Cynopsis: DIGITAL

04/06/09

Good morning, it’s Monday, April 6, 2009, and this is your first early morning digital briefing. 

Bostonians may not only lose Leno – they may soon lose their Boston Globe. The New York Times Co. is threatening to shutter the paper if the Globe‘s union doesn’t agree to $20 million in concessions, according to a report written by Globe staffers. Times executives told union leaders that the paper, acquired for a record $1.1 billion in 1993, lost $50 million in 2008 and would lose another $85 million this year unless severe cutbacks are made.
 

 
CBS Sports.com wraps up its video coverage of March Madness tonight with live steaming of the championship game on NCAA.com between the MSU Spartans and the UNC Tarheels. Improved latency and a high-quality viewing option helped MMOD improve its reach to nearly 7 million users this year through last Sunday (up 56% from 2008.) Visitors collectively consumed 8.04 million hours of live streaming and audio thus far- up 71% from 2008.
 
If only the Warren Report investigators had access to this technology … MLB Network utilized digital video recreation software to enhance the footage of classic baseball games – some of which it will feature during the pre-game show of the debut of Thursday Night Baseball this week. Digital compositing, body doubles and prosthetics inform footage of moments such as Bob Gibson’s record 17 strike out performance during game 1 of the 1968 World Series from camera angles not initially available.
 
Nat Geo celebrates Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, with a new site featuring interactive quizzes, factoids from the “Earth Report: State of the Planet 2009” as well as content from Garbage Moguls, a reality-based special that follows a group of young “eco-capitalists” at their pioneering company TerraCycle, Inc.
 

 
The internet is aflutter with rumors that Google is closing in on a deal to acquire microblogging service Twitter, following a report on TechCrunch last week. The idea isn’t so far fetched, given Twitter’s growing popularity as a real-time search engine. Twitter co-founder Biz Stone felt compelled to address the rumor in the company blog on Friday. He neither confirmed nor denied it, but he did try to reassure users that the company would remain independent.
 
Facebook began testing a SecondLife-style virtual currency system enabling community members to purchase “credits” to put toward virtual gifts and other goodies, per VentureBeat. The service is currently being tested on 15 US college Facebook networks as well as within Facebook’s own company network.
 
Male-oriented web video aggregator Heavy.com is announcing a partnership with action sports producer Alliance of Action Sports this morning to create two new channels of Alli content launching in June. One channel will feature exclusive online videos from the Dew Tour and other select Alli properties. The other will showcase public videos from each member of the Alliance, including: the Dew Tour; Winter Dew Tour; China Invitational; Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship; King of Wake series; and the Gatorade Free Flow Tour.

                                              
The Better Business Bureau put out an alert late last week warning users of phony offers on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. (You know the ones: “Learn How I Make $67,000 a Year Being a Stay-at-Home Mom!” is an example.) “People need to use extreme caution and read the fine print before handing over their credit card information to an online advertiser. Just because an ad appears on a Web site they trust, it doesn’t mean they can always trust the advertisers,” said BBB spokesperson Steve Cox in a statement. “One of the big red flags we’re seeing is ads that link to blog platforms designed to look like a personal testimonial from a satisfied customer. In our experience, if an ad takes you to a blog, it’s best to hit the back button immediately.”
 

 
Telcom giant AT&T is desperately trying to avoid a strike by its landline workers union after the company’s current contract with the division expired at midnight on Sunday morning. The two sides are still far apart on issues such as health care, according to reports.
 
Sorenson Media signed a deal with Verizon Wireless to provide its Spark video technology for Verizon’s new multimedia touch-screen home phone system the Verizon Hub.
 

                                                                                    
AT&T announced plans last week to sell a selection of netbooks in Atlanta and Philadelphia with the lowest cash barrier to entry yet. If a subscriber commits to its 2-year $60/mo. netbook plan, they can take home an Acer netbook for just $50 or a mini Dell PC for $100. Both computers can connect to the net via AT&T’s 3G DataConnector network or the company’s Wi-Fi network at Starbucks across the country.
 
Quicktate announced the launch of TweetCall, a new service that allows users to dial a toll-free number, (877) Tweet-Call, to “speak their tweets,” which are then transcribed and uploaded to Twitter.
 

 
Robyn McVicker was upped to President of Denver-based Jones/NCTI, provider of training and education for the cable and broadband industry.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

 
Much of the original content produced for the web is either comedic in nature or reliant on  twisty narratives to capture viewer attention. Multiplatform content start-up Agility Studios hopes to ignite a new entertainment property around the world of dance. The company unveiled its first big project last night – The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD) created by web savvy director Jon M. Chu (director of Touchstone’s Step up 2: The Streets.) Like EQAL’s social networking-inspired shows, LXD will exist as a weekly show beginning later this spring and generate complimentary videos, events, competitions and licensing opportunities that will spread across multiple platforms. (Puma has already signed on as a charter sponsor and its sneakers can already be seen integrated into the trailer.) The content seems to fit with the concept because dance segments are easily snackable. And the business model is interesting here; in this case director Chu was brought together with Agility by the William Morris agency to share in the entire LXD brand, providing the filmmaker with the necessary incentive to put as much energy into the moving parts as he does into the main dance-infused show.
 
Correction: Friday’s WOTD – the new digital distribution service that enables legally sanctioned, home-based DVR-R ripping, is spelled VLADIcast (only one “s.”) Also, the downloadable DVD-R format was originally introduced in 2006 by CinemaNow in a joint effort with fluxDVD. We regret the errors.
 
Later — Wayne
 Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
04.06.09

Cynopsis Digital Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom, Pres/COO – 646-468-6180 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here . 
To unsubscribe , click here or click the button at the end of this email.

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

JOB OPENING: EXP’D SHOWRUNNER with strong writing credits to oversee all creative aspects for a multi-episode doc series. Must be able to relocate for 6-8 month assignment. [email protected] (4/11)

JOB OPENING: TV VIDEO PRODUCER/WRITER/Good Housekeeping Magazine/NY: 5+ yrs exp. Will be producer & head writer in charge of scripting & creative development. Send reel, writing samples & salary req to: [email protected] (4/11)

JOB OPENING: GRAPHIC ARTIST/BRDCST DESIGNER/NY1 News/NYC: Design/animate on-air graphics pckgs. Create logos, build graphics Photoshop; animate After Effects. Tight deadlines. Demo reel. www.timewarnercable.com/careers 111821BR (4/10)

JOB OPENING: WEB ANALYTICS/LA : (contract) need 1-2 yrs. Exp. w/Omniture + othr srch tools. Will provide analysis on EOnline.com, MyStyle.com, G4tv.com and FEARnet.com sites. Resumes to: [email protected] (4/10)

JOB OPENING: BRAND RESEARCH MANAGER/ DIY NETWORK/ Knoxville, TN: Develops, analyzes, & interprets research. 5 yrs exp in market research at a TV network/ studio. Nielsen exp required. www.scrippsnetworks.com , #388 (4/8)

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/CREDITS ONLY: COMEDY TALENT MANAGEMENT INTERN/LA: Assist w/ office duties, covering shows, helping run live monthly show. For more info/submit resume, email [email protected]  (4/9)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP/CREDITS ONLY: COMEDY TALENT MANAGEMENT INTERN/NYC: Assist w/ office duties, covering shows, helping run live monthly show. For more info/submit resume, email [email protected]  (4/9)

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: FREELANCE VIDEO EDITOR(NYC) Video Editor with 12 yrs experience. Broadcast, corporate, music videos. Specializing in short form documentary & narratives. For pay only. Avid & Final Cut. Contact: [email protected] (4/11)

SITUATION WANTED: VP/DIRECTOR SALES: Unprecedented SUCCESS building Sales force/Revenue/Value Creation/Content/Operations/Infrastructure. Motivational, solutions based TEAM builder, Let’s Talk! [email protected] (4/11)

SITUATION WANTED: SR RSCH ANALYST who worked w/ Natl Cable Comm forlast5 years and Telerep for3 years.Critical role on corporate research and industry driven projects, specialist for all LPM Analyses. Contact: [email protected] (4/10)

SITUATION WANTED: DOCUMENTARY. PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email: [email protected] (4/10)

SITUATION WANTED: FILM & VIDEO EDITOR & PROD. (PREDITOR)/ NY looking for work. I have been working in Film and Video for approx. 15 yrs. Own equipment/office & a website with my reel & work exp listed at: www.giantedit.com [email protected] (4/10)

SITUATION WANTED: FILM & TV EDITOR (LA)  Major TV network editor would like to fill her hiatus by working on your pilot or small film/tv project. For pay only. Avid & Final Cut. Available. April 20  June 26. email: [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING ANALYST (Dallas): 8+ years experience in marketing & research. Have worked with Nielsen, Scarborough, TNS and other systems, analyzing & interpreting data. For resume & more information: [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: SALES MANAGER/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (Chicago). 24 yrs experience w/broadcast & cable seeks digital, OOH, emerging opportunities. Great communicator, solid relationships. Innovative & creative! [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: MUSIC LICENSING (LA) 10+ Experience in Music Licensing. Clearance, Song Selection, Contracts. Resume on IMDb. Email Sean Fernald at: [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING/PROMOTIONS/Boston: Marketing/promotions professional seeks television, web marketing, social networking focused position. Experienced in international markets. Creative + will travel. [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: Fun, energetic, and media-savvy, licensed wellness/lifestyle coach looking for recurring expert spot or hosting job. View bio, reel, photos at www.jennifertumayoung.com Contact Jennifer: [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: PROMOTIONS/COORDINATOR/ASST: Music & Ent. Industry exp. in radio & video promo at major labels. Searching for asst. position in ent.Ind.. Contact: [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: FREELANCE VJ: Video journalist, Creative Dir., & Preditor. New Show Development, Editing (FCP), Online Multimedia Promotions, Segment Prod, Host, Brand Mktg, Videographer. 5+ Yrs. Contact: [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: FILM & TV EDITOR (LA): Major TV network editor would like to fill her hiatus by working on your pilot or small film/tv project. For pay only. Avid & Final Cut. Available. April 20  June 26. email: [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING ANALYST (Dallas) 8+ years experience in marketing & research. Have worked with Nielsen, Scarborough, TNS and other systems, analyzing & interpreting data. For resume & more information: [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: Save my relationship! Writer with lots of TV & ad experience. But my girlfriend is acting in a Paul Rudd movie. I’m not as cute as he is. Need lit rep to take career to next level, thwart Rudd. [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: STORY/FIELD PRODUCER: non-fiction magician. Reality, Docusoap, Unscripted; Docs.; Ent., Talk; 3 Emmy Noms; 12+years; LA based; will travel. [email protected] (4/9)

SITUATION WANTED: EXPERIENCED ASSOCIATE PRODUCER most recently with PBS seeks work at production company or network. Full-time or Freelance. [email protected] (4/7)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/WRITER/DIRECTOR: Network/cable exp. in reality, doc, talk, development, and acclaimed film trailers. Solid storyteller in field thru post, concept to delivery. Versatile, great attitude! [email protected] (4/7)

SITUATION WANTED: LICENSING SHOW PR: Trades, consumer business stories, new property launches. 20 years corporate and agency consumer product/licensing experience. [email protected] (4/7)

SITUATION WANTED: Experienced Sponsorship/Events/Marketing: NYC based.4 + yrs experience in sponsorships & events at Madison Square Garden and CBS TV. Seeking FT position; immediate start. Please contact [email protected] (4/7)

SITUATION WANTED: Recent Harvard grad and FREELANCE WRITER will do pretty much anything involving words and writing them. Currently writing for a Gawker blog. Hard worker, strong writer, great bargain. (NYC) [email protected] (4/7)

SITUATION WANTED: CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR: 10 yrs exp.looking to work out of home office, or locally in Rochester, NY. Contact e-mail: [email protected] (4/7)

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.

Cynopsis Media LLC
One Corporate Drive, Suite 724
Shelton, CT 06484
203.926.9878

All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free. Copyright Cynopsis 2009