Cynopsis: DIGITAL

4/5/07

Good Morning, it’s Thursday, April 5, 2007 and this is your first early morning digital briefing.

Good news baseball fans! Major League Baseball signed an eleventh inning deal that will keep its out-of-market Extra Innings package of games on cable for the next seven years. Carriage of the planned MLB Channel, which In Demand wanted to stick on a digital tier, is what held things up. The new deal means the baseball channel is expected to launch in 40 million homes. No word yet on EchoStar, but negotiations are ongoing.

Two websites were chosen to receive Peabody Awards, to be presented at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York on June 4. The Being a Black Man series on washingtonpost.com explores the history, culture and personal experience of the African American man with video essays, narrated photos and a series of interviews. Channel 4’s FourDocs provides a history and primer of non-fiction filmmaking.
 
MTV launched a virtual Pimp My Ride, offering fans a chance to test drive virtual versions of some of the hottest cars from the show as well as show off their own rides. MTV also launched a contest, to be judged by rap star and host Xzibit, to award the most flamboyant entry with a real life tricked-out car. Users can buy a starter vehicle with MTV dollars and head to virtual Galpin Auto Sports garage to trick it out. The site kicks off tonight.
 
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Stephanie Beck Williams won Music City Madness, CMT‘s first online talent search inviting users to submit their own music videos. Fans chose from 64 finalists, which were selected by CMT from more than 600 entries. Williams will record an episode of Studio 330 Sessions, CMT Loaded’s online performance series.
 
Unique visitors to LifetimeTV.com increased 52% and page views increased126% compared to 1Q06, according to tracking by 24/7 Real Media’s Insight. The increase was led by traffic growth to the Breast Cancer Awareness, Games and recently relaunched Astrology sections.
 
The FBI is creating avatars of its own to investigate illegal gambling operations on the popular virtual reality site Second Life, according to Reuters. Second Life users, who spend “Linden” dollars online that can be exchanged for U.S. dollars, can gamble at hundreds of casinos on the site offering poker, slots and blackjack. U.S. laws prohibit online gambling, but rules on virtual worlds are less clear. The company is currently seeking guidance on the matter from U.S. authorities.
 
Blogger Josh Wolf, who became the longest-incarcerated journalist in U.S. history after refusing to hand over video of a protest in San Francisco, was released from federal prison on Tuesday after being held for 226 days in contempt of court. He has posted the previously unreleased footage of the protest against the Group-of-Eight summit on his blog, The Revolution Will Be Televised. 
 
Animation industry blog CartoonBrew.com launched a new video-on-demand site CartoonBrewFilms.com, offering animated shorts for download. The short films are personally selected by founders Jerry Beck, former executive with Nickelodeon and Disney and Amid Amidi, publisher and editor of Animation Blast magazine.
 
Cambridge, MA-based start up ScanScout landed an additional $2 million in angel investing, according to Mass High Tech. ScanScout is launching a tool next month that monitors spoken text, audio and images of online video to determine appropriate ads to serve to the clip. If the user clicks on the ad, they are taken to the advertiser’s website, for which ScanScout is paid 50 cents.
 

AMD became the latest company to try and bridge the gap between the PC and TV. AMD’s Active TV technology enables photos, movies and web-based video channels to be formatted and distributed to a networked set-top box for display on a television. AMD has signed content deals with IPTV distributor Veoh Networks, video sharing site Vmix media and “MyCast” digital content sharing service Orb. The intriguing thing about all of this is that consumers will be able to customize their own channels and program them with shows like Prom Queen, currently on its third episode on Veoh. The system requires a PC running Microsoft Windows XP or Vista, related software and a compatible set-top. The product is due out in the U.S. during the second half of 2007.
 
Comcast subsidiary thePlatform released mpsPresent, a suite of software to help content companies create custom video players for delivering broadband video to consumers. The software creates branded desktop players that enable users to download and manage videos, music, photos and other digital media files. ThePlatform currently manages and publishes video for a number of mainstream media companies, including ABC News, A&E, Microsoft, Vongo and Comcast’s Cable Networks.
 
Meredith Corp. signed an agreement with online video syndication firm ClipSyndicate to distribute video from 14 of its broadcast stations, which include local CBS, NBC, FOX and CW affiliates. ClipSyndicate supplies a network of sites with video content and shares ad revenue with the content creators.
 
Carmel Group released a report sponsored by the NAB arguing against the merger between Sirius and XM, saying the consolidation would result in less service, affordability, diversity and choice for consumers. The satellite radio firms fired back, claiming the report is biased and the NAB is only out to quash potential competitors of its terrestrial radio members. Carmel Group is widely credited with helping convince regulators to block the proposed merger between DirecTV and EchoStar in 2003.
 
Thailand‘s military-controlled government blocked the country’s access to YouTube after Google declined to withdraw a clip mocking revered King Bhumibol Akulyadej. At first glance the video seems fairly harmless, but images such as the juxtaposition of women’s feet above a picture of the king’s head are extremely offensive to Thai Buddhists, as is any insult to King.
 
Sonopia launched this week, a mobile service provider setting out to give organizations their own branded mobile platform. Charities, non-profit organizations or minor league sports leagues can sign up at www.sonopia.com to offer their members mobile service packages provided through Verizon Wireless, branded handsets, personalized content and social networking features including blog and photo sharing. The sponsoring group gets 5 percent of the revenue collected from each subscriber.
 
 

DoubleClick announced its Advertising Exchange service to streamline the buying and selling of digital ads online. Described by CEO David Rosenblatt as a cross between eBay and airline reservations system Sabre, the service promises to delivery new efficiency, transparency and control to the marketplace. It will allow sellers to define a “reserve price” for their inventory, set parameters regarding formats and content and dynamically allocate inventory to the highest paying sales channel. It allows buyers to bid only on the inventory they need and set the bid so that it remains in line with the inventory performance.  The system is currently being tested by a group of 35 online publishers, ad networks, agencies and advertisers in the U.S. and is expected to go live during the third quarter of this year.

LIME will roll out its first originally-produced online series featuring advertiser integration later this month. Four webisodes, featuring lifestyle and skincare advice, will be produced to illustrate the selling propositions LIME is offering. The first was created for L’Oreal’s Garnier.
 
 

 
Three-fourths of internet users aged 12-24 have viewed streaming video online, according to Ipsos Insight, compared to 61 percent of 25-34 year olds, 56 percent of 35-54 year olds and 44 percent of adults over 55. Movie/TV trailers, news and sports clips were viewed most often, followed by user-generated clips, music videos and commercials. Full-length TV shows were only viewed by 14 percent of the sample in the last 30 days.
 
Over 72 percent of “ThirdAgers” (defined as adults over 40) access the net from home via broadband, more than any other demo, according to a new study by ThirdAge Inc. and JWT BOOM. The report also found that 92 percent of the group goes online to seek information about a product after reading about it in print while 83 percent visits a site after seeing a TV commercial.
 
Napster‘s paid subscribers totaled more than 830,000 during the first quarter, making it the top music subscription service in the U.S., according to the company. Napster anticipates revenue of $28 million for 1Q, beating estimates by more than $1 million.
 
Broadcast Music Inc‘s Digital Licensing Center signed its 500th website client. BMI automates the process of securing digital music copyright licenses through its website www.bmi.com.
 

Karen Carr was named Vice President of Strategy and leader of digital marketing shop imc2‘s pharmaceutical and health care practice. Chris Finch was hired as Director of Client Services. David Ostaszewski will serve as Technology Director.

 
More on the viral campaign phenomenon: Citizen blogger Kate Soglin is making noise with her blog citizenkate.tv, a personalized account of one woman’s attempt to “give a voice to the voiceless.” She is kind of half valley girl, half Michael Moore, if that makes sense. She throws herself at Senator Barack Obama in her most recent posting, seemingly more impressed with his sex appeal than what he stands for.
 
Thanks to: Carey Lundin, Producer/Director, Viva Lundin Productions, Chicago, Ill.

A new website will be featured here everyday for you to check out. Some are TV-centric, some creative, some just plain strange. Email me your suggestions at [email protected] and if I include the site you mention, your name, company and city will be credited. Only one mention per calendar week, to make it fair.

Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
04.05.07

Cynopsis 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

JOB OPENING: PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER /NY1 News and NY1 Noticias:  Please visit our web site at www.timewarner.com/careers for further details. Requisition # is 77562BR (4/12)

JOB OPENING: ONLINE PROMOTION/PR/ElectricArtists/NY: 3+Yrs Online Mktg exp. Creative/strategic thinker. Exec online mktg/promo campaigns: TV/film/music/video game/etc. Exp w/Ppt, Excel, Word. Res/Salary: [email protected] (4/12)

JOB OPENING:  FINANCE DIR, SALES PLAN’G/MTV/NY/Staff: Support global sales team w/ plan’g & rev reporting. Skills Req: 5+yrs financial plan’g exp, Strong proj mgt exp & leadership skills, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Email [email protected] (4/12)

JOB OPENING:  AD SALES MKTG MGR/NBC Universal/Bravo:    5+ years in client-based/agency media experience. Production, Traffic Knowledge and Budget Experience required. Temporary position only.Resumes to: [email protected] (4/12)

JOB OPENING:  AD SALES MKTG MGR/NBC Universal/SciFi: 5+ yrs in client-based/agency media experience. Production, Traffic Knowledge and Budget Experience required. Temporary position only.Resumes to: [email protected] (4/12)

JOB OPENING:  MKTG REP/Walt Disney Records/Burbank:  (Approx. 4 mnth assign.) to asst in dvlpng mrktng plans for new release & catalog music titles.  Res:  [email protected] & go to www.disneycareers.com to fill out a profile.  (4/12)

JOB OPENING:  DIR, BUS DEV/OLN/Stamford, CT: Source/develop/execute new bus around ntwrk’s niche genres. 5+yrs exp, strong fin’l bckgrd,knwldg/contacts w/in sports& media req’d. Apply: www.olntv.com   EEO/AA/Drug Free (4/11)

JOB OPENING:  SR WRITER PRODUCER/ VERSUS/Stamford, CT: Write and produce compelling on and off-air promotion, radio spots and sales tapes that fully convey the tone of the network.Apply at www.versus.com EOE/AA/drug free (4/11)

JOB OPENING: MGR, INTERNET CONTENT/ VERSUS/Stamford, CT: Lead dev of on-line initiatives relating to new user & advertiser functionality & over see editorial/video functions for Field Sports genre. 5+ yrs related exp. www.versus.com (4/11)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER OF DIGITAL PROMOTIONS DEVELOPMENT/ TBS/TNT/Court TV  NY:  Must have 3+ yrs exp in digital media, promotions, exp working closely with ad sales; Apply online www.turnerjobs.com , Req# 77461. EOE (4/11)

JOB OPENING:  SR.NEGOTIATOR /National Broadcast/Pearl River NY(15 miles NYC): Exp in all areas of Nat’l Broadcast placement. Strong analytical & presentation skills req’d. Resume: [email protected] or call 845 732-8943  (4/11)

JOB OPENING:  SENIOR MEDIA PLANNER/ BUYER /Phoenix, AZ: Join team of rule-breakers inspired by unexpected, nontraditional advertising. If you have exp in all types of media and a passion for the business, email [email protected]  (4/11)

JOB OPENING: VP DEVELOPMENT/CULVER CITY CA: TV Prod Co seeks creative person to run dvlpmt. Create show concepts, set meetings, close deals. 4 yrs exp. Reality/Unscripted/Lifestyle prgmng. Contacts req’d. Apply [email protected]  (4/11)

JOB OPENING: RSRCH ANALYST/Cartoon Ntwrk/Adult Swim/ATL: 1+yrs related media exp, Nielsen sftwr exp req; strong analytical & comm skills, interpret/position data; info www.turnerjobs.com 68090br; Res:  [email protected]    (4/11)

JOB OPENING: RSRCH DIR/TNT/TBS/COURT TV AD SALES/NY: Provide strategic sales support, create in-depth analyses/effective posit’g. Mng team.  6+yrs Primary rsrch exp, proj mgmt, spervsry skills. Contact: [email protected]    (4/11)

JOB OPENING: SR RESEARCH ANALYST/TNT/TBS/COURT TV, Ad Sales/NY: Provide research support & create sales positioning. Strong analytical/writing skills req. 3+ years exp req. Contact: [email protected]    (4/11)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/TNT, TBS, Court TV Ad Sales/NY: 1-2 yrs research exp at network/agency, strong analytical/communication skils, proficient with Nielsen systems and MS Office. Resume to [email protected]    (4/11)

JOB OPENING: SUPERVISOR, ONLINE MKTG/iDEMAND/NYC:  Manage and update all product websites.  Contact for vendors, agencies etc.  4 yr degree + 3 yrs web mktg exp in TV/entertainment.  Resume to:  [email protected] (4/10)

JOB OPENING:  SENIOR PRODUCER ONLINE/ Logo/NYC:  6+yrs Digital Producer exp, Strg Visio/wireframing skills, HTML/XML , Strg interpersnl/org skills, Knwldg of Data based Content Mgmt Sys EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (4/10)

JOB OPENING:  DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/ Logo/NYC: 5+yrs exp (3yrs consult/Invest Bnk/M&A/Biz Dev), Strg financ Model/Excel skils, Strng analyt thinker, MBA & New Media exp A+ EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (4/10)

JOB OPENING: EXEC PRODUCER, LINKED MEDIA GROUP/ VH1 Digital/NYC: 8+yrs online/digital exp, Exp w/tech, prod dev, web prod & proj mgmt, Exp w/vendors, budgets, design, editorial, & Mgmt EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (4/10)

JOB OPENING:  PRODUCER / Nick.com/NYC. 5+yrs exp Web Production, Strg mgmt/org skills, Strng exp w/clients & vendors, Strng Proj Mgmt/multitask/sked exp, Knwldg of kid play patterns&new media EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (4/10)

JOB OPENING:  ON AIR ART DIRECTOR/ CMT/MTV Networks / Nashville, TN: 7or more years broadcast design experience with 2 or more yrs in a supervisory position.Email resume to [email protected]

JOB OPENING:  VP MUSIC & TALENT /CMT – MTV Networks / Nashville, TN – Strong industry relationships. Exp with artist related program development. Strategic thinker. Apply at www.mtvncareers.com or [email protected]  (4/10)

JOB OPENING:  CONSUMER MKTG COORD/ABC Family/LA:Work with VP and MGR to execute ad/promo/event campaigns.Proactive, organized and enthusiastic. 1-3 yrs exp. in entertainment marketing/agency setting.  Visit www.disneycareers.com (4/10)

JOB OPENING:  ACCT MGR AFFILIATE SALES/Oxygen Media/NY: Strong background in sales/mktng; min 3yrs exp in media sales & multi-media mrktng. Travel req’d. Please contact: [email protected]   (4/10)

JOB OPENING:  DIRECTOR PRODUCTION FINANCE/TELEMUNDO/MIAMI: Seeking Finance Director to lead all financial activities re. TLMD’s global production operations. For full job description & to apply: www.nbcunicareers.com, job #585395  (4/10)

JOB OPENING:  TV WRITERS/ NYC: Must have exp/credits writing hosted segments. News, comedy, dialogue, magazine. Send resume/samples to: [email protected] (4/10)

JOB OPENING: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER NY/METRO AREA: Exp’d Sr. Producer to supervise editorial, develop, produce &supervise teams.  News & documentary exp a plus.  Resumes to: [email protected]    (4/10)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE II/Turner Sports Interactive, NY:  Must have 5+ yrs of digital ad sales exp; AE will be responsible for PGA.com, PGAtour.com, and NASCAR.com.  Apply online www.turnerjobs.com, Req# 69371.  EOE (4/7)
 
JOB OPENING: DIGITAL TRAFFIC SPECIALIST/CNN, Ad Operations, NY: Must have 1-2+ yrs of digital ad trafficking exp; attention to detail, passion for excellence.  Apply online via www.turnerjobs.com, Req# 72955.  EOE  (4/7)
 
JOB OPENING:  DIRECTOR/CONSUMER MARKETING/NBCU/Bravo: 7+ years overall marketing experience. TV, cable, and consumer marketing experience preferred. Temporary assignment approx. 3 weeks.  Resumes to: [email protected]    (4/7)

JOB OPENING:  MANAGER, DIST. & FIELD MKTING/LIFETIME NY: Manage account and state territory to drive distribution of Lifetime Networks, HD and various Lifetime VOD services. Apply at: http://www.lifetimetv.com/about/jobs.html 4/6)

JOB OPENING:  REGIONAL COORDINATOR/LIFETIME/NY: Support the sales efforts of the Distribution and Field Marketing staff and service our affiliated cable systems.  Apply at: http://www.lifetimetv.com/about/jobs.html (4/6)

JOB OPENING:  PROMOTIONS PRODUCER/Chicago/Harpo:  Create, Write & Produce promo packages and image pieces for The Oprah Winfrey Show& related franchises. Min. 5 years in Promos w/Major TV or Cable Network. [email protected] (4/6)

JOB OPENING: SALES ADMIN MGR, EMERGING MEDIA/COMCAST/NYC: manage pricing g& plnning, comm ops, sales support for VOD networks. 4+ yrs sales support exp for cable/bdcst; strong organizational skills. Apply [email protected] (4/6)

JOB OPENING:  SALES PLANNER/MUSIC CHOICE/NYC:  Manage proposal process; update sales materials.  Manage small-scale accounts. Identify/research prospects.  2+ yrs exp. at ad agency or network. [email protected] (4/6)

JOB OPENING:  SUPERVISING PRODUCER/Silver Spring, MD:  Health & fitness original productions – research, talent, scripts, cut review. Collaborative envir., min. 3 yrs supv exp. Resume/ltr to [email protected]    (4/13)

JOB OPENING:  LOCAL SALES MANAGER/Comcast Spotlight/Guilford, CT: 5-7 yrs media exp. Oversee promotion dev’t. Manage team, rel’ship w/sales/network/clients. http://careers.comcast.com/choices/searchjobs.asp ref. 45885BR  (4/6)

JOB OPENING:  DESIGN DIRECTOR/RL/Columbia MD: He or she will deliver creative solutions, help direct the creative process and work with all internal departments. Please visit www.rl.tv for full job description  (4/6)

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 —

SITUATION WANTED: Seasoned TELEVISION PRODUCER seeking creative exec/mgmt position with production company or network. Background includes everything from reality to game shows. Please contact Derek at [email protected]     (4/12)

SITUATION WANTED: NYU Tisch graduate looking for Television WRITER’S P A./WRITER’S ASSISTANT job in L.A. 2 yrs. exp. with multiple television companies (ABC, MTVN, Bravo) including busy Writers’ Office. Contact [email protected]  (4/12)

SITUATION WANTED: Your Own CFO for a fraction of the cost. CPA/MBA, 15+ yrs media/small biz/private, Big 4. Interim projects/staffing, budgets, forecasts, biz plans, systems, process improvements, Virtual, P/T CFO   [email protected] (4/11)

SITUATION WANTED AD: BLOGGER/WRITER: Pop-culture expert with existing national audience.  Most recent gig viewed by over 1 million unique users in 8 weeks.  Experienced, snarky, and refreshingly non-creepy.  [email protected] (4/10)

SITUATION WANTED AD:  Exp. NYC PRODUCER Available:  Nat’l shows.  Doc, Reality, Travel, Entertainment.    Mix & post, field pkgs, celebs, wrap copy, format.  Resume, refs and reel.  Contact Laura  (917) 689-8037/ [email protected] (4/10)

E-mail Trish Pihonak for rates and specs for Job Openings.

Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email Trish Pihonak for specs.