Cynopsis: DIGITAL
12/11/08
Good morning, it’s Thursday, December 11, 2008, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
Yahoo began laying off 1,500 workers yesterday as part of its previously announced plan to shed $400 million a year in operating expenses. A blog entry (sans capital letters) from outgoing “chief yahoo” Jerry Yang entitled Tough times bid farewell to his fellow (former) yahoos and described the action as “unfortunately unavoidable.” This time laid off employees had Twitter to turn to for feelings of solidarity. The microblogging service kept Yahoo offices across the country abreast of which branches were the hardest hit.
The NBA is teaming up with Turner Sports and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. to broadcast the warm ups to this season’s All Star Game to cinemas in 3D in February 2009. The annual slam dunk and 3-point shooting contests will be shown in 3D format in some 80 theaters across the country equipped with Cinedigm gear.
Forbes.com continued its ongoing redesign launching a new video player featuring 16:9 aspect ratio and HD quality video streaming. Forbes Video Network programming is now embeddable on third party sites and viewable on multiple devices including the Palm Treo and the Samsung Blackjack via the Kinoma player. The site also debuted a real-time stock quote ticker using BATS exchange trading data.
Facebook tallied over 180,000 votes to narrow the field of developers who applied for fbFund awards to 5 grand prize-winners. Each app creator will receive $250,000 in funding to help develop their application:
- Groupcard collects messages, photos and music to send to your friends on Facebook
- MouseHunt is a casual social game in which you trap mice invading your kingdom
- Weddingbook helps plan for the big day by interacting with and introducing guests, sharing photos and keeping friends and family updated on plans
- Wildfire helps create contests, sweepstakes and giveaways on Facebook
- Kontagent helps developers analyze data for their online businesses
Video portal Koldcast.tv signed on to distribute a new web series Invention from comedy team David Beeler and Tom Konkle. Beeler stars as Brian Forbes, a stuffy British television interviewer who, like Sisyphus, is forced to interview the same guest each episode: self-styled inventor Sir Reginald Boy-Hey No (Konkle.) Look for new episodes on the site every fortnight. A new Koldcast integration with TivoCast will enable Tivo subscribers to watch the show on their home sets beginning later this month.
Tween and teen-targeted virtual world Habbo launched a new kind of currency for its virtual hotel. In addition to using “credits” to purchase clothes, furniture and the like, the site’s 10 million users can now use “pixels” to buy or rent other items at a discount. The site also introduced some new special effects to spruce up virtual rooms and avatars.
eMarketer downwardly revised its social networking ad revenue projections once again to $1.2 billion for 2008, down from May’s projection of $1.4 billion. That’s still represents a healthy 33% growth rate from last year but underscores the challenges the Facebooks and MySpaces continue to face in translating loyal use into brand advertising.
US Online Social Network Advertising Spending, by venue
2008 & 2009 (millions & % of total)
Venue 2008 2008 % 2009 2009%
of total of total
MySpace $585 50.0% $630 48.7%
Facebook $210 18.0% $230 17.7%
Other social nets $340 29.0% $365 28.2%
Widgets & apps $40 3.0% $70 5.4%
Source: eMarketer
Movie buffs can test their knowledge with The Movie Channel Trivia game, a new multi-round iTV app from Oberon Media launching today on Dish Network’s DISHGames platform. It is the first time the gaming platform has been used as a promotional tool; following game play users will be prompted to order the Showtime premium channel directly from their remotes.
Ivory Investment Management LP, which owns 1.5% of the outstanding shares of Yahoo, urged the company to sell its search business to Microsoft, claiming that such a deal could more than double Yahoo’s value.
Speed is in the eye of the beholder. A new broadband survey from Horowitz Associates finds that almost one third (34%) of high speed internet subscribers feel their ISP does not meet their speed needs.
- Some 19% are thinking about upgrading to a higher speed (or would if it were available)
- 10% are thinking about switching to another provider
- 5% are unhappy with their current speed, but aren’t planning to upgrade at this time
- DSL subscribers are the least satisfied, with telco services FiOS and ATT U-verse reporting the highest satisfaction levels
Hallmark Channel has become the first cable television network to license Nielsen‘s cross-platform Connections Brand Target Audience products. The measurement tool will allow Hallmark Channel to document the impact of their programming against advertiser’s marketing targets to better gage and target their client’s spending. Hallmark Channel is also the first Nielsen client to include magazines and retail in its cross-platform measurement.
Google announced it is getting ready to take its new Chrome web browser out of beta. Chrome is at the center of Google’s strategy to create an entire web-based operating system to help users circumnavigate many of Microsoft’s popular applications.
A good way to catch up with your Christmas shopping while out and about is by using the new Amazon Mobile app for the iPhone. Check your shopping cart, add to your wish list, read customer reviews, see product images, compare prices, track shipping status, and make secure purchases. And yes, the famous Amazon recommendation engine is fast at work remembering past purchases and recommending new ones.
Mickey Wilson, SVP of Sales for CNET, is taking over for Patrick Keane as Chief Marketing Officer at CBS Interactive, reports All Things Digital. Keane joined CBS from Google in Feb. 2007.
Former Turner and Ripple Networks sales executive Jeffrey Lewis was named to the position of EVP/Digital Advertising Sales for Carlsbad, CA-based NTN Buzztime, Inc. He work on ad sales initiatives around Buzztime’s network of game-playing screens in approximately 3,750 subscriber venues across North America.
Msnbc.com announced a trio of new ad sales hires:
- Celia Wu joins as Senior Director of Sales Development, a newly created position based out of Redmond. She will focus on partnerships to drive revenue diversification
- Former American Greeting Interactive director Jeff Flores was hired as the Western Region’s Director of Sales and will be based out of the San Francisco office
- Laura Hagen, who formerly led msnbc.com’s Eastern Region as Director of Sales, has been promoted to Senior Director of Integrated Sales. She will continue to work out of New York to develop cross-media solutions and will work closely with on-air and online teams to create customized media multiplatform packages
AOL’s Bebo.com introduced a host of new features collectively dubbed a “social inbox,” scheduled for release in early 2009. They are outgrowths of its Open Media platform announced at this time last year. Social feed aggregation will allows users to aggregate multiple email accounts and social media feeds from across the web including Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, AIM and Del.icio.us. A new Media Favorites recommendation engine (powered by recent acquisition SocialThing) will point users to video, music, groups and games they might like based on user preferences and other data including what friends are watching and subscribing to. (Now Moms will really have to watch whom their kids are spending time with online, and avail themselves of all of Bebo’s parental filters.) Such intuitive learning and sharing abilities could help media companies unlock more value from social networks and help Bebo catch up with its rivals in the U.S.
Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
12.11.08
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JOB OPENING: SR MANAGER/TV SALES & DIST/BBC/NYC: hit sales targets, ID new clients, pitch and conclude deals w/ cbl ntwrks. Scripted & nonscripted programs. To apply, www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (12/18)
JOB OPENING: SR MANAGER AUD DEV/BBC/NYC: Grow Mrkt for BBC.Com, drive traffic, manage syndication relationships w/ 3rd party partners. Create mrktng & aud dev strat. To Apply, www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (12/18)
JOB OPENING: EXEC/ADMIN ASST/Comcast Networks/NY: Asst Sr execs w/ daily admin duties.3-5 yrs exp asst Sr execs.Strong writ/verbal comms skills; det-oriented. MS Off. knwlg a must. Must Apply @ www.comcast.com . EEO/AA/Drug free (12/17)
JOB OPENING: STRATEGIC PLANNING ANALYST/NY: Resp for digital avail rpts, contracted/billed rev rpts, support VP/Mgr on ad hocs. Finance exp preferred, strong excel. TimeWarner.com # 99308. Cover/resume: stratplan7@gmail.com (12/17)
JOB OPENING: NATIONAL TV Supervisor & Buyer/LA: Top Agency, Excellent Group ,need negotiating experience with National TV& Cable Networks. Excel Benefits, will relocate – pls send resume to JWatson@execsearchinc.net (12/17)
JOB OPENING: STRATEGIC MARKETING MANAGER/SciFi/NBCU/NY: Develop and execute cross-platform marketing solutions to drive revenue to SCI FI and SCIFI.com. BA & 5 yrs industry exp. www.nbcjobs.com , job#853374 (12/12)
JOB OPENING: ANALYST, RESEARCH/Music Choice-Support sales, mktg& prgmg across multiple platforms w/ accurate & actionable research. BA/BS 2-4 yrs media research exp. req. jobs@musicchoice.com (12/12)
JOB OPENING: VP/PROD/ Leading CDN non-fiction Prod Co: Oversee variety of Factual & Fact Ent prgrms. Successful candidate must possess strong budget dvpmnt/mgmnt skills. Prior exp w/ est. brdcstr pref’d. Res to: pbmediaco04@gmail.com (12/12)
JOB OPENING: MEDIA INDUSTRY BUSINESS SYSTEMS ANALYSTS. Multiple-NYC: Exp. w/ad sales, traffic, programming, production, rights mgmt. and requirements gathering. Use case development a plus. Apply to: thammack@edgets.com (12/12)
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WINTER/SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Fuel TV music dept: INTERNS interested in learning about music sprvsn for TV/film. Will learn about licensing, placement, rights & all aspects of how music fits into prod. Resume to: jkatovsich@fuel.tv (12/18)
SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: IN SESSION INTERNS/truTV/NY: Assist in production of daytime trial coverage and booking department. Skills: Writing, Computer, Research. Apply online: www.turnerjobs.com Req#109741BR (12/18)
WINTER SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: EDITORIAL VIDEO INTERN/NY, NY: Assist Editorial Director w/ writer paperwork, assignments, photo gallery production & copywriting and editing. For more info/submit resume, visit www.cablevision.jobs req ID 6886BR (12/17)
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SITUATION WANTED: WRITER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR guts+passion+excellence! tons o’ experience connecting w/all kinds of audiences, all media. FREE COPY @ https://freebeaaron.wordpress.com contact: baaron001@nyc.rr.com (12/16)
SITUATION WANTED: SHOWRUNNER + DIRECTOR: Exceptional Emmy-winning visual storyteller, multihyphenate. From concept to delivery, expert in story, production, post. Reality/nonfic, docudrama, docs. georgetz@adelphia.net 310.450.8272 (12/16)
SITUATION WANTED: Experienced, MEDIA SALES MARKETING RESEARCH PROFESSIONAL, well-versed & superior in all analytic, presentation, oral & written communications areas with Ad Agency, Rep & Consulting background. jmaffia@rcn.com (12/16)
SITUATION WANTED: EXP. PRODUCER/WRITER/FIELD DIRECTOR: Non-Scripted. NBC, Discovery, VH1, CMT, TLC, E!, CNN; Field and Post; Excellent Story Teller; Compelling interviewer; 3 Emmy Noms. LA based, will travel. ophelial@earthlink.net (12/16)
SITUATION WANTED: INNOVATIVE PRODUCER/DIRECTOR:Award winning and highly creative. Major network experience, across all genres: Childrens, Youth, Reality, Lifestyle. In NY but will travel. View reel & CV: www.kirstynordal.com (12/16)
SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/WRITER/DIRECTOR (NY) Ultra creative, vast experience, all genres, all networks, reality, major cable, award winning and fun! andyandagatha@gmail.com (12/13)
SITUATION WANTED: INTERNAT’L TV DEVELOPMENT/PRODUCTION VP available for immediate offshore placement. VP US studio experience in format sales, sit-com, drama, telenovela series development/production. Contact: info@tnypco.com (12/13)
SITUATION WANTED: Over 200 industry awards.creative director/director advertising, digital content & broadcast. Available for freelance or perm. Reel & resume: www.jillsalvino.com or contact jillsalvino@aol.com (12/13)
SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA PLANNER/BUYER/SUP with 15 years exp(Broadcast/Print/Online)available for permanent/temporary assignments. Tampa/ATL/LA based. Call 941-224-9302or email me at Christopher.Neer@yahoo.com (12/13)
SITUATION WANTED: FREELANCE AP/COORDINATING PRODUCER/RESEARCHER. Possess solid project mgmt, R & D, production, licensing skills.13 yrs exp. Credits incl.films that won DuPont, Sundance, Emmy awards.email: fglawns@gmail.com (12/13)
SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/SHOOTER w/ exp. in casting, field & post production seeks employment as an associate, field or segment producer. Past credits include MTV, ESPN, CBS & ABC. Email at alissa.horowitz@gmail.com (12/13)
SITUATION WANTED: Shooting in NY? Need a great PRODUCTION ASSISTANT? For trained, experienced and motivated PA’s who are certified by the NYC Mayor’s Office call the MINY hotline 24/7 at 718-757-5816. Our service is FREE. (12/12)
SITUATION WANTED: MKTG/ADV/PROMOTIONS/NYC prof w/exp in ent & TV seeks opp. w/ agency/network/prod. company. Skills: Web Analytics,SEM, Event Prod., Premiums,Re-branding.Email: nycmarketingpro211@yahoo.com (12/12)
SITUATION WANTED: EXCEPTIONAL MARKETING PRO adept at strategy, project management & implementation, whatever needed. Good thinking! Smart, savvy, hands-on, good humor. Freelance, part- or full-time. powerful.marketing@gmail.com (12/12)
SITUATION WANTED: Creative and professional AVID AND FCP EDITOR with 9+ years experience in broadcast, promos, and documentaries looking to add to his NYC-area client base. Reel at www.chrisguido.net . Contact chris@chrisguido.net (12/12)
SITUATION WANTED: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER in L.A. Five prime time Emmy Awards. National Geographic on NBC and PBS. Discovery, History Channel and MSNBC. Contact email: Nyehouse@sbcglobal.net (12/12)
SITUATION WANTED: TV DEVELOPMENT EXEC: nonfiction programming, with hits airing now, seeks Manager/Director position at Prod. co. or Network. Most recently was Manager at a Prod. co. (LA based, but would relocate) tvdevexec@gmail.com (12/12)
SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIRECTOR-20+ yrs media, Nielsen, Hisp, & sales experience. Let me be your “Remote RD” for competitive, one-sheets, breakouts, Nielsen probs, etc. Avail – contract basis. Email: ericadlerresearch@gmail.com (12/12)
SITUATION WANTED: MKTG CONSULTANT/FREELANCE/NY professional w/ 15+ yrs exp sales/ mktg/sponsorship/product placement in entertainment industry & family/kid oriented universe seeks FT/PT or proj based. kellyfederny@yahoo.com (12/12)
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