A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM G4 TV

Cynopsis: DIGITAL

/02/07

Good morning, it’s Friday, November 2, 2007 and this is your first early morning digital briefing. 

MySpace and Bebo joined Google‘s OpenSocial initiative, adding serious clout to the effort to standardize social networking efforts across the web. Now instead of writing for just Facebook’s 40 million users, developers can utilize common APIs to write applications that will work across a community of sites claiming more than 200 million users between them. For MySpace, the deal should go a long way to restore its luster vis-a-vis Facebook. It’s interesting the Fox Interactive Media subsidiary was able to hold its tongue as long as it did, as it turns out MySpace and Google have been working in secret for over a year on the platform.
 

Verizon’s FiOS TV service is stepping up to DirecTV’s 100 channel HD challenge promising to offer 150 HD channels by the end of 2008. The company will begin expanding its line-up, currently offering just 21 national HD feeds, sometime next spring.
 
Hearst-Argyle increased its presence on YouTube, launching 10 additional channels to bring its total to 26. The news, weather, sports and entertainment-themed services, which pull content from local stations and its recently launched High School Playbook site, have served more than 13 million video views on YouTube to date.
 
NBC Universal is close to pulling the plug on DotComedy.com, according to Mediaweek, citing slow traffic. The site’s usage peaked in August with about 246,000 unique users.
 
Disney Online unveiled one of its most ambitious online games to date, Piratesonline.com, incorporating features of both casual and fantasy gaming. Users can customize their own pirate and pirate ship, pick up all sorts of weapons, learn magic spells and band together with other online players. The game can be played for a $4.95 for the first month and $9.95/month thereafter.
 
DIYnetwork.com launched a new blog in partnership with GreenHomeGuide.com providing homeowners with expert advice on topics such as energy efficiency, water conservation and green building products.
 
Online movie service CinemaNow announced a partnership with Samsung optimizing video downloads for its P2 Portable Media Player. CinemaNow offers download-to-own movies and TV shows from studios including Disney, Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Brothers.
 
Looking for gadgets for your iPod and iPhone? The new iLounge buyers’ guide is out profiling all the latest goodies.
 

Steve Case and a group of music luminaries officially launched Qloud, a free on-demand music streaming service that has attracted 1 million Facebook in the past three months. Qloud matches music you already own on your iTunes library then syncs it with the Facebook app, allowing users to build and exchange playlists and browse friends’ libraries.
 
searchforvideo.com signed a deal to access a wide array of licensed US and international  breaking news videos from MediaScrape, which will offer content 24/7 from its editorial bureaus in 11 countries including CBC News, ATN-Bangladesh, SCTV-Indonesia and Realitatea-Romania.

Comcast is suing the FCC in federal court over the agency’s refusal to grant the company a waiver of its set-top-box rule. Without an exception, cable operators are required to deploy new cable card enabled set-tops to their customers across the nation. Comcast is arguing the rule is “arbitrary and capricious,” after it waited 503 days for the FCC to rule on its wavier request.
 
Meanwhile net neutrality advocacy group savetheinternet.com filed a complaint with the FCC against Comcast‘s network management policies. Comcast admitted earlier this month it “delays” peer-to-peer traffic during peak times, which advocates claim violates FCC internet policy. 
 
Blockbuster‘s net loss widened to $35 million during the 3rd quarter as the company continues to struggle against online competitors such as Netflix and Amazon. Blockbuster’s online business reached 3.1 million subs as of Sept. 30 while Netflix is projecting over 7 million subscribers by year-end.
 

 
Visitors to newspaper web sites rose 3.7% during the 3rd quarter year-over-year with 59.6 million people visiting in July, according to the Newspaper Association of America. Users spent an average of 43 minutes a month on newspaper sites, a 4% increase from a year ago.
 
Top Social Networking Sites in the U.S., September 2007
 
Site                            Sept. ’06 (000)           Sept. ’07 (000)             Growth
Myspace.com               47,189                      58,581                     24%
Facebook                     7,765                       18,090                   133%
Classmates Online       13,291                      13,313                       0%
Windows Live Spaces   7,782                       10,275                      32%
AOL Hometown            9,997                         7,685                     -23%
Reunion.com               4,712                          4,845                       3%
LinkedIn                      1,762                         4,075                    131%
AOL People Connection 6,096                         4,017                      -34%
Club Penguin               1,333                          3,769                    183%
Buzznet.com               1,061                          3,737                     252%
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
 

 
The Weather Channel Interactive (TWCI) promoted Brian Weick as Southeast Ad Sales Director up from Account Manager. Brian will oversee sales efforts for weather.com, Desktop Weather by The Weather Channel, forGetaway.com, Forecast Earth and The Weather Channel Mobile in the Southeast region.
 
Shout! Factory announced the formation of a new digital media division, GetBack Media, Inc. Former MTV Networks Entertainment Group executive Chris Dominguez will oversee development as President. FitzJohn J. Flynn was named VP/Business Development; Shawn Amos, Shout! Factory’s former VP /A&R, was named VP/Content; and former Spike Digital Entertainment executive Sean Endler was hired as VP/Product.  Chris will report directly to the founding partners of Shout! Factory. FitzJohn, Shawn and Chris will report to the President of GetBack Media.  
 

Video sharing site Revver.com, one of the first sites on the web to share ad revenue with amateur producers, has relaunched with an entirely new user interface. It looks a lot more like YouTube, packed with more videos, more category choices and new featured selections that recommend shorts to check out. Widgets have been added on the Creators page to provide directors’ complete works. New Dashboards streamline the uploading and editing process. And of course, more social networking features have been added including the option to leave video responses.

Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
11.02.07

Cynopsis Digital Ad Sales:  Mark Bohn- 203- 583-1224 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

Cynopsis website – Video Resumes, Extended Classified Ads, Archives, and the Cynopsis Daily Video

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

JOB OPENING: AD SALES ASSISTANT/Columbia, MD: Assist with general support functions and account maintenance for the Account Executive and all others as directed by Sales Management. Please visit www.rl.tv for more info. (11/9)

JOB OPENING: DIR STRATEGY(NICK AD SALES), MTV Networks, New York: Budget Analysis, New Bus Dev, Create Mktg Cmpgns, Present to Sr. Mgmt., apply online www.mtvncareers.com    (11/9)

JOB OPENING: TRAFFIC SPECIALIST/freelance/NYC: Work with sales and programming to create daily commercial logs for Mobile. Strong PC and organizational skills. EOE/M/F/D/AAP send resumes to [email protected]. (11/9)

JOB OPENING: MEDIA RESEARCH ANALYST/Outdoor Channel/CA: 2+ yrs research experience in a media, market research or agency setting. Resume to: [email protected] (11/9)

JOB OPENING: PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR/Rainbow Media/NYC: Media planning /scheduling on-air /web for horrornet Monsters HD. Related exp./Paradigm/Filemaker/FinalCut/Photoshop. Apply to www.cablevision.jobs req 4767BR. (11/8)

JOB OPENING: TEMPORARY RSRCH POSITION (3 Months)/ABC/NY: Detail-oriented, ability to prioritize & multi-task; analyze ratings data & provide Sales and PR support. Knwldg of Galaxy & NPower. Email resume: [email protected]    (11/8)

JOB OPENING: TRAFF COORD/WE tv/Long Island: Compile daily program logs for the network and provide strat placement of all elements. BA/comm pref. Strong PC and scheduling database pref. res to www.cablevision.jobs ref #4672BR (11/8)

JOB OPENING: LA DIRECTOR of Nickelodeon Magazine: Exciting Opportunity! Must have print experience; responsible for robust account list. Kids experience preferred. Job description at www.mtvncareers.com (11/8)

JOB OPENING: SALES TRAINING PROGRAM CANDIDATES/TeleRep:  Send confidential resume w/ cover letter stating qualifications to be a top seller at #1 rep in nat’l spot TV to: [email protected].  Train and stay in NY or optional relo. (11/8)

JOB OPENING: EXEC PROD/BBC Prod/NY: mat leave Nov – March: Responsible for development/exp in female skewed reality TV/cable and network exp/ability to manage large teams. Apply to [email protected] (11/7)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/Hallmark Channel/NY: Analyzes standard and custom reports on all Nielsen systems; MRI and or/Simmons databases.  See full posting and apply at www.hallmarkchannel.com (11/7)

JOB OPENING: MGR CONSUMER MARKETING/Hallmark Channel/LA: Works on all consumer marketing activities for Hallmark Channel. See full posting and apply at www.hallmarkchannel.com (11/7)

JOB OPENING: TEMPORARY DIRECTOR, ON AIR PROMOTION/Hallmark Channel/LA: Develops and implements promotional scheduling strategies. See full posting and apply at www.hallmarkchannel.com (11/7)

JOB OPENING: FREELANCE DESIGN COOR/Nickelodeon/NYC: Min. 3+ yrs Production/Project Mgt exp; Familiar with PM principles; production enviro. exp; MS Project & Office; Niku Clarity a plus. EOE/M/F/D/AAP apply:  [email protected] (11/7)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/Cablevision/Brooklyn NY:  Seeks Acct Exec for local ad sales.2+ yrs ad sales exp. pref cable tv, e-media/print or ad agency.  Valid NY Drivers Lic.  Apply to www.cablevision.jobs req 4802BR (11/7)

JOB OPENING: MUSIC LICENS’G/Razor & Tie Ent/NY: Work w/ Dir of Music Licensing.Focus on advrtsng usages& supplement exploitation of music assets via film,TV, video games, dig tech, soundtracks etc. Cvr/res: [email protected] (11/7)

JOB OPENING: CONTRACTS ASSISTANT/CBS TV DIST/NY: Media Sales Dept seeks Contracts Asst to draft & revise contracts, maintain spreadsheets. Strong Word, Excel, math, & admin skills. Inc sal req in cover ltr  [email protected] . (11/6)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/IAG RESEARCH, NY: 1+ yrs Ad Sales Research required. Knowledge of Quant & Qual data. Ability to prioritize & multi-task.Resume via web: http://www.iagr.net/analyst (11/6)

JOB OPENING: ONLINE PRODCTN ASSOCI w/ HTML (hand-coding required), CSS, XML, JavaScript, CMS & Flash skills. Exp w/ blogging, video editing, writing/editing, design all huge pluses. NYC based. Resume: [email protected] (11/3)

SUMMER or FALL 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] .

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED …

SITUATION WANTED: Mar/Com Pro in NY currently in Affil Sales of major media conglom. Exp’d in brand promotion, affil sales, & building client relationships. Enthusiastic & Success Driven. [email protected] (11/7)

SITUATION WANTED: Recent MBA grad looking to burst into broadcast and digital. Founder/Pres of college TV Ntwrk. Sig mkting and rsrch exp. Looking for Assoc. Mkt Mgr positions. Bright, Creative & Highly Motivated. [email protected] (11/7)

SITUATION WANTED: Call NYC’s PREMIERE ENTERTAINMENT LIFE COACH for help with bios, resumes, website content and more.  646-331-3143.  www.theentertainmentcoach.com. (11/6)

SITUATION WANTED: INTERNAT’L TV Exec w/extensive exp in sales, mktg, licensing, acquisitions, distribution, co-production packaging, and management is available either full time or on consulting basis. [email protected] (11/6)

SITUATION WANTED:  Kick Ass Aussie EP new to NYC, lots reality/obdoc/lifestyle exp. Has  green card, will travel, available as writer/director/post prod. Great refs, tapes. email: [email protected] (11/6)

E-mail Trish Pihonak 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 Trish Pihonak for specs.