Cynopsis: DIGITAL
01.04.13

Good morning. It’s Friday, January 4, 2013, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.

BuzzFeed has raised $19.3 million in new funding led by New Enterprise Associates. Other existing investors including Lerer Ventures, Hearst Corp., and Softbank Corp. also contributed. Michael and Kass Lazerow, Co-Founders of Buddy Media, also joined in on the round as new investors. The new capital will be used toward international expansion, mobile development, to hire more writers and editors, and to invest more in video and other initiatives. To date, the digital/social/virally-adept publisher has raised $46 million. “We have the senior management, board, and investors to build the next great media company: socially native, tech-enabled, with massive scale,” said Jonah Peretti, Founder and CEO of BuzzFeed. ‘We are all focused on that big goal and raised this capital to move even faster.”

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Blip has unveiled new video apps for iOS, Android, the Kindle Fire, and the Xbox 360. Viewers can now access all of Blip’s original web series, including The Gauntlet and A Simple Walk Into Mordor, as well as comedy sketches from JulianSmithTV and Chug, Plug, and Review from Blip Studios. All mobile apps are available for free in the US, Canada, and the UK; access to Blip on the Xbox requires an Xbox Live Gold subscription. “This is just the beginning. This year we plan to expand Blip’s reach even further with a fully redesigned website at Blip.com, an enhanced Blip player, more exclusive content, broader distribution, and more investment in our apps,” said Kelly Day, CEO of Blip. The digital media company worked with L4 Mobile to develop the iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire apps.

EPIX plans to launch a streaming app for the PlayStation 3 during the first quarter of 2013, followed by an app for the portable PlayStation Vita console sometime in the spring. The apps will offer more than 3,000 titles, including blockbusters such as The Hunger Games, Thor, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, as well as EPIX’s lineup of original programming, which features music concert, comedy, and sports events. The apps will be available to PlayStation Network members in the US as a free download. Users will need to authenticate their EPIX TV subscription in order to watch the content.

Digital sports video producer and distributor CineSport has launched a new web series called Football Inside Out, which will bring national and local sports experts together to provide viewers with news, commentary, and analysis about the NFL. The show will feature analysis from notable broadcasters and former players like Cris Collinsworth (NBC), Boomer Esiason (CBS), Howie Long (FOX), and Phil Simms (CBS), as well as inside information and trending stories from NFL beat writers at various local news outlets. The show will be available on Hulu and Hulu Plus and will be syndicated across CineSport’s network of websites.

Cynopsis Digital (including yours truly) is headed to CES next week. Connect with me (via: [email protected]) — let me know what you’re looking forward to, where you’ll be, and what not to miss. We will be publishing a post-CES Special eReport, which will focus on all things digital video at the international trade show.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF WEB TV

Mobile Content Venture (MCV), the joint venture consisting of 12 major broadcasters that operates the Dyle mobile TV service, has selected Rentrak to provide mobile broadcast TV measurement for local markets. MCV will plug into Rentrak’s Mobile Essentials solution and StationView Essentials solution to help its members align their traditional TV ratings with their mobile TV performance. Rentrak offers census-level measurement data in an effort to provide insights on the entire population using live mobile TV services. MCV represents 35 markets and more than 93 across the US, including stations from Pearl members Belo Corp., Cox Media, Scripps, Gannett, Hearst, Meredith, Post-Newsweek, and Raycom, as well as other broadcasters like FOX, ION, and NBC.

Mobile app infrastructure company Phunware has acquired mobile ad company TapIt Media Group for $23 million. The acquisition, which closed on December 28, puts Phunware in charge of all TapIt facilities and employees in Irvine, CA, and Rockville, MD. Per the deal, TapIt’s mobile ad network and Mobile-as-a-Service (MaaS) monetization module for iOS and Android apps will be rebranded as TapIt by Phunware, and will serve as the core of Phunware’s cloud-based MaaS Advertising platform. TapIt’s mobile ad network consists of over 30,000 active publishers, and offers a product suite that includes self-service media buying, RTB, publisher mediation and yield optimization, cross-platform ad creation, and dynamic ad serving. The newly acquired company reports a global reach of six billion monthly ad impressions in 150+ countries. With the acquisition of TapIt, Phunware is looking to add monetization capabilities to the apps it builds for major companies such as the NFL, NASCAR, CBS, NBCUniversal, The CW, ESPN, Univision, Demand Media, McDonald’s, Turner, and Discovery, among others. It also brings Phunware a number of new clients, including Disney, Toyota, Amazon, and MSNBC.

Microsoft has purchased home automation and entertainment media start-up id8 Group R2 Studios, reports The Wall Street Journal. Founded by Blake Krikorian, the Founder of Sling Media, R2 creates products and holds patents for controlling connected devices and home entertainment equipment. According to the report, Microsoft made the purchase to boost its Xbox business, which does align with its plans to turn the console into a central connected hub for home entertainment. Krikorian and a “small team” will join Microsoft as employees, per the deal.

CBS has launched a CBS Connect app on the iPad. The free app brings the social features available on the network’s online second-screen hub, CBS Connect, to Apple’s tablet device. CBS Connect aggregates Facebook and Twitter conversations relating to CBS’ daytime, primetime, and late-night programming, giving fans the opportunity to chat live with other viewers as well as CBS stars. The network says that it plans to host “exclusive social events” and regular live chats during which fans can submit questions for CBS stars and creative talent to answer. The CBS Connect app has also integrated synced second-screen experiences tied to specific shows such as CSI, Hawaii Five-0, and NCIS: Los Angeles, with more shows to be added down the road. Other features of the app include new episode previews, assorted video clips, photo galleries, and access to CBS’ full primetime schedule.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM THE PEABODY FOUNDATION

Erika Nardini has joined AOL as the company’s new VP and Head of Marketing Solutions/AOL Advertising. She will drive marketing and creative strategies for AOL’s advertising business. Nardini will be based in New York City and will report to Jim Norton, SVP/AOL Advertising.

Optimedia, a division of ZenithOptimedia Worldwide, has named Jason Hoffman its new SVP/Digital. In this newly created position, he will oversee the agency’s NY digital operations across display, search, mobile, video, and analytics. He will also work with communications planning and broadcast teams to integrate digital media strategies among Optimedia clients such as BBC, British Airways, Joe Fresh, Pizza Hut, and Purina, among others. Hoffman will report to Adam Seymour, Managing Director/Digital, at Optimedia.

Anametrix, a provider of a cloud-based, real-time digital analytics platform, has promoted Pelin Thorogood to Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Blaise Barrelet, the company’s Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board. Formerly Anametrix’s CMO, Thorogood will now lead the company as it looks to extend its platform for Global 2000 marketers. He will direct the company’s strategy, expand its team, and look to introduce new platform capabilities, ranging from social collaboration and mobile analytics to predictive analytics.

Wayne Karrfalt, the original launch editor and daily contributing editor of Cynopsis Digital from March 2007 until July 2010, passed away peacefully and quietly on December 30th, after a long battle with cancer. As a veteran entertainment journalist, Wayne has covered the television and technology fields within the industry for a variety of trade and consumer publications before Cynopsis Digital, including Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News, TV Week, Ad Age,and The New York Times. In the 1990s, Wayne lived in Tokyo, Japan and served as the Tokyo Correspondent for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety Deal Memo, as well as being a theatre and arts critic for The Japan Times, a book reviewer for The Yomiuri Shimbun, a music writer for The Asahi Evening News and a film critic for Kinema Jumpo, the oldest film magazine in the world. Wayne is survived by his extraordinary wife, Hiroko Sato.

Wayne was an incredible mentor to me in the brief time I had the privilege of knowing him. He went out of his way to help me when I first took over the reins at Cynopsis Digital. Words will never be able to express how grateful I am for all that he did.

Later – Sahil
Sahil Patel, Associate Editor for Cynopsis Digital
01.04.13

Denise O’Connor: Group Publisher, Media Entertainment
Diane K Schwartz: Senior Vice President, Media Communications Group

Cynopsis Ad Sales: Mike Farina | VP Sales & Marketing | 203-218-6480
Classifieds Sales: Trish Pihonak | Director of Operations & Content | 888-702-3858

To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here.
To unsubscribe from this edition, click here.

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

JOB OPENING:  FT FREELANCE PROMO SCHED COORD/cable network/NYC: schedule daily promo assets and provide administrative support to fantastic team. Orgnzd, resp detail oriented a must. Resume: here (1/12)

JOB OPENING:  DIR, SOCIAL MEDIA/A+E Networks/NY: Oversee social media strategy, implement & direct fan engagement campaigns & multi-platform solutions for A&E Ntwrk in support of audience goals. Apply: www.aenetworks.com/career.html (1/12)

JOB OPENING: SALES EXEC/ITN/NYC: Self driven Sales Exec for its successful sales operation. provide both sales support to your colleagues & exceptional cust srvc support to US customers. Resume/apply:  [email protected] (1/12)

JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC/The Weather Channel/NYC: 5+ yrs sales exp required. Support TWC. Create, present proposals to secure business. Dvlp/maintain client & agency relationships. Monthly travel. BA Deg req’d. Resume: [email protected] (1/12)

JOB OPENING:  SELLING DIRECTOR/Digital Ad Sales/NY: Gen online rev thru dig products across A+E Networks portfolio. Full Info/Apply: www.aenetworks.com/career.html (1/12)

JOB OPENING: MARKETING MGR/CBS SPORTS NETWORK/NY: Execute digital & social mktg initiatives to drive brand awareness & tune-in. Exp in sports mktg &/or grassroots consumer mktg in cable preferred. Apply: www.cbssportsnetwork.com (1/11)

JOB OPENING: VP AD SALESMKTG TRAVEL/GAC: Lead team that dvlp/activates multiplatform client solutions. Solid mgmt & collaboration skills, 15 yrs+ Media/Cable/Creative bgrd req. Details/apply: req #3132, scrippsnetworksinteractive.com (1/11)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, RATINGS RESEARCH Vh1/NYC: 7+ yrs wk exp w/n cable/broadcast network field. Strng analytic & TV prgm exp. Knwldge of Nielsen & Lake 5.Tech Edge A+. Apply www.viacomcareers.com (1/11)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, PUBLISHER DEVELOPMENT NY: Mng video platform, digital studio production sces, content licensing, ad-portfolio. 3-5 yrs mng a pipeline and close deals. Mng all facets of biz dev cycle. Resume: [email protected] (1/11)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER PLANNING & OPS/NYC: Manage QA across ad sales systems/create custom x-platform BI reports. BA Degree, 7+ yrs in Broadcast/Cable Ops + Exp w/DealMaker and BI tools www.directv.com/careers (1/11)

JOB OPENING: LEAD COORD/TV ONE/MD: BA pref’d & 4 yrs of exp Brdcst Operations. Sched/maintain on-air secondary event promos. Wrk w/ internal depts. in on-air secondary event media plan’g/execution. Media & Ent exp +. www.TVONEjobs.com (1/11)

JOB OPENING: RED SOX REMOTE COORD PROD/MASS: Coord/sprvs/execute high qual, well-resourced Red Sox event telecasts for fan base. BA deg comm, brdcst radio. 10+ yrs exp live sports event producing.  Info/apply: http://nesn.com/nesn-jobs (1/11)

JOB OPENING: Copy COORD TEMP/TV ONE/NY: BA pref’d and/or 2 yrs of exp in TV Ops & Traffic. Wrk w/external agencies & traffic mgmt to secure and input comm copy for ntwrk. B’way & Log Bldg. exp a +. $21-$23 per hr. www.TVONEjobs.com (1/11)

JOB OPENING: SALES COORDINATOR/TV Guide/ NY: Excel skills a +, Organized, Strong comm skills, Work w/AEs/Planners/Sales/Traffic/P&P Marketing. Weekly allocations, deal maintenance, daily comm w/agencies. [email protected] (1/11)

JOB OPENING: DIR ACCT MNGMNT/Origin Digital, an Accenture Co./NYC: As worldwide leader in enabling LIVE events on 2nd screens, we’re seeking a star to build our revenues. New media/sports/sale/ tech. background. [email protected] (1/11)

JOB OPENING: AD SLS MKTG MGR/Discovery/NY: Dvlp & execute multi-platform ad sls sponsorships; 5+ yrs ad agency, media sls/mktg, client mktg exp; prod exp preferred; http://careers.discovery.com/#6742 (1/11)

JOB OPENING: RSRCH DIR/NFL/NY: Develop & design meas svcs for NFL spons & ad partners. Identify renwls & ROI of activations. 5-10 yrs  spons rsrch exp. More info/apply: NFL – Sponsorship Research Director (1/5)

JOB OPENING: SUPVSR, TECH OPS DIGITAL AD SALES/Sony Pictures TV/NY or LA: Implement & manage tech infrastructure to support PS3, Dr. Oz & FEARnet digital business. Full job desc. & apply: www.sonypicscareers.com (1/5)
 
JOB OPENING: MGR PRICING/NY: Update/analyze models. Provide sales metric updates. Must be detailed/analytical/able to multi-task. Exp. in media req. Excel a must. Apply- [email protected] (1/5)

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].

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: PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE/PRODUCER: with 10+ years production and business finance background looking for new full time or freelance job opportunities. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2735106/ (1/12)

SITUATION WANTED: CHILDREN’S MEDIA position: 5+ years in educational film & children’s TV. Enthusiastic project manager & editor with production, distribution, development experience. [email protected] (1/11)

SITUATION WANTED: CONTENT DISTRIBUTION, ACQUISITION, BUSINESS AFFAIRS ATTORNEY: Multi-platform cable, sat, mobile, Internet, IPTV experience w/ Nat Geo Ch, Weather Ch, XM Satelllite, TCI, Cablevision. Consult or FT. [email protected] (1/5)

SITUATION WANTED:  Leading Hollywood Nutrition Expert, Dietitian & Host looking for opportunities. Natural & high energy on camera, quoted in over 90 media outlets. See http://www.lisadefazio.com/ for reels! Contact [email protected] (1/5)

E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 888.702.3858 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

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

Copyright Cynopsis 2013

All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free. Copyright Cynopsis 2013