Cynopsis: DIGITAL

05/09/08

Good morning, it’s Friday, May 9, 2008, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
 
Who says you don’t get second chances in life? After Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer promised the company had moved on past its pursuit of Yahoo, Microsoft’s Chief Strategy Officer Craig Mundie extended an olive leaf, telling Reuters “we might reconsider” at $33 a share. On the other hand, Microsoft released the nominees on Thursday of its rival slate who were to stand for election in the event of a proxy fight. This seems to indicate that if Microsoft is willing to reconsider, there will be no party crashing. It will have to be invited back to the ball.
 

 
Turner’s SuperDeluxe.com comedy site is being folded into AdultSwim.com with much of the SuperDeluxe staff being let go, reports paidcontent.org.
 
WCSN will be webcasting live coverage of the IAAF Super Grand Prix being held in Doha, Qatar, in addition to free coverage of the Rowing World Cup series that kicks off on Sunday. If track or rowing isn’t your cup of tea, WCSN.com will also have comprehensive season long coverage of the 2008 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour going on through November and the IIHF World Championships going on now.
 
CMT launched a new social network to help promote the new season of Trick My Truck, featuring video uploads, message boards and blogs from the cast.
 

 
Brad Greenspan’s Live Universe acquired TV listings/discovery site MeeVee, reports TechCruch.
 
The price war over bandwidth, its patent fight with Akamai and the loss of Divx Stage6 as a customer took its toll on CDN Limelight Networks during Q1, as the company missed its revenue targets by $1 million. On the bright side Limelight signed up 183 new customers during the quarter and got major accounts such as MySpace and Viacom to renew.
 

 
One of the more useful integration tools for the mobile phone is Shozu, a mobile social media service that connects users to social networks, blogs, photo storage sites and other destinations. The app offers one-click, full-resolution photo and video uploads and integration to a growing number of cool sites including new additions Twitter, Photobucket, Dailymotion and Seesmic.
 

 
A cable company is giving away something for free – and to existing customers no less! Apparently flush with cash, New York’s Cablevision announced they were building a new Wi-Fi network across its footprint as a free add-on to existing Optimum Online customers. With broadband penetration above 50% in the N.Y./N.J./Conn. Area, it will cost only about $70 per home passed or $100/subscriber.
 
RealNetworks plans to spin off its casual games division into a separate company, distributing shares to its shareholders and possibly moving forward with an IPO. Games have been a growth area for Real as of late with revenue up 33% Q1 ’08 from the first quarter of 2007 to $31.8 million. The company reported overall Q1 earnings up 14%, despite slowly losing subscribers to its subscription-based Rhapsody music service. 
 
The FCC announced the creation of an experimental test market – the Wilmington, N.C. DMA – for the full-power television station transition to all-digital broadcasting. In the FCC experiment, full-power stations in the Wilmington market will shut off their analog signals on September 8, 2008 – a full five months before the national transition to digital television (DTV) occurs on February 17, 2009.
 

 
The IAB issued revised Ad Unit and Rich Media Creative Guidelines yesterday, asking for input from ad agencies, advertisers, online publishers and technology vendors. The guidelines cover formatting standards for banner ads, buttons, floating ads and other rich media products. Companies have 30 days to comment via the IAB site.
 
The IAB’s Audience Measurement Working Group also expects to release guidelines soon that will finally define many of the metrics terms publishers throw around. If only standards could be set in time for the upfronts where web metrics are expected to play a major role. Experts say inconsistencies and confusion over web measurement issues have a more adverse affect on digital ad spending than practically any other issue.
 
Some of the issues that need reconciling include:

• What constitutes a unique visitor? A recent comScore study found that approximately 31% of U.S. internet users clear their cookies once a month or have them cleared by default.  Some users clear cookies after each use, and these users have a profound effect on web metrics.  Why? A cookie is a string of text counting programs use to determine unique visits, and if they’re cleared monthly or more frequently, these users are then counted as “unique visitors” each time they return to favorite sites. Measurement firms say they factor in cookie deleters when counting unique visits, but estimates vary dramatically and accuracy remains a deep concern. 
• How is time spent on a site measured? The explosion of widgets, blog posts and online video has lessened the impact of page views and put more weight on the average time spent metric. Nielsen Online announced last July it was scrapping page view rakings in favor of time spent. Time spent may be an improvement, but it’s not without its own issues. Many browsers allow multiple windows to remain open simultaneously and indefinitely. Nielsen says it solves this by only measuring which tab is “in focus,” but who’s to say you’re reading what you last clicked on? It’s like the TV being on, but nobody’s in the room watching. Time spent rankings also tend to reward sites that are clunky and hard to navigate, thus taking more time to wade through.
• How can panel based and server based measurement be reconciled? Advertisers get confused when web metrics vary considerably between third party estimates (usually based on a panel of users) and internal estimates (based on internal server log data). When numbers diverge by a factor of 2 or more, serious trust issues ensue. Media Ratings Council audits of both Nielsen Online and ComScore should help allay some concerns.

 
Gorilla Nation was selected to represent online ad display inventory for Mattel’s Barbie.com and PollyPocket.com. The sites average 7.3 million uniques and 4 million uniques respectively.
 

 
Games aren’t just for kids anymore – there for sick people. Video games are being used for rehab and therapy to improve balance and mobility in Parkinson’s patients and even to increase the health and well being of children. Check out the Games for Health website for more on this trend, including video from this week’s Games for Health conference in Baltimore.
 
The social networking revolution is going mobile, particularly in the U.S and UK, according to new findings from Nielsen Mobile. Over 4 million mobile subscribers accessed their social networking profiles during the month of Dec. (1.6%) while 812,000 checked them in the UK per month on average in the UK during Q1.
 

 
Chris Grosso has been upped to SVP/Emerging Digital Businesses and Jessica Schell has been promoted to SVP/Digital Strategy at NBC Universal Digital Media. Chris is responsible for the creation and development of new digital niche networks and businesses while Jessica handles strategic planning and executing digital partnerships for NBCU Digital Media and other divisions within NBCU. Both will continue to report to George Kliavkoff, Chief Digital Officer, NBCU.
 
Ritesh Bansal was hired as VP/Application Development for mobile and internet software company CallWave. Ritesh will report to CallWave President and CEO Jeff Cavins.
 
Jacqui Rossinsky has been named EVP/Network Operations for Interep NetSolutions, Interep’s network sales division. She reports to Mike Walsh, Interep’s President and COO.

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM www.IFC.COM – Official Website of the Independent Film Channel

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Let’s compare and contrast a couple of celebrity Tom websites, just for fun. New this week is TomCruise.com. No, despite the creepy music, it’s not a Scientology infomercial. It’s a slickly produced resume site designed to remind the web community that Tom had an impressive career on the big screen before his fall into viral infamy. There is beautiful use of flash video as a backdrop to the home page. His films are highlighted by nice high res stills and high quality 16×9 trailers. All in all, it’s a good effort.
 
Now go to TomWaits.com. This Tom threw up the picture from his latest album cover Glitter and Doom, along with a classic video of the “press conference” held to kick off the tour. (Watch it to the end or you won’t get it.)
 
Which is more elegant? Tom Cruise’s, without a doubt. But it’s way too serious. Which will be more effective at building buzz? Tom Waits’ site, because it’s ironic, original and soulful, in a Frank’s Wild Years kind of way.

Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
05.09.08

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS MEDIA: TOP TIER

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

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JOB OPENING: SALES ASSOCIATE-ONLINE ADVERTISING/Los Angeles: Responsibilities: Account Mngmnt, Mkt research, Campaign analysis. 2-3yrs sales exp. Media sales/planning or buying exp. Apply at www.weather.com/careers   Position XSA090 (5/16)

JOB OPENING: SR RSRCH DIR/Entertainment Rsrch Co/LA: Mng custom projects, proposals, methodology, survey design, analyze data/write reports. Ent. industry knwlg & vendor exp + http://www.epollresearch.com/corp/aboutus/careers.view   (5/16)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCER (Redakteur) male/female/MDR (KI.KA), Germany: Resp. for national and intl. TV/Film co-prod. Fluent German essential. Full details: www.mdr.de/stellenangebote/   Apply: [email protected]   (5/16)

JOB OPENING: STRATEGIC PLANNING ANALYST/CNN Digital/NY: Dvlp rev reports 4 mgmt,review & approve ad sales deals. 1-2 yrs exp in ad sales indstry,proficient in Excel&media math. Web exp a+. Apply: [email protected] . EOE (5/15)

JOB OPENING: SUP. PROD./DISCOVERY/MD: Conceive/write/produce TV, print & radio campaigns (on/off-air mktg. initiatives) for Discovery. Field/shoot exp a must. Directing a +. 5-8 yrs exp writing/produce campaigns. Apply here: discovery/jobs.com     (5/15)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCER/EDITOR/iN DEMAND Networks/NY: Produce, direct, edit video for Howard TV. BA/BS, 6+ yrs. producing exp. Final cut, File Mkr. Pro. Send resume: [email protected] (5/15)

JOB OPENING: DIR, ONLINE MKTG/KING.COM/LA: Must have online mktg incl. affil.  relations & Search Engine mktg (SEM)  5yrs digital mktg exp. Optimize existing partnerships and lead CRM in the US.  Resume to:  [email protected] (5/15)

JOB OPENING: ANIMATION DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE/Marvel Studios: 3+ yrs strong experience in ids action adventure genre. Knowldg of Marvel character base & strengths in story, script & visual dvlpmnt. Apply: [email protected]  (5/15)

JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC (2)/NewsChannel8/Arlington VA: Present dynamic media advrtsmnt pckgs to various size bus., corps as well as federal, state & local governments. BA related area. & 2yrs of media sales exp. Res: [email protected]  (5/15)

JOB OPENING: WEB ACCT MGR/WJLA-TV/NewsChannel8/Arlington VA: Motivated & talented. Generate rev thru selling advrtsng on company’s web sites. 3yrs media sales exp w/preferably 1 yr Internet sales, BA related field. Res: [email protected] (5/15)

JOB OPENING: SR RESEARCH ANALYST/ABC FAMILY/NY: Track performance of prog using industry standard media research tools, lead responsibility for creating wkly research materials 2 yrs exp apply www.disneycareers.com Req153488   (5/15)

JOB OPENING:  TiVo provides unique interactive ad solutions enabling advrtsrs to reach a time-shifting audience. SR DIR PRODUCT MNGMNT: Interactive TV or online interactive media exp. Redefine TV advrtsng! Details: visit us here (5/14) 

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/Zenith Media:  2+ yrs exp; Proficiency: Nielsen tools, TNS Media Intelligence, IMS data systems, ComScore, NetRatings,  Excel, PowerPoint [email protected] (5/14)

JOB OPENING: DATABASE COORDINATOR: NYC media & entertainment search firm/BA/2+ yrs experience/excellent research & communication skills/computer proficiency/highly motivated/requires little supervision. [email protected]   (5/14)

JOB OPENING: VP, DIGITAL MEDIA MKTG/NYC/Brdcstg Co: Strategic multiplatform exp: series websites, ecom, wireless, online, mktg/adv/branding tactics. Sal: six figures. Resume to: [email protected]  (5/14)

JOB OPENING:  INTERNATIONAL NETWORK AD SALES MANAGER/DISH Network/NY: Requires 5+ years ad sales experience relating to foreign language networks in US domestic market. Send resumes to:  [email protected]   (5/14)

JOB OPENING: MOBILE AD SALES EXEC/NY: Manage ad sales for mobile division at one of America’s top print and online publishers. 3+ yrs exp digital media sales,  pref mobile or agency background. Apply: [email protected]  (5/14)

JOB OPENING: VP PROGRAM RESEARCH/MTV/NY: 10+ yrs Na t’l TV Research. Strong leadership sk; detail-oriented, proactive; analytical sk. Expert w/Nielsen, etc. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (5/14)

JOB OPENING:  MGR, WORLDWIDE PROGRAM STRATEGY/DISNEY/BURBANK: Devlp program strategy, region/local. Eval launch plans. Schedule and Acquisitions. Children program 2+ yrs exp Intrnatl exp a + www.disneycareers.com REQ 151307 (5/14)

JOB OPENING:  MGR RSRCH/ FX Network/LA: Diverse responsible for mult ntwrks, strong Nielsen systems & analytical skills req’d, ability to translate data into actionable info a +; team player pref’d. Apply:  www.foxcareers.com FNG11916 (5/14)

JOB OPENING:  EDITORIAL DIR, POP CULTURE & BLOG/VH1/NYC: 5+ editorial exp, 3+ yrs. writing exp, Knowledge of online writing and content development. EOE/M/F/D/AAP.  Apply www.mtvncareers.com (5/13)

JOB OPENING: PR /FerenComm/NYC: TV agency seeks Sr. AEs w/strong contacts to oversee PR campaigns for talk, drama and lifestyle series  to apply, email  [email protected]    (5/13)

JOB OPENING: WEB DESIGNER/NY: 3+yrs exp designing/dvlpng interactive rich media creative, strng flash/action script skills, Bachelor degree in graphic design, amazing portfolio a must, ent. exp. a+. Apply: [email protected] (5/13)

JOB OPENING: DIRECT RESPONSE SALES PRO/HISPANIC TV Rep firm seeks exp’d DR seller. Minimum 2 yrs of National and or Spot experience Bilingual preferred but not required  Send resume to:  [email protected]   (5/13)

JOB OPENING: MGR MKTG PROMO/Disney ABC Kids NYC: Dev custom mktg solutions for TV ad partners to drive sales rev; lead integ mktg efforts; help sell-in mktg proposals to client/agency; apply     www.disneycareers.com Req 157616  (5/13)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/Zenith Media/NYC:  2+ yrs exp;  Proficiency: Nielsen tools,TNS Media Intelligence, IMS data systems, ComScore, NetRatings, Excel, PowerPoint [email protected] (5/13)

JOB OPENING: ASSOC RESEARCH ANALYST/CNN Digital/NY: Support sales & research across multiple digital platforms. BA, Strong analytical aptitude, relevant internships pref’d. Apply: [email protected]. EOE (5/11)

JOB OPENING: VP PROGRAM RESEARCH/MTV/NY: 10+ yrs Na tl TV Research. Strong leadership sk; detail-oriented, proactive; analytical sk. Expert w/Nielsen, MRI, etc. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply  www.mtvncareers.com (5/11)

JOB OPENING: SR MGR, DISTRIB/GSN THE NETWORK FOR GAMES/NY: Resp for affiliate relationships (subscriber acquisition/retention), marketing/promotions. BA/BS + 3 yrs min sales/marketing  exper. Enter/cable a plus. [email protected] (5/11)

JOB OPENING:  WRITERS (SEVERAL)/SHOWBIZ TONIGHT/NYC: Smart, witty & opinionated copy. Send resume & single document w/4 stories 30 secs each, 3 pkg intros, & 4 teases. Topical content. Email: [email protected]. EOE (5/11)

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 (5/11)

JOB OPENING: ASSOC MKTG RES MGR/Univision/NY: Develop mrktg presentations to support national sales. Knowledge of syndicated research and strong writing& analytical skills required. EOE Contact: [email protected] (5/11)

JOB OPENING:  SALES PLANNER/FOOD NETWORK & FINE LIVING/CHICAGO: Support National Ad Sales team to develop &implement sales promotions for National Advertisers. Full details & Apply: www.scrippsnetworks.com (5/11)

JOB OPENING:  TEMP MKTG MGR/AETN/NY: Self-starter with exp. in print & digital project mgt.; develop mktg materials, proficient in PowerPoint, Excel. Trade show planning, intl exp. a+. Start 6/2. Apply: [email protected]  (5/11)

JOB OPENING: DIR DIGITAL PROMO MKTG/A&E TV Networks/NY: Dev/execute ad sales & mktg partnership opportunities for network sites. 5+ yrs exp in ad sales mktg or promo mktg in a digital environment. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html . (5/10)

JOB OPENING:  UNIVERSITY RELATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR/ mtvU /NYC: 1+ yrs Admin exp, excellent written/oral skills, Strng PC skills & detail oriented. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (5/10)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/MTV/NYC: 1+yrs media/non profit/PA sector exp, Strg written/oral skills, Bachelor degree A+. Prvn campaign/media exp w/relation to change. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (5/10)

JOB OPENING: SCHEDULING COORDINATOR/MTV/NYC: 2+yrs schdlng/music prgming exp, Strng Microsoft/written/oral/details skills. Knwldge of pop culture/MTV brands as it relates to music on-air/MTV prgrming. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (5/10)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCER/ mtvU/ NYC: 3+yrs productions Exp. In New Media, Strg knowledge of Industry best practices. Creativity in concept/development. Strg Comm. Skills. Bachelor degree A+. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (5/10)

JOB OPENING: TRAFFIC SPECIALIST/Spike & Comedy/NY: 1+ yrs exp and BA degree req., proven traffic exp. Create and manage commercial logs for high-volume networks. Apply online: www.mtvncareers.com (5/10)

JOB OPENING: MEDIA BUSINESS ANALYSTS/ Multiple/ Washington DC: Exp. w/content development, programming, production, rights mgmt. and requirements gathering. Use case development a plus. Apply to: [email protected] (5/10)

JOB OPENING:  NATIONAL TV BUYING SPVSR/NYC/(mid sized agency): Network, cable and syndication buying with 4-6 yrs exp.  DDS agency, pharma exp a plus. Send Resume: [email protected]   (5/10)

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: Eco Radio Show: Asst to host/prod-/writg/editng/typng/resrch/sched/website updtes/wkly announce/listenr calls/email respnsd/blogging & sound edit +/begin @sap wrk summer/longer – [email protected] (5/16)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: ART DESIGN & MKTING INTERN/Big Tent Ent, NY: exp with digital photo editing, mkt research, MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator; good computer skills. Email: [email protected]  (5/15)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: MARKETING INTERN/Big Tent Ent/NY: Strong MS Office skills, knwldg of mktg and licensing, and good written and oral skills. Email: [email protected] (5/14)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: ECO-WEBSTORE INTERN/LA:  Phones/writg / editng / typng / resrch /website updtes. Strng comm skills & good attitude /Per asst CEO, begin ASAP. thru summer. Res/Cvr: [email protected] (5/14)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: INTERNS (2)/May-Aug/LA:  Asst Exec Prod. paperwork, phone calls, sched’g, setting up meetings, casting, & generally assisting on shooting days. People skills, PC & Internet rsrch skills a must.Email: [email protected]  (5/11)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  MKTG/SALES INTERN: MediaPlace seeks motivated interns, 2-3 days wk, with strong interest in marketing/sales, strong comm skills required. Assist w/ projects, college credit. E-mail Resume/CL: [email protected]  (5/10)

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

SITUATION WANTED:  MKTG CONSULTANT: Accomplished 23 yr Advrtsng Mktg Veteran exp’d in writing Mrktg Prgrms, with Sales Promotion, Direct Mktg, Strategy Dvlpmnt.
Will consider agency & freelance assignments: Contact [email protected] (5/15)

SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCHER: Skills tested under life & death circumstances: over nine years as an operative at a private investigative firm specializing in death penalty defense cases. What’s at stake for you? LA. [email protected] (5/13)

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.