Good morning, it’s Monday, November 15, 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. 

Despite the loss of a majority in the House and a concerted effort by industry groups to advocate self-regulation, the Obama administration has signaled that it pushing forward with efforts to insure users’ online privacy according to WSJ report. Efforts will include new legislation and the appointment of a “Privacy Czar”. The White House has also created a special task force that is expected to help transform Commerce Dept recommendations into policy, led by Cameron Kerry, the brother of Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.) and Commerce Department general counsel, and Christopher Schroeder, assistant attorney general at the Dept. of Justice. The report comes after the FCC said it is going to continue to investigate Google’s Street View camera program.
 

 
In a joining at the hip of old and new media news brands, the IAC’s The Daily Beast announced a 50/50 joint merger with Newsweek magazine to be owned equally by Sidney Harman and Barry Diller-controlled IAC. Tina Brown, former Vanity Fair and The New Yorker editor and founding partner and Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Beast, will serve as Editor-in-Chief of both Newsweek magazine and The Daily Beast while Daily Beast President Stephen Colvin will serve as CEO of the combined venture.
 
The producer duo of Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert (“Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess”) has signed a deal the Starz to adapt the Japanese anime Nior into a hard-hitting live action series, per THR. The duo also exec-produces the bloody, spirited Spartacus for the network.
 
Sony added access to the $9.99/mo. Hulu Plus service on its “Dash” platform, a $199 Wi-Fi connected device that features a 7-inch color touch screen with built-in stereo speakers. The Dash also features full integration with the cuddly Chumby network of apps, along with Sony’s Bravia line of internet-connected televisions.
 
Activition Blizzard‘s popular first person shooting game “Call of Duty: Black Ops” obliterated entertainment records last week, selling 5.6 million resulting in $360 million in its first 24 hours on sale. (This is up from 4.7 million units and $310 million for Call of Duty’s last release.)

 
Voomerang is a new Groupon-style service offering daily deals throughout Los Angeles that has recruited Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak as a spokesperson. (Pat made news over the weekend for apologizing for giving Keith Olbermann his start on TV.) Deals offered during the week are available for 24hrs with Friday deals lasting through Sunday or until the deal sells out. The start-up plans to expand the service to several more cities next year. There’s also a charity component; at launch, Voomerang will donate a portion of all profits to the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
 
Women-targeted lifestyle vertical SheKnows launched a dedicated video channel, SK TV to host original video series being created, produced and edited by the site, including “The Daily Dish,
“HomEmergency” and “Delicious Life Challenge.”
 
Following its announcement of a full integration with Boxee, live music video service Baeblemusic has gone live on Roku as well, with a smaller selection of its library.
 

The new Microsoft Kinect motion-sensitive controller presents business opportunities for targeted game marketing and advertising, according to comments made by the COO and CFO of the company’s Xbox division, per the WSJ. The system, which utilizes full body movement for gameplay, uses facial recognition technology to sign in players and match them with their avatars and profiles. But using technology for ad targeting will likely draw concern of privacy advocacy groups, and the company says it currently does not use any info collected from the system for targeting purposes.
 

 
Broomfield, Colorado-based Level 3 Communications has been selected by video rental service Netflix as that company’s primary content delivery network (CDN) provider. Financial details of the deal were not announced, but Level 3 said the win will result in a doubling of its storage capacity, and adding 2.9 Terabits per second (Tbps) of CDN capacity to support Netflix fast-expanding streaming efforts.
 
Charter Communications is planning to strictly enforce data usage caps for broadband customers, according to DSL Reports. The Usage Caps, enforced with a couple of warning letters followed by up to a 6 month suspension, will consist of 100GB per month for Base Service, 250GB per month max for Plus & Max and 500GB per month for Charter’s Ultra tier.
 
Digital video distributor The Orchard announced the release of the next version of its proprietary Release Builder product, which allows artists to enter metadata, upload artwork and audio, and play back audio on-the-fly. New features will include the ability to upload hundreds of releases at once – including spreadsheets, artwork and audio for multiple releases. The system also instantaneously creates compilations, using existing and/or new tracks, and enables artists to copy a release, then add or subtract a track(s) to create exclusive versions for different digital retailers.

 
Even as broadband penetration steadily increases across the U.S., a huge gap between income levels, race, educational levels and other socio-economic factors persists, according to analysis of Census data released last week from the Commerce Dept. The data is expected to inform Congress and the FCC in leveling the playing field for access to true broadband services in the U.S.. – one of the highest priorities of the latter’s Broadband Plan released earlier this year. Census survey findings from some 54,000 households revealed that:

• 94.1% of households with income exceeding $100,000 subscribed to broadband in 2009, compared with 35.8% of households with income of less than $25,000
• 84.5% of households with at least one college degree subscribed to broadband last year, compared with 28.8% of households without a high school degree
• 77.3% of Asian-American households and 68% of non-Hispanic white households subscribed to broadband last year, compared with 49.4% of African-American households and 47.9 percent of Hispanic households
• 65.9% of urban households subscribed to broadband in 2009, compared with 51 percent of rural households.

Source: National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Economics and Statistics Administration, per the AP.
 

 
Facebook casino game DoubleDown, which uses virtual currency to reward players as they climb up 18 ranks, is on a win streak – adding 10,000 new player each day, and now has “enough daily players to fill every hotel room on the Las Vegas strip,” according to DoubleDown CEO Greg Enell.
 

 
Ecommerce and web design firm Alexander Interactive has appointed Meghan Widman to Design Director, to lead the company’s Visual Design group. Meghan has over 10 years experience in digital advertising and design, joining Ai from LBi.
 

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM THE LUSTGARTEN FOUNDATION

 
A new, easily scalable video chat solution launches today called Tokbox that could prove to be a boon for TV networks, entertainment sites and casual gaming portals who want to improve interaction between cast members and audiences to go beyond scrolling Twitter and Facebook streams. Designed upon a Flash interface utilizing a set of JavaScript APIs (sorry, no HTML solution yet,) the platform can handle up to 20 participants talking at once to a celebrity, and the software enables the developer to select which streams to call up on the site. For instance, a site’s most active users can have priority over less active folks as a way to reward loyalty. And the host will, of course, have the power to boot off anyone who’s being disruptive. A dual screen mode can be deployed to keep the conversation going during commercials, according to Micky O’Brien, Tokbox’s VP/Marketing & Biz Dev. The live chat can also be syndicated out to other internal or partner sites to give the programmer the most bang for their buck. The company is also working on mobile solution to enable Android users to at least watch what happens during chats.
 
Clarification: The Wikia site mentioned in Friday’s edition is not Wikimedia Foundation-owned. They share a common founder (Jimmy Wales) and concept (collaborative publishing) but there is no business affiliation between the two.
 
Housekeeping Note: Once every couple of years for the past dozen years, we’ve conducted a short survey to find out how often you read the Cyn opsis editions, on what device you typically read it, what other places you go for your industry news, what you like to see us include in our editions to make it more relevant for you.  I’d appreciate it if you could take about 3 minutes to fill out this short anonymous survey, and feel free to say anything and everything you think will help us do what we do better.  Thank you!
Later —
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis Digital
wayne@cynopsis.com
11.15.10

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ATTENTION JOB RECRUITERS FOR THE TELEVISION AND ADVERTISING INDUSTRY – send us your contact information so we can begin to build a database for referrals.  We get people all the time around the country asking us for names of local recruiters.  Help us out – send us your contact information, name, company, address, phone, email and fax.  NY and LA are great, but we also need names of firms in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, DC, and elsewhere.  We have people to send you!   Email your info to Trish@cynopsis.com.

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE/Simmons/NYC: Provide int & ext research support as well as back-up assistance for Account Managers. 2+ yrs ind exp (synd outlet, media or agency). Send resume to: heather.gold@experian.com (11/20)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNERS/Fox News Digital/CHI&NYC: Support AE’s by building plans/decks. Manage day to day business internally. Must have exp in PP creation, interaction w agencies/clients. EOE resumes@foxnews.com (11/20)

JOB OPENING: MGR,VOD PROG/INDEMAND/NYC: Program/schedule services. Negotiate/acquire movie & TV product. Heavy Excel. Bachelor’s + 5 yrs in movies/TV. Apply to: resume@indemand.com (11/20)

JOB OPENING: SALES ADMINISTRATOR/HBO/NYC: Report to Manager of Administration. Read, analyze, interpret and summarize complex deal memos and contracts. Apply: http://bit.ly/9bUk9f (11/20)

JOB OPENING:    DIST MKTG SPECIALIST/NY: Support mktg efforts to gain dist on AETN networks. 5 yrs cable mktg exp. Apply to: www.aetn.com/careers
https://www.abso.com/jobboard/Default.aspx?JOBBOARDID=618&JobDetail=83443 (11/18)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCER (ON-AIR)/Discovery Communications/SS: Write & produce promotion & mrktg projects; must have 3-5 yrs mrtkg/post production background; Final Cut a plus : www.discovery.com Req#2789 (11/18)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/OWN/OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK (NY, Chicago & LA): The AE will join OWN’s Digital Media Ad Sales team and sell national advertising. Must have 5+ yrs. Ad sales experience. Apply @ http://careers.own.tv (11/18)

JOB OPENING: HBO INTERACT ART DIR /NY:  5+yrs web design exp. Expert knwldg in Photoshop/Illustrator/Flash/InDesign. Apply: https://careers.timewarner.com/en/asp/tg/cim_jobdetail.asp?partnerid=391&siteid=36&AReq=121099BR&Codes=NLIN (11/18)

JOB OPENING: CONSUMER MKTG MGR/Nashville: Plan dvlpmnt & proj mngmnt for show-specific mktg plans. BA deg mktg & 3yrs exp mktg in media. Apply: http://tbe.taleo.net/NA5/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=MTVNETWORKS&cws=8&rid=1033 (11/18)

JOB OPENING: SR EDITOR/Promo Post House/NY:  Work in our Avid based facility.  5+yrs exp in brdcst envir . Must provide creative solutions, & meet tight deadlines. Est’d relationships a +.  Resume: recruitingNY@definition6.com (11/18)

JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC/MEDHELP.org/AE or AM w/10 yrs selling exp. Digital ad sales and Pharma pref’d, Agency or Client exp acceptable. Great pkgs to join leading start up in Health space. Resumes to: salesteam@medhelp.org (11/18)

JOB OPENING: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER PRN/SF: client-facing lead, oversee entertaining, informative, quality content & advertising on our in-store TV Wall Networks, manage production team https://jobs-prncorp.icims.com/jobs/1493/job (11/18)

JOB OPENING: MGR, SLS DVLPMNT/Discovery Communications/NY: Dvlp digital ad solutions & spprt sales strgy Nationally; exp in mobile sales strgy, custom solutions; strong mktg background. 3-5 yrs exp: www.discovery.com Req#2766 (11/17)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL RESEARCH MANAGER/VH1/CMT/LOGO/NYC: 4+ yrs exp media research; exp w/Omniture, SiteCatalyst, comScore, Nielsen//NetRatings, Forrester, Hitwise; BA Req. EOE/M/F/D/AAP apply mtvnetworkscareers.com (11/17)

JOB OPENING: SR MANAGER, PR/VERSUS NTWRK/COMCAST/NYC: Manage all public relations efforts, stay current with media trends. Req’d 7+ yrs exp. @ Public Relations/Mktg Comm, superior interpersonal skills. Apply: www.COMCAST.com (11/17)

JOB OPENING: MOBILE SALES MGR/Disney Interactive/SF: Drive rev. Sell Disney’s mobile solutions to top-tier advrtsrs. 4+yrs mobile sales, 5+yrs  online ad sales, 2 yrs mgmt. dig/mobile media knwlg  a must. Julie.x.hecht.-nd@disney.com (11/17)

JOB OPENING:  ACCT EXEC/Disney Interactive/CHI: Online media, branded ent. over 20 sites incl. Disney.com & the Disney Mom’s & Women’s Ntwrk of sites. O nline Ad Sales exp a must!  Julie.x.hecht.-nd@disney.com  (11/17)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL AE/GSN/SM: Promotes/sell inventory on GSN must be extremely organized and driven.Media math skills and terms. Knwldg MS software. Send res & CL to careers@gsn.com (11/16)

JOB OPENING: VP, ONLINE DIST & NAT’L ACCTS CONT DIST & MKTG/NYC: Work w/ SVP & other team members in all cont dist & partner mktg initiatives. 7-10 yrs work exp, incl 6+ yrs in the media/online dig. ind. www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (11/16)

JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC/Radio Disney/Chicago: Successfully represent Radio Disney w/in assigned territory generating network ad sales revenue according to assigned goal. Apply to: www.disneyabcjobs.com Req # 269958 (11/16)

JOB OPENING: FREELANCE MGR AD SALES RESEARCH/AETN/NYC:Develop & execute ad sales research initiatives to better position AETN prgmng. Working knowledge of Nielsen systems. Apply to: www.aetn.com/careers (11/16)

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 trish@cynopsis.com.

WINTER/SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  JRS/SRS /NYC doc prod. Co: Exp’d, orgnzd & energetic. Fast-paced envir. Pls specify “dvlpmnt” or “production” in app. Office, shoot, post-prod & dvlpmnt work. FOR CREDIT ONLY. Email jmeltz@kpitv.com  (11/18)

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 trish@cynopsis.com

SITUATION WANTED:   FACTUAL & ANIMATION CONSULTANT  available to help with everything from development to post: treatments, pitches, sizzles, bibles, production, etc. realityanim@gmail.com (11/18)

SITUATION WANTED:  RESEARCH DIR/SALES STRATEGIST – 20+ yrs media, Nielsen, Hisp, research, sales, and presentation experience. Email: ericadlerresearch@gmail.com (11/18)

SITUATION WANTED:  NATIONAL TV HOST, LIFE/FITNESS/RELATIONSHIP COACH appearing soon on major network reality show seeks E.P. with verifiable network/syndicator Rolodex to shop projects. tvhoststar@gmail.com (11/17)

SITUATION WANTED:  MEDIA SALES/MARKETING STRATEGIST/NY:  Extensive experience in all forms of media..print/OOH/digital. Smart consultative seller. Can identify new niche markets and profitably re-purpose content. Contact: slehman@optonline.net (11/17)

SITUATION WANTED:  DIGITAL MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY/CABLE ATTORNEY Broad in-house exp incontent distribution, digital media, technology licensing,affiliate & ad sales. Avail for project/consultant/FT. Contact gmoss22@gmail.com (11/17)

SITUATION WANTED: DIRECTOR of OPERATIONS / PROD. MANAGEMENT/NYC: Skilled at budget & contract negotiation, cash flow forecasting, capital admin., staff mgmt., team-building. MBA, bilingual, perseverant, resourceful. cmpodir@yahoo.com (11/16)

SITUATION WANTED: Results oriented DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY SALES PRO with proven track record seeking a sales or business development role in Los Angeles CA. Please email Shart711@gmail.com with interest (11/16)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCTION MANAGER 10+ Yrs of industry experience. Worked for Bravo, Discovery, Animal Planet, TRU & Playboy.Travel exp, multiple crews, cool under fire, on-time & under budget. Please contact adam_oconnor@mac.com (11/16)

SITUATION WANTED: Dedicated & Experienced ADV. SALES PLANNER (NY) Sales proposals, resolving client discrepancies, quarterly post analysis, special sales service projects, expert computer skills. Contact- runelyon@aol.com (11/16)

SITUATION WANTED: NEED A BUDGET DONE?? LINE PROD/EIC – 10+ yrs. exp- budgets done in all formats. Accurate budgets, Reasonable rates, fast turn around Email: mmillertvmaker@gmail.com (11/16)

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