Cynopsis: DIGITAL

06/06/08

Good morning, it’s Friday, June 6, 2008, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
 
Verizon Wireless pulled the trigger on its deal to acquire Alltel in a cash merger valued at $28 billion that will make Verizon the leading carrier in the U.S. with more than 80 million subscribers. The merger should be good news for Alltel customers, giving them access to Verizon’s robust V Cast content and speeding the roll-out of faster wireless broadband services. Regulators are expected to insist that Verizon maintains service in rural Alltel areas as a condition of the merger.
 
Premiering Sunday in HD:
Discovery Channel HD: When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions at 9pm
 

 
With the P2P iPlayer such a success – more than 75 million shows have been streamed or downloaded since December – the BBC is ready to dive headfirst into digital distribution and begin streaming all of its channels online in the UK by year-end. Brits are worried the move will slow broadband connection speeds and result in higher prices as ISPs are forced to upgrade network capacity.
 
Sales of Grand Theft Auto IV catapulted revenues at game publisher Take-Two Interactive, as the company posted net income of $98.2 million for the quarter after posting a loss of $51.2 million during Q2 2007. Take-Two had sold an astounding 8.5 million copies of the Grand Theft Auto IV as of May 31.
 
Now Available On Demand & PPV:
Charlie Wilson’s War via NBCU Digital Distribution
 

 
Emerging music and artist discovery site OurStage helped spawn its first “Artist to Watch” signing: Alternative rock artist Plushgun signed a contract with Tommy Boy Entertainment. OurStage helps promote artists by building fan communities on social networking sites then reaching out to labels to help broker deals.
 
CBS’ Last.fm branched out into concert promotion, launching a series of live concerts with New York promoter The Bowery Presents. The first live gig will feature Lightspeed Champion tomorrow night at the Bowery Ballroom, viewable online at Last.fm/Presents.
 
Web culture podcast Epic FU found a new home on the Revision3 network.
 

 
By now techies are foaming at the mouth about the 3G iPhone, widely expected to be announced during Steve Jobs’ Apple Developer’s conference keynote on Monday. With a whole cottage industry of blogs out there propagating rumors, there is a consensus forming regarding what features we can look for:

• GPS capabilities beyond the Wi-Fi based solution it has now
• A 3 megapixel camera that is front facing, enabling video calling
• It will be significantly thinner than the current model

 
Never underestimate the endless application of cute (“kawaii”) in Japan. A Japanese robotics company named iXs Research Corp. has developed a new teddy bear robot for your car equipped with a GPS navigation system and sensors that detect movement, touch and even the presence of alcohol. Stop suddenly and the bear warns you to be careful. Have a few drinks and the bear reminds you that you may be impaired. iX hopes to release the first commercial version of the robot next year, planning to offer different characters and sizes.

All of the four daily editions of Cynopsis are now available as RSS feeds – the subscribe/click options show up at the end of this email, and will daily from now on.  In the meantime and to move things along for you, here are the tags you’d need to subscribe to any of our daily editions:

Cyn Digital:  http://enews.cynopsis.com/RSS/58

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Cyn Kids:  http://enews.cynopsis.com/RSS/60

Cyn Int’l:  http://enews.cynopsis.com/RSS/61

 
ConnectU wants out of its settlement agreement with Facebook after the company turned up new forensic Instant Messaging evidence proving that Mark Zuckerberg stole trade secrets from ConnectU’s founders to build Facebook, reports Bloomberg.
 
Yahoo Chairman Roy Bostock refuted several of Carl Ichan‘s statements in an open Dear Carl letter of its own yesterday. Both sides of the proxy fight will take to the road to present their respective cases to Yahoo shareholders in the coming weeks, leading up to the recently delayed Aug. 1 shareholders meeting.
 

 
Slide, RockYou and other developers of applications for social-networking sites like Facebook and MySpace are turning to advertising to help monetize their products, reports the WSJ. Success could bring much needed revenue to the platforms. Social-networking sites attracted just $600 million in ad revenue from U.S. marketers last year.
 
CBS Outernet signed a deal with gaming retail chain GameStop to install its in-store digital video ad network to over 4,000 GameStop locations.
 
Glam Media launched its latest vertical network around Hip-Hop music and lifestyle, this time with partner Global Grind.
 
Time Inc’s SI.com site chose CheckM8‘s AdVantage ad platform to deliver next generation rich media advertising.
 

 
Disney is merging its interactive media division – the Walt Disney Internet Group with its gaming unit Disney Interactive Studios as the digital content worlds continue to intersect. Former WDIG President Steve Wadsworth will lead the newly named Disney Interactive Media Group, assisted by Graham Hopper, former EVP and GM of Disney Interactive Studios.
 
Kevin Brockman was upped to EVP/Global Communications for the Disney-ABC Television Group. He oversees communications for Disney’s international, digital and kids brands and will continue to report to Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and President, Disney-ABC Television Group and Zenia Mucha, executive vice president, Corporate Communications, The Walt Disney Company.
 

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM IFC.COM

 
The Museum of the Moving Image in New York launched a new (somewhat clunky) website yesterday with a treasure trove of video archival material. Pinewood Dialogues offers pages of interviews with some of the best and brightest creators in film, TV and digital media. There are also some science-themed dialogues with filmmakers in the Sloan Science and Film section, along with several interesting shorts. Living Room Candidate is full of political TV commercials dating back to 1952. Hours of educational and entertaining content here!
 
Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
06.06.08

Cynopsis Digital Ad Sales: Jason Cesare 732-718-0629 / [email protected]
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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS MEDIA: TOP TIER

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

JOB OPENING:  SR PROJECT MGR ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING RESEARCH/Turner/ATL: Design/analyze quant/qual mkt rsrch for entertainment programming/6-8 yrs TV exp a must /4 yr degree. Apply: [email protected]   (6/13)

JOB OPENING:  AE/DIRECT RESPONSE/GAC/NY: Develop & grow new and existing ad sales revenue for GAC, maintain and build client/agency relationships.  At least 4 yrs ad sales experience.  Apply at www.SCRIPPSNETWORKS.COM    (6/13)

JOB OPENING:  RSRCH DIR/FOX/NY: Mng daily aspects of Ad Sales Rsrch (tracks/trends & analysis) for channel. Formulate innovative concepts w/ regards to sales objectives/goals. 6-8 yrs exp media ind rsrch pref’d; www.foxcareers.com (6/13)

JOB OPENING:  AD SLS PROD/NAT GEO/DC: Conceptualize, write & produce elements for ad sls mktg. BA/BS, 3+ yrs exp marketing, ad sales or on-air promo producing creative pref’d. www.foxcareers.com . (FNG12454) (6/13)

JOB OPENING:  SR. MARKETING POSITION RAZOR & TIE ENTERTAINMENT/NYC: 5 + yrs exp in mrkt. Must have broad musical knowledge across many genres, proven track record & robust contact list. Resumes to [email protected] (6/13)

JOB OPENING:  ADVANCED WRITER/ CNN’s AMERICAN MORNING/NYC:must have 5 yrs b’cast news writing/reporting exp., strong knowledge intl news & U.S. politics. Sched 1a-9a. Send CV+ 3 writ smpls to: [email protected]   EOE  (6/13)

JOB OPENING: WRITER/PRODUCER, VH1 ON-AIR PROMO/MTV/NYC: 3+ yrs writing/producing on-air promo or Ad Campaigns. Strg pre & post prod. skills, Knwldg of TV depts., Music & Pop Culture, plus. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (6/12)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/Fox/NY: Sales Research Fox Broadcast. 2+ yrs exp ad sales research. Exp w/ Startrak, NPOWER, MyEvents & Simmons, Str analytic sk. BS/BA. Please apply at www.foxcareers.com (FNG12403)  (6/12)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL RESEARCH YOH POSITION/NBC UNIVERSAL/NYC: Seeking recent college grad to support NBCU’s digital sales. BA/BS, strong writing & verbal skills & proficiency with MS Office. Apply to:  [email protected]    (6/12)

JOB OPENING: BRAND MGR/GLOBAL LICENSING/Playboy Enterprises NYC: Strat. Mktg, Acct. Mgmt for new & existing licensees. 3+ yrs exp-major brand pref. Apply at http://playboy.net-apply.com/13433 (6/12)

JOB OPENING: DOCUMENTARY EDITOR/PRODUCER/FREELANCE: Lou Reda Productions, Easton, Pa Needs seasoned long form editors that possess strong directorial, creative thinking. Send resume to [email protected] (6/12)

JOB OPENING: MGR, SEO, VH1.com, MTV/NY: 2+yrs SEO/Prod. exp.lrg website. Strg product dvlpmnt exp. in a database-driven envir. Strg JavaScipt, HTML,CSS skills, Knwldg: AJAX, JSP. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (6/12)

JOB OPENING:  COORD PROMO SCHED/Fuse/NY: Contribute to promo strategy for the network & research poten acquisitions for Fuse.  2 yrs Cable/network expl pref., Rez to: [email protected] “CPS” in subj (6/12)

JOB OPENING: DIR, LICENSING/Taffy Ent./PARIS: 5-8 yrs. Exp in lic/sales/retail for kids consumer prods. Develop new biz & maximize brand potential. Proven results. Eng/French fluency. [email protected] (6/12)

JOB OPENING:  MEDIA BUYER/Boynton Bch, FL: 3-5 yrs media buying, negotiating, & analytical exp w/direct response short form on nat’l cable, syndication, and local broadcast. Exp w/ med buying software. [email protected]  (6/12)

JOB OPENING:  MGR, DIGITAL SPONSORSHIPS/Discovery/NY: Proj. manage and provide post-sales marketing supp. to all digital sponsorships, works across web, mobile, podcast and VOD Apply: www.discovery.com Req#7991 (6/11)

JOB OPENING:  DIRECTOR NETWORK DISTRIBUTION & SERVICE/Hallmark Channel/NYC: Develop & implement strategies to increase distribution. Min 5 yrs exp. See full posting and apply at:   www.hallmarkchannel.com (6/11)

JOB OPENING:  SALES PLANNER/ BET Ad Sales CHICAGO: 1-2yrs exp.Sls Planning/media buyer perf’d. Det. oriented & ability to multi-task in fast paced envir. Dealmaker/VCI exp a +. Profic. in MS Word/Excel/PP. Resume: [email protected] (6/11)

JOB OPENING:  MEDIA BUSINESS ANALYST/NYC:  level 2Gabriel application support analyst. 4 month contract. End user support, and application troubleshooting. Exp. with MSA’s Gabriel software required. Apply to: [email protected].  (6/11)

JOB OPENING: MEDIA PLANNING SPVSR/N. Westchester location:  Embedded at client’s office 4 days/wk. NYC agency 1 day. Pharma Exp a plus. Exc. Benefit pkg.  Send Resume: [email protected] (6/11)

JOB OPENING:  ACCT MGR/The Hotel Networks/NY: Aggressive & creative. 3+yrs nat’l media sales exp. Exc media math, verbal & written comm skills, Exp in travel/finance/auto/hospitality ind. a + Res/cover: [email protected]   (6/11)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATING PRODUCER/NICKELODEON/NYC: Oversee audio & post prod, music, edits & delivery, for animated series, ensure project adheres to schedule. Sr. level need only apply. Fax resume to (212) 654-1083  (6/8)

JOB OPENING: MGR, FIN. REPORTING & PLANNING/LIFETIME TV/NY: Manage & coordinate financial planning & reporting processes (monthly fin. close, annual budget, year-end audits) Apply at: http://www.mylifetime.com/about/jobs.html (6/7)

JOB OPENING: STANDARDS & PRACTICES EDITOR/ABC TV Netwk/LA: Review scripts/rough cuts; alt series, wk w/network & prod staff on loc; detailed/critical thinking/writing; JD & prod exp a plus. Apply www.disneycareers.com Req 158299  (6/7)

JOB OPENING:  SALES COORD/Univision/NY: Highly motivated. Mng tasks/srvcng agencies/clients daily basis. Det. oriented/comm/PC & math skills.  1-2 Yrs Media Exp, Deal Maker exp a +, Spanish a +. EOE. Res:  [email protected]  (6/10)

SPRING AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are 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] .

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  Green-Webstore /Los Angeles Valley: Phones/writg / editng / typng / resrch /website updtes. Strng comm skills & good attitude / Per asst CEO, begin ASAP. thru summer. Res/Cvr: [email protected]  (6/8)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED … Interested in posting your Video Resume?  Contact [email protected] for more information ….

SITUATION WANTED:  DC WRITER/PRODUCER Available: 15 year TV veteran available for writer / producer work in the DC area starting June 16th. Experienced in reality, documentary, entertainment, and talk formats. Contact: [email protected]  (6/13)

E-mail  [email protected] for rates and specs for Job Openings. 

Interested in posting your Video Resume?  Contact [email protected] for more information ….

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