Cynopsis: DIGITAL

07/30/10

Good morning, it’s Friday, July 30, 2010, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.  If you would like to read this or any other Cynopsis edition online, click here. 

With the federal government more strapped for cash more than nearly anytime in its history, the House Financial Services Committee voted 41-22 on Wednesday in favor of repealing a recent ban on online poker and other forms of internet gambling. The argument for overturning the existing ban is that it has done little to cease online betting, as offshore companies continue to rack in huge profits serving U.S players. A number of U.S.-based casual gaming companies, who have carefully sidestepped the ban by relying on games of “skill,” would like to double down by introducing real betting to poker and other games. Meanwhile, two of Europe’s biggest online gambling sites, PartyGaming.com and Bwin Interactive Entertainment, announced plans to merge yesterday to become the world’s largest publicly-traded player in the market.
 

 
MTV Network’s LGBT brand Logo announced it is relaunching the sites AfterEllen.com and AfterElton.com, both of which produce original content and news covering popular culture, TV, film and music. Southwest Airlines is the launch sponsor for both sites.
 

 
For those of you still confused by Facebook‘s filtering controls, you’ll have a new Q&A system to turn to, introduced yesterday by the social networking site. An “ask a question” option, rolling out incrementally to users, will be featured in the status box atop of all users’ home pages and next to Facebook’s search query box. The system is designed to source the knowledge of all 500 million users on Facebook with answers being made available by search or topic.
 

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

 
Movie release campaigns currently make up the majority of mobile ad spending in the entertainment industry accounting for 43% of all campaigns, followed by TV and music, according to Millennial Media‘s latest S.M.A.R.T. report measuring data from campaigns it runs and partners it serves. TV program-related mobile ad campaigns grew 311% year-over-year, DVD release campaigns grew 300% y/y while Motion Picture release campaigns grew by 89%. In June, 59% of campaigns used broad reach targeting methods, while 41% used more targeted audience reach methods.
 

 
Sony returned to profitability during FYQ1 ending June 30, 2010, turning a net profit of $290 million – helped by strong Bravia TV sales and the rebirth of the now cheaper PlayStation 3 gaming console. Sony sold 5.1 million Bravia TVs during the quarter, up 60% from FYA1 2009, along with 1.1 million PS3s and 1.9 million VAIO PCs. Sony also said more than 24 million PS3 titles were sold during the quarter, up from 14 million during the same period of 2009.
 
Rival Nintendo didn’t fare nearly as well, reporting a sizeable loss as sales of the handheld DS gaming device fell by nearly half. The company reported a loss of $2.2 billion during the quarter, its first quarterly loss in two years. Nintendo’s hotly anticipated 3DS version, which is probably stifling sales of new games for the current DS, is expected to go on sale early next year. It is the first device that allows you to view 3D content without having to wear special glasses.
 
WiMax provider Clearwire announced its first big retail reseller deal to date, with Best Buy agreeing to market the service rebranded “Best Buy Connect” next year in dozens of U.S. cities. Clearwire has also struck resell deals with its corporate partners Comcast, TWC and Sprint.
 
Paris, France-based technology company Technicolor renewed its deal with DirecTV to continue to supply 3D services, powering the launch of DirecTV’s new 3D VOD service. Technicolor provides set-top-boxes, hospitality video systems, multi-dwelling broadcast distribution systems and aircraft video distribution technologies.
 
ComScore reported lower Q2 profits, earning $825k, down 30% from a year earlier. Revenue rose 34% to $42 million but so did marketing, research and other expenses.
 

 
Despite 3D box office hits such as “Avatar” and “Alice in Wonderland,” demand for internet-connected TV’s will far outstrip demand for 3D HDTVs in the next few years, according to researcher iSuppli. Shipments of Internet-connected TVs (IETVs) are expected to reach 27.7 million globally in 2010 (up 124.9%), with only 4.2 million 3D sets expected to sell. IETV’s shipments, driven by demand for access to digital media and social networking services like Netflix, Hulu and Facebook, are projected to continue to grow at double-digit rates through 2014, when they will reach over 50% of the market.
 
Video’s impact on mobile data usage patterns continue to grow (mobile video will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 131% between 2009 and 2014, per Cisco) and networks must find a way to prepare for peak usage times to more efficiently utilize their bandwidth and improve user experience, according to Bytemobile‘s Global Metrics Report on mobile video. Trends and conclusions include:

• Mobile video consumption peaks around 10 p.m., at which point networks experience the most congestion and users experience the most video stalling
• Stalling occurs on the fastest of networks, underscoring the probability that not even next-gen network technology will be sufficient to satisfy user demand for data services
• Mobile users opt for lower-quality videos to avoid stalling and enjoy a better media experience
• Optimization significantly reduces video stalling, thereby noticeably improving the user experience
• YouTube accounts for 36% of the total video traffic on wireless networks worldwide; adult content and ‘long tail’ internet content account for the rest

 
Amazon introduced a leaner, meaner version of its Kindle e-reader that has fixed many of the shortcomings of previous models. An improved navigation system replaces the clunky joystick with a control pad and wasted space is minimized to make room for the 6-inch screen. It features 20% faster page turns, double the storage and twice the battery life. And best of all, the $139 price point for the new Wi-Fi only version makes it the most affordable Kindle yet. Amazon says both the new 3G Kindle ($189) and the Wi-Fi model will ship to over 140 countries beginning Aug. 27.
 
A new 99 cent iPhone app from Appsolute Media tests your knowledge of which celebrities have shuffled off this mortal coil. “Celebrity Dead or Alive” taps into a database of thousands of celebrities, with three different play modes to choose from, including quiz mode, party mode or marathon mode.
 

 
David Moore, founder, Chairman and former CEO of 24/7 Real Media, is returning to the WPP-owned ad network and technology company, once again as CEO. He takes over for Jonathan Hsu, who will take over New York-based start-up Recycle Bank. Jonathan was also named a founding member of a new global advisory tech council being created by Dublin-based WPP.
 
Former CEO of VivaKi and Digitas David Kenny has become President of Cambridge, MA-based CDN Akamai Technologies after serving on the Akamai board for three years.
 
Goren Dillard was named Director/Sales & Account Management for conVISUAL‘s Chicago office. He will support COO Joao Gonzaga.
 

 
Anyone who’s spent hours executing hits (via Mafia Wars) or planting crops on Facebook (via FarmVille) on Facebook has heard of Zynga, easily the hottest company in the social gaming space. Now Zynga games are about to be big in Japan, as the company announced a new joint venture with digital powerhouse Softbank (leading shareholder in Yahoo, Japan), with the latter agreeing to invest $150 million and distribute Zynga’s social games across its properties. Yahoo Japan is Japan’s leading portal with 24 million active monthly users and 7.6 million premium subs and Softbank’s Yahoo BB is the leading broadband provider. Masayoshi Son has made Softbank into a diversified powerhouse, partnering with Apple to bring the iPhone 3G to Japan, acquired a stake in Ustream to accelerate live streaming and collecting stakes in RockYou and Chinese-based social networking company Oak Pacific Interactive, operator of Xiaonei. Son’s best recent success is in mobile, however, where Zynga and Softbank will be focusing much of their efforts in Japan. (Japanese spend far more time on their phones than in front of their computers.) The iPhone has single-handedly transformed the mobile market in Japan, selling 1.7 million units through March 31, according to MM Research, amounting to 72% of all smartphones sold. s
 
Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
[email protected]
07.30.10

Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Mike Farina – Sr. Dir/Business Development & Sales – 203-218-6480 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-381-9096 / [email protected]

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

ATTENTION JOB RECRUITERS FOR THE TELEVISION AND ADVERTISING INDUSTRY – send us your contact information so we can begin to build a database for referrals.  We get people all the time around the country asking us for names of local recruiters.  Help us out – send us your contact information, name, company, address, phone, email and fax.  NY and LA are great, but we also need names of firms in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, DC, and elsewhere.  We have people to send you!   Email your info to [email protected].

JOB OPENING: FORMAT PRODUCER-TEMP/Stamford: CT PROJECT EMPLOYEE–TEMPORARY Format Producer, History Espanol, fluent read write Spanish. Stamford: https://www.abso.com/jobboard/Default.aspx?JOBBOARDID=618&JobDetail=76587 (8/6)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES TRAINING DIRECTOR/Fox Cable Networks/NY: Develop targeted training classes, programs, curriculum for sales systems & business processes. Must have ad sales training/systems bkgrd. www.foxcareers.com, ref FNG20482 (8/6)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL CONTENT/SOCIAL MEDIA MGR/ATL: Provide online content/soc ntwking support for on-air prog.Online content & mkting in TV req. Exp w/ MS Excel/Word req.Online content Mgt. sys & Drupal a + Res: [email protected] (8/6)

JOB OPENING: CNS-MANAGER, TRAFFIC/Orlando, FL: Overseas the daily operations of traffic dept/checks logs for errors & communicates w/ ntwrk control/5+ yrs cable traffic exp/detailed oriented www.ecentralmetrics.com/url/?u=7440381166-208 (8/5)

JOB OPENING: WEB DEVELOPER/Hallmark Channel/Studio City: 3 years web develop. & database management. See full posting and apply @ www.hallmarkchannel.com (8/5)

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] (8/5)

JOB OPENING: DISTRICT REP/ABC Affiliate Rels/LA: Daily client svcs/operational support to stations; enforce netwrk guidelines. Track/record clearances. Min 1 yr exp; must know TV ntwk/station roles. www.disneycareers.com #255704 (8/5)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL SALES/Scripps Networks/AE/NY: 2+ yrs Digital Planning exp a must. Manage & grow accounts, new biz development, strong Excel & PP. Full details at www.scrippsnetworks.com & select req. #’s 1748, 1749 (8/5)

JOB OPENING: RSRCH MGR/NY: Lead client rsrch needs across all media. 4-7yrs exp media rsrch ind. ad agency. Exc in Nielsen, MRI &/or qual rsrch. Apply: www.mediacomusa.com Click on “careers“ (8/5)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH DIRECTOR/Miami, FL/Discovery LATAM/USH: 6+ yrs LATAM Programming Research exp a must. Strategic leadership in dev of creative approaches to position & differentiate portfolio.  [email protected] (8/4)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/ WTIC/WCCT/Hartford: Seeking two AE’s: 3+ years, 1+ yrs sales/media experience  multi-media experience preferred; excellent negotiation skills; strong work ethic; desire to win. [email protected] (8/3)

JOB OPENING: EP/IMAGINATOR /Houston: A DIF APPROACH TO LOCAL TV NEWS… THE NEW TRIBUNE IS LOOKING FOR A PERSON TO HIRE/LEAD/IMPLEMENT A REVOLUTION IN TV NEWS.EXP RUNNING A NEWSROOM NOT CRITICAL. www.tribjobs.com Job ID 2010-14912 (8/3)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network/LA: Min 1-2 yrs exp in TV/MP Research, expert in Star, NPower, Omniture & Rentrak, strong written and analytical skills. Apply at: http://careers.own.tv/ (8/3)

JOB OPENING: DIR/MGR DEAL STRATEGY/MTVN/NYC: supports Content Distribution & Mktg (CDM) group in a brd variety of matters arising from the dist of Viacom. 5yrs+ exp buz & develp/strategy. BA deg.Apply: www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (8/3)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER, CONTENT & PROGRAMMING/Nickelodeon Digital/NYC. 4+yrs exp. in digital media envrnmnt, Exp. Manging Digital Content, Stng research,fact cheking & trnscrbng skils EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (8/3)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, CONTENT & PROGRAMMING/ Nickelodeon Digital/NYC. 2+yrs exp in digi media envrnmnt/detail orientd/strng writen & oral skils/ability to multitsk & thnk creativly EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (8/3)

JOB OPENING: VP COMMUNICATION/NICKELODEON/Santa Monica: 10+yrs exp strong industry knowledge. construct & lead multi projects. Media savvy & dynamic communicator EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (7/31)

JOB OPENING: SR. RESEARCH ANALYST/BET NY Sales: 2-3yrs exp TV or media rsrch. Prof in StarTrak, Nielsen Npower/MarketBreaks/AdViews, MRI. Strong PPT & Excel; PPT creativity a must. Res: [email protected] (7/31)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/GolTV, Inc. /North Bay Village, FL: Support Ad sales in all aspects, incl but not limited to–bldg proposals, maint of deals/schedules, client requests, ADU’s, posting. Apply: [email protected] (7/31)

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: Discovery Communications/NYC: Looking for bright, motivated for-credit interns working in Ad Sales/HR/ Talent/ Development/ Communications. Must be in SCHOOL. Start end of Sept. resume to [email protected] (8/5)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Discovery Communications/LA: Looking for bright, motivated interns working in Ad Sales/ Public Relations/ Production/ Communications. Must be in SCHOOL. Start end of Sept. resume to [email protected] (8/5)

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: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT position film/TV (NY) 7 years experience: Interned for a President, Executive Assistant to SVP/VP/film director/celebrity [email protected] (8/5)

SITUATION WANTED: PA /NY: Recent tufts grad w/ tv prod, admin. & publish. exper., strong writing skills, work ethic & enthusiasm seeks entry-level TV job; also makes delic. cookies & good at carrying heavy obj. [email protected] (8/5)

SITUATION WANTED:  NEED A BUDGET DONE?? LINE PROD 10+ yrs. exp- Freelance budget work in all formats including 3D. Accurate budgets, Reasonable rates, fast turnaround 30 days unlimited revisions: email [email protected] (8/4)

SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIR/SALES STRATEGIST – 20+ yrs media, Nielsen, Hisp, research, sales, and presentation experience. Email: [email protected] (8/4)

SITUATION WANTED:  Hard working, self-starter PRODUCTION MANAGER/NY: with Field Producing and Post Supervisor experience seeks challenging new position. Past companies include HBO, MTV, A&E, Thirteen & Nat Geo. [email protected] (8/4)

SITUATION WANTED: PRIME TIME EMMY DOCUMETARY. PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email: [email protected] (8/4)

SITUATION WANTED: Top VP/DIRECTOR DIGITAL SALES now available for your turnaround, new venture or next level challenge. It’s all about proof of performance…contact [email protected] (8/3)

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.
 

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