: 6+ yrs in antipiracy/litigation related to protection of copyrighted content; Exp in tech related investigations/IP related transactions; JD/NY Bar Req’d www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (12/8)

JOB OPENING: SR ACCT EXEC/ElectricArtists/NY: Online mktg, PR, social media & promo initiatives. Expert ideation & project mgt 5-8+ yrs mktg, project mgt, PR. Online media, TV, or major consum brand. [email protected] (12/5)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/ION/NY: Entry level, Nielsen/MRI, quantitative analysis exp required, College Degree req’d, Business Degree a +, proficient in MS Office. Apply to [email protected] (12/5)

JOB OPENING:  FREELANCE MARKETING/RETAIL MANAGER/ Nickelodeon Publishing/NYC. 3+yrs Marketing exp, Retail or publishing exp A+, Knowledge of Children’s publishing A+, Strong Org Skills EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Resumes to [email protected] (12/5)

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] .

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: MEDIA RESEARCH NY: This professional opp will provide you with the hands-on exp, entail active assignments, and learn from the colleagues. Strong MS Office Skills required. Send resume to: [email protected] (12/11)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  MARKETING INTERN/NYC: Support the Pop2Life creative team with national promotions – research, brainstorming, coordinate events. Must be smart, driven, creative, energetic. Mac savvy a plus. Email: [email protected] (12/10)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  MARKETING INTERN /truTV, NY: Support brand strategy & mktg dept. (consumer, digital & ad sales). Majors: Comm., Mktg, Adv. Skills: Writing, Computer, Phone, Rsrch. Apply Online: turnerjobs.com – Requisition # 115355BR (12/10)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  SPRING AD SALES MARKETING INTERN/NYC: Support Ad Sales and Marketing Team. Microsoft Office & strong communication skills required. Part-time. For credit only. www.scrippsnetworks.com (Requisition #1253) (12/9)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: NYC doc prod. co. seeks exp’d, orgnzd & energetic JRS/SRS. Fast-paced envir. Pls specify “dvlpmnt” “accting” or “prod” in app. Office, shoot, post-prod & dvlpmnt work.. Email:  [email protected]  (12/8)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: NYC Boutique TV Syndication Co. seeks diligent undergrad to assist in daily operations. Duties include creation of mktg/promo materials,contracts, etc. MS Office & strong comm skill required. Email [email protected] (12/5)

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: PRODUCER/WRITER/DIRECTOR (NY) Ultra-creative, award winning, all formats, all genres, all major networks and major cable. Fast, frugal and fun! [email protected] (12/11)

SITUATION WANTED: PUBLICIST, PUBLIC/MEDIA RELATIONS EXECUTIVE: 5 + yrs exp in agency, entertainment and non-profit. Seeking work in television or movie studios on east coast. For inquiries, contact [email protected]  (12/11)

SITUATION WANTED: (NYC, Boston) PUBLICITY .  6+ years of major studio & agency experience. Send email for resume. [email protected] (12/11)

SITUATION WANTED:  SEGMENT PRODUCER. Years of network and cable television experience familiar with final cut pro. Contact email: [email protected] (12/11)

SITUATION WANTED: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION & ART DIRECTION (NYC)20 years experience working concept through completion. Portfolio: www.baerdavis.com Email: [email protected] (12/10)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA SALES/MARKETING MANAGER/LA: 15+ years experience in educational, documentary, advertising media sales.True Closer!!!!!  [email protected] (12/10)

SITUATION WANTED: TV and WEB MANAGER/PRODUCER with 13+ years editing, writing, and production experience. Flash, Dreamweaver, Photoshop knowledge. Online and video editor. Seeking FT position. [email protected] (12/10)

SITUATION WANTED:  20+ yrs. experience in TV Broadcasting & Cable ACCOUNTING/FINANCE. Seeking FT/PT or Temp-to-Perm position: [email protected] (12/9)

SITUATION WANTED:  TRAFFIC MANAGER with 13 years exp seeks position in Radio/TV/Online or traffic software in NY/NJ. [email protected] (12/5)

SITUATION WANTED: 5 PRIME TIME EMMYS/ DOC. PROD, DIR., WRITER in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email: [email protected] (12/5)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING POSITION: 10+ years of account management experience. Trustworthy, intelligent and hardworking. Email me for a resume: [email protected] (12/5)

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