Cynopsis: DIGITAL
04/17/08
Good morning, it’s Thursday, April 17, 2008, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
Rumblings of a possible digital window release shift have began to erupt as 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment quietly released Juno for sale on iTunes for $14.99 on Tuesday, the same day the DVD hit stores. (It is the first Fox movie to be sold on the Apple site.) Paramount has also been experimenting with new releases on the platform, despite widely held concerns of cannibalization.
Podcast Alert: Bruce Willis, Kazi Rolle and Matt Ruskin will appear in the live interactive broadcast The Social Lyfe on BlogTalkRadio at 9:30 pm ET/6:30 pm PT tonight to discuss The Hip Hop Project.
Take-Two Interactive‘s hotly anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV, driving off the lot on April 29, will sell 6 million units and break $400 million in sales during its first week, predicts Variety. This would best Xbox exclusive Halo 3’s $300 million first week take to make it the biggest entertainment release of all time. A first-ever multiplayer option is one of the features that has gamers salivating.
Music continues to use video to drive innovation on the web. PluggedIn Media officially launched its ad supported DVD-quality music video site yesterday with 10,000 videos from Universal Music, EMI and Sony BMG. The well-designed site features personalization features, thousands of artist profile pages and links to download artists’ songs on Amazon.com. Meanwhile Playlist.com launched a new playlist app on MySpace, allowing users to access, share and compile free music videos.
Fueled by a redesign and the release of the entire back catalogue of South Park episodes on southparkstudios.com, Comedy Central Digital says traffic to its site jumped 50% in March versus the previous month, with a record 3 million unique visitors and 35 million video plays. In case you’re wondering, Major Boobage was the most viewed episode of South Park in March.
By the way, the silly superhero, anime-inflected Tek Jensen cartoon series produced for Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert by FlickerLab, is into its second season on comedycentral.com and colbertnation.com.
WorldNow announced it is offering customizable citizen journalists widgets from white label provider KickApps to its local station partners. The applications enable sites to add photo and video sharing, blogging, message boards and content syndication features to increase traffic, engagement and ad revenue via contextual ad inventory.
Lifetime‘s new HD channel secured carriage deals with AT&T’s U-Verse TV and Verizon’s FiOS TV services.
NBC Universal revamped its universalvod.net website adding a new Flash-based interface to give users one-click access to trailers, behind-the-scenes footage and photo galleries of current and upcoming VOD and PPV offerings.
Retro Television Network also had a go at a new look for its site RTNville.com, adding detailed show descriptions for its many blasts from the past.
Fans of the Boston Marathon can log onto WCSN.com to watch the whole race for free live or on demand beginning April 21 at 9:25 am ET, thanks to a partnership with Adidas and MarathonGuide.com.
YouTube revealed it has paid out more than $1 million to its 100 or so producer partners since expanding the program 4 months ago. No word on what the CPMs or rev splits looks like. The site just exported the program to Japan, Australia and Ireland.
Video search engine Blinkx struck a deal to index the online creations of Revision3.
Social media analytics company Collective Intellect raised $6.6 million in second round financing from venture capital firms led by Grotech Capital Group, including existing investors Appian Ventures & Croghan Investments and new investor Crawley Hatfield Capital, LP.
Call for content: The Mahalo Daily is looking for a “smart, fun, young, charismatic, female” host to replace Veronica Belmont, who left the show earlier this month to co-host Tekzilla for Revision3. Post a one-minute demo reel on YouTube to be considered for the gig; the top rated and viewed post will get flown out to LA this weekend for the final “Mahalo Idol” selection.
Guitar Hero meet World of Warcraft. The EU approved the $9.85 billion merger between Vivendi and Activision, giving the former a 52% share in the new game publisher Activision Blizzard.
Gannett signed a deal with white label live internet broadcasting platform Mogulus to offer live and on demand video services on its TV and newspaper sites. Mogulus introduced VOD and a new live HD streaming features this week at NAB. For a sample of the technology check out its coverage of the NAB Show at nablive.tv.
NBC Universal is teaming with Hearst Argyle and Tribune, promoting the use of Active Format Descriptor technology to insure that cable headends and set top boxes display properly formatted downconverted signals, reports B&C.
ComScore‘s paid-click report for March revealed another year-over-year drop in growth for Google. Paid clicks increased by only 2.7% for the month on just 2% for Q1, compared to a 25% growth rate in Q1 of 2007. The industry waits with baited breath as the company prepares to report its earnings today.
U.S. Internet users viewed 10.1 billion online videos in Februaryup 66% year-over-year and 3% from Januarywith Google’s YouTube again capturing the lion’s share of the traffic with 34% of all videos viewed, according to comScore’s latest video web metrics report. Other tidbits include:
- 72.8% of the total U.S. Internet audience viewed online video.
- 80.4 million viewers watched 3.42 billion videos on YouTube (that’s 42.6 videos/viewer)
- 50.2 million viewers watched 539 million videos on MySpace (10.7 videos/viewer)
- The average online video duration was 2.7 minutes
The average online video viewer consumed 75 videos
Top U.S. Online Video Properties* by Videos Viewed – February 2008
Total U.S. – Home/Work/University Locations
Property Videos (000) Share(%)of Videos
Google Sites 3,567,202 35.4
Fox Interactive Media 586,236 5.8
Yahoo! Sites 293,120 2.9
Microsoft Sites 293,085 2.9
Viacom Digital 218,011 2.2
Time Warner(Excl.AOL) 132,734 1.3
Disney Online 130,609 1.3
AOL LLC 114,853 1.1
ABC.COM 98,294 1.0
Comcast Corporation 92,828 0.9
Total Internet 10,089,048 100.0
*Rankings based on video content sites; excludes video server networks. Online video includes both streaming and progressive download video
Source: comScore Video Metrix
Cable modem and DSL penetration increased more than 300% in the U.S. since 2002, according to a new analysis from Scarborough Research, jumping from 12% to 49%. Broadband rates are even higher in certain cities such as San Francisco, Boston and San Diego, where they top 60%. Broadband subscribers are 30% more likely than total internet users to have downloaded podcasts during the past month and 29% more likely to have viewed TV programs online.
Former CEO of Magna Global Worldwide and EVP of Universal McCann N.America Bill Cella joined the Advisory Board of Next New Networks. Next New is the first advisory client of Bill’s newly formed sales rep firm The Cella Group.
Bing Gordon, Chief Creative Officer for Electronic Arts, was named keynote speaker of the first annual Joan Ganz Cooney Center Symposium focusing on the impact of digital media in educating children set for May 9 at co-sponsor McGraw Hill’s headquarters.
Check out this internal fake circa-1984 Bruce Springsteen music video someone in Redmond’s sales department leaked to YouTube, flogging the Vista Service Pack 1. Microsoft COO Kevin Turner even makes a cameo at the end. Oooh. Ouch. O.K., so marketing never was Microsoft’s strong suit.
Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
04.17.08
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JOB OPENING: DRTV MEDIA BUYER/Chicago area: Minimum 2-3 years experience and proficiency in COREMedia, MS Office/Access required. Understanding of media planning and Nielsen a plus -. Send resume to [email protected] (4/24)
JOB OPENING: CONSUMER PUBLICIST/Fuse/NY: Supprt PR Dept in brand/consumer publicity efforts to gen awareness of Fuse TV. Proven track record w/ TV/Ent., lifestyle media. 2yrs. publicity exp. Rez to: [email protected] “CP” in subj (4/24)
JOB OPENING: TRADE PUBLICIST/Fuse/NY: Supprt PR Dept in publicity efforts to gen awareness for fuse brand. Execute strategic plans and write, pitch, present & promote synergy bet MSG & Fuse. Rez to: [email protected] “TP” in subj (4/24)
JOB OPENING: SR INFORMATION ARCHITECT/VH1.com/NYC: 5+yrs exp with product development/wireframes, project mgmt, strong comm skills, website traffic stats, VISO, Knlge of social netsites EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (4/24)
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/$ to: [email protected] (4/24)
JOB OPENING: DIR HR-Interactive/Major Broadcast co-Temp now-NYC – 2 perm-possible w.coast: 10yrs HR Recruitg exp TV-centric Web (social communs-games, tech staff-full project) exp [email protected] (4/23)
JOB OPENING: SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE/ Invision, Inc. in mid-town NYC: Sell and deliver enterprise software w/ in the traditional media & digital advertising marketplace, please send resume to [email protected] (4/23)
JOB OPENING: SALES ASSIST/Invision, Inc. in mid-town NYC: Maintain databases, prepare demos and RFP responses, general admin., reporting, etc. please send resume and salary history to [email protected] (4/23)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ASSISTANT/Sony Pictures TV: Research & sales support, admin duties. Detail & organization. Strong computer skills. 3-5 yrs exp. Apply: www.sonypicturesjobs.com (4/23)
JOB OPENING: AE, ADVRTSNG SALES/BlogHer.com/NY: Contacts & exp. in the client & ad agency arena, incl’g planning and buying groups. Exc selling & presentation skills, able to dvlp leads for sales opps. Apply: [email protected] (4/23)
JOB OPENING: PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT MGR/LA Office of major cable company: 5 yrs+ exp Oversee & manage concepts in development, liase with internal Exec Prod & Prod Co. Apply at www.randstadjobs.com ref 0000001686 (4/23)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES/Harmonix-MTVN/Boston. 5+yrs HR Generalist exp, Strg ER exp, Strg interpersnl/org skills, Superior Customer Orientation, Exp/Knwldg of Gaming A+ EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (4/23)
JOB OPENING: ON-AIR GRAPHICS SCHEDULING COORDINATOR/(Freelance) VH1/NYC: 1+ yrs exp sked/TV, able to multi-task/detail oriented, comprehension of PTS/GABRIEL. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply [email protected] (4/23)
JOB OPENING: AE/Fuse/NY: Sell dig media & multi-platform. Incr exst’ing clnts, gen new biz rev. Prsnt new prgm’ing, brand pos, mktg opps. Excl. interpers’l/org skills/MS Excel & PP. Send Rez to: [email protected] “AEDM” in sub (4/23)
JOB OPENING: DIGITAL COORDINATOR/A&E Television/Stamford CT: Research & Schedule Digital Assets for websites, write promos on air bugs, 3+yrs exp online,tech comm. Apply to www.aetn.com posted as Enterprises Scheduling Coord (4/22)
JOB OPENING: DIR OF BOOKING/CNN/ATL: Seeking exp’d Booker to mng guest bookings & staff & provide support to all prgrms. Strong leadership exp req’d. Send res/cvr letter: [email protected]. Apply: www.turnerjobs.com , job id 98728BR (4/22)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS/ Nickelodeon/NYC: Min. 7yrs PR exp in TV, PR or media Relations; Exceptional writing skills; Strong interest in children’s TV and emerging media. EOE/M/F/D/AAP apply mtvncareers .com (4/22)
JOB OPENING: MGR, CORPORATE COMM/ Univision/NY: BA/BS; 5+ exp in PR. Superior writing skills, media relations, project mngmnt, dev/execute pitches & mng media requests. Spanish and TV/media knwldg a plus. [email protected] (4/22)
JOB OPENING: DIR BIZ DEV/BBC/LA: expand production biz, increase reach of brand, negotiate deals, maintain relationships w/ execs & talent. Multi-task, innovative. Apply: http://www.recruitingcenter.net/clients/bbc/publicjobs (4/22)
JOB OPENING: DIGITAL AE/History/A&E Chicago: 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 (4/19)
JOB OPENING: VP, BUSINESS STRATEGY & DEV / LIFETIME TV/LA : Structure deals that generate maximum revenue for Lifetime’s services (linear, new media &, potentially, mobile) Apply at: http://www.mylifetime.com/about/jobs.html (4/19)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT/Columbia, MD/ Retirement Living TV: Cable network catering to the 55+ demographic has immediate opening. Please visit www.rl.tv for full description (4/19)
JOB OPENING: SALES RESEARCH MANAGER/NBC UNIVERSAL/NYC:Support Sales positioning of USA and SCI FI. Knowledge of Nielsen Galaxy Explorer, NPOWER, IAG, Simmons and MRI: Excel/PPT.Apply online at www.nbcunicareers.com (#814593) (4/19)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/WE TV/NY: 2+ yrs cable res exp. Support Corp, Sales, Affil, Prog & Mktg team w/data collection & analysis. Nielsen, MRI a +. Res: www.cablevision.jobs ref #5750BR (4/19)
JOB OPENING: LINE PROD/AMC TV/NY: Mng all phases of prod for non-scripted orig prog for network (stunts, series, fests etc). 5+ yrs exp production, budgets & schedules. Res: www.cablevision.jobs ref #5824BR (4/19)
JOB OPENING: MANAGER, PRODUCTION ACCOUNTING/VoomHD: Oversee Prod Acct process. Track expense v budget, etc. BS/BA req’d. 5+ yrs exp in production env pref’d. Apply to req 5179BR at www.cablevision.jobs . (4/19)
JOB OPENING: TRAFFIC COORDINATOR/Cablevision/Norwalk, CT: 2 yrs related work exp. Process/schedule orders for Ad time. See full posting and apply to 5896BR at www.cablevision.jobs (4/19)
JOB OPENING: SR WRITER/PRODUCER, CREATIVE SERVICES/MOJOHD/NY: Conceive, Write & Produce on-air promotions, campaigns & shoots for premiere HD ntwrk. 4 yrs exp in ntwrk/agency environment req’d. Apply to: [email protected]. (4/19)
JOB OPENING: TRAINING COORD/The Nielsen Co./NY: Training for TV clients for all Nielsen products incl’g Ad*Views,Galaxy Explorer, NPOWER and Arianna. 4 yr deg, 2+ yrs of media exp. Res: [email protected] (4/19)
JOB OPENING: DRTV MEDIA BUYER/Chicago area: Minimum 2-3 years experience and proficiency in COREMedia, MS Office/Access required. Understanding of media planning and Nielsen a plus -. Send resume to [email protected] (4/18)
JOB OPENING: VP, NEW PRODUCT STRATEGY/MTVN Digital Ops/NYC: BA/BS; 10+yrs digital advrtsng exp. Resp for strat & implementation of new ad products; manage
new product lifecycles. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (4/18)
JOB OPENING: VP, INT, MKTG/ABC Kids/NY: Lead mrktg teams on all cross-platform proposals from creative dev through execution provide guidance/leadership on strat,ideas presentation for integ proposals disneycareers.com Req 135965 (4/18)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, MUSIC LICENSING/Current TV/LA, CA: Oversee & manage music licensing, clearances, libraries, incl. international negotiation & licensing. 3-5 yrs. exp. [email protected] , www.current.com . EOE (4/18)
JOB OPENING: SR RSRCH DIR/Ent. Rsrch Co/LA: Mng end to end custom projects, proposals, methodology, survey design, analyze data/write reports. Knwldg of ent ind & vendor exp + http://www.epollresearch.com/corp/aboutus/careers.view (4/18)
JOB OPENING: RSRCH MGR/Ent. Research Co/LA: Mng custom/synd. rsrch. Prepare proposals, questionnaires, banner & tab specs, sample, analysis & reports. Knwldg of ent ind. + http://www.epollresearch.com/corp/aboutus/careers.view (4/18)
JOB OPENING: EMERGING MEDIA SALES MGR/Fox/NY: Fox Broadcast Ad Sales Team. Exp w/ digital & mobile sales. Exp w/ Mediavisor and Atlas a plus. BS/BA. Please apply at www.foxcareers.com (4/18)
JOB OPENING: FREELANCE COORD/USA Strategic Marketing: Support creation of client programs inc. sponsorships, finances, etc. 2+ yrs integrated mktg exp in TV or ad agency preferred.Resumes to [email protected] (4/19)
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] .
SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED … Interested in posting your Video Resume? Contact [email protected] for more information ….
SITUATION WANTED: An opportunity to learn how you make kids TV in the USA! Young Australian director has received funding and is looking for a kids production company in LA for 1 week unpaid work. Email: [email protected] (4/23)
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