Cynopsis: DIGITAL
12/20/11

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, December 20, 2011, and this is your first early morning digital briefing. If you would like to read this or any other Cynopsis editions online, click here .

Executives from Apple have been discussing their “visions” for the future of TV with executives from several large media companies, reports The Wall Street Journal. Sources cited by the report indicate that Apple is exploring not only creating its own television, but also ways in which technology could be used in the future to enhance the viewing experience; for example, technology that allows viewers to search for a show or change channels simply by voicing or motioning a command. Other discussions have revolved around new ways to stream content, enabling multiplatform viewing. Sources also indicate that the new TV prototype that Apple is rumored to be working on would use the company’s wireless streaming technology, AirPlay, to control the TV sets with handheld Apple devices. While these talks have been very much exploratory and lacking in concrete specifics, the Journal says it’s a signal that Apple looks to be advancing on its TV strategy.

TODAY.com, the online arm of NBC’s popular morning news program, has launched a new app for the Xbox Live that takes advantage of the platform’s voice-activation and search features. Users can use their voice to search for the latest show, popular video segments of the day and look up stories by favorite topic or specific anchors.

Univision has a new mobile site that lets viewers watch their favorite television shows and videos from the Spanish-language channel for U.S. audiences. Aside from clips from their favorite TV shows, the site also provides sports, lifestyle and local news content for viewers. Advertising options for the mobile offering include pre-roll ads before video content, banner ads and sponsorships of the entire site.

Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, founder and CEO of Kingdom Holding Company has made a $300 million investment in Twitter. The investment followed several months of negotiations in order for the Prince Alwaleed to acquire a stake in the micro-blogging site. The $300 million investment represents a more than 3% stake in Twitter, according to MarketWatch, which means that the website could be valued at $10 billion.

Tremor Video’s announced partnership with AdKeeper will allow users to bookmark video ads from Tremor Video for later viewing. It is the first instance of AdKeeper’s “KeepButton” being available in video advertisements. The service is meant to increase the opportunities for audience engagement by providing viewers the option to engage with a piece of advertising content on their own time and on their own terms. Reebok will be the first of AdKeeper’s advertising partners to take advantage of this new offering through Tremor Video.

AdoTube has released its Q3 2011 In-Stream Video Advertising Format index, which finds that interactive in-stream video ad formats have grown to account for 61% of total ads served, while Pre-Rolls have fallen to 10%. The index analyzes over 6.5 billion impressions served across AdoTube’s network and provides an overview of in-stream video ad formats across different industry verticals. Other interesting findings from the report include:

• Delivering the same Display Ad message in an In-stream Ad still generates over six times the interaction and click-through rates.
• A new ad format, “In-Stream Takeovers” provides four times the click-through rate and a 43% lower close rate compared to similar Branded and Interactive Overlays.
• The Ad Selector format generated a 65% view-through rate and an 80% retention rate.

AT&T announced last evening that it will be dropping its $39 billion bid to acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom. The proposed merger, which was announced in March 2011, faced opposition from the FCC and the DOJ, both stating that such a deal would hurt competition. As per a previous agreement, AT&T will now have to pay Deutsche Telekom $4 billion ($3 billion in cash and $1 billion in spectrum access) for the deal falling through.

VidScale’ MediaWarp software has been selected by Avail-TVN to boost the digital media services company’s anyView multi-screen video service for mobile and internet-connected devices. The MediaWarp software enables internet service providers (ISPs) and mobile and cable operators to manage and deliver licensed and unlicensed content across their networks with minimal infrastructure investment. The AnyView multi-screen video solution is compatible with PCs, Macs, Apple’s iOS devices, Android devices and Roku players. VidScale is a provider of carrier-class content delivery network (CDN) services and bandwidth optimization for the cable, mobile and ISP markets.

Kantar Media reports that the top 10 internet advertisers in the first three quarters of 2011 spent $1.8 billion in paid search and display ad campaigns, which is up 11.1% over 2010. Among the top 10, three wireless carriers, Verizon (#4), AT&T (#6) and Sprint (#10), made the list. Other notable companies in the top 10 include Comcast (#7) and Amazon (#8). The report also found that display ad spending increased 10.1% over 2010. The display ad growth was broadly distributed across top spending categories. However, paid search took a hit as it experienced a 2.1% decline in spending over the first nine months of 2011 and a 14.4% decline in the third quarter alone, which the report attributes to reduced expenditures from insurance companies, legal services and medical care providers.

comScore‘s monthly qSearch analysis for November finds Google still leading the pack with a 65.4% share of the explicit core search market (searches performed by users with the intent of interacting with the results; not contextually driven). However, Google’s share for November 2011 actually represents a 0.2% drop from October of this year. The other big news in the findings comes from Yahoo! and Bing. While Yahoo! maintained its position at number two with a 15.1% share of the market, it has Bing on its heels as Microsoft’s search engine increased its share by 0.2% to 15.0%. Ask Network (2.9%) and AOL (1.6%) rounded out the top five.

New data from IMS Research projects worldwide set-top box shipments for the digital terrestrial (DTT) platform will peak in 2012 with 20.5 million shipments. Almost 25% of these shipments will occur in Western European nations switching off from the analog television platform by the European Commission’s recommended date of 2012. The report cites several factors that influence the forecast, including the increasing presence of digital tuners on TV sets, must-carry DTT legislation and the rise of hybrid set-top boxes.

Online video slideshow creation service Animoto has launched a new version of its app for the iOS. The free app allows users to create and share high-quality slideshow videos grabbing photos from their library. The service also provides the option to include text and music to the videos. Videos are shareable on Facebook, Twitter, via email and/or text message. The service is free for 30 second videos featuring up to 12 photos; beyond that, users would have to upgrade to the Animoto Plus service, which is available for $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year.

Liz Jones has joined Relativity Media as its new Senior Vice President of Digital Marketing. Jones will be responsible for creating and executing marketing campaigns across all digital platforms for Relativity’s slate of films, including Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming action film Haywire. She will report directly to Relativity’s president of theatrical marketing Terry Curtin.

Mindshare Canada has hired Jodi Kasten to be its Managing Director of Digital. At her new post, which is also a newly-created position, Kasten will oversee all of Mindshare’s digital services and will work directly with clients to build digital communications plans and digitally integrated, strategic campaigns. Kasten’s appointment is effective immediately and she will report to Karen Nayler, president of Mindshare Canada.

Fiber optic-based network solutions provider Sidera Networks has appointed Clint Heiden as President. Heiden will oversee all of Sidera’s revenue-generating initiatives, including sales, marketing, product management and sales engineering. Prior to joining Sidera, Heiden had held executive positions at Intellifiber (Cavalier), Cable & Wireless America and Qwest, among others.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

If we’re being serious for a minute, December in actuality is all about the countdown to the biggest night of the year: New Year’s Eve. With that in mind, the organizers of the Times Square New Year’s Eve festivities have released the new, official 2012 Times Square Ball app. Available for both Apple and Android devices, it allows users to: submit a photo for it to be displayed directly beneath the crystal ball on the night of December 31, provided it gets the necessary votes; watch a live stream of the crystal ball, as well as other video content; and find out all necessary info about the Times Square celebration. Once it’s 2012, the free app will transform to a year-round source of Times Square news, events and entertainment.

Later – Sahil
Sahil Patel, Associate Reporter for Cynopsis Digital
12.20.11

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Mike Farina – VP/Business Development & Sales – 203-218-6480 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-381-9096 / [email protected]

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JOB OPENING: SALES EXECUTIVE/RLTV/NY: Revenue goals, new bus development and sponsorship sales. Strong decision maker relationships, strategic, creative, 7+yrs direct selling experience. Send to [email protected] (1/4)

JOB OPENING: MKTG COMM MGR/Weather Channel/NY: Exp Mktg Comm prof w/ ext creative/tech & prof presentation develpmt skills. Req excep written/verbal skills. Understanding of media rsrch & media exp a +.Resumes: [email protected] (1/4)

JOB OPENING: AE AFFILIATE DIST/GSN Santa Monica: 5+yrs cbl network exp. BA/BS in related field. Strong comm, hvy travel, dig/integrated campaigns. Send res + CL to [email protected] (1/4)

JOB OPENING: DIR, DIGITAL AD SALES MKTG/Syfy/NYC: Oversee Digital Ad Sls Mktg campaigns across all platforms including On Air, Web, Games, Mobile and Social. Min 10 yrs Ntwk/Web exp. To apply, click: http://bit.ly/rIZd3i (1/4)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, MEDIA AD SALES RESEARCH/NY-Warner Bros. Media Sales: (Syndication) strong analytical and presentation writing skills. Adept w/Nielsen systems, MRI and Simmons. Email: [email protected] RE: UCTC/128416BR (12/24)

JOB OPENING: SR. RESEARCH ANALYST/nuvoTV/LA: Nielsen rating analysis, collect/evaluate audience & market research data, 3+ years TV media research experience, familiar w/American Latino market+, EOE/M/F/D/AAP [email protected] (12/24)

JOB OPENING: MANAGING DIRECTOR CONTENT ENTERPRISES/Owings Mills MD: Responsible for production, development, funding, distribution and marketing. BA/BS: Mass Comm. or related field. Email Resume and cover letter with the title to: [email protected] (12/24)

JOB OPENING: VP, BUS & LEGAL AFFAIRS/RHI Entertainment/NYC: Neg. & draft documentation for variety of TV program/content. Knowledge of TV dev, prod & distrib. transactions. J.D. & 10 + yrs exp in the entertainment industry. CV & cover to: [email protected] (12/24)

JOB OPENING: CLIENT SRVCS MGR/WN/Queens NY: Mng client prod launches; provide training, acct mgmt & strategic support for clients; 2-4 ys exp in client services, acct mgmnt, project mgt or sales support. Apply: [email protected] (12/23)

JOB OPENING: DIR, MULTICULTURAL DIG SALES/NBC News/NY: Lead Sales efforts on behalf of theGrio.com and our new English language Hispanic News Website 7 yrs exp. To apply, visit:  http://www.nbcunicareers.com/search_nbc/ Job#3250BR (12/23)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network/LA: 1-2 yrs exp in TV Research, detailed oriented, knowledge of Star & NPower required. Apply at:  http://careers.own.tv/ (12/23)

JOB OPENING:  DIG. RSRCH ANALYST/LAS VEGAS: Track/analyze perf of company’s official website & digital dist. Proficient w/ Google Analytics. Exp w/ content mngmnt system reporting tools a +. More info/Apply to:  www.ufc.com/jobs (12/23)

JOB OPENING: SALES ASSISTANT/LER/NY: Exp w/ Excel/Word/PowerPoint, DDS a +plus, work closely w/AE’s in all aspects of sales, Multi-tasker, Strong comm skills, Fluent in Spanish. Send resume to [email protected] (12/22)

JOB OPENING: MARKETING COORDINATOR/FOOD NETWORK/NYC: Assist 2 Marketing Managers w/all aspects of consumer/ brand partnerships marketing. 2+ yrs brand/media/entertainment industry exp req’d. Resumes: www.scrippsnetworks.com #2592 (12/22)

JOB OPENING: SOCIAL MEDIA COORD/The Hub/Burbank, CA: Temporary position. Salaried, no benefits. BA and writing samples req’d. This position will be the project coordinator for the network’s social media efforts. Apply: www.hubworld.com (12/22)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL AE/BBC.com/NYC: Maintain/grow revenue on web/mobile proprties-BBC.com, BBC America.com, LonelyPlanet.com. 3+ yrs exp w/ client & agncy contcts. News exp, a +. www.bbcamerica.com/jobs & [email protected] (12/21)

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 INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  NON-FICTION TV DEV INTERNSHIP/NYC: Major TV Prod Co seeking creative interns interested in reality TV and motivated to research, write and develop new ideas for TV series. Res/cov let: [email protected]  (12/23)

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: Jeanne Intile Burns, VOICE-OVER ARTIST/VOICE COACH, Cell: 845-721-9681, E-Mail: [email protected], Web Links: www.castingnetworks.com/jburns, http://jburns.voices.com, www.allegro-music.com (“American Biographies”) (12/24)

SITUATION WANTED: SUMMER, CREDIT 2012 INTERNSHIP TV/FILM HI-ENERGY & IN-PRODUCTION CO/LA: Syracuse Newhouse: Exp: HD Camera Shooting & Prod, FCP, & PA duties. In LA 12/19-01/13 [email protected]; linkedin.com/in/aaronmwfrank, 818.569.9678 (12/22)

SITUATION WANTED: AD SALES ASSISTANT: (CHICAGO) Interned at Comcast Sports Net in Ad Sales, Works as Sales Assistant at NBCUniversal. Has B.A. from DePaul in PR/Advertising. Resume upon request. Contact [email protected] (12/22)

SITUATION WANTED: On air guest for major TV shopping network available as your PITCHMAN FOR YOUR PRODUCT(S). NY based,will travel. 38/M, clean, high energy, articulate, also host a high profile radio show. 631-415-5013 [email protected] (12/22)

SITUATION WANTED: LITERARY AGENT in the children’s market, 5+ yrs exp., interested in development position in children’s TV with studio or production co. Please contact [email protected] (12/21)

SITUATION WANTED: I’M ALL YOURS N.Y. Seeking to Assist, Currently an E.A. to Chief of Dept. 5 Yrs. work exp. B.A. Mass Comm. Contact, [email protected] (12/21)

E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 203.381.9096 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

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