Cynopsis: DIGITAL
06/05/12

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, June 5, 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.

During its keynote at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft unveiled SmartGlass, a new multiscreen app that will allow users to share videos and media from their mobile devices to the Xbox 360, and vice versa. The platform will be compatible with the 360 as well as Windows and Windows Phone, and will support iOS and Android devices. Aside from being able to send content from one device to another, SmartGlass will also allow users to turn their smartphones and tablets into companion devices, through which they can access additional content and information about the program they’re watching on the Xbox 360. Even more, users will be able to browse the web using Internet Explorer on the Xbox and their mobile device as a keyboard. It’s being called a competitor to Apple’s AirPlay, and will be available this fall. Other than that, Microsoft also announced that it has inked more distribution deals to bring content to the console, including from ESPN (WatchESPN), NBA (NBA.com League Pass), NHL (GameCenter Live), and Univision (UVideos), and Viacom.

The Sundance Channel will be sponsoring the upcoming Vimeo Festival + Awards, which take place from June 7 to June 9. As part of its sponsorship, Sundance Channel will have the rights to air the Festival’s finalists’ and winners’ content on the channel; this marks the first time that Vimeo has partnered with a linear channel for the event. Sundance Channel will also receive branding across all of Vimeo’s digital platforms.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) has officially launched Everyday Food with Sarah Carey, a daily video newsletter that features Everyday Food’s Editor-in-Chief cooking and sharing a new recipe, reports Adweek. The videos will also be posted on the Everyday Food Blog on MarthaStewart.com. Prior to this, Adweek says Everyday Food had been sending short videos to some subscribers every weekday for the past few months.

The Yahoo and Facebook patent battle that has been brewing over the last several months may be coming to an end, according to a report from AllThingsD. Sources tell the website that the two companies are in “advanced negotiations” to settle their dispute, and that a deal may be finalized in the coming weeks. While the report indicates that Facebook is unlikely to pay Yahoo a large sum to end the dispute, the deal may “include a massive cross-licensing of patents” between the two companies as well as more integration between the two web properties.

ATEME, a provider of video compression technology, has unveiled EAVC4. It’s a video encoding technology that aims to give broadcasters, broadband providers, and content creators the ability to tailor video content for specific screen sizes and available bandwidths, all toward ensuring an optimal end-user viewing experience. ATEME says EAVC4’s new video encoding architecture provides users with the capability to either encode faster at the current video quality level or to increase video quality while maintaining the current encoding speed. The product also uses a technique called “Multi-Screen by Design” to process video for multiple outputs. EAVC4 will be available in the coming weeks within ATEME’s TITAN family of transcoders.

Another patent fracas: Cisco Systems is suing TiVo to void four of its patents related to DVRs, according to a report from Reuters. In the suite, Cisco is alleging that TiVo refuses to broadly license out its DVR technology because doing so would make it difficult for TiVo to file and then settle lawsuits over those patents. Cisco wants to either have those patents voided or for the court to rule that its own DVR technology does not infringe upon them.

Salesforce.com has confirmed its purchase of Buddy Media, or rather that it has “entered into a definitive agreement” to acquire the social media marketing platform, for approximately $689 million in cash and equity. (An AllThingsD report notes that Salesforce’s SEC filing offers a different purchase price: $745 million.) The transaction is expected to close during Salesforce’s fiscal third quarter, which ends on October 31 of this year.

Another rumored acquisition made official: Google has bought Meebo. The terms were not disclosed in Meebo’s blog post announcing, but multiple reports indicate that the price was roughly $100 million. Meebo is the maker of a popular instant messaging service for consumers, as well as a provider of an ad platform and user engagement services for advertisers and publishers.

---

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

---

 

---

 

When it comes to online shopping, retailers still have a significant opportunity to raise customer satisfaction and their position versus competitors by improving the process of returning and exchanging items, according to comScore‘s new Online Shopping Customer Experience Study. This is even though comScore says that customer satisfaction with the overall experience of online shopping stands at 86%. According to the report, 63% of online shoppers look at a retailer’s return policy before making a purchase, and nearly half said they would shop more often and even recommend a retailer with a lenient returns policy. “Hassle-free returns and exchanges” rank high in terms of importance for shoppers, but low in terms of current customer satisfaction, says comScore.

Fandango says this past May was its best May ever in terms of both ticket sales and traffic. The company is reporting a 47% year-over-year surge in ticket sales, and a 29% year-over-year increase in monthly visitors (totaled 34 million in May 2012). In addition, 28% of all tickets sold on Fandango in May were through its mobile apps, which Fandango says is its top monthly mobile percentage. The company attributes the boost to its expanded exhibitor reach (via recent deals with AMC Theatres and Regency Theatres, among other chains), recent partnerships with Yahoo and AOL’s Moviefone, as well as the record-breaking numbers generated by Marvel’s The Avengers.

The success of HISTORY’s Hatfields & McCoys in drawing TV viewership seems to have extended to the channel’s online platform as well. The company says that last week was History.com‘s highest trafficked week ever as it brought in 3 million unique visitors, 3.9 million total visits, and generated 19.5 million page views for the seven-day period ending on June 3.

Among the slate of new mobile games unveiled by 2K Play at E3 2012 is Comedy Central’s Indecision Game. The game will allow users to test their knowledge about politics and all that is involved in the 2012 election season. It is scheduled to available at the beginning of this summer on mobile devices (presumably at least iOS and Android).

Teen Wolf – The Hunt is a new Facebook game from MTV that features storylines influenced by the show along with original content of its own, according to Adweek. The game, which will run for eight weeks alongside the second season of the show, allows users to create a character, interact with characters from the series, and complete a series of challenges tied to an original plot line. Teen Wolf’s creator, Jeff Davis, had a hand in developing the original videos produced specifically for the game.

The MSNBC Digital Network has promoted David DeRobbio to GM/National Sales. He will work closely with Laura Hagen, GM/Brand Solutions, to develop multiplatform solutions for clients across the company’s network of brands, including MSNBC.com, TODAY, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC Cable, Breaking News, Newsvine, and EveryBlock. Based in NYC, DeRobbio will manage a team of sales executives around the country and continue to work with the sales teams from both NBC News and Microsoft. The MSNBC Digital Network also announced that Paul Major is joining the company as GM/Advertising Product Strategy. He will focus on advertising innovation and accountability as he runs the advertising product and monetization strategy group. Major will be based in Redmond.

Real-time video ad platform provider LiveRail has named Brian Kane, formerly an executive at Google/Admeld, as its new Chief Operating Officer. At his new position, Kane will oversee global company operations, including Account Management, Technical Services, and Human Resources, and will also head up talent acquisition. He will be based in the company’s New York office.

CafeMom has hired Ericka Souter to be an Editor for The Stir. The media company operates a network of properties focusing on moms that includes CafeMom.com, MamasLatinas.com, CafeMom Studios, and the CafeMom Plus Network. Most recently, Souter was a Staff Writer for Us Weekly.

---

 

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and O, The Oprah Magazine have launched Oprah’s Book Club 2.0, a digital extension of the popular reading club from the billionaire. The club’s first selection is Wild, a bestselling memoir by Cheryl Strayed. Special digital editions of the book, featuring exclusive content such as a reader’s guide and Winfrey’s notes on her favorite passages, are available for download on Amazon Kindle, Nook by B&N, the iBookstores, and other eBook platforms. The read is kicking off with an interview between Winfrey and Strayed in the July issue of the magazine (on sale June 8), and will culminate with a simulcast of the interview on Sunday, July 22, at 11am ET on OWN’s Super Soul Sunday program, as well as on Oprah.com and OWN’s Facebook page. The Book Club also places an emphasis on fostering online conversations through the website and on mobile and social media channels. To that end, a number of digital components will accompany the read, including:

• A series of weekly webisodes featuring Winfrey and Strayed as readers go through the book in the months of June and July.
• Readers will get the chance to answer weekly questions on Oprah.com, Facebook, and Twitter (using #oprahsbookclub). They will also get the chance to submit questions about the memoir, which Winfrey and Strayed will attempt to answer via video responses each week.
• Oprah.com will use Storify to highlight reader tweets, Instagram photos, and Facebook posts, about the book.
• An interactive global map on Oprah.com to locate other Book Club participants (available beginning on June 28).
• Using the GroupMe mobile app, readers will be able to create smaller book clubs with their friends to discuss selections.

Later – Sahil
Sahil Patel, Associate Editor for Cynopsis Digital
06.05.12

Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Mike Farina – VP/Sales and Marketing – 203-218-6480 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 888-702-3858 / [email protected]

To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here.
To unsubscribe from this edition, click here.

---

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

---

JOB OPENING: FREELANCE SALES MKTG MGR/EPICURIOUS/NY: Develop/execute digital mktg solutions. Work w sales to develop media plans + sales materials. Manage RFPs + event exts. Min 5 yrs digital mktg exp. Apply: [email protected] (6/12)

JOB OPENING: DIR, CREATIVE DVLPMNT/TIME WARNER GLOBAL MEDIA GROUP/NYC: 5+ yrs creative dev/writing/packaging for multi-platform. Agency/media exp a +. Dig a MUST. Apply: www.timewarner.com/careers & refer to requisition # 129369 (6/12)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER/Ad Sales MKTG/HGTV/NY: Create custom sponsorship proposals, budget management, manage sweepstakes and sponsorship fulfillment.Full details, http://www.scrippsnetworks.com & select req 3073 (6/9)

JOB OPENING: KEY PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT/NYC: Daily, synd talk show seeking experienced Key Accountant. Must know Global Vista. Non-union position. Must work as a NYC local. Starts 6/18. Resume to: [email protected] (6/9)

JOB OPENING: IN-HOUSE COUNSEL/VP, LEGAL & BUS AFFAIRS/LA: Attorney for TV prod co to manage agreements, releases, employment, negotiations. JD + 5 yrs TV/film legal experience req’d. Apply: [email protected] (6/9)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL AD SLS RSCH STRATEGIST/DISCOVERY/OWN: Sprt Sr Dir w/digital ad sls rsch, cross platform & social anlys; BA Comm, Econ, Media pref; 4yr exp in data/media relatd field pref; http://careers.discovery.com/ #5737 (6/9)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR/PROG & PROMO SCHEDULING/Crown Media/Studio City: Key program & on-air promo support to the program and acquisitions team. More info & apply: http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/jobs (6/9)

JOB OPENING: MGR CONSUMER MKTG/SYFY, NBCUNIVERSAL/NYC: Manage Syfy’s Off-Air, Brand, and Consumer Marketing efforts. Must have 3 yrs marketing exp in TV or entertainment. Media planning exp req. Apply: nbcunicareers.com (5747BR) (6/9)

JOB OPENING: MEDIA ASSIST/Beacon Media Grp/Mahwah NJ: Leading kid media buyg/plng agcy looking for media plng assist, inputer, & day-to-day maint of kid buys. EXCEL WIZ A MUST. Great bnfits. Send resumes to: [email protected] (6/9)

JOB OPENING: DIG. VIDEO LICENSING EXEC/AMAZON.COM/SEATTLE OR LA: Video Content Acquisition Amazon Instant Video. Highly exp’d, you will negotiate content deals & mng relationships with studios and cable nets, [email protected] (6/9)

JOB OPENING: KEY PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT/NYC: Daily, synd talk show seeking experienced Key Accountant. Must know Global Vista. Non-union position. Must work as a NYC local. Starts 6/18. Resume to: [email protected] (6/9)

JOB OPENING: MEDIA ANLYST/MSG Ntwk/NY: Support Media & Spnsrship w/reprting & data anlysis Ntk ratings & varius primry/secndry reserch resorces (Scarborgh) Excl Skills Requ Nielsn systm exper pref Agncy exper welcm http://bit.ly/L4hDn6 (6/8)

JOB OPENING: DIR, PR/WEtv/NYC: Create publicity campaigns for WE tv series, specials, digital/social media content. Work w/prgrm’ng, marketing, digital, agents, talent etc. 8+ yrs exp. Submit res: http://tinyurl.com/6uqmcnv (6/8)

JOB OPENING: NEWS BOOKER/Los Angeles: Seeking deal-closer with competitive booking experience, familiarity with law enforcement and judicial system, and strong research skills. Apply: [email protected] (6/8)

JOB OPENING: DIR, CONSUMER MKTG/NatGeoChannels/DC: Drive viewership & build awareness for the U.S. based channels & support cross co. initiatives incl. Affil/Ad Sales activities. BA/BS req. 7+ yrs ent/media exp. [email protected] FNG0001110 (6/8)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/DISNEY/BURBANK: Sell advertising/sponsorships to Advertising Agencies on West Coast. 2 yrs exp required. Kids National Media exp pref. Please visit www.disneycareers.com REQ 44992 for more info. EEO (6/8)

JOB OPENING: IMA/SR DATA PLANNER/SFV: 4+ yrs TV Planning DR; Manage response data; provide analysis on media, performance, ROI; Knowledge of STRATA/Core/IMS/Excel/AdViews/Access & SQL Resume: [email protected] (6/8)

JOB OPENING: RSCH ANALYST/NCM MEDIA NETWORKS/NYC: Prepare sales materials using syndicated & primary rsrch based around ad effectiveness & audience positioning; 1 yr media/agency exp. a + Apply: www.ncm.com (6/8)

JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC CLIENT ACTIVATION/bottlerocket mktg group/NY: Manage events/activations; Pitch/neg. partnerships; dvlp/execute promotions; full campaign delivery. 5+ yrs exp req’d Res: [email protected] (6/8)

JOB OPENING: EDITORS (2 Types) NYC: Exp with True Crime or similar genre. Also Reality TV specializing in Intervention. Familiar with AVID, AVID FX, Boris FX. Cover/resume to: [email protected] (6/8)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCER/NYC: Experience in Reality television specializing in Intervention Reality, extensive experience in field and/or post.Cover/resume to: [email protected] (6/8)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL AE/Sony Pictures TV/NY: Strong dig. sales bckgrnd a must. Interest in entertainment, gaming, emerg. tech. Able to sell mult properties, incl: Crackle, PS Network, FEARnet & DrOz. Apply: www.sonypicscareers.com (6/7)

JOB OPENING: MGR-INTEGRATED AD SLS MKTG/DISCOVERY/NY: Resp for dvpmnt/execution of Advrtsr sponsorships, opps/integrations on Velocity; 5+ yrs relevant exp; auto/sports sponsorship a +. https://careers-discovery.icims.com/jobs/5847/job (6/7)

JOB OPENING: SR. MGR AD SLS MTKG/Discovery/NYC: Collaborate cross departments to create custom integrations & advance OWN brand/sales strategy/ on air exp. is a must. Apply: https://careers-discovery.icims.com/jobs/5459/job (6/7)

JOB OPENING: IN-HOUSE COUNSEL/VP, LGL & BUS AFFAIRS/GURNEY PROD/LA: Attorney for TV prod co to manage agreements, releases, emplymnt, negotiations. JD, 5 yrs TV/film lgl experience req’d. Apply: [email protected] (6/6)

JOB OPENING: ASSISTANT, DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTION/SABAN BRANDS/CENTURY CITY/LA: 1-3 yrs TV Animation, Family/Kids or Live Action administrative experience to support SVP. Apply: [email protected] (6/6)

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].

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: SUPERFINE WRITER: Digital, video, print, integrated, segregated. Broadcast, innovation, beauty, foodie, wellness. Super-speedy, reasonable rates. I hear brand voices. [email protected] (6/12)

SITUATION WANTED: Location NYC, Westchester Cty., Fairfield Cty. Experienced sales, biz development pro seeking position in educational/home media/advertising sales. Solid resume and excellent references. Email: [email protected] (6/7)

SITUATION WANTED: VOD PROGRAMMER/SCHEDULER/NYC: Exp with the scheduling/programming/quality control/delivery/pitch process of media content for major cable network. Interest in Broadcast & Commercial Operations. Contact: [email protected] (6/6)

SITUATION WANTED: Exp’d new biz dev pro available for media sales/sales mgmt. Radio, TV, cable, print, Digital and OOH. Work remotely w/access to major airports; road warrior. F/T employment pref’d. Salary + comm. Email: [email protected] (6/6)

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.

Cynopsis Media, a division of Access Intelligence
65 Lantern Road
Stratford, CT 06614
Ph: 888.702.3858
Fx: 203.386.8855

Copyright Cynopsis 2012

All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free. Copyright Cynopsis 2012

To unsubscribe from just this Cynopsis Digital email, please click here.