A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM IFC + SUNDANCE
We customize your brand message and think outside the pod with creative,
“DVR proof” branded entertainment solutions
Our viewers say the advertising/sponsorships on IFC & Sundance Channel are done in a more
creative way than our competitive set(s)*
*See the research for yourself, learn more about Indienomics & WIN cool prizes
to make you Independently Wealthy at INDIENOMICS.com
Source: OTX Research Custom Study December 2008. N=2800
Cynopsis: DIGITAL
03/24/09
Good morning, it’s Tuesday, March 24, 2009, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced on Monday that he was pulling an amendment to the nation’s copyright law that had drawn the ire of free speech advocates from around the globe. Originally scheduled to go into effect later this week, the law would have implemented a “three strikes” policy that required ISPs to disconnect users after three notices of copyright infringement. Critics complained that the measure failed to clearly define an “infringer” and placed the impetus on the user to defend themselves rather than placing the burden of proof on the Internet Service Provider. The New Zealand government plans to re-examine the issue and re-introduce legislation later this year.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM THE CABLE SHOW ’09
The Cable Show ’09 features a rich slate of nearly 40 panel discussions that will illuminate emerging cable industry opportunities, including; ” Advertising 360 The Viewer Gets into the Picture” and ” Air Play: Cable’s Wide-Open Wireless Future“. Plus, you’ll hear from advanced advertising experts, leading video programmers, technology visionaries and more.
The Cable Show 09: Apr. 1-3, Washington, DC
In a push to market the league to younger viewers Cartoon Network announced a partnership with the NBA to develop long and short-form basketball-themed content across a variety of platforms, including online, mobile, VOD and on-air. The first of these, due out this fall, is “My Dad’s a Pro” exploring the lifestyles of children of NBA players. Turner’s NBA Digital group also plans to launch a robust basketball section on CartoonNetwork.com later this year.
Disney’s kids virtual world Club Penguin has opened its igloo doors to the francophone community with a new French language version of the site chock full of unique cultural references. The virtual world is also available in Portuguese, with a Spanish version planned for this summer.
CBSSports.com‘s March Madness traffic numbers continued to climb over the weekend as an aggregate 5.6 million unique visitors consumed a total of 6.5 million hours of video throughout the first four days of the tournament – y/y increases of 65% and 71% respectively.
AT&T’s U-verse IPTV service is expanding its ethnic programming line-up adding international channels to serve Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese and Korean viewers in the U.S. New offerings include Mandarin-language based ET News and ET Global; Hindi-based STAR India PLUS, added to the South Asian package for no extra charge; Korean drama and variety channel MBC America; and the Vietnamese-dubbed TVBV drama channel.
MTV Network’s Atom.com premiered Nick’s Big Show, a weekly six-episode mockumentary directed by Luke and Jeremy Jackson (Highway 61). It stars up-and-coming comedian Nick Thune. (He’s must doing O.K. because he’s got a full time assistant, played by the plucky Kate Micucci.)
iPhone game publisher ngmoco closed on a $10 million round of series B financing led by Norwest Venture Partners with previous investors including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Maples Investments also participating. ngmoco plans to utilize the funding to expand its pipeline of premium games and accelerate the development of its publishing and social gaming platform for iPhone and iPod touch connected gaming.
Pop culture blogging network Buzznet (Idolator, Stereogum) has changed its name to Buzz Media and raised $12.5 million in a financing round led by Focus Ventures that also included Anthem Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Redpoint Ventures and Sutter Hill Ventures.
Cross platform media software provider boxee is hosting a free meetup tonight to introduce the latest version of boxee alpha. The fun starts at 6:30 pm at Webster Hall in New York and judging from the Eventbrite posting it’s going to be packed.
~ DIGITAL ADVERTISING ~
Horizon Media and The Martin Agency have devised a groundbreaking new viral video campaign for Geico that riffs off of some of YouTube’s most cherished hits. The videos, which either incorporate the original creative or recruit the talent behind it such as Gary “Numa Numa” Brosima, are being distributed from today on YouTube, Metacafe, Break, Dailymotion and Slide as a way to organically reach the web video demographic though their medium of choice. The main distribution partners will promote and track the videos as they roll out throughout the month of April. “This is the first time the company has allowed its talent (in this case “Gecko” and “Cash”) to be featured without a distinct call to action,” said Taylor Valentine Director of Strategic Services for Horizon Media.
Ten brand marketers including PepsiCo’s Doritos, Visa and Hewlett-Packard are teaming up with short film festival MoFilm to sponsor a user-generated ad competition, the gems of which will be showcased at the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival in the South of France the week of June 21. Spike Lee has agreed to serve on the jury as well as host the event.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES
partner to bring you the:
On behalf of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, we’re conducting a study to
learn about Academy Members’ & Non-Members’ views on programs they offer. Your
feedback will help enhance the services they provide the television community.
We appreciate your taking this short survey. Click Here .
To learn more about Television Academy Programs, go to: www.emmys.tv .
~ TECHNOLOGY DEALS, MERGERS AND SKIRMISHES ~
Video-on-demand vendor Concurrent unveiled an ambitious plan to utilize its MediaHawk VOD platform to deliver, monetize and track video across multiple screens including TV, mobile and the internet. Concurrent is proposing a standards-based network solution that will deliver a broad range of applications – including network DVR, UGC, social networking and interactive video conferencing – and enable operators to ingest once and distribute interactive content across multiple platforms and devices.
iTV lab itaas and EBIF platform provider BIAP announced a new program designed to encourage developers to write interactive applications for the Cisco set-top powered cable platform. Developers who join the istart BIAP EBIF program will gain access to development tools, documentation, software upgrades and support. Itaas also unveiled a slate of new tru2way and EBIF applications it will demonstrate at the Cable Show including social networking, request for information (RFI) appls, click-to-subscribe content, Yellow Pages on TV, internet photos on TV and conference call control on TV.
Zodiac Interactive announced an agreement with set-top maker Advanced Digital Broadcast to integrate Zodiac’s tru2way-based interactive TV applications framework with ADB’s product line. Both companies will demonstrate Zodiac’s PowerUP for Tru2way solution at the Cable Show next month, a common platform of open APIs and libraries that allow for a broad range of applications including targeted ads, guides and widgets to be deployed across multiple devices.
NDS will power a new suite of interactive applications on Cox Communications‘ tru2way-compliant platform coming out this summer including a brand new user interface and a range of integrated apps including integrated telephony services, email, news, sports, weather, games, movie listings, Mosaic video channels, widgets, horoscopes and lottery results.
Popular media and BitTorrent client Vuze released a new media streaming/downloading update allowing users to convert and play HD video on a variety of devices including the iPhone, iPod, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Drag-and-drop videos from your Vuze Library to the device of your choice from the Sidebar section then use iTunes or the PS3 or Xbox 360 interface to access the titles. The software automatically converts the video the proper format.
Showtime is demoing the iTV Marketing App it has been using to market its Pay TV service to Dish Network subscribers at the Cable Show next month. Utilizing a platform-agnostic series of updatable templates, the application allows users to sample Showtime programming then sign up for the service directly from the remote. (With call-in customers costing operators and an average of $8 per call, this one should be a no-brainer.) Showtime estimates it has added 100,000 subs from Dish since deploying the app two years ago.
Yahoo named former NetApp marketer Elisa Steele to the newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for global marketing strategy and functions including brand marketing, audience marketing, corporate communications, insights, policy and privacy, community affairs. She reports to Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz.
NBC Universal’s TV Networks Distribution division announced a Field Sales reorganization expanding the responsibilities of Bridget Farley, VP/West-Midwest; Heather McCallion, VP/East; and Bruce Levinson, VP/Southwest. All three Vice Presidents will continue to report to Mary Murano, EVP/TV Networks Distribution. In addition, Corinne Harradine, a Director in the West region, will relocate from NBC Universal’s office in Burbank, Calif. to Atlanta, Ga.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES
Thursday, April 30, 2009 “It’s exceptionally meaningful that we won this award — television with a conscience.”
— Christiane Amanpour, accepting for God’s Warriors, 2008 Television Academy Honors
Television has the power to enlighten, create awareness and encourage positive change.
CELEBRATE THIS YEAR’S HONOREES;
CELEBRATE TELEVISION WITH A CONSCIENCE
For more information or to buy tickets, click here .
~ WEBSITE OF THE DAY ~
Movie fanatics have long been mystified over why so few of a studio’s library titles are available on DVD. The slowing DVD sell-through market has made things even worse, relegating many planned DVD releases to the back burner. The chief reason for this is, of course, that the costs associated with pressing and marketing niche releases make the return on investment negligible. But the truth is that money is being left on the table. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is turning to the web to market a new service dubbed the Warner Archive Collection, offering a selection of 150 out-of-print titles it will sell as $15 digital downloads or strike DVD prints of on demand for $19.95 each. (Amazon offers a similar service it calls CreateSpace based on its acquisition of CustomFlix in 2005, enabling indie filmmakers to distribute their movies to niche audiences.) Warner Bros. plans to add 20 or so film and TV titles to the archive each month to bring to the total to 300 by year-end. The site’s user interface is very basic – navigation can only be achieved by decade or generic genre and the pop-up purchase windows are annoyingly large. Nevertheless the site is an important first step in getting some long-neglected masterpieces (including 5 new Greta Garbo vehicles) out in the marketplace. The key to making it successful will be to put the viral marketing magic of the web to work, promoting the titles anywhere and everywhere film lovers linger.
Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
03.24.09
Cynopsis Digital Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom – 646-468-6180 / [email protected]
Mark Bohn- 203-583-1224 / mark@cynopsis. com
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]
To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here .
To unsubscribe , click here or click the button at the end of this email.
Cyn opsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here .
JOB OPENING: DVLPMT EXEC: Creative/aggressive for PT rsrch & dvlpmnt. Exp’d in shaping raw ideas into breakout formats. Knwldgbl of cable TV programming with experience in creating shows. Resumes: [email protected] (3/31)
JOB OPENING: VP/SVP CONSUMER/NY: Beauty/Entertainment PR account. Manage large consumer packaged goods biz. Prior exp managing large $1mil+ accounts. Relationships in ent/beauty world a must. Apply: [email protected] (3/28)
JOB OPENING: SR. DIR, CLIENT DEVELOPMENT/NY/Ent-Media research co: Develop new/expand existing biz for research prod/custom services. Min 3 yrs market research sales exp. http://www.epollresearch.com/corp/aboutus/careers.view (2/27)
JOB OPENING: BET/NY/ ADSALES-EXEC ASST: 5+yrs. exp. Must be det. oriented & have ability to multi-task in fast paced environment. Proficient in MS Word/Excel/PP. Exc oral/written skills. Email: [email protected] (3/25)
JOB OPENING: FREELANCE PROMOTION COORDINATOR, INT’L MKT SVCS /AETN, NY: Coordinating promo materials. Strong communication, flexibility & org skills. Basic editing(Final Cut Pro). Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (3/25)
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: MKTG/ON-AIR : Fox Reality Channel-LA – summer intern for mktg & on-air production. 30-40 hrs/wk. Majors: Mktg, Adv, PR/Comm, TV/Film. Skills: Writing & computer; On-Air Pro/Avid a plus. [email protected] (3/27)
SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Multiplatform media company seeks organized and energetic intern for fast-paced, lifestyle entertainment company, email [email protected] with Intern in subject line. (3/27)
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: PROJ/OPS MGR: NYC Seeking the opp to work in on-air promos again, but open to other opps as well. Sev yrs cable on-air promo/new media & adops exp. Mang day-to-day ops of projs & campgs. [email protected] (3/31)
SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIRECTOR Save money over a full time director. Let’s talk.20+ yrs Media, Nielsen, Hispanic, & Sales experience. Email: [email protected] (3/31)
SITUATION WANTED: INTERACTIVE MEDIA SPECIALIST: LA. Newly available w/18 yrs of media experience & MBA. Need high-performance campaigns integrating online & non-traditional media? Avail F/P or freelance. [email protected] (3/31)
SITUATION WANTED: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE (NY) TV Ad Sales prof. seeks full-time media sales job. 5 years experience w/ stations (ABC, CBS, NBC) in top markets. Would like to stay in media, but open to opps. Email [email protected] for resume (3/28)
SITUATION WANTED: REALITY EDITOR in L.A. Credits: MTV, VH1, A&E, E!, Oxygen, Style. Avid & FC. Contact email: [email protected] (3/27)
SITUATION WANTED: CREATIVE PRODUCER/NY looking for immed opp-22 yrs exp in series prod for Nick, Animal Planet, Discovery. Proven pro, innovator, skilled, hardworking. Develop, write, produce content for all media [email protected] (3/27)
SITUATION WANTED: Recent graduate educated & experienced in audio, video, & television production. Very passionate and hard working; looking to get my foot in the door. Contact: Griffin Campbell 9082682078/[email protected] (3/27)
SITUATION WANTED: MKTG /ON-AIR: Fox Reality Channel-LA – summer intern for mktg & on-air production. 30-40 hrs/wk. Majors: Mktg, Adv, PR/Comm, TV/Film. Skills: Writing & computer; On-Air Pro/Avid a plus. [email protected] (3/26)
SITUATION WANTED: STORY DOCTOR: Is your Post Beast screaming to be fed? Or is it clogged with scripts that can’t be cut? 20+ years crafting nonfic series, specials, sizzles and web content. Contact: [email protected] (LA) (3/26)
E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 203.926.9878 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 LLC
One Corporate Drive, Suite 724
Shelton, CT 06484
203.926.9878
All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free. Copyright Cynopsis 2009
