A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA

Cynopsis: DIGITAL

05/08/09

Good morning, it’s Friday, May 8, 2009, and this is your first early morning digital briefing. 

Judging from the revenue margins Amazon is seeking, the Kindle many not be the lifeline newspaper publishers were hoping for after all. Dallas Morning News Publisher and CEO James Moroney went on the record stating that Amazon was demanding 70% of subscription revenues during Wednesday’s U.S. Senate subcommittee meeting on the future of newspapers. (Paidcontent found this link to CSPAN’s coverage of the event.) What’s more, Amazon is demanding that newspapers sign over all electronic distribution rights to their content on devices other than the Kindle. (And the studios thought Apple was monopolistic.) News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch also chided Amazon’s approach during his earnings call, saying that News Corp. would strike no deals with Amazon: “We will not be ceding our content rights to the fine people who created the Kindle.”
 

 
Hulu inked a deal with Bollywood entertainment distributor Saavn to begin featuring contemporary Bollywood feature films on the site complete with English subtitles. Five titles have been cleared initially including Sarkar, Bollywood’s tribute to The Godfather, and Dewwena, the famous Shah Rukh Khan’s first feature film. More films will be released throughout the year.
 
New Hulu partner ABC launched a new Music Lounge to showcase the songs and artists featured on primetime ABC shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters and Ugly Betty. The site features a still photo or video-enhanced streaming radio station as well as an archive of ad supported music videos, exclusive performance footage, photos and behind-the-scenes interviews.
 
Gossip Girl creator Alloy Entertainment unveiled its first web series, based on the company’s teen girls mystery book series Private. A competition reality series, Private will turn to crowdsourcing techniques to both cast and market the show beginning with a 5-week open casting call. Viewers will be given an inside look at how the 15 finalists are chosen in late July, before the actual webisodes begin to appear on Alloy’s Teen.com video hub in late August. Veronica Becker and Sarah Kucserka, who most recently served as writers for Ugly Betty, will produce and Dennie Gordon (The Ex List) will direct the 20-webisode series.
 
ESPN360.com signed an exclusive deal to offer live online simulcast coverage of the Preakness Stakes and related events. Coverage begins May 13 with 30-minute broadcast of the Preakness Post Position Draw.
 
Digital music distribution outfit The Orchard announced a series of new artists partnerships including Jon Secada, Hip Hop producer/rapper RJD2, Jazz trio Soulive and Gang Starr co-founder Guru.
 

 
Web start-ups have to watch that burn rate now more than ever. Well-connected, United Talent Agency-backed web studio 60Frames ceased operations due to lack of funding, reports THR. 60Frames raised $3.5 million in funding from investors including Bob Pittman’s Pilot Group back in 2007 and was seeking a second round when the financing market dried up. Other web studios to call it quits recently include ManiaTV and PluggedIn.
 
This site would be good fodder for Mommy product site Mamaista: Baby Fish Mouth or Bfmwear.com, the brainchild of former cable ad sales executive Danielle Hughes, is an online outlet for baby clothing that incorporate memorable one-liners from the movies. For instance there’s a whole line of items sporting the message, “First rule of Day Care – don’t talk about Day Care.” The possibilities are endless here. “Is that a doo-doo in your diaper or you just happy to see me?”

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

 
Online video ad start-up VideoEgg launched a new optimization technique to better evaluate where to strategically place brand messages. AttentionRank sources the success of past VideoEgg campaigns in terms of engagement, time spent with the brand message and measurable actions such as click-throughs to handicap future placements.
 

 
An alliance of companies including Intel, Microsoft and Dell are banding together to work on a new 6 gigabit/second wireless networking standard to speed the sharing of content within the home. The “WiGig” technology, reputedly 10 times faster than existing Wi-Fi standards, will be adopted for use in PCs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players and other devices used to transmit movies, music and other content from device to device without having to wire them together. The WiGig Alliance plans to release full specs for compatible devices later this year.
 
Warner Music Group reported disappointment in earnings from the MySpace Music service as well as pricey investments in music service Lala and social network Imeem. “MySpace Music has been slow to create monetization tools and to be able to impact, in a revenue-generating way, the massive audience that they have been able to attract,” said CEO Edgar Bronfman in a conference call. WMG losses widened to $68 million during FYQ2 on revenues of $668 million, down 17% year-over-year. Digital income increased by 7.1% from last year to $166 million, down from a 48% growth rate a year ago.
 
EU lawmakers voted down a measure that would allow ISPs to cut off internet access to users who access illegal P2P file sharing sites three times without a hearing or court order. An amendment guaranteeing judicial review was added to the so-called three strikes measure in an attempt to appease opposition but the measure was still widely rejected.
 
Microsoft is acquiring Vancouver-based online game company BigPark, whose Chairman and co-founder Don Mattrick currently serves as SVP.Interactive Entertainment Business in Redmond.
 
Cisco Systems reported a steep 24% drop in profit and a 17% drop in revenue (totaling $1.3 billion) for the fiscal quarter ending April 24 as businesses scaled back their tech spending. Yet Cisco CEO John Chambers indicated that the company’s slowdown may be stabilizing, a note of optimism echoed this week by several other executives in the space.
 

 
Google’s share of the search market increased to nearly 73% as #2 search provider Yahoo’s share dropped by 20% year-over-year, according to Hitwise. Following a big holiday-themed promotion, the MSN/Live.com search engine saw a 3% increase in April 2009 from the previous month.
 
Percentage of U.S.searches among leading search engine providers
Domain      April 2008  March 2009  April 2009 Y/Y % Change
Google          67.93%      72.39%       72.74%       7%
Yahoo           20.29%      16.36%       16.27%    -20%
MSN              6.27%*       5.50%*      5.68%*    -9%
Ask.com         4.17%         4.07%       3.95%      -5%
Note: Data is based on four-week rolling periods (ending April 25, 2009; March 28, 2009; and April 26, 2008) from the Hitwise sample of 10 million U.S. Internet users.
*Includes executed searches on Live.com and MSN Search but does not include searches on Club.Live.com
Source: Hitwise
 
E-commerce spending remained flat during Q1 compared to a year ago across all categories after declining by 3% the previous quarter, according to ComScore. Yet there were some bright spots. Sport & Fitness grew by a leading 23% y/y, followed by Books & Magazines (+19), Video Games, Consoles & Accessories (+12%) and Computer Software (12%). ComScore is hosting a free webinar on May 14 regarding the state of e-commerce in the U.S.
 

                                                                                    
The Kindle’s new text-to-speech functionality has drawn positive reviews, even if it is a work in progress. But only books in the Kindle database can be accessed this way. Researchers, voracious readers or users who are sight-impaired who want to be able to listen to any book in print can try the Plustek BookReader V100. It’s a nifty scanner with built in text-to-speech and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software that allows you to scan any printed document then covert it to an MP3 or WAV audio file. It’s not cheap-retailing for about $525-$600 online-but for some it’s a godsend. Novelist Nan Hawthorne, who suffers from Stargardt’s Disease, credits the device for dramatically speeding up her productivity.
 
WeatherBug launched a new free app for the BlackBerry Storm and Bold smartphones. The ad-supported application includes 7-day and hourly forecasts; detailed radar and maps;
daily national weather outlook broadcasts and time-lapse animations from more than 2,000 weather cameras in the U.S.
 

 
As popular as they are to the initiated, virtual worlds like Second Life suffer from a psychological barrier to entry. Call it the Groucho Marx effect: non-computer geeks resist joining exclusive communities that would have them as members. Enter RocketOn, a brand new approach to the business of creating avatars and purchasing virtual goods. RocketOn operates on top of a flash-based overlay technology that allows you create an alter ego then use it to visit any site on the web after installing a thin browser plugin. Browsing is accomplished by moving your avatar over to a “wormhole,” which transports you to the homepage of Amazon or FunnyorDie.com, for instance, where you can chat, barter with or friend up other Rocketeers who are there at the moment. One popular early application is treasure hunting, according to founder and CEO Steve Hoffman. Users are sent on geocaching-type adventures to collect items such as virtual cans of Coke to earn rocketpoints, one of two currencies on the site. (Rocketdollars are tied to actual greenbacks.) Power users spend real money to upgrade their avatars with the latest fashions, vehicles or pets and a new reward system gives points for activities Rocketeers participate in. RocketOn is just beginning to approach brand advertisers to convince advertisers to utilize the platform as a way to drive users to their site and promote their products.
 
Later — Wayne
 Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
05.08.09

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

JOB OPENING: SHOW PRODUCTION DESIGNER/QVC/WEST CHESTER PA:Conceptualizes/designs/creates overall look & feel of show.Related degree,5+ yrs design exp in b’cast environ, AutoCad. Apply: www.qvc.com/careers (5/15)

JOB OPENING: MGR ONLINE AD SALES OPS/Lifetime TV: Dvlp, evaluate & approve deals to max profit generated by online inv. Demonstrated exp online media ind. BS req’d. Strong MS Excel & analytical skills. 
www.mylifetime.com/about-us/lifetime-networks-internship-program (5/14)

JOB OPENING: NEW MEDIA ASSET COORD/Hallmark Channel/Studio City: Support New Media assets thru online &offline tools. Exp. working w/photo images. Must have Photoshop/CS2/Bridge. See full posting & apply @ www.hallmarkchannel.com (5/14)

JOB OPENING: AE /BBC/LA: Motion Gallery, stock footage & clips. Grow biz w/advrtsng & corp clients who req moving imagery for commercials & corp videos. Biz dev cold calls, acct mngmnt. 2+yrs exp Res: www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (5/14)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES PLAN’R/BBC/NY: sell ad space on BBC.com. Biz dev, lead gen, strong org & rsrch skills, dev spprt mat’ ls, prep sales mat’l, presentations & team for pitches Res: www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (5/14)

JOB OPENING: DIR AUD DEV/BBC/NYC: Grow BBC.com news offering in US. Drive traffic, consumer mktg, prtnrshp mngmnt, 3rd party site outreach. Analyze traffic & usage. Mng all mktg & aud dev strat. Res: www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (5/14)

JOB OPENING: SALES DIR/BBC/NYC: Mng sls team, media licensing exp pref. 5+ yrs mngng sls team, able to coach & direct sell. Implement sales strat, mng projected sales/rev, grow biz. Res: www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (5/14)

J OB OPENING: FREELANCER, AUD RSRCH/MTVNETWORKS/LA: TV rsrch analyst/mgr w/strong skills. Media Math & Nielsen/Star Media sftwr sys skills req’d. Proficiency-synd rsrch (esp. MRI) pref’d. 2+ yrs. exp. TV rsrch. [email protected] (5/14)

JOB OPENING: MGR CONSUMER ADV/A&E TV: Mng consumer directed comm in support of tune-in & branding goals for A&E, Bio & CI HD. 5+yrs mktg and/or promotions exp in tv/cable or brdcst. Please apply via www.aetn.com/careers/html (5/13)

JOB OPENING: DIR POST PROD OPS/NYC: 7 yrs exp. Tech savvy w/strong technical writing sk and knwldg graphical/editorial technology. Fluent in current HD/SD broadcast technology. EOE/M/F/D/AAP Apply www.mtvncareers.com (5/12)

JOB OPENING: PROD/OPERATIONS MGR/NY: Seeking Mgr with at least 3+ yrs prod exp; detail oriented multi-tasker; exp in studio, remote & post prod; solid budgeting/negotiation skills; strong work ethic; Resume: [email protected] (5/12)

JOB OPENING: VP-BUS AFFAIRS/DISCOVERY/MD: Mng/negot/draft complex TV prog. deals, provide legal advice on prog/prod. issues. JD, 6+yrs transactional & ent. Legal exp. Apply: http://corporate.discovery.com/careers #8948 (5/9)

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] .

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDIT ONLY: MKTG INTERN/ATL: Assist w/ Consumer & Affiliate Mktg initiatives for The Weather Channel. Must have a basic understanding of Marketing; be creative & eager to learn. Please send resume to: [email protected] (5/15)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDIT ONLY:  AD TRAFFIC Intern/The Hotel Networks, NY: Commercial data entry, updating show titles, copy/logs. Majors: Media/Comm, Mktg, Adv, Bus/Fin– Analytical, PC, Detailed, Customer Service. Resumes: [email protected] (5/14)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDIT ONLY:  FLYP, a new media magazine, seeks a MARKETING & EDITORIAL intern in New York City to assist editors with all our marketing initiatives and do research for feature stories. Resume: [email protected]   (5/14)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN: Assist with designing and creating broadcast design and interactive media. Must know Photoshop, Illustrator and either Flash, A/E or Dreamweaver. [email protected] (5/12)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Orchard Films, a documentary film production company/DUMBO, Brooklyn: Looking for summer interns to help with several projects. Email cover letter & resume to Amanda: [email protected]   (5/12)

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:  WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER  Exceptional and fast writer, client friendly, EPK’s and DVD bonus features, internet pods, video games for Disney, Universal, New Line etc. In LA. Contact Lisa at [email protected]   (5/15)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT 10+ years film/TV experience, extensive production/post production contacts. [email protected]  (5/15)

SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIRECTOR 20+ yrs Media, Nielsen, Hispanic, & Sales experience. National and Local. Email: [email protected] (5/15)

SITUATION WANTED: SHOOTER/EDITOR (LA): HDV and ENG cameras. 2 years News Photog experience. Own Final Cut Pro Suite. Also versed in Avid. Self starter, work on own batteries. [email protected] (5/13)

SITUATION WANTED: REALITY PRODUCER/WRITER/DIR : NBC, TLC, CMT, CNN, E!, Discovery, pilots, sales tapes, internet; I’ll write your reality show treatment and develop your ideas. LA Based; travels well; [email protected] (5/13)

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] (5/13)

SITUATION WANTED: 8+ years experience in TVB-cast & Cable Buying & Supervising (General, DR, and PP). Also, some experience in print, radio, and online.Will move for the right opportunity. [email protected] (5/13)

SITUATION WANTED: TONY NOM. B’WAY PROD/THEATRE CONSULT/ACQUIS. & DEV./NYC 30+ yrs exp. in theatre. Superb theatre/film/TV contacts seeks FT or Consulting Position w/Studio/Prod Co. looking for properties. Contact: [email protected] (5/13)

SITUATION WANTED: Atlanta sales and marketing professional with 10 years experience in cable and telecommunications industry.Expertise in both the content and affiliate distribution. Strategic team player. [email protected] (5/12)

SITUATION WANTED: EXPERIENCED GRAPHIC DESIGNER (LA) Reality-TV, Film, Commercial, Documentaries & Corporate. Creative & Flexible. Seeking Freelance or Staff Position, Remote or In-House. Reel & Contact Info: www.ChaztizedMedia.com (5/12)

SITUATION WANTED: FIELD PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/LA: Docusoap, Lifestyle, Infotainment,Feature Doc + more. Resonant leader, keen writer, field/post, strong storyteller + showrunner. 8+ yrs. Will travel. [email protected] 917.716.7277 (5/12)

SITUATION WANTED: 20+ yrs. experience in TV Broadcasting & Cable ACCOUNTING/FINANCE. Seeking FT, PT or Temporary position: immediate start. Please contact [email protected] (5/9)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING/ACCOUNT DIRECTOR in NYC area. Seeking client or agency position. View my web folio for resume, accomplishments and contact info: www.webprofile.info/jrayher/ (5/9)

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

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