CYNOPSIS EVENTS AT NATPE 2009

Cynopsis: DIGITAL

01/05/09

Good morning, it’s Monday, January 5, 2009, and this is your first early morning digital briefing .

Reports continue to trickle in speculating that CES 2009 (Jan. 8-11) will struggle to reach its usual attendance numbers this year due to severe cutbacks in travel and exhibition budgets. The Consumer Electronics Association is now estimating 130,000 attendees for the event – down from 140,000 last year – but many analysts expect an even more dramatic drop off. Accordingly, affordable gadgets such as netbooks (sub $500 laptops) are expected to be a focus, as well as futuristic technologies such as home 3-D video. This year’s all star keynote line-up of speakers includes Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer and Intel Chairman Craig Barrett. CES will also mark FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s last convention appearance. He will join CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro again in a one-on-one discussion about the upcoming digital television transition, cable compatibility and the state of the broadband industry.
 

The American Theater Wing (founder of the Tony Awards) is partnering with the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC) to make a collection of archival audio and video programming available on the Wing’s website americantheaterwing.org . The two groups plan to release 500 hours of programming compiled over 4 decades. Conversations with Jose Quintero, George C. Wolfe, James Lapine and a joint conversation between Wendy Wasserstein and the late playwright Daniel Sullivan are already up. Forthcoming dialogues will include discussions with Christopher Ashley, Richard Eyre, David Mamet, Kathleen Marshall and Rob Marshall, among others.
 

Online video search engine Blinkx unveiled a new “Un-Roll” steaming video ad unit designed to allow advertisers to engage viewers throughout a video. When a user clicks play a branded curtain is pulled back to reveal the blinkx player and multiple touch-points including overlays and clickable logos that appear at contextually relevant moments. The company hopes the approach will improve click-through rates to an estimated 3-5%. Un-Roll units are available through Blinkx’s AdHoc contextual ad platform. MediaCom and Shell Oil have signed on as charter advertisers. 
 

 
Facebook filed a complaint against social networking aggregator Power.com in U.S. District Court in San Jose, CA for copyright and trademark infringement, unlawful competition and violation of the computer fraud and abuse act. Power.com allows users to pull together profiles, updates, e-mails, instant messages and contact lists from multiple social networks together in single destination.
 
Verizon‘s acquisition of Alltel will close on January 9 according to an SEC filing made on Friday. Verizon will pay $5.9 billion and acquire $22.2 billion in Alltel debt to acquire some 13 million customers – creating the largest wireless carrier in the U.S with 83 million + subscribers.
 

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM NATPE ’09

 
The nascent iPhone application industry started off with a bang in 2008 as users found the smartphone to be an impressive pocket-sized gaming platform in its own right. The gaming category dominated Paid Apps as small developers like Austin, TX-based Pangea Software struck gold with popular titles such as the accelemeter-powered Cro-Mag Rally. Retronyms’ handy Recorder voice recording app, a bargain at 99 cents, was the only Business application to crack the paid top 10. Somehow Hottrix’s curious iBeer app, which simulates drinking an actual beer, remained in the top 10 throughout the year. (It is cheaper than buying near beer …)
 
Top 10 Paid iPhone Apps 2008
Application               Developer             Category
Koi Pond                  The Blimp Pilots    Entertainment
Texas Hold’em          Apple Inc.            Games
Moto Chaser             Freeverse, Inc.     Games
Crash Bandicoot        Vivendi Games     Games
Super Monkey Ball    Sega                    Games
Cro-Mag Rally           Pangea Software  Games
Enigmo                    Pangea Software   Games
Pocket Guitar           Shinya Kastani      Music
Recorder                  Retronyms           Business
iBeer                       Hottrix                 Entertainment
source: Apple
 
Top 10 Free iPhone Apps 2008
Application              Developer             Category
Pandora Radio         Pandora Media       Music
Facebook                Facebook               Social Networking
Tap Tap Revenge     Tapulous               Games
Shazam                  Shazam Enter.       Music
Labrinth Lite            Codify AB              Games
Remote                   Apple, Inc.            Entertainment
Google Earth           Google                  Travel
Lightsaber               TheMacBox            Entertainment
AIM                        AOL                       Social Networking
Urbanspoon            Urbanspoon           Travel
source: Apple                 
 
Social networkers seemed to use the holiday break to catch up with their profiles as Facebook saw its highest-ever traffic surge on Christmas Eve, according to Hitwise. The site achieved a 2.18% share of overall US internet visits on Dec. 24 vs. an average 1.42% average for the month of Nov. 2008. Traffic to the site increased 41% on Christmas Eve 2008 compared to 2007 and also increased 41% on Christmas Day 2008 compared to 2007.
 

                                                                                    
Speaking of netbooks, Google’s Android mobile operating system is being adapted for use on the Asus EEEPC 1000H netbook, according to VentureBeat. With netbooks poised to take off due to their affordability and ease-of-use, Google hopes the stripped-down OS will help dramatically increase the exposure of applications such as its new open source Chrome web browser. Chrome had carved out about 1% of the U.S. browser market as of Dec. 2008, according to research firm Net Applications, when Microsoft Internet Explorer’s market share declined to 68%.
 
Having trouble mustering optimism during these trying times? Check out Happy Tapper, a new simple lifestyle iPhone app from Gratitude Journal that asks you to jot down 5 things you are grateful for in your life each day. You can add photos, rate past entries and easily cut and paste your writings to create a Gratitude Journal online.
 

 
If you got an HD camcorder for Christmas check out Motionbox.com. It offers a free platform with which to upload, share and store your HD footage then further distribute it on the web. One cool feature allows you to highlight specific segments of videos then share only the best bits. Online apps allow you to create video e-cards, embeddable videos or even hard copy DVDs or flipbooks you can ship to that family member who is still not online. It’s extremely easy to use and – best of all – there are currently no limits on how much you can upload.
 
Later — Wayne
 Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
01.05.09

Cynopsis Digital Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom – 646-468-6180 / [email protected]
Mark Bohn- 203-583-1224 / mark@cynopsis. com
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

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

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: SR. MGR, RESEARCH/Music Choice-Support sales, mrktng& prgrmng initiatives across multiple platforms w/accurate & actionable research. BA/BS, plus 6-8 yrs relevant media research exp. required [email protected] (1/10)

JOB OPENING: ADMIN ASST/Comcast Networks/NY: Asst Sr execs w/ daily admin duties.3-5 yrs exp asst Sr execs.Strong writ/verbal comms skills; det-oriented. MS Off. knwlg a must. Must Apply @ www.comcast.com . EEO/AA/Drug free (1/10)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCER/EDITOR : Univ. of Albany seeks a creative and experienced Producer/Editor to create entertaining and engaging youth-oriented content. Details http://albany.interviewexchange.com/candapply.jsp?JOBID=12291     (1/10)

JOB OPENING: STARTV’s office in NY is seeking a SALES MANAGER to develop and build ad sales operations.Must have 5 years TV/major media experience and knowledge of the South Asian market. Send resume to [email protected] (1/8)

JOB OPENING: Several PRODUCERS AND APs needed for a verite docu. MUST be NYC based. If you can research and book subjects, and operate a camera to shoot verite. Please send a resume/letter with no typos [email protected] (1/6)

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] .

WINTER/SPRING INTERNSHIP/CREDITS ONLY: ENTERTAINMENT/MKTG & COMM INTERNS/Cynopsis Media/Shelton CT: Asst various depts as needed in advrtsng sales, mktg, & rsrch. Highly orgnzd & reliable Sophomores/Jrs/Srs; Excellent MS Word/Excel skills. Contact: [email protected] (1/6)

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: 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. [email protected] (1/10)

SITUATION WANTED: EXCEPTIONAL EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/PROJECT MANAGER 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY. HAS ALSO WORKED IN THE LEGAL ARENA AND WILLING TO WORK VIA TELECOMMUTING. NY BASED PLEASE CONTACT [email protected] (1/10)

SITUATION WANTED: FILM/TV/ENT PR/NYC: Seeking F/T or Freelance opps. Write press releases/pitch to targeted print/online & brdcst media, track news clips, editorial calendar opps, build press lists w/Cision [email protected] (1/10)

SITUATION WANTED: NON-FICTION DEVELOPMENT PRODUCER. I will write and develop your pitch & produce and direct a winning sales tape.  3 Emmy noms; unscripted or narrative formats; LA based, will travel. [email protected] (1/10)

SITUATION WANTED: VP/DIRECTOR NEW MEDIA SALES-Unprecedented SUCCESS building Revenue/Content/Operations/Infrastructure. Creative, solutions based TEAM builder and motivator, Let’s Talk, [email protected] (1/10)

SITUATION WANTED: Chicago, IL-Experienced MEDIA SUPERVISOR with experience in both buying in planning.Has experience with both big and small clients, and can juggle multiple projects at once.Please contact [email protected]. (1/8)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA SUPERVISOR/PLANNER/BUYER available for permanent/temp assignments.15 years experienced with local and national  small & large campaigns utilizing TV/Radio/Print/Online. Contact me at: [email protected] (1/8)

SITUATION WANTED: STILL PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER with 20 years experience on location and in studio in film/tv and music business looking for related position in the industry. Contact [email protected] (1/8)

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] (1/8)

SITUATION WANTED: UPFRONT FREELANCER/PROJ MGR with 15+ cable TV mktg experience. Can also help with ad sales, consumer and affil mktg related projects inc. promotions, sweeps, events, proposals, trade shows. [email protected] (1/7)

SITUATION WANTED: Chicago, IL-Experienced MEDIA SUPERVISOR with experience in both buying in planning. Has experience with both big and small clients, and can juggle multiple projects at once. Please contact [email protected] (1/7)

SITUATION WANTED: WRITER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR guts + passion + excellence! tons o’ experience connecting w/all kinds of audiences, all media. FREE COPY @ https://freebeaaron.wordpress.com contact: [email protected] (1/6)

SITUATION WANTED: VP/DIRECTOR NEW MEDIA SALES -Unprecedented SUCCESS building Revenue/Content/Operations/Infrastructure. Creative, solutions based TEAM builder and motivator, Let’s Talk, [email protected] (1/6)

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.

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