A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM NATPE ’08

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Cynopsis: DIGITAL

11/26/07

Good morning, it’s Monday, November 26, 2007 and this is your first early morning digital briefing. 

Eighties new wave band The Romantics is suing publisher of play-along game Guitar Hero Activision, claiming a cover of the hit What I Like About You violates the band’s right to its own image. Apparently San Francisco-based band Wavegroup Sound totally nailed their cover version of the song, as The Romantics are complaining it sounds too much like the original. The band seeks unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent further sales of the game. Classic rock-themed Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock became Activision’s best selling opening-week title earlier this month, netting $115 million in revenues.
 

TV Guide and mobile content provider Helio introduced a new service offering TV show information, program listings, search functions and daily recommendations to Helio users. Text-based program alerts can be set to remind yourself and friends of what’s coming on the tube. TV Guide Mobile is available to Helio subscribers for $2.99/month, in addition to carrier data charges.
 
Barry Diller said he is planning to expand IAC/InterActive Corp.’s operations in China by investing an additional $100 million to create localized services such as a Chinese language Ask.com.
 
India-based Tinsel Cinema, LLC launched TinselVision, a Bollywood IPTV service for South Asians living in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and other countries. Feature films and soaps from TV networks such as Zee, Star and Zoom can be purchased a la carte for $1.99 each, or on a subscriptions basis for prices starting at $9.99 a month.
 

Activist group MoveOn.org joined the cacophony of complaints against Facebook’s new Beacon product recommendation system voicing concerns about user privacy. The main beef continues to be that Facebook users must “opt out” of the program in order to prevent their information from being shared, rather than making interested parties “opt in” to activate it. As of last night over 20,000 Facebook members had joined the group.
 
Amway founder Daniel H. Adler launched the beta version of Fanista.com, a retail website that combines Amway-style social networking with the online retail model. Fanista users create custom profiles and list their favorite DVDs, CDs and soon other media to recommend to friends. Like Facebook, the site generates revenue from user recommendations. But this time they’re cut in on the action; each time someone buys something recommended by a friend the recommender get 5% of the sale in cash or credit.
 

 
French President Nicolas Sarkozy endorsed a new law creating an agency to track down hardcore online file sharers among internet service providers. Under the legislation ISPs will send warnings to customers found to be downloading illegal files. Those who fail to heed the warnings can have their accounts frozen or closed permanently.
 
T-Mobile, which signed an exclusive deal with Apple in its native Germany, is planning to offer German customers a chance to buy the iPhone without a contract for 999 euros ($1,480). Competitor Vodaphone forced the action when it won a court case ruling against an exclusive carrier/device maker relationship. T-Mobile will also allow those who have already purchased an iPhone to unlock it free of charge, although not all music and web-browsing features will be enabled.
 
Top executives at News Corp., Disney, Viacom and NBC Universal jointly submitted a letter to the FCC last week opposing new cable industry regulation plans, writing there was “no conceivable justification” for government intervention in the industry. Meanwhile a majority of Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee joined a group of religious broadcasters in showing disapproval of expected changes that would force cable operators to offer programming on an a la carte basis.
 
The format duel between HD DVD and Blu-ray heated up over the weekend as retailers slashed prices for the next generation players. HD DVD players, supporting the Toshiba-led HD DVD format, are now selling for under $200 while Blu-ray players employing the Sony-devised format are down to $299 including an additional $100 gift certificate.
 

The EU’s Data Protection body plans to focus on user privacy as it relates to targeted online advertising next year, an issue Facebook’s Beacon system has helped push to the forefront.
 

Online retail spending grew by 22% on Black Friday to $531 million in the U.S., according to ComScore, with sales of video games, consoles and accessories driving the increase. Sales of Nintendo’s hot Wii platform, Sony’s newly priced PlayStation 3 and the hotly anticipated Halo 3 game helped increased sales in the category by 134% over last year. Online spending today, dubbed “Cyber Monday,” is expected to surpass $700 million.
 
Top Visited US Broadcast Network TV Show Websites (Week ending November 17, 2007)
Rank     Network     Website                           Market Share of Visits
  1           ABC         Dancing With The Stars                 19.50%
  2           NBC         Deal or No Deal                            10.95%        
  3           NBC         Heroes                                         6.90%
  4           ABC         The Bachelor                                 3.54%
  5           FOX         America’s Most Wanted                  3.27%
  6           NBC         The Office                                     2.98%
  7           ABC         Grey’s Anatomy                             2.30%        
  8           NBC         The Biggest Loser                          2.04%
  9           FOX         American Idol                                1.91%
 10          ABC         Lost                                              1.91%
Source: Custom report from Hitwise

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Deadlinehollywooddaily.com and speechlesswithoutwriters.com are streaming those short PSAs in support of striking writers we heard about last week. The brainchild of director/writer George Hickenlooper and writer Alan Sereboff, the black and white spots will enlist an impressive array of acting and directing talent including Sean Penn, Laura Linney, Woody Allen and John Waters. George himself kicks the series off with a clip in which Holly Hunter’s complaint about the blindness-themed script she is working with falls on deaf ears.
 
Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
11.26.07

Cynopsis Digital Ad Sales:  Mark Bohn- 203- 583-1224 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

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

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JOB OPENING:  2 SALES PLANNERS/Galavision/NY: Generate upfront/scatter plans. Handle all aspects of ongoing deal maintenance/stewardship. Dealmaker/VCI/media experience & Spanish a plus. Apply: [email protected]. EOE   (12/1)

JOB OPENING:  PROJECT MANAGER,AD SALES RES (Syn/Digital/NY-Warner Bros.) strong math and pres. writing skills. Adept w/Nielsen,digital measurements, Galaxy, Npower, Adviews, MRI. Email: [email protected] RE: UCTC/91155BR    (12/1)

JOB OPENING:  DIR OF PROGRAMMING/Rainbow/NYC: Develop & supervise production of Sportskool programming; oversee integration of branded content; assist in creating scheduling strategy. Apply to req 4926BR at www.cablevision.jobs    (12/1)

JOB OPENING: SR CLIENT ANALYST/MSA Media/NY: Manage cable nets on Gabriel/other SW. Perform biz svcs, issue resolution, training, Jr Acct mgmt duties, prod planning. Must have tech knowledge. Send res & $ req to [email protected]     (12/1)

JOB OPENING:  MTV EXEC PROD/NYC: 8+ yrs exp in TV production incl Sr and/or Supervising Producer exp. Extensive knwldge US market/pop culture. Strong mngmt exp; travel and work late hours. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com      (12/1)

JOB OPENING:  VP RESEARCH MTVTr3s/NYC: 10-15 yrs media/market research exp. Strong analy sk + broad range qual/quant methodologies; Knwldge re key issues US Hispanic advertising industry. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com    (12/1)

JOB OPENING:   PROMOTIONS & MARKETING MANAGER/Cartoon Network/[adult swim], NY:  Must have 3-5 yrs of exp in promos/mkting, advertising. Strong project mgmt, client service. Apply online via www.turnerjobs.com , Req# 90869    (12/1)

JOB OPENING:  SALES ASST/TV/DVD Dist. Co. in Norwalk, CT: Seeks energetic multi-tasker. Proficient in all MS Office apps. Accounting software knwldg  a +. Terrific hands-on experience! Send resume to: [email protected]     (12/1)

JOB OPENING:  MANAGER, PROGRAM PLANNING/MTV/NYC: 4+yrs TV prgm scheduling exp, Strg interpersnl & Excel skills, Knwldge of MTV brand /prgming/TV ratings & Entertainment industry. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com   (12/1)

JOB OPENING: TV ACQUISITIONS MGR/Orange, CA: Research, screen, select and schedule content for inflight entertainment. Experience of global TV markets, negotiation, planning and attention to detail are musts. [email protected]  (11/30)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/Gorilla Nation Media/NYC: – Support sales team in managing proposals & campaign management. 1-2 yrs online sales & planning experience; Microsoft office exp. Apply at [email protected] (11/30)

JOB OPENING: VP CREATIVE DIR/Fuse TV/NY: Responsible for the overall dir, conception, creation, dvlpmnt & implementation of all On-Air promotions and packaging for all marketing platforms. Please send resume to [email protected]. (11/30)

JOB OPENING: WRITER/PRODUCER/Discovery Communications/LA: Conceive, write & produce TV & Radio campaigns for TLC On-Air promotions & mktg. Please apply online at www.discovery.com/corporate to job opening number 5931. EOE M/F/V/D (11/30)

JOB OPENING: NETWORK CABLE BUSINESS ANALYST/NY: Exp. With VCI software required. Background in Traffic & Ad Sales. Strong documentation & training skills needed.  [email protected] (11/30)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, CUSTOM RESEARCH/NHL: 3+ yrs exp in ad sales rsrch. Extensive exp with custom research (e.g. Simmons/Scarborough/MRI) req’d. Strong knwldg of Excel and Power Point a must. Apply: [email protected] (11/29)

JOB OPENING: WDCW Washington DC seeks BROADCAST SALES VETERAN with 4+ years of exp. Aggressive seller with successful agency and direct business exp. Stellar presentation and negotiating skills required.  [email protected] EOE (11/28)

JOB OPENING: Rainbow/NYC: PROD MGR, ONAIR PROMOS for VOD cable nets; create & oversee budgets & project mngmt for post-prod/shoots/gfx. 3+ yrs ent/media exp. Strong detail/org/comm skills. www.cablevision.jobs.com req 4856BR. (11/28)

JOB OPENING: Rainbow/NYC: ASSOC. PROD, ONAIR PROMOS for VOD cable nets; write/produce/edit promos on FCP. Writing test req. Oversee digital file mgmt. Apply to req 4780BR at www.cablevision.jobs.com (11/28)

JOB OPENING: VP CONSUMER/AFFILIATE MKTG/Fuse TV/NYC: Establishes strategic mktg, promos & ad campaigns for Fuse, drive awareness & promote brand attributes to the trade, press & consumer.  Please send resume to [email protected] (11/28)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT/NY: 2 yrs devo or agency exp to maintain databases, draft deal memos and conduct research for fastest growing ad-supported cable network. To apply go to www.turnerjobs.com req# 90639 (11/28)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL AE/History/A&E/LA: Sell digital advertising solutions to clients/agencies. Dvlp new business. Client service and acct mgmt. 4 yrs in sales -min 2 yrs digital sales. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (11/28)

JOB OPENING: VP, PROGRAMMING & DEVELOPMENT/ EGO TV/LA: Scout, produce web and mobile video content for new Gen Y network. Must have strong talent agency relationships. 10+ yrs  exper. Resumes to [email protected] (11/28)

JOB OPENING: ON AIR TALENT/Web/NY:Looking for a 30-45 yr old female talent. To host a weekly prgrm on the latest in books, CD’s, DVD’s. Needs to appear knwldgble & authoritative, ditzy need not apply. Contact: [email protected] (11/28)

JOB OPENING: EXP’D CO-EP SHOW RUNNER/Powderhouse Productions: Develop and execute a stripped one-hour infotainment series for a major cable net. Science-tech background, web integration, a big plus. Resume to: [email protected] (11/28)

WINTER AND SPRING 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] .

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED …

Interested in posting your Video Resume?  Contact [email protected] for more information ….

SITUATION WANTED:  Script Coordinator with previous work experience in animation industry seeks script or production coordinator position in Vancouver, BC. [email protected] (11/30)

SITUATION WANTED: CASTING DIRECTOR: Commercials, shorts, music videos. Very experienced Reality Casting Director/Frmr Talent Agent would love to do scripted! Great eye for talent of all kinds! Contact: [email protected] (11/29)

E-mail Trish Pihonak 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 Trish Pihonak for specs.