Cynopsis: DIGITAL

02/26/09

Good morning, it’s Thursday, February 26, 2009, and this is your first early morning digital briefing. 

Apple shareholders re-elected the entire board of directors yesterday including ailing CEO Steve Jobs, who was absent from the company’s annual shareholder’s meeting for the first time in more than a decade. The board defended its limited disclosure of Job’s medical issues despite calls from shareholders for more details on Jobs’ health and the company’s succession plans. Just to show there was no hard feelings, shareholders sang “Happy Birthday” for Steve – who turned 54 on Wednesday. (And many happy returns, prayed the group.)
 

 
Sony Computer Entertainment announced a milestone for the PlayStation Network, claiming more than 20 million registered users since its launch in Nov, 2006. (Not bad considering Sony has only sold an estimated 21 million PS3s – that’s a 95% sign-up rate.) Like Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network offers a range of on-line content and services, including on-line gaming, video chat and text messaging with other PS3 users, as well as games and video content downloadable from the PlayStation Store. The outlet now offers some 5,900 movies and TV episodes for purchase in the U.S. Sony says total sales have exceeding $180 million on the platform since the launch of the Video Delivery Service in July 2008. By comparison, Microsoft announced that the Xbox Live platform topped 17 million last year.
 
U2 has Comcast – The Allmans have Onstream Media. The digital media services platform announced a deal to webcast the Allman Brothers Band’s 40th anniversary, 15-day concert series beginning on Mar. 9 live from the Beacon Theater in New York via Moogis.com on a pay-per-view basis. All 15 shows can be viewed live or via archive for $125. (Ouch-good luck getting that.)
 
The PGA finally gets its roar back this week with the return of Tiger Woods at the Accenture Match Play Championship and Turner Sports’ PGAtour.com is there to provide online users with a variety of content including hole-by-hole video coverage of Tiger’s rounds.  
 

 
Betting that the practice of Googling yourself is only so rewarding, a start-up called MyLife launched this week to carve out a niche in people-based search. The result of a merger between Reunion.com and Wink Technologies, myLife scours profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter and other public sources to pull up information on folks, filtering by name, email address, company, school, location or specialty. Various tools help users refine searches, suggest contacts and alert users when others are searching for them.
 
Newbies to the social networking space can turn to a new site, Jump Start Social Media, for tips on how to set up or utilize their profiles on Facebook and LinkedIn when looking for work. An on-site questionnaire helps the site’s experts contour a profile to fit your skills and background for a fee. Jump Start also provides plenty of tips to potential job seekers for free; some are no brainers, others bear repeating as newcomers often make some of these mistakes:

• Don’t include content on your profile that can be considered controversial. It’s best to leave political and religious preferences off the table
• Don’t use social media as an advertising tool. Just as businesses have learned the hard way that their audiences don’t want to see marketing messages on their social networking sites, your personal network will not appreciate being spammed with information about your latest business products or services
• Don’t use add-in apps unless you carefully review the terms of use for each one. There are few LinkedIn and even fewer Facebook applications that are appropriate or useful for business purposes, so it’s often best to avoid them entirely.

 
Social app maker RockYou, which introduced a new feature earlier this month to add IAB-compliant video ads units to products, also began testing content distribution services with Ashton Kutcher’s Katalyst Media guaranteeing impressions within its apps, per NewTeeVee. RockYou was able to demonstrate 1.8 million impressions in a single day for Katalyst’s special Fashion Week episode of Blah Girls.
 
CBS Outernet has selected SeeSaw Networks‘ flagship planning and optimization technology to power a new online service for advertisers. Using the “Powered by SeeSaw” Software, CBS Outernet will offer media agencies a hosted and customized version of SeeSawAds.com, allowing them to evaluate, plan and buy place-based video advertising campaigns across CBS Outernet locations.
 

 
The two behemoths of the web are at each others’ throats again. European Union regulators said yesterday they have accepted a request from Google to join in on antitrust proceedings launched in Jan. to investigate Microsoft’s dominance in the web browser market. Google continues to criticize Microsoft’s practice of bundling Internet Explorer with its Windows operating system, claiming it is stifling innovation for users.
 
Feeling litigious itself, Microsoft has turned around and sued Linux for parent infringement, per TechFlash, alleging that the OS for in-car navigation system TomTom borrows Microsoft technology without permission.
 
The U.S. Supreme Court sided unanimously with AT&T in an antitrust lawsuit which accused the telco of anti-competitive pricing practices of its DSL services. High-speed internet resellers, which buy capacity from AT&T at wholesale prices, had accused the company of charging high prices to rival ISPs and low prices directly to consumers, making it impossible for rivals to compete.
 
The FCC is proposing more than $13 million in fines levied at small telecom providers for not following new privacy laws designed to protect consumers privacy, effecting more than 600 small phone and wireless providers.
 
The tech sector continues to feel the pain as Canadian telecom equipment maker Nortel said Wednesday it would cut another 3,200 jobs worldwide. The company recently received an extension to remain in bankruptcy protection until May 1.
 
Sony Electronics announced a deal with RealD to develop 3D digital cinema systems that combine a single Sony 4K projector and its new 3D dual lens adapter with RealD’s 3D technology.
 

 
Tivo has expanded its Stop||Watch DVR measurement service adding 17 more cable networks including IFC, Sundance Channel, BBC America, Universal HD and the Weather Channel. Tivo says 16 of the 93 networks in now monitors using its 20,000 home sample are not rated by Nielsen or other competitors.
 
Thanks to the spike in mobile internet use and the push toward mobile TV services, U.S. mobile advertising search, SMS and display revenues will grow to $3.1 billion in 2013, up from a nascent $160 million in 2008, according to The Kelsey Group, a division of BIA Advisory Services. That represents a compound annual growth rate of 81.2%.
 
Americans are now putting their faith in small business owners, entrepreneurs and science and technology leaders to lead the U.S. to a better future – and putting significantly less hope in the news media, government or large corporations to do the same, a new We Media/Zogby Interactive poll shows. Nearly two-thirds of Americans (63%) said small business and entrepreneurs will lead the U.S. to a better future, while 52% said the same of science and technology leaders. Americans are far less optimistic about the leadership of government (31%), large corporations and business leaders (21%), or traditional news media such as newspapers, television, radio, and magazines (13%).
 
Research firms and analysts alike continue to downwardly revise estimates for this year. Market research firm IDC just updated its forecast for worldwide IT spending in 2009, predicting a growth of .05%, down from a Nov. 2008 forecast of 2.6% growth. The greatest impact will be felt in global hardware markets, where overall spending growth will be 3.6% this year, led by a steep decline in outlays for servers, PCs, and printers/MFPs.
 

                                                                                    
Internet Explorer and Firefox users will be happy to know that Google has released a new toolbar for the browsers adding some cool new features including Google Suggest, which suggests regular and sponsored links for you, gadget options and the Quick Search Box function which provides dialog, local bookmarks and applications for searching the web.
 

 
Scott Sternberg, former biz dev executive at Yahoo!, has joined ESPN International as VP/International Digital Media to work on work on the development and growth of ESPN’s international web, wireless and broadband businesses. He will be based at ESPN’s New York and Bristol offices and report to Arne Rees, VP/International Development.
 
Head of Yahoo’s mobile operations Marco Boerries is leaving Yahoo, according to an internal memo posted on AllThingsD. Marco, whose title was EVP of the Connective Life Division, came to Yahoo 4 years ago when the company acquired digital mobility company VerdiSoft, which he founded in 2001.
 
Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the appointment of Simon Sutton, President, Programming Distribution and International, HBO, as Secretary of The Academy.
 

 
Musicians have loads of options with which to sell their music and merchandise online. If you’re Radiohead, you can afford to give your music away for whatever fans feel like paying and you’ll get enough returns to pay the bills. But what about up and coming bands? A new site called Audiolife has the right idea. The site offers tools to build an online storefront for digital tracks, hard copy CDs, ringtones and other goodies that exists as an embeddable widget. So instead of trying to drive traffic to a yet another site, artists can sell directly from their MySpace page or existing site. The software handles credit card transactions in a variety of currencies and Audiolife takes a cut of everything it sells, including $5.49 for every CD and $3 for every digital album sold. Two other big plusses are that there is no-up front costs and artists maintain the rights to their music. The hard copy CD printings are also a big draw, as you can order small batches for just $4 per CD plus a small fee; until now small bands have typically had to order printings of 1,000 or more. That’s a lot of left over Christmas presents.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM HOROWITZ ASSOCIATES

  .

 
Later — Wayne
 Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
02.26.09

Cynopsis Digital Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom – 646-468-6180 / [email protected]
Mark Bohn- 203-583-1224 / mark@cynopsis. com
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JOB OPENING:  SALES DIR/BBC/NYC: Manage& coach sales team, direct selling, media licensing exp. Bring in new rev, est & implement strategy, grow biz. Apps to www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (3/5)

JOB OPENING:  SNR MANAGER, DIGITAL SYNDICATION/BBC/NYC: Mng marketing & promo for BBCWW titles w/ partners, manage clients & program supply, coord clearance process. Apps to www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (3/5)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, BUSINESS AFFAIRS & PROGRAMMING LEGAL/MD: Handle production and talent negotiations for TLC. JD and 5+ yrs entertainment law exp is required. Apply: http://corporate.discovery.com/careers/ #8752 (3/4)

JOB OPENING: CFO /Silver Spring, MD: Fin strategy & ldrshp, hand-on mgmt for B2B/B2C media business; Exclt comm. skills, high emotional intell, low ego, collaborative all req’d. Resume, ltr, to [email protected] EOE (3/3)

JOB OPENING:  POST SCHEDULER/ATLANTA, GA: Seeking experienced post production scheduler with proven client service skills. APPLY:  [email protected] (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  PR MGR/WE tv/NYC: Dvlp & imp effective PR campaigns for net prgrmng & online initiatives. 5+ yrs hands-on comm/media relations exp incl. digital outreach. Work pref in TV/agency envir. Res: www.cablevision.jobs #8180BR(2/28)

JOB OPENING:  SALES DIRECTOR/Little Pim/NYC:  3+ yrs exp w/Content-based goods. Increase sales w/Large Markets, manage sales cycle, demo product. Exp w/Youth mkt a +.  Apply:  http://www.littlepim.com/about/salesdirector/ (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  SR GRAPHIC DESIGNER/BBC/NY: Plan create & code web designs & flash pieces to spprt chnnl prgrmng/enhance user exp. Write code & build own design. Strong comm & collaboration. Resume to www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  ACCT EXEC/MediaPlace/NY & CHI:  Out of Home TV, creative “out of box” thinking, media & promotion sales/ planning exp. Please email Res/CL to: [email protected]  “AE” in subj. (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  DIR, BUS AFFAIRS/ABC Daytime/SOAPNet/LA: Structure, negotiate, oversee wide variety of deals/prods; top analytic skills.  JD+ min 5yrs exp in TV. Netwk/cable strongly pref’d. Apply www.disneycareers.com, Req ID# 188120 (2/28)

JOB OPENING: CONSUMER PRODUCT LICENSING LAWYER/Cookie Jar Ent/CA: Draft & negotiate contracts and handle contract admin; Manage CPL Paralegals; manage disputes; negotiate; supervise litigation. Apply: www.thecookiejarcompany.com (2/27)

JOB OPENING: INTERACTIVE MKTG MGR/National CineMedia/NY: Resp for creating/executing overall strategic mktg plan. 5-8 yrs exp consumer mktg & strategic dvlpmnt @leading internet co/agency Apply: www.nationalcinemedia.com Job Tab (2/27)

JOB OPENING: DIR, BUS PLNG & DEVL/Disney Channel Worldwide/LA:Work w/Sr mgmt to devlp growth strat for int’l Kid’s media; fin/bus modeling, proj mgmt; 5+ yrs media exp; MBA; exp TV/prod pref’d. www.disneycareers.com , Req ID#186360 (2/27)

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] .

SPRING/SUMMER INTERNSHIP/CREDITS ONLY: 2 PROD INTERNS: Needed for NY Production Co. Interns will help develop new shows and existing projects. Great networking opportunities. If interested, please send your resume to [email protected] (2/27)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED …  There is no charge for placing your Situation Wanted ad … for more information contact Trish Pihonak at [email protected]

SITUATION WANTED: CASTING PRODUCER/AP For Reality/Docs. Worked for NBC, CBS, ABC, TLC, E!, Reelz, and MTV. From Big personalities to experts/professors. Research galore. (In LA) [email protected] (3/5)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/WRITER/DIRECTOR (NY) Ultra-creative, award winning, all formats, all genres, all major networks and major cable. Fast, frugal and fun! [email protected] (3/5)

SITUATION WANTED: OFFICE OR SET PA/PERSONAL ASSNT/LA:3 yrs. exp, creative, well organized, pays attention, catches on quick. will travel + can start asap. email: [email protected] 323.605.2086 (3/5)

SITUATION WANTED: 5 PRIME TIME EMMYS/ DOC. PROD, DIR., WRITER in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email: [email protected] (3/4)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA DIRECTOR: 15+ years exp, seeking freelance projects. All media TV, radio, print, OOH, digital, emerging. Expertise includes entertainment, packaged goods, tech, travel, auto. Email [email protected] (3/4)

SITUATION WANTED: TV PRODUCER- EDITOR Northeast 13 years exp, have produced 6 weekly magazine programs, I also write and shoot. Creative and tenacious, Freelance or full-time. Contact [email protected] (3/4)

SITUATION WANTED: FIELD PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/LA: Docusoap, Lifestyle, Infotainment,Feature Doc + more. Resonant leader, keen director/ writer, strong storyteller + showrunner. 8+ yrs. Will travel. [email protected] 917.716.7277 (3/4)

SITUATION WANTED: CELEBRITY BOOKER & REALITY CASTING DIRECTOR: Extensive exp. w/TV Talk, Reality & Lifestyle Shows. Thousands of contacts to celebrities, experts, authors, real people, etc. Contact: [email protected] (3/4)

SITUATION WANTED: CASTING PRODUCER/AP For Reality/Docs. Worked for NBC, CBS, ABC, TLC, E!, Reelz, and MTV. From Big personalities to experts/professors. Research galore. (In LA) [email protected] (3/4)

SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIRECTOR: 20+ yrs media, Nielsen, Hispanic, & sales experience. Contract basis. Save money over a FT director. Let’s talk.Email: [email protected] (3/3)

SITUATION WANTED: CASTING PRODUCER or ASSOCIATE /Reality/Ent/Docs. NBC; CBS; Spike; Dis; TLC; E!; VH1; MTV; Specializing in the hard to find, runs on Batteries. (LA based) [email protected]    (2/28)

SITUATION WANTED:   Award winning ON-AIR/OFF-AIR CREATIVE DIRECTOR:  20 years network / cable experience.  Innovative promotion, design, branding and strategy.  Hard working, detail oriented, motivated.  [email protected] (2/28)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA BUYER: Based in Dallas/Fort Worth with over 12 years experience, available for FT/PT/Freelance media buying. Contact: [email protected] (2/28)

SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIRECTOR – network experience (ad sales/prog/mktg), sales estimate expert, all Nielsen software, MRI, MS suite, supervisory exp., references. Full-time or consulting. [email protected] (2/28)

SITUATION WANTED: NON-FICTION PRODUCER/Reality/Ent/Docs. Prism Award; Field and Post; NBC; CBS; Dis; TLC; E!; Story Driven,Runs on Batteries. LA based. [email protected] (2/27)

SITUATION WANTED: ASSOCIATE/FIELD/SEGMENT PRODUCER seeking position with a show or network in NYC. Additional experience as a Coordinator/AD/Art Director. [email protected] (2/27)

SITUATION WANTED: Veteran AFFILIATE SALES PROFESSIONAL: 20+years experience in cable TV/media sales. Home office based, Start-up network/company specialist. Seeking full-time or consulting opp. Contact [email protected] (2/27)

SITUATION WANTED: TRAFFIC MANAGER/SPECIALIST: Exp Traffic professional with over 6 years of experience in both cable and broadcast television. Exp with various traffic programs. [email protected] (2/27)

E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 203.926.9878 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

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