Cynopsis: DIGITAL
07/07/08
Good morning, it’s Monday, July 7, 2008, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
NBC Universal and private equity groups Bain Capital and The Blackstone Group signed an agreement to buy The Weather Channel properties from Landmark Communications. (The price was undisclosed but believed to be well below the $5 billion Landmark was initially seeking.) The deal gives NBCU control of The Weather Channel currently distributed in 97% of U.S. cable homes; The Weather Channel Interactive, a top 15 website (40 million monthly uniques) and leading mobile content provider; and Weather Services International, a multiplatform service with more than 5,500 clients worldwide. The addition of weather.com will make NBCU a top 10 internet destination in terms of unduplicated reach. TWC will be operated as a separate entity based in Atlanta, with management services to be provided by NBCU.
IAC‘s search engine Ask.com completed its acquisition of the Lexico Publishing Group‘s reference sites Dictionary.com, Thesaurus.com and Reference.com.
Orbitz.com and ebookers.com will replace Expedia.com as the internet travel services of record on MSN in the U.S. and UK, respectively.
ReelzChannel is kicking off a special tribute to the Batman franchise beginning Friday, July 11 with a series of interstitials, highlight shows, documentaries and biographical looks at the history of the Caped Crusader in Hollywood, leading up to Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight feature premiering July 18. Look for Batman-themed features on reelzchannel.com as well.
Activision’s Guitar Hero: On Tour became the biggest first-week launch ever for the handheld Nintendo DS, selling over 300,000 units in its first 7 days.
From the ashes of StrikeTV.org founded by Peter Hyoguchi to raise funds for out-of-work TV writers comes Strike.TV, a new web portal preparing to launch more than 40 original web series later this summer including ad supported comedies, dramas and game shows. Shows to look out for in the coming weeks, per Variety, include:
- Global Warming, starring SNL’s Kirsten Wiig and The Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi
- Unknown Sender, written by Steven de Souza with Timothy Dalton and Joanne Whalley
- House Poor, created by Lester Lewis, writer and producer of The Office
- The Challenge, written by Lloyd Garver starring Bob Newhart
- Five or Die, written and directed by horror movie veteran Tom Holland
- John’s Hand, starring Garret Dillahunt and Kali Rocha
Web show Jonathan Bird’s Blue World, one of our early Websites of the Day, has been picked up for on air syndication on PBS stations in more than 16 states including KCET in Los Angeles, presented in 30-minute episodes. The programs, about underwater sea life, will continue to drive viewers back to the site for back episodes and study guides. Congratulations Jonathan!
Seeing how Apple and AT&T are refusing to sell the 3G iPhone online, folks are already camping out at neighborhood Apple Stores to get their hands on one. If you happened to walk by the flagship Apple Store on 5th Avenue in New York over the weekend, you may have seen the crowds. Among them are TheWhoFarm, an environmental collective Waiting For Apples as a way to raise awareness for its sustainability agenda.
Smartphone content developer Handango has devised a new way to distribute its apps to users. The company is embedding them on Micro SD memory cards now available for purchase at Best Buy and bestbuy.com. Applications are bundled on separate cards organized by platform and lifestyle category.
A federal judge ordered Google to turn over the personal viewing records of YouTube users to Viacom right before the holiday, kicking off a wave of concerns among users and privacy advocates that private information could be leaked and misused in the process. In its Broadcasting Ourselves blog YouTube says its lawyers have asked for permission to omit individual IP addresses and user names from the disclosure to protect the identity of its users. Viacom also released a statement claiming it “has not asked for and will not be obtaining any personally identifiable information of any user.” The company goes on to claim any information obtained will be used exclusively for proving its $1 billion case against YouTube and Google.
Microsoft is severing its relationship with its Israeli partner Internet Gold deciding to run its MSN Israel portal on its own beginning in October of this year. The joint venture had been established back in 2000 with Internet Gold holding a 50.1% stake. Owning the entire international portal is Microsoft’s preferred model; it already owns and operates networks in 44 countries worldwide.
The horse trading going on at Yahoo may involve offering Carl Icahn two board seats to go quietly into the night and give up his proxy fight, reports All Things D. Carl seems want at least 4 seats.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM NATPE LATVFest
Hot Session at LATVF’s Digital Day (July 30): Crowdsourcing: The Killer Development Tool (Produced w/Cynopsis) – There was a time when every piece of creative content consumed over TV was incubated and designed w/the budget of a small war. Now there’s Crowdsourcing. Panel will discuss implementing this cutting edge development tool.
Moderator: Wayne Karrfalt (Cynopsis Digital) Panel: Melanie Hall (Quarterlife), Eyal Hertzog (Metacafe)
REGISTER & Save Big w/Cynopsis Reader Discount Code: NTV8F
Spike TV signed a deal to use podcasting network Wizzard Media to host podcasts and run an ad campaign to promote Spike’s new Factory series. Wizzard’s LibsynPRO 2.0 system will provide detailed measurement, dynamic ad insertion and geo targeting tools for the Factory podcast.
~ TRENDS, RESEARCH, ETC. ~
ABC.com online audience skews extremely female with 85% of the overall audience comprised of women, according to research conducted by Magid Associates quoted in Silicon Alley Insider. Meanwhile ABC’s single sponsor model, divided into 4 15-second commercial breaks, is leading to higher ad recall, which in turn is helping to justify higher CPM rates. ABC asks between $45-$65 per 1,000 impressions compared to a $20 CPM rate for TV. Other findings include:
- 54% of online viewers recall the brand name of a sponsor, vs 22% for network TV
- Online audiences peak on Friday night, the day after Lost and Grey’s Anatomy air
- Online audiences peak at 10 pm on a nightly basis, in the middle of primetime
- Over 29% of ABC.com’s viewers are under 24 and nearly 50% are under 29. ABC’s on air audiences averages 50 years of age
Top Visited US Broadcast Network TV Websites (Week ending June 28, 2008)
Rank Network Website Market Share of Visits
1 ABC www.abc.com 26.94%
2 CBS www.cbs.com 23.63%
3 FOX* www.fox.com 22.37%
4 NBC www.nbc.com 21.04%
5 The CW www.cwtv.com 5.69%
6 MNTV www.mynetworktv.com .32%
Source: Custom report from Hitwise, *includes traffic aggregated from stand alone websites americanidol.com, amw.com, familyguy.com, thelot.com and thesimpsons.com
Top Visited US Broadcast Network TV Show Sites (Week ending June 28, 2008)
Rank Network Website Market Share of Visits
1 FOX American Idol 9.29%
2 ABC The Bachelorette 8.60%
3 FOX American’s Most Wanted 7.36%
4 NBC Deal or No Deal 6.62%
5 FOX So You Think You Can Dance? 5.87%
6 FOX Hell’s Kitchen 5.27%
7 The CW Farmer Wants a Wife 4.68%
8 NBC Last Comic Standing 2.72%
9 FOX Family Guy 2.21%
10 ABC The Mole 1.89%
Source: Custom report from Hitwise
Former Time Warner Cable executive Roger Keating starts today at Hearst-Argyle Television as SVP/Digital Media, reporting to President and CEO David Barrett. He replaces Terry Mackin who took a job running the Univision Stations Group earlier this year.
We’ve all agonized about how far behind the U.S. is in terms of digital infrastructure. Our broadband and mobile network connection rates rank far below those of our European and Asian counterparts. Things are even worse for lower income Americans, finds the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Only 25% of households earning $20,000 a year or less have broadband access today, compared to 28% a year ago. Want to get involved in helping close the digital divide at home? Check out DigitalDivide.net, a community site for educators, activists, policy makers and concerned citizens to learn more about the problem and to find ways to get something done. Learn about events such as the Stonington Retreat being held this week at NYU focusing on the future of technology and education.
Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
07.07.08
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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS MEDIA: TOP TIER
Cynopsis Media: Top Tier
Executive Search Division
High level executive search, candidates fully screened and vetted, meeting precisely your criteria.
For more information, call Trish Pihonak 203.926.9878
if you’re looking to make an executive change, or are looking for a change of scenery yourself.
[email protected]
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JOB OPENING: MGR, AD SALES RSCH/DISCOVERY/NY: Disc./Military: Monitor demographic performance, manage Nielsen analyses, write sales suppt materials/presentations. 7+yrs exp media research. Apply: www.discovery.com #8108 (7/12)
JOB OPENING: MGR, MKTG/PROMOTIONS/ABC Daytime/SOAPnet/LA: Manage consumer mktg initiatives; conceive promotions/pitch, manage events; multi-platform thinker; BA/BS, 3+ yrs exp. Apply www.disneycareers.com Req #168002 (7/12)
JOB OPENING: MGR, PRICING & PLANNING/G4, Comcast Ntwrks/NY: 4+ yrs exp, Resp for managing sales processes, stewardship, rev analysis and overseeing inventory, DealMaker exp a plus. EEO/AA/Drug Free Apply www.comcast.com 69371BR (7/12)
JOB OPENING: PUBLICIST/MANAGER/GSN SM:Energetic & creative a must with digital media design exp for our fast-paced, high-pressured ent publicity department. Email resume and salary requirements to [email protected] (7/12)
JOB OPENING: DIR, CONTENT DVLPMNT & PROD, SHORT FORM/History/NY: Oversee dvlpmnt/prod of video prgrmng for multi-platform dist.10 yrs Long form & Promo prod exp; Team leadership& editorial skills essential.Apply: www.AETN.com (7/11)
JOB OPENING: MGR., AD SALES PARTNERSHIPS/LIFETIME NY: Develop integrated proposals for advertisers interested in partnering with Lifetime across our various properties/ Apply at: h ttp://www.lifetimetv.com/about/jobs.html (7/11)
JOB OPENING: DIR. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/LIFETIME NY: Source, structure & implement deals to grow Lifetime traffic and digital business. Min. 8 yrs of business development exp. Apply at: http://www.lifetimetv.com/about/jobs.html (7/11)
JOB OPENING: VP, BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS/ Active Int’l in Pearl River, NY (15 miles from NYC): Min 12 yrs exp. Acct. Mgmt/Sales & team leadership. Resumes to: [email protected] or call 845-732-8943 (7/10)
JOB OPENING: ASSOC RESEARCHER/WGBH/Boston: Assisting in Gathering and analyzing research. BA in Communications, Business or Marketing. www.wgbh.org/careers Job Req # 4362 (7/10)
JOB OPENING: SALES/REPRESENTATION/EDITIONAL EFFECTS (EENYC)/ NYC: Production/Post-Production co. seeks representation/sales person. Company offers editorial, design, audio and production. Start ASAP. Resumes to: [email protected] (7/9)
JOB OPENING: SR MOTION DESIGNER-MUSIC CHOICE-NY: Exp’d animator needed to develop high-energy motion graphics (After Effects, Maya) for original shows. BA/BS 3+ yrs prjct mgmt exp post-production environment. [email protected] (7/9)
JOB OPENING: ASSOC MNGR, BRAND MARKETING/MUSIC CHOICE-NY: Brand development & mktg promotion for Hispanic genre. Read,write Spanish. Prjct mgmt exp nec. BA/BS 4+ yrs cnsmr mktg exp w/12-24 Hispanic demo. [email protected] (7/9)
JOB OPENING: PRODUCTION MGR-DIGITAL MEDIA/Sesame Workshop/NYC: Handle all proj budgets/financials, assist w/ prod plan’g & mng prod trafficking issues. 3+ yrs web content prod exp req’d. [email protected] (7/9)
JOB OPENING: VP DIGITAL MEDIA MKTG/NYC/Bdcstg Co: Strong marketer! series websites, ecom, wireless, social networks, iTV, etc branding exp-Film a+ 6 figures +bonus Resume: [email protected] (7/8)
JOB OPENING: SCHEDULER/ DISCOVERY/NY: Responsible for scheduling/tracking programs for network. 2-4yrs exp in scheduling, programming. No relo assistance provided. Apply: www.discovery.com ID: 8095 (7/8)
JOB OPENING: VP BUS. AFFAIRS-LEGAL/DISCOVERY/LA: Prep offers to talent, handle negotiations, drafting docs for lead/supporting talent (e.g. hosts, experts, narrators, celebrities, etc. Apply: www.discovery.com # 8052 (7/8)
JOB OPENING: DIGITAL AD SALES MKTG MGR/A&E TV Nets/NY:Work with Nat’l sales teams to dev & execute sponsorships for AETN digital properties. Min.3yrs exp Online/Media Mktg. TV/Mobile exp a +.Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (7/8)
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: Television Production facility in suburban Philadelphia. Nancy Glass Productions. 610-668-1668 or email Director of Production, Cathy Moss. email: [email protected] (7/11)
SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED … Interested in posting your Video Resume? Contact [email protected] for more information ….
SITUATION WANTED: STORY/FIELD PROD: Non-fiction magician. Reality, Docusoap, docs, ent., talk; 3 Emmy Noms; 12+ years; LA Based; Will travel. [email protected] (7/12)
SITUATION WANTED: Associate/Segment/Field Prod: 8 yrs exp in Film/Television/Commercials. Currently seeking challenging & rewarding position in NYC area. Resume & Graphics Portfolio available upon request. [email protected] (7/9)
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