Cynopsis: DIGITAL
05/24/12

Good morning. It’s Thursday, May 24, 2012, and this is your first early morning digital briefing. If you would like to read this or any other Cynopsis editions online, click here.

Facebook’s shareholders are suing the social networking company, and the underwriters of its IPO, for hiding “severe and pronounced” reductions in the company’s revenue growth forecasts, according to Reuters. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is named as one of the defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed in a US District Court in Manhattan yesterday. It’s actually one of two lawsuits being lobbed against the company. The other one was filed in California, accusing Facebook of virtually the same thing, earlier this week. In the NY case, Reuters reports that the plaintiffs believe several underwriters, including Morgan Stanley, lowered their revenue forecasts during Facebook’s IPO roadshow, and only “selectively disclosed” the changes “to certain preferred investors,” and not to the entire public. A report from Business Insider says that the underwriter analysts “cut their estimates because a Facebook executive who knew the business was weak told them to.” Not good as now the SEC, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the Massachusetts Secretary of State have decided to investigate the matter.

TBS and Facebook have announced a new distribution partnership for comedy shorts produced by DumbDumb, a digital production studio launched by Jason Bateman and Will Arnett in partnership with Ben Silverman’s multimedia studio Electus. This deal will allow brands and marketers that hire DumbDumb to expand beyond the distribution capacity of their own social media channels and pages. TBS and Facebook say that marketing will be custom-developed with each sponsor’s target audience and brand goals in mind. This pact builds on a recent agreement between TBS, Electus, and DumbDumb that calls for DumbDumb to produce up to six short-form comedy videos for TBS.com, each featuring a sponsor’s brand integration and DumbDumb’s pool of acting talent. TBS says that it will also promote tune-in through its popular TV shows like Conan, Family Guy, and The Big Bang Theory, as well as across the Turner Digital Network, which includes TeamCoCo.com, AdultSwim.com, and NBA.com.

DISH Network is launching the DISHWorld international programming service on Roku streaming platforms in the US. Featuring over 50 international channels for Hindi, Arabic, Urdu, Bangla, and Brazilian audiences, the DISHWorld service is meant to expand DISH’s distribution of ethnic channels into urban and multi-dwelling unit markets that may be difficult to reach by satellite. Roku has also selected DISH to manage the launch and expansion of future foreign language channels on its platform. Although at launch it will only support the aforementioned five languages, DISH says it plans to expand its language and programming options on Roku. The DISHWorld service will also feature a “48-hour Rewind” option that will allow viewers to watch any show aired in the last 48 hours on any of the channels in their package. Subscription prices begin at $19.99.

NewsLook, an ad-supported 24-hour global streaming video news service, has released a free iPad app that allows users to create personalized video channels featuring curated news content from over 50 worldwide news sources, including the Associated Press, Bloomberg, and Reuters. Users can customize video channels to fit their interests, whether they are in sports, politics, lifestyle, fashion, art, and/or entertainment. Users will also be able to target to specific interests, such as a celebrity of topics like the upcoming presidential election. NewsLook curates and publishes 150 videos on a daily basis in real-time, and maintains an archive of over 40,000 videos. Its content is also accessible on other platforms, such as Sony BIV and Google TV.

An Oprah Winfrey section is coming to HuffingtonPost.com in August 2012, according to a joint statement released by The Huffington Post Media Group and The Oprah Winfrey Network. The special section on the site will feature content created and curated by writers and producers from OWN and Oprah.com that will be exclusive to The Huffington Post. In exchange, the new section will try and drive conversations surrounding Oprah.com among its blogging and commenting network.

Helsinki-based MOSKITO Television Oy has been appointed by Rovio to script a new animated series based on the company’s popular Angry Birds franchise. The series will be comprised of dialog-less, 2.5-3 minute animated shorts featuring the characters from the game. Rovio expects to make the series available on all platforms by the third quarter.

theGrio.com, a division of NBC News for African American audiences, has unveiled a redesigned website that aims to expand its content offering with a focus on six areas: News, Politics, Living, Inspiration, and Entertainment. Video reports from theGrio and its fellow NBC News programs and platforms are placed front and center on the website, and are shareable across social media platforms.

Microsoft Advertising has announced a new partnership with WPP-owned marketing tech company 24/7 Media that will result in Microsoft Advertising Exchange becoming the exclusive third-party ad exchange offered by Real Media Group, a business unit of 24/7 Media, to its Open AdStream publishers. Other components of this digital advertising deal include:

• Microsoft Media Network will become the only non-WPP demand source granted programmatic access to Real Media Group’s premium inventory.
• 24/7 Connect, a tool that WPP agencies and clients use for automated media planning, will include Microsoft’s full catalog of ad offerings.
• The expansion of Microsoft’s, 24/7 Media’s, and WPP’s existing relationship surrounding Microsoft’s Atlas ad server (a preferred ad server of WPP). Microsoft and 24/7 Media will collaborate to develop a zero discrepancy solution between Atlas and Open AdStream. 24/7 Media will also support the integration between 24/7 Trader, its demand side platform, and Atlas.

VINDICO, a provider of a video ad management platform, has inked a deal with Evidon to allow its clients to include Evidon’s privacy solutions program into their video advertising campaigns. The partnership aligns with the DAA’s Self-Regulatory Program for Online Behavior Advertising by allowing advertisers to integrate the Ad Choices Icon into video ad campaigns. The Ad Choices Icon allows viewers to learn more about the data that is being collected by advertisers and vendors, as well as opt out of being tracked.

Google AdWords is launching Auction insights, a new reporting tool that aims to enable search advertisers to compare performance with other advertisers who compete in the same set of auctions. The tool will tell advertisers how often their ads rank higher than other advertisers’ ads on the search results page, as well as how often the client’s ads appear compared to its competitors’ based on the client’s estimated possible impressions. The Auction insights report provides data at the keyword-level, and offers five different statistics: impression share, average position, overlap rate, position above rate, and top of page percent. “Reports can be generated for one keyword at a time, and data is only available for keywords that meet a minimum threshold of activity for the time period that is specified,” writes Bhanu Narasimhan, Group Product Manager/AdWords.

 

Good news for Google: The Verge is reporting that the jury in the Google/Oracle case has decided that Google did not infringe upon two Oracle patents when developing the Android operating system. It was the second phase of a trial, the first of which Oracle partially won when the jury decided that Android did infringe on Oracle copyrights, but couldn’t come to a unanimous decision on whether it was covered under fair use. The third phase, concerning a damages hearing if Oracle had won the patent case, is obviously no longer on the table. While the jury has been dismissed, according to the report, the judge presiding over the case still has to decide whether APIs can be copyrighted. If he decides that APIs can’t be copyrighted, it would be another big victory for Google.
 

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Data from social video measurement firm Visible Measures, per an eMarketer report, finds that people chose to watch video ads over 1.3 billion times in Q1 2012, which is a 78% increase over Q4 2011. Visible Measures does mention that the first quarter typically generates big numbers for social video ad viewing because it contains high-profile events such as the Super Bowl. However, Q1 numbers were 72% better than those of Q1 2010, according to eMarketer, which demonstrates that social video ad viewership is definitely on the rise. All views measured in Visible Measures’ reports are user-initiated in that a person has to choose to watch an ad for it to be considered.

Fandango is now the exclusive ticketing partner for Moviefone, thanks to a new deal between Fandango and AOL. This deal gives Moviefone users access to Fandango’s ticketing services online, on smartphones, and on tablets, and the ticketing company’s network of 20,000 screens. Moviefone will also be able to offer mobile barcode ticketing powered by Fandango, which will allow consumers to get their movie tickets sent to their mobile device and have them scanned at the theater.

Definition 6 has released the Timeline Movie Maker for Facebook Pages, an application that allows brands to highlight their most popular content through a personalized one-minute video. The app is similar to a consumer-facing one that was released earlier this year. The Timeline Movie Maker evaluates content that a person or a brand has shared on their timeline or Facebook Page, and then identifies the most engaging, relevant content in order to build a chronological story for the short film. The rollout includes enhancements to the app’s existing interface, including nine new languages, updated text links to share videos, and more editorial capabilities for adding/replacing photos and videos. Here’s a blog post from the agency describing how to create a movie for a brand’s Page on the social network.

To promote the third season of Pretty Little Liars, ABC Family has launched the Pretty Little Puzzle Hunt game. In the digital scavenger hunt, players must find hidden rebus pieces that are scattered across participating websites and use them to unlock a secret password on the game’s homepage. There will be new clues on the ABC Family website every weekday from May 23 to May 31 (not including Memorial Day). At the end of the hunt (June 1), the pieces have to be arranged in order to reveal a message from the series’ lead antagonist and unlock a password to the exclusive clip. Only 250,000 passwords will be accepted. Pretty Little Liars’ third season is set to begin on June 5 at 8pm ET.

AOL has promoted Ned Brody to the position of CEO of the Advertising.com Group. At the newly created position, Brody will continue to lead the international teams and executing the Group’s growth and expansion goals. The Advertising.com Group is comprised of AOL’s display, video, and mobile network businesses. The company also announced that it has appointed Jim Norton, the current SVP/AOL Advertising, to the Executive Committee. Norton’s team will continue to function as a sales channel against the advertisers and agencies for the Advertising.com Group’s and AOL’s owned and operated properties. Norton will report directly to AOL CEO Tim Armstrong.

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Amazon.com has launched the Never Before on DVD store via its Movies and TV page. The site allows visitors to browse more than 2,000 titles that are available on DVD via Amazon’s CreateSpace DVD on Demand service. Amazon says the store will expand its current selection of titles with the addition of classics from the vaults of Disney, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (which will also offer MGM content). The store also features current programming from other studios and networks, including CBS, Lionsgate Home Entertainment, MTV Networks, Nickelodeon, and Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Many titles are also available via Amazon Instant Video and Prime Instant Video. As the store is serviced through CreateSpace, which is the web retailer’s on-demand manufacturing platform for books, CDs, and DVDs, the available titles will never go out-of-stock.
 
Later – Sahil
Sahil Patel, Associate Reporter for Cynopsis Digital
05.24.12

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Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 888-702-3858 / [email protected]

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Cynopsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here .

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JOB OPENING: DIR, LEGAL & BUS AFFAIRS/Nat Geo/DC: Attorney to manage talent issues (agreements, releases, employment, negotiations). JD, 5 yrs TV/film legal exp req’d. Apply for Job 5124 at www.nationalgeographic.com/jobs (6/1)

JOB OPENING: FREELANCE MGR, STRATEGIC MKTG/USA NTWK/NBCUNIVERSAL/NYC: Develop & execute digital/integrated multi-platform mktg solutions. Min 5 yrs mktg exp in TV or digital mktg agency. Apply: [email protected] (6/1)

JOB OPENING: MGR, PRGRMNG BOOMERANG/Cartoon Network/ATL: Mng/execute day-to-day prgrmng strategies, incl stunt plan’g & all inventory. Must have 2-5 yrs TV prgrmng exp. Resume:  http://www.turnerjobs.com/#/careers/job-details/131126BR (6/1)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL SALES MGR/OWN/Oprah Winfrey Network/CHI: 5 yrs exp in Ad Sales, xlnt biz dev/client & agency mgmt skills, great team player. Apply at: http://careers.own.tv/ (5/31)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/OWN Digital/Oprah.com/NY: 2 yrs exp in Online Ad Sales, oversee rfp requirements & price/cpm analysis, develop proposals and presentations, team player. Apply at: http://careers.own.tv/ (5/31)

JOB OPENING: FLASH DVLPR/DESIGNER/NYC: 2-5 yrs related work exp in high-end, fast paced, graphic design & prod stdio or agency. Exc comm skills w/strong client srvce & proj mngmnt. BA deg/ graph des pref’d. Res: [email protected] (5/31)

JOB OPENING: PUBLICITY ASST/LA: Asst maint’g press lists/press set visits/event plan’g/press junkets & escorting talent to events/media apprncs. 1-3yrs ent pub. exp pref’d. Strong written comm skills a must. [email protected]  (5/31)

JOB OPENING: DIR, PR/LA: 7+YRS TV publicity exp. at a ntwrk, studio or agency & a comprehensive knwlg of ent, cbl industry & unscripted ser. Strong relations w/key print, brdcst & online media outlets is key. [email protected] (5/31)

JOB OPENING: SHOW PRODUCER/REELZ/ABQ, NM: Entertainment news bckgrnd/strong writing skills/on deadline. Staff position with benefits; At least 5 yrs on daily/weekly pop culture shows. Please apply to [email protected] (5/31)

JOB OPENING: PROMO EDITOR/(PT)/New Orleans: Exp w/ final cut pro and recent topical promos a must. Need a sense of comedy and exp with graphics.  8 wk position, Could become staff position.  Contact – [email protected] (5/31)

JOB OPENING: SR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM SCHEDULING/THE WEATHER CHANNEL/ATL or NYC: 7-10 years TV programming, strong knowledge TV & digital platforms. Solid program planning/scheduling exp a must. Resume to: [email protected] (5/31)

JOB OPENING: PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR/HGTV & DIY/NY: maintain materials related to the programming production process. 2 yrs exp in production or programming req. Apply: http://www.scrippsnetworks.com/careers.aspx?code=careers (5/31)

JOB OPENING: ANALYST, TV RESEARCH/FX-LA: Support sr execs w/ data anlys of perf of on-air & competitive ntwrks. BA Fin., Math, Acct’g pref. Sup skills MS Excel. 1yr exp in data/media relatd field pref. www.foxcareers.com. FNG0001112 (5/31)

JOB OPENING: PROD MGR, PRINT CREATIVE/FOX/LA: Oversee aspects of print prod incl. schedlng; vendor mgmt; sprvise prod staff; etc. 5+ yrs advtsng & print prod. Mac, Photoshop, InDesign exp a must. www.foxcareers.com FNG0001141 (5/30)

JOB OPENING: TV One/NY: TRAFFIC COORD. BA pref’d and/or 2 yrs of exp TV Ops & Traffic. Build daily comm. log within parameters to ensure accuracy. Wrk w/Ad sales mgmt, traffic mgmt. and agencies. More info: www.tvone.tv (5/30)

JOB OPENING: MGR, FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS/THE WEATHER CHANNEL/ATL: 7+ years finance or acctng. Experience with media company a plus, financial metrics/modeling, OLAP tools. MBA preferred. Resume to: [email protected] (5/30)

JOB OPENING: PROD COORD/LA: Animated TV series looking for full-time PC/APM to start ASAP. Prior television animation coordinating/ team management exp a must. Resume to [email protected] (5/30)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR PROGRAMMING & COMPLIANCE INT’L. NETWORKS/NBCUniversal/LA: Oversee programming from strategy to execution. Min. 5 yrs exp in TV program scheduling in cable. Apply at www.nbcunicareers.com Job#5539BR (5/26)

JOB OPENING PROJ MGR RSRCH/NY: 5+ yrs TV rsrch brdcst/cable exp required. Expertise in data analysis, comp TV landscape & ind trends. Kwldg of Star/Nielsen sys. BA deg req’d. To apply, contact: [email protected] (5/26)

JOB OPENING SENIOR DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS/NBCUniversal Oxygen/NYC: supervise series publicity/campaign management and press team. Unscripted/TV experience a must. Apply: www.nbcunicareers.com #5659 (5/26)

JOB OPENING: PROJ MGR ANALYTICS & SOCIAL MEDIA/ATL: 5+ yrs TV rsrch/2+ social media, passion for animation & kids prgrmng +, primary rsch & strong knwldg of dig. platforms. Kwldg of anlytcl tracking systms. [email protected] (5/25)

JOB OPENING: INV MGR-PLANNING/Uni Cable Nets/NY: Support Dir. on invntry mgmt/stewardship/revenue rptg. Must be detailed/analytical/able to multi-task. Exp. in media/DM/VCI/Spanish a +. Apply: [email protected] (5/25)

JOB OPENING: SALES EXEC/PLAINVIEW NY: 2+ yrs Latin America media/tech sales with content delivery network company  e-mail resume to [email protected] (5/25)

JOB OPENING: AE-DIGITAL/NYC/Discovery: Dvlp/maint strategic accts/sponsorship deals for Discovery’s dig. portfolio. Exc agency/client relationships & proven track rec. Dig. bckgnd a +: https://careers-discovery.icims.com/jobs/5875/job (5/25)

JOB OPENING: SR LEV PRINT GRAPHIC DESIGNER/MOTION MEDIA ARTIST/Denver (area): Design mktg materials, PwrPnt, prod. illustrations, & 2D & 3D animations. Maya, AfterEffects & Photoshop exp a must. Res: [email protected] (5/25)

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].

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Sony Music seeks NYC MBA summer intern to assist the global Biz Dev team in analyzing new digital opportunities. MBA strongly preferred. Excel proficiency & love of music required. Res: [email protected] (5/31)

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: OPERATIONS/NYC: Previous experience includes working in tape library and master control operations. Additional experience with project management. Resume upon request. Contact: alexandra.iturriza@gmail.com (6/1)

SITUATION WANTED:  WRITER’S/PRODUCTION ASSISTANT/LA:  Worked as a Page on The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly, etc. Attending UCLA’s TV writing program. Very experienced with Final Draft. Has BS in journalism. [email protected] (5/31)

SITUATION WANTED:  TAKE ON ME, TAKE ME ON: NY based: willing to travel and/or relocate. Mass Comm, Media head, super organizer, creative, seeking dynamic org./individuals to work with. Pls contact, [email protected] (5/31)

SITUATION WANTED: LEGAL/BUSINESS AFFAIRS OUTSOURCING: Experienced attorneys; will handle legal for production companies or business affairs depts (www.metallawgroup.com). [email protected] (5/30)

SITUATION WANTED: WRITER/SHOW RUNNER ASSISTANT/SCRIPT COVERAGE/WRITING: Has worked in development/writing for iTV studios and NightFlight Studios. Experienced script reader w/great coverage and analysis skills. [email protected] (5/26)

SITUATION WANTED: SPORTS/ENT SPONSOR/PARTNER SALES. Very creative activations for diverse mrktg/event challenges. Award Shows; Sports; Venues; Media. Award Winning Events Producer w/ sponsor integrations. Contact: Sarah at [email protected] (5/25)

SITUATION WANTED: CHILDREN’S MEDIA/LA: Willing to relocate. Producer and Segment Producer w/ Child Ed & journalism background, & over 12 yrs working w/children. [email protected] (5/25)

SITUATION WANTED: SALES ASST/NYC: Interned for 3 consecutive semesters at Scripps Networks in Ad Sales Mktg, Works as upfront asst. B.A. from Fordham University in Comm/Business. Resume upon request. Contact [email protected] (5/25)

E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 888.702.3858 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email [email protected] for specs.

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