Cynopsis: DIGITAL

07/12/10

Good morning, it’s Monday, July 12, 2010, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.  If you would like to read this or any other Cynopsis edition online, click here. 

Chinese regulatory authorities announced Friday they have renewed Google‘s license to maintain its search portal in China. Google won approval after agreeing to require users to click to a link that takes them to Google’s Hong Kong-based site, which isn’t subject to Mainland China’s censorship rules. However, the Chinese government maintains the right to block search results if it sees fit. Google is battling to maintain a foothold in the huge Chinese search market, which Chinese firm Baidu currently leads with nearly a 60% market share.
 

Netflix announced a partnership with Relativity Media last week to exclusively license first-run movies for its subscription service during the traditional pay-TV window. The first films to hit Netflix before premium cable will be Paramount Pictures-distributed “The Fighter,” and “Skyline,” to be released by Rogue Pictures and Universal Studios.
 
David Fincher’s Facebook expose The Social Network landed the opening spot at the N.Y. Film Festival on Sept. 24. Sony’s Columbia Pictures plans to release the film in the U.S. on Oct. 1.
 
IFC has partnered with location-based social network foursquare to create a crowdsourced virtual travel guide, The IFC Always On. Slightly Off. Guide to America.
 
NFL.com is enhancing its fantasy football offering this year with a new mock draft feature. This year marks the first time the league is running its fantasy apparatus in house. (Previous seasons were powered by CBS Interactive.)
 

 
Those who can’t make it to NATPE‘s LATV Fest this year can attend virtually by streaming a number of sessions and panels for free online, courtesy of its annual partnership with mobile streaming specialist stickam. Free streaming kicks off this afternoon at 4:15 with a session about how to launch a web show.
 
Online anime portal Crunchyroll struck a deal with Microsoft to distribute shows via the Zune Marketplace to Xbox 360, Zune HD and Windows-based PCs. Titles initially available include The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Yokuwakaru Gendai Maho. Crunchyroll also announced an initiative with Japanese company Bitway to create a digital manga platform to bring print anime titles to the web and digital platforms. Bitway, a partnership between Toppan Printing and 34 Japanese book publishers, will also make a $750k strategic investment into Crunchyroll.
 
Creator/producer/star Jonathan Nail says Douglas Adam’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy trilogy was a major influence on his new web series “Solo,” a sci-fi comedy yarn that premiered last week on Blip.tv and WatchSolo.com. Scott Drizha (Nail) is trapped on a round-trip voyage to Mars with nothing but a wisecracking computer for company, the PHAL 9000. Look for new webisodes every Tuesday this month.
 
Web hit “Children’s Hospital,” created by The Daily Show’s Rob Corddry, made the jump to TV last night on Adult Swim. The show, which originally premiered on WB.com, will air in 15-minute blocks on Sun. nights at 10:30 ET.
 

 
New York-based Glow Interactive has developed a new in-browser interactive ad unit for the Syfy network compatible with the iPad and iPhone. Limelight’s EyeWonder division and Ignited also collaborated on the tune-in ad for the premiere of Syfy’s Warehouse 13. The unit ran on the New York Times’ HTML5-compatible web site, with iPad or iPhone users offered the ability to expand the advertisement by touch, slide through navigable images, view videos and learn about the show’s content.
 

 
The FCC announced that it has officially restarted reviewing the Comcast/NBC Universal merger after suspending the process temporarily. The Media Bureau will host a public forum tomorrow (July 13) from 1 to 8 p.m. at Northwestern University Law School to discuss the joint venture proposal. The forum will be streamed live on the FCC Live web page, fielding questions from the internet audience submitted throughout the event via e-mail (send Q’s to [email protected]) or via Twitter using the hash tag, #fccNBC.
 
The New York Stock Exchange won’t have Blockbuster shares to kick around any more. The NYSE officially delisted the debt-laden brick-and-mortar video rental chain last week after company shareholders failed to approve a stock merger. Blockbuster share prices have not met the exchange’s minimum $1 share price since last Oct.
 
MTV Networks has acquired social game developer Social Express, Inc the company’s first entry into the social gaming arena. MTV plans to develop social games based on original IP, as well as on shows and characters from MTV, Nickelodeon and its other brands, with the first game due out during Q3 of 2010.
 
Tivo struck a new deal with Suddenlink Communications to distribute co-branded Tivo Premiere DVRs and non-DVR set tops. Sunddenlink is the nation’s 8th largest MSO.
 

 
After treading water for several weeks, Microsoft’s Bing search engine increased its market share of web searches by 7% in June nearly capturing a 10% market share, according to Experian Hitwise. Google accounted for 71.65% of all U.S. searches conducted in the four weeks ending June 26, 2010. Yahoo! Search, Bing and Ask received 14.37%, 9.85% and 2.19%, respectively.
 
Women 18-34 are utilizing social networks to gather hard news, update their friends and advance their careers, according to a new Lightspeed Research poll commissioned by Oxygen Media. Yet many young women, 57% of the 1,600 surveyed to be precise, say their relationships kept up via services such as Facebook and Twitter supersede interactions with real people. Furthermore, their habits are beginning to resemble addictive personality traits, as they continue to share vital information despite the risk to their careers and reputations:

• 34% say checking Facebook is the first thing they do when waking up in the morning
• 26% who get up in the middle of the night to read text messages
• 54% of women 18-24 do not trust Facebook with their private information
• 63% use Facebook as a career networking tool yet 42% think photos of them visibly intoxicated are okay
• 32% think posting photos of themselves or others on Facebook making obscene gestures is appropriate
• Only 44% of women 18-34 trust Facebook with their private information, but 56% of Twitter users think its okay to Tweet their current location
• 58% of women 18-34 use Facebook to keep up with their “frenemies”
• 78% say it’s okay to talk about the outcome of TV shows in your Facebook status and 69% say it’s okay on Twitter among users

 
In a rare mea culpa from Apple, the company admitted that the software used to determine signal strength on the new iPhone 4 is “totally wrong,” misleading users into the thinking they are getting better reception than they actually are. (Apple also admitted that holding the phone in such a way as to block a sensor bar on the lower left hand corner of the phone also adversely effects reception.) The company is planning a software update in the coming weeks to fix the antenna bar-reading problem.
 
The next generation of the Apple TV set-top will feature individual TV show rentals for 99 cents/episode – half the price of current standard def iTunes episodes and one third of the price of HD episodes, per NewTeeVee. The device will offer rentals from the cloud, according to sources, rather than using the download-to-own model.
 

 
FCC chairman Julius Genachowski appointed Rick Kaplan as his Chief Counsel and Senior Legal Advisor. He will succeed Bruce Gottlieb, who will be leaving the Commission at the end of July, after four and a half years of service.
 
International TV and digital ad sales veteran Harry Neuhaus has joined Petry Network as VP/International. Harry was previously Director, East Coast Sales & Operations for Los Angeles-based LATV Networks.
 
Former Netflix IT director Peter Lee was named to the position of VP/Information Technology for Buffalo, NY-based Synacor. He is responsible for enhancing IT capabilities as the company expands into new markets.
 
Jon Fortt will join CNBC as Technology Correspondent, effective July 19th. He will be based in CNBC’s Silicon Valley Bureau, appearing on CNBC’s Business Day programming and on CNBC.com.
 

 
Distributors, content providers and CE manufacturers are all scrambling to port online video to the TV screen but not enough energy has been expended on the user interface. YouTube Leanback is a new web browser-based video-viewing interface that allows you to customize your viewing experience, geared for folks who have already connected their PCs to their HDTVs. (This subset is expected to increase dramatically when Google TV devices begin to hit the marketplace later this year.) Videos are displayed in full-screen mode, selectable using up and down arrow keys. Create your own feed tailored to your interests from a browsable directory of videos in major categories, with suggestions added from previous search results. Leanback is a fairly elegant solution that works precisely because it is so simple – something that cable companies should keep in mind as they add interactive features and web content to their set-top interfaces. YouTube was busy last week, also relaunching a browser-based mobile service at m.youtube.com, which incorporates often-used web features such as the ability to “favorite” or “like” videos directly from your phone. The site is also inviting users to help create a UGC feature-length documentary Life in a Day by uploading videos shot from their own life on July 24. Ridley Scott (“Blade Runner”) and Kevin Macdonald (“Last King of Scotland”) will choose 20 submissions to fold into the finished product, set to premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
 

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
[email protected]
07.12.10

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JOB OPENING: SR. PUBLICIST/FerenComm/NYC: Exp: TV Publicist w/ unit exp., strong media contacts and writing skills. Apply to [email protected] (7/17)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/The Hotel Networks/NYC: 2+ Yrs Exp; Create sales proposals & compelling presentations; Exc media math skills, excel, pwrpoint req.Exp w/ Nielsen, MRI, AdDatabase +++; Resumes: [email protected] (7/17)

JOB OPENING: COORD INT’L MKT/New York: PROMO COORD(Freelance)/AETN/NY: Rsrch/collect dom assets,asst producer.Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html  https://www.abso.com/jobboard/Default.aspx?JOBBOARDID=618&JobDetail=75535 (7/17)

JOB OPENING: FINANCE ANALYST/TVG Ntwrk & Online/NY: Month-end Close & accruals, creating ad rev Pacing & Summary Reprts reviewed by Ad Sls&Mgmt, budgeting/ forecasting processes & streamlining financial processes [email protected] (7/17)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATIONS/ Branded Entertainment Division of ZenithOptimedia/NYC: Develop and execute non-traditional, cross-platform solutions. Send resumes to: [email protected] (7/15)

JOB OPENING:  FREELANCE SCHED ASST/NYC: Entry Level: Detail/Organiz. Respn incld assist Sched w. logs, data entry, operate (MAPS/Grip IT),create #s for promos/bugs, Operational/strategic plan’g. Exp. Req. Resume [email protected] (7/15)

JOB OPENING: AFFIL MKTG MGR/Halogen TV/Indian Land, SC: 2-4 yrs proven TV affil mktg exp. Innovative & creative thinker w/ refined mngmnt skills. Full description: http://bit.ly/halomarketingjob Cvr/res: [email protected]   (7/15) 

JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC/MTVN -Entertainment Group. Sell online/digital  pieces for cross-platform ads & promos for ent. digital group. 3-5 yrs advrtsng sales exp specific online ad sales,EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (7/15) 

JOB OPENING: TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR/Syfy/NYC: Network: Responsible for management, hands-on development and implementation of technical projects for the Syfy.Com. Drupal/Movable Type/CMS/PHP. req #1203117 www.nbcunicareers.com (7/14)

JOB OPENING: DIR OF STRATEGIC MARKETING/Syfy/NYC: Network.Responsible for all stages of strategic development & creative execution of revenue generating, integrated marketing solutions for Syfy /Syfy.com.Req#1220022 www.nbcunicareers.com (7/14)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/ATL:  1+ yrs TV/other Rsrch exp. Nielsen, media math, d-base exp prfrd. Strong analytical, math, MS Excel/Word/Ppt & time mgt skills. Attention to detail. Support Prog Rsrch. Res: [email protected]   (7/14)

JOB OPENING: PRIMARY RSRCH MGR/DISNEY ABC/CA: min 5 yrs exp in TV research, rtg anal & qual tsting, apt at Nielsen, strong analytical & written skills. Apply at: www.disneycareers.com (ID253863) (7/13)

JOB OPENING:  MGR, FINANCE/MTVN NETWORKS/NY: support Content Dist & Mktg group. Prepare Affil Rev budgets/forecasts & provide financial analysis & advice supporting group’s dvlpmnt of new deals/growth strats. www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (7/13)

JOB OPENING:  SALES DIRECTOR/TV Guide Mag/LA: Exp/contacts ent media, specifically ntwrk prgmng.Increase existing bus, generate new ad rev, dvlp strategic plans, negotiate rates &schedules. Apply to [email protected] (7/13)

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SITUATION WANTED: Creative, smart and enthusiastic producer with experience producing for VH1, MTV, A&E, TLC and NBC looking for work as a field or story producer. LA based. Please email [email protected] for resume/reel. (7/17)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA SALES/MARKETING MANAGER/LA: 15+ years experience in educational, documentary, advertising media sales,product,biz development True Closer!!!!!  [email protected] (7/17)

SITUATION WANTED: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT POSITION FILM/TV/NY: 7 years experience: Interned for a President, Executive Assistant to SVP/VP/film director/celebrity [email protected] (7/17)

SITUATION WANTED: Experienced 3D REP/CONSULTANT w/facilities experience looking for L.A. homebase: [email protected] (7/17)

SITUATION WANTED: Hard working, self-starter PRODUCTION MANAGER(NY) with Field Producing and Post Supervisor experience seeks challenging new position. Past companies include HBO, MTV, A&E, Thirteen & Nat Geo. [email protected] (7/17)

SITUATION WANTED: PA/ DEV/PRODUCTION/RESEARCH/LA and NY: TV production and development experience in London, print, radio & advertising in NY.Highly organized, fast learner, & great connector. FT/PT/Freelance. [email protected] (7/17)

SITUATION WANTED: TV Producer seeks new/fun/challenging/creative position on comedy-based TV or Web Production or Reality TV genre. 13 yrs exp. in live TV, field-producing, booking, on-air reporting. Contact: [email protected] (7/15) 

SITUATION WANTED: ON-AIR TV PRODUCT SPECIALIST: America’s Best-Built Technology & Fitness Personality with over 200 live TV appearances seeking on-air opportunities.  www.mrbicep.com/media/BrucePechmanMediaKit.pdf [email protected] (7/15) 

SITUATION WANTED:  ASSOC ON-AIR/WEB PRODUCER/NY: 5+ yrs exp in TV & Web Prod/Dev @ HBO/Scholastic Online. Infectiously proactive, inventive, thorough & constructive. Seeking greater challenges FT/ Temp-to-Perm [email protected] (7/15) 

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]  (7/14)

SITUATION WANTED:  Drama Series DEVELOPMENT/PRODUCER/WRITER: Creator, writer and editor of entertainment website. Writer of Spec Scripts, original pilots and treatments. Highly creative. 4+ yrs exp. Email [email protected] (7/14)

SITUATION WANTED:  ACCOUNTING/FINANCE – 20+ yrs. experience in TV Broadcasting & Cable.  Seeking FT/PT or Temp-to-Perm position:  [email protected] (7/14)

SITUATION WANTED: PROJ MGR, Interactive Platforms; Ideation and Implementation Expert, Brand-to-Consumer Exp: Moving to NYC 6/29. Looking for FT. 2+ yrs exp in digital media, 3+ in brdcst. http://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaskopczynski (7/14)

SITUATION WANTED: Dedicated & Experienced ADV. SALES PLANNER (NY) Sales proposals, resolving client discrepancies, quarterly post analysis, special sales service projects, expert computer skills. Contact- [email protected]  (7/14)

SITUATION WANTED: 9xEmmy winning CREATIVE PRODUCER/ATL seeking freelance. Great w/ clients.15yr exp in promo/creative TV. Also ON-AIR HOST/EMCEE -see raycomsports.com (ROAD TRIP) [email protected] site: www.pack30productions.com (7/13)

SITUATION WANTED:  BRANDED CONTENT/Media Partnerships Sales Pro: Problem solver who specializes in negotiating multi-platform media partnerships and custom branded content solutions. Contact: [email protected] (7/13)

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