Cynopsis: DIGITAL
09.30.13

Good morning. It’s Monday, September 30, 2013, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.

Netflix gave all its users access to Super HD, its highest quality streaming video, on Friday. The company debuted Super HD in January, but only to customers whose Internet service providers were using the Netflix Open Connect program. The Super HD shows only work on certain devices, and, Netflix warns in a blog post, “the ability to receive Super HD depends on broadband quality and performance.” Variety reports the company will unveil UltraHD, with four times the resolution of Super HD, in 2014.

Google announced its new search engine algorithm update, dubbed Hummingbird, on Friday. The overhaul keeps pace with increasingly complex search queries and the language used when searches are spoken into a smart phone. Hummingbird actually took effect last month, but the announcement was timed to coincide with the company’s 15-year anniversary. In other words: As people have become more reliant on, and comfortable with, Google, it’s become necessary to give the search engine tools to understand concepts as well as words – and to decipher the more casual tone of questions spoken into a phone.

The entire second season of Daddy Knows Best premieres today simultaneously on My Damn Channel and Blip, part of the digital video nets’ new pact for four original comedy series. My Damn Channel CEO and founder Rob Barnett exclusively told Cynopsis, “Our series captured a strong fan base in the first season. We were inspired to go for a binge release on Blip and My Damn Channel where you get the full Monty with 10 new episodes now.” The episodes can be viewed at Blip.com/DaddyKnowsBest and MyDamnChannel.com/DaddyKnowsBest for 30 days before they’ll be available on platforms like YouTube.

BlackBerry‘s bad news on Friday – the company reported a disastrous $1 billion quarterly loss – wasn’t a major surprise. Last week the company announced 4,500 layoffs and a 50 percent cut in production spending by 2015. The revenue deficit was mainly due to a $934 million inventory of unsold BlackBerry Z10 smartphones. Fairfax Financial is planning to buy the company for $4.7 billion. In other words: People were more willing than BlackBerry expected to abandon keyboards (and put up with typos) in return for the sleek sophistication of touch screens.

NBC launched a series today to help viewers understand the new Affordable Care Act that goes into effect Oct. 1. Ready or Not, the New Healthcare Law is airing across multiple platforms, and includes a Q&A with NBC Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman. Viewers are encouraged to use #AskDrNancy to ask questions, which may be answered via video on NBCNews.com/Healthcare. The program runs all week.

As if lawsuits aren’t enough, Aereo is now dealing with technical snafus. The controversial streaming service had announced plans to launch in Chicago in September, but “encountered issues” with their beta site, said the company’s blog, and have to postpone. The major nets are all suing Aereo for copyright infringement; the service is already available in New York City, Boston, Miami, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Atlanta and Houston .

Networks (both Cable & Broadcast) are faced with eroding ratings and ad dollars shifting from TV to Digital. That’s why Cynopsis is presenting a conference on what networks are doing  and what they need to do more of  to aggressively evolve to compete, and profit in this shifting landscape. Join us as our experts share the latest business and advertising models for success at the Cynopsis Future TV Summit!

Major League Baseball Advance Media demonstrated the newest iOS7 feature iBeacon with its At The Ballpark app last week. The iBeacon technology not only offers ticket delivery and a seat mapper, it allows merchants to send visitors coupons when they approach ballpark retailers. The league plans to formally incorporate the feature in the app by next season.

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Watches may be the next big gadget in the smart market, and with the Samsung GalaxyGear to hit the market in October, BusinessInsider forecasts a robust business. Among its predictions:

• 91.6 smartwatches will be sold by 2018. With an average price of $100 a watch, that makes a $9.2 billion market.
• One in 20 smartphones will be paired with smartwatches by 2018.
• The smartwatch will do well because the watch market has the most potential for tech growth, and 55 percent of people still wear watches.

Intel’s promised web pay-TV service may not arrive by the end of 2013 unless the company get some serious industry backup. AllThingsD reports Intel may be in the talks with Amazon and Samsung to keep the launch on schedule. In other words: Starting the service could be proving a more massive undertaking than anticipated; a partner with existing customers and marketing muscle might help keep the project on track.

Call for Submissions: Cynopsisis producing a Halloween Programming Guide which comes out on October 17 and will be sent to all Cynopsis and Cynopsis Kids subscribers. If your network has a Halloween-themed programming, please send your listings to Cathy Applefeld Olson at [email protected] no later than Friday Oct 4. Please include the following information: type of program (i.e. series, special, documentary, movie or holiday-themed episode), title, dates and times of all airings (please indicate when the show first premieres and when subsequent encores will air). Cathy will send you a confirmation email following each submission (if you don’t receive a confirmation email, please resubmit).

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave an hour-long speech on Friday at his last appearance at the tech giant’s company meeting, telling the crowd of over 13,000 employees, “[Microsoft] will change the world again,” and dancing to Michael Jackson’s Wanna Be Startin’ Something. Ballmer ended his talk by enthusing, “I’ve had the time of my life,” as the Dirty Dancing song played in the background. The 33-year vet of Microsoft will retire within the next year; speculators have Ford’s Alan Mulally and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop as possible contenders for the role.

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Cynopsis Future TV Summit:
Content Innovation & Next Gen Advertising Models
October 17 |Grand Hyatt|NYC
This all-day conference bringing together expert speakers on topics including measurement, the Second Screen, the New Networks, a unique “5 People on Chairs: Meet the Millennials” guerilla Focus Group, and much more.

Sponsorship: Mike Farina (203) 218-6480 | Registration: Pete Romas (203) 899-8483

Featured Sponsors:
Gold: ABC Family | Silver: A+E & Rhythm | Participating: NCC, BrightLine & TruthCo. | Media: IAB

Entrepreneur and MakerStudios investor Mark Suster gave a speech at Social Media Week Los Angeles last week on the future of online video, praising YouTube and saying the Internet is the future of video. Suster also explained MakerStudios’ recent acquisition of Blip for this reason, and predicted Vine won’t exist in five years. Watch the speech that starts around 31:00 at www.cynopsis.com.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

See you tomorrow,
Jessica Reese
09.30.13

Roberta Caploe: Editorial Director
Diane K Schwartz: Senior Vice President, Media Communications Group

Cynopsis Ad Sales: Mike Farina | VP Sales & Marketing | 203-218-6480
Classifieds Sales: Trish Pihonak | Director of Operations & Content | 888-702-3858

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JOB OPENING: AD SALES ASST/Sportsman Channel/WI: Provide support to Account Exes for Network Cable Commercial Spot Sales, maintain spot schedules, work with Traffic Dept. Strong Excel skills req’d. Agency/TV Sales exp helpful. Apply: www.thesportsmanchannel.com (10/5)

JOB OPENING: DIR NON-FICTION PRGM/Lifetime/NY: Develop & pilot new non-fiction programming & oversee current prods. 5+ yrs exp in prgmng at cable/brdcst co or prod co. Apply: www.aenetworks.com/career.html (10/5)

JOB OPENING: EXEC DIRECTOR/CINE/DC: Strategy, fundraising & oversight of film/TV awards & education nonprofit. 5+ years leadership exp in media, w/marketing exp pref’d. Resume to [email protected] (10/5)

JOB OPENING: DIR MKTG STRATEGY/Discovery Channel/MD: Innovator w/strategic 360 approach to ad cmpgns. Strong brand mgt/consumer mktg exp.Work w/rsrch to identify prtnrshps/manage mktg events. Exp. driving top TV brands. APPLY HERE (10/5) 

JOB OPENING: SENIOR AD SALES RESEARCH ANALYST/ESPN/NYC: 1-2 Yrs exp in media research. Candidate must have strong analytical and problem solving ability. Apply HERE (10/5)

JOB OPENING: UniRey-NY: TV AE’s, NYC-based: Needed to drive general market advertisers to new English Language network/Robert Rodriguez Net, EL REY. Min 2 yrs network/AE selling exp. Resumes to [email protected] (10/4)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCTION TEAM for Live Show, Secaucus, NJ: Veria Living is hiring: Exec. Producer, Producers, Asst. Producers, Director & Media Manager. 3-5 yrs exp. incl. live work. Resume & position sought to [email protected] (10/4)

JOB OPENING: ANCHORS for Live Show, NY Metro Area: Veria Living is seeking energetic, fun, friendly & compassionate hosts able to improvise & engage with audience. Resume, picture & show reel links to [email protected] (10/4)

JOB OPENING: DIR AFFIL MKTG/Vubiquity/LA, CA: Dvlp/maintain mktg relationships w/Cable & Telco customers. Exp pkg’g & promoting and driving use of VOD svc. Apply. HERE (10/2) 

JOB OPENING: ADMIN ASSISTANT/A+E Networks/NY: Provide support to two busy executives. Non-staff position. Full Info/Apply: http://www.aenetworks.com/careers (10/2)

JOB OPENING: CLIENT SOLUTIONS DIRECTOR/USA TODAY/NY: Seasoned leader to generate revenue through insight-lead integrated mark sol & strat dev w/strong dig background. 10+ yrs insight-lead media solutions w/ 5+ yrs mgmt exp req’d. Apply: HERE (10/2)

EXPERT SERVICES ADS: These ads are for companies or people who offer an expertise in the field of media by way of production, voice over artistry, writing, set development, etc. For information on rates and specs for posting an Expertise Service ad email Trish at [email protected]

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].

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