Cynopsis: DIGITAL

 

02/23/10

Good morning, it’s Tuesday, February 23, 2010, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.

Two years after an attempt with Hewlett-Packard to launch an online web outlet for TV show and movie downloads, Wal-Mart announced it has acquired struggling digital video service Vudu. Santa Clara, CA-based Vudu has movie licensing deals with nearly every major studio and has recently reinvented itself as an app platform for broadband-connected televisions. (Wal-Mart hopes its considerable clout with electronics manufacturers could hasten the adoption of the Vudu Apps platform.) Yet since its launch in 2006, Vudu has struggled to gain much of a following – mostly because its model depended on users buying yet another expensive set-top box. Efforts to integrate with connected Blu-ray players last year have also seemed to attract little attention.

 
With the Hispanic internet audience growing more than 3 times faster than the overall U.S. internet audience, it’s probably about time they’re able to watch telenovelas on digital platforms. Leading U.S. Spanish-language broadcaster Univision announced it is creating a video web and mobile site for the popular telenovela genre due to launch in the spring, featuring shows from leading content providers including Azteca America, RCN Televisión and Dori Media Group. The new service, dubbed “Novela y Series,” will offer full ad supported episodes of telenovelas and will also include novela news, celebrity gossip, behind-the-scenes footage and message boards on a dedicated section co-branded with Dori Media Group. The move was partly inspired by the success of “Vidas Cruzadas” (“Crossed Lives”), an exclusive webnovela that has generated more than 2.5 million streams to date.
 
Despite incessant bickering from online users who want to watch the Olympics live, NBC‘s strategy of replacing live online streaming with taped-delay prime time on air coverage seems to paying off in higher ratings and increased ad revenue, according to Nielsen. NBC is attracting an average of 26.3 million prime-time viewers through Sat. and has a chance to exceed its forecast of $700 million in ad revenue for the games, according to the WSJ. The network reportedly spent $820 million to acquire the TV Rights to the Vancouver games.
 
For fans who want to enhance their weekly Lost viewing experience, ABC.com is recruiting professionals to add a commentary track to online streams of the show. Series propmaster Rob Kyker, actor Daniel Roebuck (Dr. Leslie Arzt) provide notes on previous episodes while DocArtz blogger Jon Lachonis provides commentary for last week’s episode. Lost has received a ratings bump in its final season especially when factoring in DVR playback; the season 6 opener picked up an additional 2.2 million viewers including 1.1 18-49 ratings points (5.6 to 6.7), according to Nielsen’s Live + 7 measurement.
 

 
Microblogging phenomenon Twitter confirmed that it is now processing over 50 million Tweets a day, supposedly not including spam accounts. The company did not discuss how many unique users it reaches but the latest ComScore figures estimate nearly 75 million worldwide uniques.
 
Revision3 is bringing back its HD stand-up comedy show ROFL (As in Rolling On the Floor Laughing) developed with partner Rooftop Media, this time with a new host. Bearded, bespectacled SF-based funnyman Alex Koll, who has also created videos for IFC.com and SuperDeluxe, will take the reigns of the weekly show.
 

 
Roughly two years after acquiring the leading online ad platform, Google unveiled updates to the DoubleClick ad exchange on Monday. The rebranded DoubleClick for Publishers features a brand new interface with more detailed analytics and forecasting, more advanced algorithms to improve ad performance and a new open API to enable publishers to integrate their own apps. Larger publishers will be housed in the new DoubleClick for Publishers, while smaller ones can use a stripped down free DFP Small Business version. Look for the updates to roll out over the next year.
 
The IAB and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) has released a new update to the Terms and Conditions governing the interactive advertising industry, the first update to the voluntary standard advertising contract since it was established in 2002. Designed to encompass new advertising platforms and tools currently in use including performance-based advertising and user-generated content platforms, it covers areas such as data usage, billing and payment terms and third-party ad serving tracking, and billing.
 
The IAB also released Networks & Exchanges Quality Assurance Guidelines for public comment, outlining details regarding the sources and types of inventory offered, as well as the context and content surrounding network and exchange-based advertising.
 
Video ad management platform Auditude has partnered with Comcast Interactive Media to manage and serve video ads in support of the MSO’s TV Everywhere initiatives. Auditude will handle video ads on Fancast, Fancast XFINITY TV and Comcast.net.
 
Ad supported content syndication platform Mochila has struck a deal with ad technology company NetSeer to improve accuracy and performance of its service. Mochila has licensed NetSeer’s concept-driven search technology to help serve content-based ad units tailored to users’ needs rather than more generic keywords.
 

 
Rainbow Media announced today that Zenith Media will become the first agency to utilize Cablevision‘s suite of advanced and interactive TV advertising applications on its New York area cable systems as part of AMC’s and WE tv’s 2009 upfront network buys. As part the agreement, Rainbow Media and Zenith will collaborate on a Q2 launch of a dedicated interactive VOD channel for Pillsbury.
 
Burbank, CA-based Deluxe Entertainment Services Group has acquired the assets of metro-Chicago based digital video services firm MediaRecall Holdings. MediaRecall offers digital video workflow process and related technologies around digitizing, clip selecting, meta-logging, and transcribing enterprise-scale video archives.
 

 
comScore unveiled a new “Audience Advantage” digital audience optimization platform that utilizes predictive algorithms to determine which users should be targeted to receive a particular ad. The system measures descriptive consumer variables including demographics, search activity, video views, site visitation and online and offline transactional behavior. ComScore says early tests of the platform resulted in reaching the desired audience segment 3-5 times more often.
 
This shouldn’t come as a shock: college students over-index in the use of online and mobile platforms to communicate with each other and view media, according to a new study from Mindshare. Some 92% reported watching at least one full TV program on the computer during the past year. To accomplish the viewing, 83% linked through a website associated with the program (e.g. nbc.com); 63% watched on aggregation sites such as Hulu while 54% utilized YouTube or similar UGC sites. 

 
4Kids Entertainment has been named worldwide Merchandising & Licensing Agent and Brand Manager for Israel-based Castle Builders – creator of the Computerized Storybook, a multimedia software app that narrates popular children’s stories aloud while incorporating rich multimedia and animation.
 

 
New York-based digital music distributor The Orchard announced that Brad Navin has been appointed permanent CEO and a Director of the company. Brad had been filling in as interim CEO after Greg Scholl left the post last Oct.
 
Indianapolis, IN-based ChaCha has hired Steven Goldstein to the newly-created position of Chief Revenue Officer. He will work from ChaCha’s New York sales office, overseeing all revenue related activities including national brands, ad networks, local and regional sales and business development.  
 
Forbes Digital has announced a quartet of promotions as part of a management reorg:

• Jonathan Meyers has been promoted to VP/Business Development and Advertising Operations, and will continue to report to Michael Smith, President of Forbes.com
• Michael Dugan has been upped to VP/Information Technology, reporting to Dr. James Lin, Chief Information Officer
• Tiffany Luck has been promoted to Director of Data and Analytics, a newly formed department, reporting to Michael Smith
• Sharon Gitelle has been named Director of Audience Development and Social Media, also reporting to Smith

 
Former Embassy Row sales executive Madelene Hansson takes over as International Business and Sales Director at Stockholm-based Metronome Film & Television. She will be charged with coordinating the group’s sales of self-developed formats to channels in the Nordic region.
 
Transit advertising company Titan has upped Scott Goldsmith to the role of President, Transit.
 

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As the online poker industry continues to lobby Congress for the right to double down on U.S. users, a S.F.-based casual gaming start-up named Hooked Media Group is launching a new pay-to-play gaming platform on Friday that carefully skirts the legal ban on online chance gaming. Hooked Media’s Yoo-Mee platform is partnering with existing game portals and developers to add social and gambling components to popular titles. You-Mee will organize competitive tournaments around games on sites such as women’s health/lifestyle site Lifescript and Merriam- Webster.com or around popular Facebook or iPhone games that cost anywhere from 50 cents to $6 each to join. (There’s also a virtual currency.) Facebook’s new PayPal integration makes it a breeze for users to enter. Developers get a share of the revenue generated from entry fees – earning 30-50% depending on who’s distributing the title, along with advanced analytics on who’s playing. The idea is to keep the entry fees small enough to encourage a broad swath of users to join in, says Hooked Media CEO Prita Uppal. Such a platform could go a long way in helping to monetize social gaming, as long as the government doesn’t see it as peddling games of chance. (The law states that only games of skill can involve monetary pay outs.) “We’ve spent a lot of time with the leading law firm on this issue, said Ms. Uppal. “It’s definitely an area we want to stay on the up and up with.”

Check www.cynopsis.com for the current primetime broadcast schedule, as well as Sports, International and more general industry news … and a new discussion board – join the conversation!

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

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Later – Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
[email protected]
02.23.10

Check www.cynopsis.com for the current primetime broadcast schedule, as well as Sports, International and more general industry news … and a new discussion board – join the conversation!

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JOB OPENING: LINE PROD/ Silver Spring: Contract thru agency mng major new series. Sprvs budget, sched, legal req’s, & deliverables. Seeking a career prod mgr, pref exp at DIR/EIC level.  [email protected]    (3/2)

JOB OPENING: PR ASSOCIATE TELENEXT MEDIA, Inc/NY:- PR and promotion of several entertainment properties, including a television show & websites. 3-5 yrs exp. necessary. Full details: http://telenextmedia.com/#/career-opportunities/ (2/27)

JOB OPENING: ACCT MGR DIRECT RESPONSE-BET NETWORKS:Bachelor Degree, 5+yrs exp. in advertising industry, knowledge of broadcast cable/DR industry, strong mathematical & interpersonal skills. resume: [email protected] (2/27)

JOB OPENING: ACCT MGR/MSA Media/NYC:  Relationship mgmt, consulting, product mgmt, project mgmt, bus development, mktg, third party mgmt – Gabriel/other SW. Min 5 yrs exp. Send resume/Salary to: [email protected] (2/27)

JOB OPENING: SALES ASST/Cablevision Norwalk, CT:   Min1 yrs exp in Ad. Mktg, Sales or Bus related field. Support Ad Sales team. Prof in Word/Excel/Ppt. See full posting and apply to www.cablevision.jobs req 10644BR (2/27)

JOB OPENING: BROADCAST PUBLICITY ADMIN/CBS Communications/NY: Work with CBS Broadcast Publicity staff promoting CBS & CW Programs to Broadcast & Online outlets. Apply to http://www.cbscorporation.com/corp_careers.php Position number 4741 (2/27)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/ABC FAMILY/CA: min 1 yrs exp in TV research, apt at Nielsen, strong written & analytical skills, college degree pref. Apply at: www.disneyabcjobs.com (ID 228606 (2/26)

JOB OPENING: SR OFFLINE MKTG MGR/Vonage/Homdel NJ: Dvlp/implement off-line media plans. Work w/agency & cross functionally w/in mktg from strategy, exec to analysis. Exc knwldg of media req’d.Resume: [email protected] (2/26)

JOB OPENING: DESIGN DIR/(Syfy)/NBCU/NY: Will work under VP Creative to art dir, maint & grow the “look & feel” of Syfy brand, on-air, & also extending onto new media platforms & into adjacent bus. as req’d. www.nbcjobs.com 1147114 (2/26)

JOB OPENING:  DIRECTOR, BUSINESS & LEGAL AFFAIRS at The Hub/LA. Must have TV acquisition and development experience. Apply at:  http://careers.discovery.com/ req # 9490   (2/25)

JOB OPENING: SALES ASSISTANT/Gameshow Network/NYC:  Report to VP Sales and Operations. Data entry in Dealmaker system. Please send resume and CL to [email protected]  (2/25)

JOB OPENING: VP DEV & PRGMNG HISTORY/A&E TV/NY: Direct dvlpmnt & prod process for History prgmng inc series, docs & orig films. 7 yrs dev/prgm exp reality, docs, special or series. 2+ yrs mgng staff. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (2/24)

JOB OPENING:  DIR PR HISTORY/A&E TV/NY:Dev/implement results-driven PR strat & campaigns for both prgrmng & brand.8 yrs exp TV pgrm publicity or media relations.Exc written verbal presentation skills.  Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (2/24)

JOB OPENING:  SENIOR ACCT EXEC/LATV NETWORK/TX-CHI: Sell nat’l ads for Hispanic network and 2 Synd TV shows; 5-10 yrs sales exp req. Fast growth opp in an entrepreneurial environment . Travel req. Info: www.latv.com/jobs (2/24)

JOB OPENING:  DIR OF DVLPMNT/GO GO LUCKEY ENTERTAINMENT/LA: Must be exp’d & highly orgnzd. Creative w/good writing & format skills. Able to take projects from start to pitch ready. Good references a must. Resume: [email protected] (2/24)

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:  GSN The Gameshow Network/Graphic Design Unpaid Internship: Proof of school credit req. Send resume and Cover letter to [email protected] (2/26)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  NYC TV PRODUCTION COMPANY INTERN: Learn show development, story producing and biz dev. Across variety of network/Cable shows for NY based International Prod Co. Apply to [email protected] (2/24)

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: Seeking FT position at advertising agency or TV network (3 yrs exp at children’s ad agency with responsibilities ranging from asst buying, traffic, clearance, & finalizing invoices). Plz email me: [email protected] (3/2)

SITUATION WANTED: Hard working, organized PRODUCTION MANAGER (NY) with Field Producing and Post Supervisor experience seeks challenging new position. Past companies include HBO, MTV, A&E, Thirteen & Nat Geo. [email protected] (3/2)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/WRITER/DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT: NYC based Producer with over 8 years of reality, doc, music programming, and news experience. Domestic and international Field and Post network credits – [email protected] (3/2)

SITUATION WANTED: DIGITAL MEDIA/CABLE/BUSINESS AFFAIRS ATTORNEY Broad in-house exp in content prod & distribution, new media, operations, cable affiliate & ad sales. Avail for project/consultant/FT. Contact [email protected] (2/27)

SITUATION WANTED: DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION (NYC)Highly experienced CD working concept through completion. Portfolio: www.baerdavis.com Email: [email protected] (2/27)

SITUATION WANTED: Creative COPYWRITER. Award-winning, all media, affordable. [email protected]. For FREE samples, visit https://freebeaaron.wordpress.com (2/27)

SITUATION WANTED:  Need a Video or Spot? Need to engage an audience? See my Reel SPOT DIRECTOR Seeking Representation, Freelance or Staff gig. Major Credits, Effectiveness & Awards. [email protected] (2/27)

SITUATION WANTED: DEVELOPMENT PRODUCER/LA: To dive in, develop, and create presentation materials for your unscripted/factually based ideas-from concept to pitch. Email: [email protected] (2/25)

SITUATION WANTED:  MARKETING COORD/NY: 3+ yrs exp at tv companies including MTV & Fuse; organized, creative, sense of humor, great at ppt; strong refs available [email protected]  (2/24)

SITUATION WANTED:  EXEC BIZ DEV/STRATEGY/HEAD OF DIGITAL MEDIA: tired of shoveling snow @ work? 10 yrs TV & Movie exp diligently clearing driveway. Harvard MBA. 2009 40 Under 40. Your next right hand. [email protected] (2/24)

SITUATION WANTED:  PRGRMNG/PROD ASSIST/LA: A creative, multi-tasking quick learner – with a “fire in belly” desire; to continue growing 3yrs experience in Film/TV. LA Native, currently in GA will relocate. [email protected] (2/24)

SITUATION WANTED:  20+ yrs. experience in TV Broadcasting & Cable ACCOUNTING/FINANCE. Seeking FT/PT or Temp-to-Perm position:  [email protected] (2/24)

SITUATION WANTED:  Dedicated & Experienced ADV. SALES PLANNER. Sales proposals, resolving client discrepancies, quarterly post analysis, special sales service projects, expert computer skills. Contact- [email protected] (2/24)

SITUATION WANTED:  MEDIA SALESMAN WITH RECORD SALES TRACK. 8+ years of experience in media sales with strong knowledge of contracts and sharp professional relationship with clients. 646-300-0546 or email [email protected] (2/24)

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

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