A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM FX

Cynopsis: DIGITAL

05/27/08

Good morning, it’s Tuesday, May 27, 2008, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
 
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists may not have made much headway on the issue of new media control and compensation in negotiations with the AMPTP over the weekend. AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon sent a letter out to members warning of “tough challenges” involving new media and pointing to an editorial in the LA Times as a way to remind them that studios are not yet making much off the medium. Studios seek the right to re-use TV and film clips online as they see fit under a flat fee structure without having to consult performers as to their usage. The Screen Actors Guild is scheduled to resume negotiations with the AMPTP tomorrow.
 
Premiering today online:
Foreign Body from Vuguru, a 50-part serialized prequel to the Robin Cook bestseller streaming in 2-minute chapters 5 days a week through Aug. 4
 

 
Responding to waning DVD sales, Warner Bros. plans to put out a side project to coincide with the March 2009 adaption of graphic novel Watchman on DVD only, reports The New York Times. Black Freighter, based on the historically-themed spinoff of the Watchman series, will go on sale 5 days after the movie hits theaters. The studio is also using digital platforms to promote the film, asking YouTube users to upload their own “Veidt Enterprises” TV commercials that could end up in the feature film.
 
AT&T claims American Idol fans sent 78 million text message votes during season seven of the show, smashing last year’s record of 64.6 million votes.
 

 
Vancouver’s Vidfest wrapped on Friday night with the 2008 PopVox Award ceremony, chosen by users from among over 70 global submissions. Winners included:

• Best Digital Animated Short: PSYOP, for Coca-Cola Happiness Factory, the Movie
• Best Digital VFX: Ubisoft, for Assassin’s Creed
• Best User Generated/Crowd-sourced Content Site: Invoke Media, for Memelabs.com
• Best Do-Gooder site (Social Change Initiative): smashLAB, for DesignCanChange.org

 
Six-year old start-up Akimbo laid off all but a skeleton crew as the company explores a fire sale. The IPTV hardware company-turned IPTV software system-turned white label video services provider had raised $56 million over multiple rounds of financing.
 
Wired’s social news site Reddit.com completed a redesign featuring vastly improved navigation, organization and customization tools. Now there’s a handy single-click link to Reddit’s “most controversial” posts – i.e. the ones with the most user votes.
 

 
Google claimed that YouTube goes “far beyond” its legal obligations in assisting content owners to protect their works. The statement was made in legal papers submitted last Friday to the judge overseeing its legal battle with Viacom, according to The AP.
 

 
The method of counting video views on online portals varies greatly among the internet’s top sites, according to research conducted a year ago then recently revisited by TubeMogul. The online video analytics firm looked at 14 sites for possible overcounting, testing how 4 separate events are measured, including:

• Watching a video start-to-finish multiple times
• Watching a video and stopping more than half-way (but not to completion)
• Refreshing the browser after video play has begun
• Watching a video multiple times through a player embedded on another site

Only blip.tv, Metacafe, Dailymotion and Howcast had taken steps to account for pumped up views resulting when these actions are taken from a single IP address. Only blip and Metacafe held to the strictest standard of counting one user per IP address.
 
Here are a couple of eye-opening stats regarding the meteoric rise of cable rates, sourced from a piece in the New York Times. Cable prices have risen 77% since ’96, about double the rate of inflation. And the average cable customer pays $60/month to watch about 13% of 118 channels provided in his or her lineup. The traditional cable model seems more unsustainable than ever, it would seem, given the increasing availability of programming via digital platforms.

 
Newspapers must find a way to create value from their archives. Check out Time Machine, The New York Times‘ new digital interface allowing users to browse some 70 years of back issues dating from Sept. 18, 1851 to Dec. 30, 1922. Click on an issue for a close up and thumb-nailed details of individual stories. It’s interesting to see how the look of the paper has changed. (White space is obviously a more recent concept.) The entire archive is only available to Times print subscribers (look for more of this as a way to add value to the old model,) but there are a few issues available for non-subscribers to play around with.

Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
05.27.08

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS MEDIA: TOP TIER

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JOB OPENING: MGR. MKTNG  BS/BA 3-5yrs Entertainment Exp, vendor Mgmt, creative/strategic relationships builder, Visit  www.disneycareers.com (REQ id 163060)  (6/3)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER, mid-town NYC: excellent opportunity, Invision Inc. knowledge of sales planning product, pricing, demographics, inventory, relationship management, resume/salary history-  [email protected]   (6/3)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCERS & ASSOC. PRODUCERS/Scholastic/NY: Dvlp/prod interactive games for kids. Looking for creative & editorial talent  w/ strong project mgmt skills. Exp. software & kids media req’d. Res: [email protected]  (6/3)

JOB OPENING:  SALES COORD/Univision/NY: Highly motivated. Mng tasks/srvcng agencies/clients daily basis. Det. oriented/comm/PC & math skills.  1-2 Yrs Media Exp, Deal Maker exp a +, Spanish a +. EOE. Res:  [email protected]  (6/10)

JOB OPENING:  FREELANCE, SR MGR INT’L DIGITAL MEDIA/ETN/NY: Mobile & website proj mgmt. Manage digital distribution deals. Estab program strategies.  Editorial & Mobile/digital proj mgmt req’d. Apply:  [email protected]   (6/3)

JOB OPENING:   DIRECTOR OF CELEBRITY TALENT/Nickelodeon, Santa Monica, CA: You’ll be responsible for implementing the celebrity talent agent for Nickelodeon Networks. For more information, please visit www.mtvncareers.com (5/31)

JOB OPENING:   ON AIR GRAPHIC DESIGNER/VERSUS/LITTLETON, CO: 2+yrs complex exp in ntwrk enviro, knwlg Miranda sys & on air master controls, profic in After effects, Photoshop, Illustrator. Info/apply: (req #62493BR) www.versus.com (5/31)

JOB OPENING:   SR MGR, DISTRIB/GSN the Network for Games/NY: Resp for affiliate relationships (subscriber acquisition/retention), marketing/promotions. BA/BS + 3 yrs min sales/marketing exper. Enter/cable a plus. [email protected]  (5/31)

JOB OPENING:   JR SALES REP / Silver Spring, MD: Support sales, grow into outside rep.  BA/BS, exc comm., org., computer skills, 1-4 yrs work exp., enthusiastic.  Resume & ltr to [email protected]    EOE (5/31)

JOB OPENING:   DEVELOPMENT EXEC/ Jr DEV EXEC needed ASAP at well-known NY-based prod co: Must be great multi-tasker w/2+ yrs exp & superb writing skills. Exp w/male 25-54 demo a plus. Pls send note & resume: [email protected]   (5/31)

JOB OPENING: EXEC PROD/WPIX/CW11- NYC: AM news 5-9a, strong creative/collaboration/people mgmt skills, resp. for overall editorial decisions/news content, 5+yrs EP exp. 4+yrs line prod/writer exp. Visit:  http://www.cw11.com/ EOE  (5/30)

JOB OPENING: ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/YES Network-Stamford CT:  Ability to create show packages & work with multiple graphic artists and producers; See full posting & apply: http://web.yesnetwork.com/about/careers.jsp (5/30)

JOB OPENING: FREELANCE SR RESEARCHER/LIFETIME TV/NY: Analyzing TV ratings & creating data to support press, schdling & mkting strategy/ proficient in Npower/Galaxy/Star Media Apply at: http://www.mylifetime.com/about/jobs.html (5/30)

JOB OPENING: CONTENT SYNDICATION MANAGER/Current TV -SF, CA: Oversee daily operations for online video content syndication program. Solid exp. required in tv prog., web-based media & web video .  [email protected] EOE (5/29)

JOB OPENING: MEDIA PROJECT MANAGERS & BUSINESS ANALYSTS/Multiple. NYC: Exp. w/content management or rights management required. Exp. w/requirements gathering and use case development a plus. Apply to: [email protected] (5/29)

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JOB OPENING: ONLINE MEDIA PLANNER/NYC: 1+Online media planning/buying exp.; Proven ability managing multiple campaigns & client relationships; Entertainment industry client exp. a PLUS! Contact [email protected]   (5/28)

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JOB OPENING: ACCT MGR/BET Ad Sales NY: Cable Salesperson5+yrs exp.Strong presentation skills. Comfortable w/multi-platform & integrated opps.Sales/Agency exp. required. Email Resume: [email protected] (5/28)

JOB OPENING: ADMIN ASST/ BET Ad Sales NY: 2-3yrs 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 Resume: [email protected] (5/28)

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JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, AD SALES/MUSIC CHOICE/NY: 5+ yrs nat’l ad sales exp with strong relationships, proven track record of success, exp selling multi-platform/integrated ops a +. [email protected] (5/28)

JOB OPENING: ASSOC RESEARCH ANALYST/CNN Digital/NY: Support sales & research across multiple digital platforms. BA, Strong analytical aptitude, relevant internships pref’d. Apply: [email protected]   EOE (5/28)

JOB OPENING: SR PRODUCER/Reach Media, Inc/Dallas:  Experienced for the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show to impact audience of 8 million four hours daily. Send materials to [email protected]. EOE. (5/28)

SPRING AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are 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 INTERN CREDITS ONLY: PR INTERN/Priority PR/LA: Phones /outrch/ writg / editng / typng / resrch /reprtng / website updtes. Need strng comm skills & good attitude to asst boutique PR firm, begin ASAP & thru  summer. Res/Cvr:  [email protected]    (6/3)

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