Cynopsis: DIGITAL
11/18/10

Good morning, it’s Thursday, November 18, 2010, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.  If you would like to read this or any other Cynopsis edition online, click here. 

In yet another scheme to dangle access to writers and directors who want to break into Hollywood, Amazon unveiled Amazon Studios – a new online business that asks creators to upload scripts or “test movies” to try and catch the fancy of a panel of connected judges (including former President of Miramax and Warner Independent Pictures Mark Gill and producer and chair of the Production Division of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Michael Taylor.) Contests will be held on an ongoing basis and cash prizes will be awarded for the best works. Two scripts a month will receive $20k, one test movie a month will receive $100k, and one test film will be awarded a $1 million prize, (20% of which goes to the writer, according to Amazon.) As part of the deal, the company retains an 18-month option on the material and has signed a “first-look” deal with Warner Bros. for the project. Amazon Studios director Roy Price (son of ex-studio chief Frank Price) will run the operation.
 

 
Hulu (once again) officially launched its Hulu Plus subscription service this time with a $2 price break (the new price is $7.99/mo., a $1 cheaper than Netflix’s starting plan) and a major new integration – the Roku line of streaming media boxes. The U.S.-only service is also available for the PS3 and is due out soon to broadband-connected Vizio, LG Electronics, and Panasonic Blu-ray players and HDTVs; TiVo Premiere DVRs; the Xbox 360; Western Digital’s WD TV Live Hub Media Center and WD TV Live Plus Network Media Player.
 
Sony’s PlayStation 3 has become the first dedicated gaming console to offer the Vudu streaming video service in true 1080p HD/5.1 format. An exclusive partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment will give PS3 owners access to more than 4,000 movies priced from $2-$5.99, via a free download from the PlayStation Store.
 
Apple competed with Google and Amazon for the digital rights to the Beatles catalogue, according to the NYPost. EMI CEO Roger Faxon was reportedly instrumental in convincing Apple Corp., the Beatles’ business management company, to go with iTunes.
 
The international version of the BBC iPlayer catch-up service scheduled to roll out in several territories next year will include several non-BBC content providers, reports Beet.TV.
 

 
Facebook has acquired the stealth start-up Walletin and hired Cory Ondrejka, the former CTO of Linden Lab, creator of virtual world Second Life, and Bruce Rogers, former CTO of gaming company Cryptic Studios.
 
Mountain View, CA-based internet TV platform Verismo Networks announced it has closed on a $17 million round of financing led by Intel Capital with participation from existing seed investors. Verismo has developed a customizable solution marketed to MSOs, Telcos and ISPs for delivering internet videos directly to the TV without the need for a PC.
 
Social content sharing platform Meebo is nearing completion of a $25 million fourth round of funding, per AllThingsD. The maker of the Meebo Bar and other ad revenue sharing products has raised over $60 million to date.
 

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM ROVI

Reach time-shifting, on-demand viewers before they start watching
With DVRs, on-demand, and online video, people are spending a lot less time watching live TV:

•    Only 52% of Americans’ viewing time is spent on live TV. 

(Morpace, 8/10)

•    86% of time-shifting viewers always fast-forward through ads.

(Deloitte, 7/10)

Rovi TV guides give you a DVR-proof way to reach engaged viewers in up to 15.8MM households …  before they make their viewing choice.

Download our media kit today:  http://www.roviadvertising.com.

 
Internet advertising reached a record $6.4 billion during Q3, rising a potent 17% from last year to again reach its highest level yet measured, according to a quarterly report from the IAB and PcW US. “Advertisers are shifting more of their brand messaging online, accounting for this welcome surge in a difficult economy,” said David Silverman, a partner at PwC in a statement. “This trend reflects the accelerating shift in consumer behavior towards the internet and away from traditional media.”
 
Interactive video advertising technology provider Jivox has come up with a new ad format pre-instrumented with analytic tags that report back to the Jivox platform several hundred million events per campaign, relating to user interaction with the video ad. The company’s “BrandGage” analytics platform enables brands to determine user engagement at different stages in the purchasing decision process in real-time, while its new IAB-certified ad format, “Quattro,” provides brands with a companion banner, interactive panel, a custom branded or social player bar and Twitter cloud in a single unit.
 

 
Cablevision COO Tom Rutledge was among a group of industry executives to voice support of reforming retransmission consent laws on Wednesday. He urged the FCC to exercise its statutory authority to protect consumers from programming blackouts, in an appearance before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
 
In what has become like clockwork for major Hollywood releases, the first 36 minutes of Warner Bros. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1″ has been leaked on dozens of file sharing sites, reports Torrent Freak.
 

 
Sales of video game hardware, software and accessories slipped 4% overall during Oct. to around $4 billion, according to NPD Group. Software sales were up 6% in dollars, driven by console software, with unit sales of online playable console games up 16%. Console sales fell by 26% to $280 million with only Microsoft’s Xbox 360 registering higher sales than a year earlier.
 

 
More than a year after rejecting it for the App Store, Apple finally approved the Google Voice app for the iPhone – a move that initially raised regulatory red flags. Google Voice enables users to consolidate multiple phone numbers on a single account and receive transcribed voicemail messages delivered to their inbox, among other things.
 
MTV Networks International is teaming with Samsung to create a content-led app for mobile devices dubbed “Touch MTV,” initially packaged as an exclusive to be pre-loaded on the Galaxy Tab. The app will include single full episodes of The Hills, Jersey Shore, The Dudesons, Pimp My Ride and Cribs, the European debut of MTV Iggy and regularly updated news and competitions. The app is being offered through Deutsche Telekom and is currently available in the Czech Republic, Germany, Croatia, Holland, Hungary and Poland.
 
Thumbplay Music‘s 10 million song desktop app has added a new social feature that allows users to run real-time Twitter feeds. The new interface also allows you to share what you’re listening to via a drag-and-drop system and also can sort by filters (e.g., #nowplaying).
 

 
Apple today announced that Dr. Ronald D. Sugar, former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corp., was appointed to its Board of Directors. Dr. Sugar will serve as the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee.
 
Stephen Graziano joins Peer39 as Business Development Manager. Prior to Peer39, Stephen worked at Right Media and Yahoo! in sales and business development capacities.
 

 
Current TV has debuted its Creation Studios, a new online destination where the global online community can participate in the creation of Bar Karma, a new series set to premiere on Current TV in Feb. 2011. The vision of Will Wright, creator of EA’s The Sims and Spore franchise and Worldwide Biggies CEO Albie Hecht, the show is about a mystical watering hole at the edge of the universe and site establishes a touchpoint for viewers to participate far beyond typical commenting. Viewers can actually pitch their own storyline concepts and storyboards, with the community voting to determine which path the story and visuals takes. The producers will adapt, shoot, produce and edit the winning storyline into a 30-minute television episode, and development can be followed through Facebook and Twitter, or via mobile device.
 
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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Later —
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis Digital
wayne@cynopsis.com
11.18.10

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JOB OPENING: ASSOC DIR, BUS DVLPMNT/Luminosity Marketing/NY: Seeking a dynamic, well-rounded leader who has a keen understanding of account service to lead our new business program. Send resume & CL to info@luminositymarketing.com (11/25)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCER  FREELANCE/NEW YORK: Int’l Freelance FT Format Producer. Format HD/SD masters for global distrib; support Int’l production. https://www.abso.com/jobboard/Default.aspx?JOBBOARDID=618&JobDetail=83825 (11/25)

JOB OPENING: MGR, CONTENT PROD & TECHNOLOGY MGMT/MTV/NY: 5 yrs exp, Manage post ops and tapeless wkflo’s, post supes, file mgmt. Expert underst’g of AVID, FCP & digi media. Budget & acct mgmt skills. Proj Based postprod3@gmail.com (11/24)

JOB OPENING: DIR CULINARY EDITORIAL/FOOD NETWORK/NY: Creatively operate/dvlp culinary content. 5-10 yrs exp, culinary editing, publishing &/or website experience needed. Thorough culinary knwldg. www.scrippsnetworks.com # 1977 (11/24)

JOB OPENING:  SR EDITOR/FOOD NETWORK/NY: Edit recipes for accuracy, grammar, style & suitability for ntwrk website & other initiatives. 4+yrs prior editorial exp in culinary publishing. www.scrippsnetworks.com # 1976 (11/24)

JOB OPENING: EXEC PRODUCER/Seattle: Oversee content & dir of a daily sales driven daytime talk show on KING5 TV. Exp producing daytime TV, live events, creating content w/ advertiser clients. View job/apply: www.king5.com (11/24)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL DIST ASST/NY: Entry level. Digital distrib division of independent film co. Multitask in envir where priorities always shift a must. Exc orgnzt’l & comm. skills. Resume: Gdelfiner@screenmedia.net ASST SUBJ line (11/23)

JOB OPENING: NEW MEDIA SPECIALIST/New York: Launch & mng new media plans, (ie VOD, mobile, iTV). 3 yrs digital media exp. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers
https://www.abso.com/jobboard/Default.aspx?JOBBOARDID=618&JobDetail=83623 (11/23)

JOB OPENING: SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/PMK*BNC/LA: 4-6 yrs exp; must have exp w/ corp brands media relations & exp w/social media and marketing. Resume: hr@pmkbnc.com (11/23)

JOB OPENING: DIR, BUS AFF/DISNEY CHANNEL/LA: Min 5+ yrs combo firm/netwk/studio exper; in-depth knowl guild/union agrmts, IP; top nego/drafting esp for live-action/scripted; JD/state bar; Apply www.disneycareers.com Req 269593 (11/23)

JOB OPENING: DIR EVENTS – AFFILIATE SALES/Rainbow Media/NY: 4+yr Evt mktg exp in Cble/Tv/Ent indstry. Plan/execute affiliate sales evts. Budget & acct mgmt skils. Stng indstry contacts prferd. Wil Travl. Rez: ssy@rainbow-media.com (11/23)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE/Simmons/NYC: Provide int & ext research support as well as back-up assistance for Account Managers. 2+ yrs ind exp (synd outlet, media or agency). Send resume to: heather.gold@experian.com (11/20)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNERS/Fox News Digital/CHI&NYC: Support AE’s by building plans/decks. Manage day to day business internally. Must have exp in PP creation, interaction w agencies/clients. EOE resumes@foxnews.com (11/20)

JOB OPENING: MGR,VOD PROG/INDEMAND/NYC: Program/schedule services. Negotiate/acquire movie & TV product. Heavy Excel. Bachelor’s + 5 yrs in movies/TV. Apply to: resume@indemand.com (11/20)

JOB OPENING: SALES ADMINISTRATOR/HBO/NYC: Report to Manager of Administration. Read, analyze, interpret and summarize complex deal memos and contracts. Apply: http://bit.ly/9bUk9f (11/20)

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SITUATION WANTED:  FIELD DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (NY/LA): 33+ years in every production situation imaginable. Few have the experience, references and reels like I do in Reality, Field Production, Docs. gene@efpvideo.com (11/25)

SITUATION WANTED: CONTENT CREATOR:  Entertainment, Docs, Kids, Specials.  Major network/studio/interactive credits in long and short form.  jimj@cumulusent.com or Cre8vtv@aol.com (11/25)

SITUATION WANTED: Dedicated & Experienced ADV. SALES PLANNER (NY) Sales proposals, resolving client discrepancies, quarterly post analysis, special sales service projects, expert computer skills. Contact- runelyon@aol.com (11/25)

SITUATION WANTED: NEW MEDIA SPECIALIST: Journalist & FCP certified editor w/ experience in Flash, Photoshop & social media; open to full-time, part-time, contract, or freelance; based in central CT. Please email: NancyHall1@gmail.com  (11/25)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING MANAGER:Smart, consultative, strategic, team marketer. Extensive sponsorship development & multi-platform branding experience across all media (on-air, online, off-air). Contact: scott.kitchen@yahoo.com (11/24)

SITUATION WANTED: NEED A BUDGET DONE?? LINE PROD/EIC – 10+ yrs. exp- budgets done in all formats TV & Feature. Accurate, Reasonable, Thorough- fast turn around. Email: mmillertvmaker@gmail.com (11/24)

SITUATION WANTED: VERY SR WRITER. Very Reasonable Rates. Copy, content, concepts, creative + strategic, all media. Hire me and you will be happy. Visit https://freebeaaron.wordpress.com for FREE samples. betsy.aaron@gmail.com (11/24)

SITUATION WANTED:  Dedicated & exp’d SR TRAFFIC COORD seeks a challenging new position.8 yrs media (6+ yrs traffic) & rec’d 4 NBC Ovation Awards for going above & beyond, as well as demonstrating excellence. Joseph.gallante@yahoo.com (11/24)

SITUATION WANTED:TV PRODUCER, NEWS, ECO & SOCIAL MEDIA 15+ years in TV newsroom, segment producer, M.A. Spiritual Psychology, Consciousness, Health & Healing TamaraHenry101@gmail.com (11/19)

SITUATION WANTED:MONSTER SALES, MARKETING & MEDIA/PUBLICITY20+ yrs media, follow up and closer, major list of national media contacts and billionaires, have closed 12 of them for film fundraising. StevenCBarber@gmail.com (11/19)

SITUATION WANTED: EXPERIENCED ENTERTAINMENT/IP Attorney/NY with in-house television/music exp drafting/negotiating various types of contracts. Seeking in-house or firm opportunity. dbharrow22@aol.com  (11/19)

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