Cynopsis: DIGITAL
05/29/12

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, May 29, 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.

Here we go: FOX, CBS, and NBC have filed lawsuits against DISH Network for the satellite company’s new Auto-Hop offering, which allows subscribers to instantly skip advertisements on recorded primetime programming. The networks are accusing DISH of copyright infringement in relation to the ad-skipping technology. For example, CBS said in a statement that the feature “takes existing network content and modifies it in a manner that is unauthorized and illegal. We believe this is a clear violation of copyright law and we intend to stop it.” In response, DISH has countersued FOX, CBS, and NBC, as well as ABC, requesting a ruling that Auto-Hop does not violate any copyrights and that DISH has not breached any contracts it has with the broadcast networks by offering this new service. “Viewers have been skipping commercials since the advent of the remote control; we are giving them a feature they want and that gives them more control,” said David Shull, SVP/Programming at DISH, in a statement. Numerous television executives have been publicly critical of Auto-Hop over the past few weeks. The decision to get the courts involved was pretty much inevitable.

Google has expanded its Transparency Report, which provides information on the requests it receives to remove content from the company’s services, to include a new section on copyright. The report now offers information on the number of requests Google receives from copyright owners to remove Google Search results because those results link to illegally available content. For the launch, data consists of copyright removal notices for Search since July 2011 (“with some omissions”). Google says that in the past month, it has received about 1.2 million requests, on behalf of over 1,000 copyright owners, and targeting about 24,000 different websites, to remove search results. The top copyright owners of infringing URLs that were removed by Google include Microsoft, NBCUniversal, BPI (British Recorded Music Industry), Elegant Angel, and the RIAA. Google says that it removed 97% of search results specified in requests that it received between July and December 2011. The company will update these statistics on a daily basis.

Mashable has launched a new Lifestyle section that will be led by Andrea Smith, who is joining the website as its Editor/Lifestyle Section. Smith was formerly a technology producer at ABC News Radio and reported on tech stories on ABC TV. The new site channel will cover the impact of digital and technology on the lives of consumers. It will include three sub-sections, focusing on news and advice as they relate to Family + Parenting, Health + Fitness, and Home.

Kony Solutions, a provider of a mobile app development platform, has completed a $15 million Series C round of financing led by Insight Venture Partners. The funds will be directed toward operations growth, sales and marketing programs, and regional expansion. Kony’s clients for its app platform include more than 70 of the Fortune 500 companies.

Google has also released some numbers on its fight against scam ads that appear on Google and its AdSense partner sites. In 2011, Google suspended 824,000 advertising accounts for violating terms of service and advertising policies (up from 248,000 in 2010). The company also disapproved 134 million ads in 2011 (56.7 million in 2010) and rejected 610,000 websites (398,000 in 2010). “We find that there are relatively few malicious players, who make multiple attempts to bypass our defenses to defraud users,” writes David W. Baker, Director/Engineering at Google. To combat the “arms race” that results with the bad eggs trying to outsmart Google’s attempts to thwart them, Google uses, among other methods, human raters to review a set of sites that are advertised on Google. And even with the significant rise in attempts to get bad advertising placed on Google sites, Google announced earlier this year that in 2011 it had reduced the percentage of bad ads by 50% when compared to 2010.

In a show of solidarity to combat legislation and other threats to the open freedom of the internet, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian has partnered with online advocacy group Fight for the Future to establish the Internet Defense League. The primary function of this project, which Forbes says will officially launch next month, is to be a “bat signal” for the internet. According to its website, here’s the plan: “When the internet’s in danger and we need millions of people to act, the League will ask its members to broadcast an action. With the combined reach of our websites and social networks, we can be massively more effective than any one organization.” In most cases, it will be things such as widgets, banners, and the like to encourage visitors of participating websites to take a stand against policies or companies, according to Forbes. In some cases, it may even extend to blacking out websites, as was done during the expansive SOPA and PIPA protests earlier this year. Right now, the Internet Defense League has received support from Mozilla, Cheezburger Network, WordPress, Imgur, and more. Web publishers (of all sizes) that want to participate in this project can go to the website and sign up. The site will then send the publisher a sample alert code to test out in advance. The next time there is a perceived threat to the internet, the League will alert members and send them relevant code, which the members can then choose to include on their sites, pages, or blogs.

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

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In April 2012, 210 million Americans were active online and spent roughly 29 hours on average browsing the web, according to the latest data from Nielsen. Google was the top web brand in terms of total unique US audience, receiving 171 million unique US visitors. Facebook was the top web brand in terms of average total time spent on the site per person (7 hours and 9 minutes). Overall, Nielsen finds that Americans on average visited 95 unique domains in April, and 117 million visited Travel websites during the month. Other findings from Nielsen include:

• Average US internet usage per person: webpage visits/views (2,703); duration of a webpage viewed (1 minute, 5 seconds); number of people who had internet access (275.87 million).
• Facebook did come in second in terms of top web brands based on total unique audience in the US. It was followed by Yahoo, MSN/Windows Live/Bing, and YouTube.
• The top five travel brands in April based on unique audience were Google Maps (79.4 million), MapQuest (29.6 million), Yahoo Local (15.2 million), TripAdvisor (13.2 million), and Expedia (12.9 million).

Smartphones and tablets are now responsible for slightly more than 20% of web traffic in the US and Canada, according to new findings from online ad network Chitika, per a report from AllThingsD. Specifically, smartphones account for 14.6% of web traffic and tablets take up 5.6%. Looking further into the tablet category, Chitika finds that the iPad has a dominant share of web traffic among tablet devices (95%). It’s no slouch on the smartphone front either, as Chitika says that Apple’s share of web traffic in that device category is 72%. Microsoft still has a sizeable lead when it comes to desktop computers, as Windows accounts for more than 85% of web traffic (the Mac is responsible for 13%).

Yahoo has decided to discontinue Livestand, its personalized digital news app for the iPad. “We have learned a lot from Livestand and are actively applying those insights toward the development of future products that are better aligned with Yahoo’s holistic mobile strategy,” wrote Yahoo in a blog post announcing the decision. The company also announced that it’s “pivoting to a mobile-products-first development model” in order to reach consumers who are increasingly accessing the web through a variety of internet-connected devices.

Ostensibly, Yahoo’s new Connected TV app on Android is a part of this new development model. The app is compatible with the 2012 Sony Bravia EX 40, 46, and 55 inch connected TVs. It allows users to transfer Yahoo videos from one screen to another, pull up web page URLs from the TV to the smartphone’s mobile web browser, and use tablets and phones as touch-screen remotes to find, launch, and navigate around connected TV apps. The app was unveiled at the same time Yahoo unveiled its new Connected TV App Development Kit version 1.3. The new Kit features Device Communication, which is a two-way protocol for connecting mobile devices to Yahoo Connected TV. Using the open source Device Communication tools, developers can build second-screen apps in a variety of categories, from gaming to sports, social, and/or shopping.

Google Play has expanded its in-app billing services for Android developers to now include subscriptions. Developers can immediately sell monthly and/or yearly subscriptions from directly insider their apps. All subscriptions are auto-renewing, for every app and game and every type of subscription product, writes Ibrahim Elbouchikhi, Product Manager on Google Play team, on the Android Developers blog. Google Play will manage the purchase transactions, while developers only have to set the price and billing interval.

TLC has partnered with Dood.ly, a free web and iPad app that allows users to create and share art, sketches, notes, and doodles online, for a second-screen campaign of sorts surrounding Cake Boss. The show is encouraging users to design their dream cake via Dood.ly for a chance to win prizes, including the grand prize of having one design be baked, featured, and sold in the bakery for one week. The campaign began yesterday timed with the fifth season premiere of the show, and will be running for the next six weeks. Users can submit their design through Dood.ly’s iPad app or website. The Cake Boss team will then vote on the winning cake design each week for a chance to win merchandise from the show. At the end of the campaign, Buddy Valastro will choose a design that merits the grand prize.

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

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Later – Sahil
Sahil Patel, Associate Reporter for Cynopsis Digital
05.29.12

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

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

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JOB OPENING: Assoc. Dir., Media Operations & Client-Vendor Comm/Sherwood Trading Group/Ramsey NJ: Mng daily operat’l processes ntwrk TV & Radio clients. Proficient: MediaOcean and EXCEL. Resume: [email protected] (6/5)

JOB OPENING: MGR, BUS OPERATIONS/ESPN Inc/NYC: 4+ Yrs Exp; Manage ad sales support team handling acct. maint. Ad industry exp req’d. Must have exp. in TV. Analytical skills a +. Digital exp is a +. www.espncareers.com Job ID-45958 (6/5)

JOB OPENING: SR AD SALES EXEC/Captivate Network/Chicago Loop: Need 5+ yrs client+ agency (planning side) contacts. Strategic solutions+consultative sales+passion. Excel $ pkg to cre8 new DOOH biz w/THE leader. Apply: [email protected] (6/5)

JOB OPENING: QC TECH ESPANOL/STAMFORD: Freelance Tech eval audio & video for Spanish & English programs. apply www.aenetworks.com https://www.abso.com/jobboard/Default.aspx?JOBBOARDID=618&JobDetail=131267 (6/2)

JOB OPENING: SALES COORDINATOR/HEALTH CLUB MEDIA/CHI: Assist AEs in proposal gen. & dvlp prod integration for plans, wrks w/ AEs & Ops on media buys to ensure proper maint of all accts Send resumes to [email protected] (6/2)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER AD SALES MARKETING/BRAVO NBCUniversal/NYC: Collaborate cross departments to create sponsorship opportunities & advance Bravo brand/sales strategy Ad Sales exp is a must. Apply: www.nbcunicareers.com #5341 (6/2)

JOB OPENING: DIR, LEGAL & BUS AFFAIRS/Nat Geo/DC: Attorney to manage talent issues (agreements, releases, employment, negotiations). JD, 5 yrs TV/film legal exp req’d. Apply for Job 5124 at www.nationalgeographic.com/jobs (6/1)

JOB OPENING: FREELANCE MGR, STRATEGIC MKTG/USA NTWK/NBCUNIVERSAL/NYC: Develop & execute digital/integrated multi-platform mktg solutions. Min 5 yrs mktg exp in TV or digital mktg agency. Apply: [email protected] (6/1)

JOB OPENING: MGR, PRGRMNG BOOMERANG/Cartoon Network/ATL: Mng/execute day-to-day prgrmng strategies, incl stunt plan’g & all inventory. Must have 2-5 yrs TV prgrmng exp. Resume:  http://www.turnerjobs.com/#/careers/job-details/131126BR (6/1)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL SALES MGR/OWN/Oprah Winfrey Network/CHI: 5 yrs exp in Ad Sales, xlnt biz dev/client & agency mgmt skills, great team player. Apply at: http://careers.own.tv/ (5/31)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/OWN Digital/Oprah.com/NY: 2 yrs exp in Online Ad Sales, oversee rfp requirements & price/cpm analysis, develop proposals and presentations, team player. Apply at: http://careers.own.tv/ (5/31)

JOB OPENING: FLASH DVLPR/DESIGNER/NYC: 2-5 yrs related work exp in high-end, fast paced, graphic design & prod stdio or agency. Exc comm skills w/strong client srvce & proj mngmnt. BA deg/ graph des pref’d. Res: [email protected] (5/31)

JOB OPENING: PUBLICITY ASST/LA: Asst maint’g press lists/press set visits/event plan’g/press junkets & escorting talent to events/media apprncs. 1-3yrs ent pub. exp pref’d. Strong written comm skills a must. [email protected]  (5/31)

JOB OPENING: DIR, PR/LA: 7+YRS TV publicity exp. at a ntwrk, studio or agency & a comprehensive knwlg of ent, cbl industry & unscripted ser. Strong relations w/key print, brdcst & online media outlets is key. [email protected] (5/31)

JOB OPENING: SHOW PRODUCER/REELZ/ABQ, NM: Entertainment news bckgrnd/strong writing skills/on deadline. Staff position with benefits; At least 5 yrs on daily/weekly pop culture shows. Please apply to [email protected] (5/31)

JOB OPENING: PROMO EDITOR/(PT)/New Orleans: Exp w/ final cut pro and recent topical promos a must. Need a sense of comedy and exp with graphics.  8 wk position, Could become staff position.  Contact – [email protected] (5/31)

JOB OPENING: SR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM SCHEDULING/THE WEATHER CHANNEL/ATL or NYC: 7-10 years TV programming, strong knowledge TV & digital platforms. Solid program planning/scheduling exp a must. Resume to: [email protected] (5/31)

JOB OPENING: PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR/HGTV & DIY/NY: maintain materials related to the programming production process. 2 yrs exp in production or programming req. Apply: http://www.scrippsnetworks.com/careers.aspx?code=careers (5/31)

JOB OPENING: ANALYST, TV RESEARCH/FX-LA: Support sr execs w/ data anlys of perf of on-air & competitive ntwrks. BA Fin., Math, Acct’g pref. Sup skills MS Excel. 1yr exp in data/media relatd field pref. www.foxcareers.com. FNG0001112 (5/31)

JOB OPENING: PROD MGR, PRINT CREATIVE/FOX/LA: Oversee aspects of print prod incl. schedlng; vendor mgmt; sprvise prod staff; etc. 5+ yrs advtsng & print prod. Mac, Photoshop, InDesign exp a must. www.foxcareers.com FNG0001141 (5/30)

JOB OPENING: TV One/NY: TRAFFIC COORD. BA pref’d and/or 2 yrs of exp TV Ops & Traffic. Build daily comm. log within parameters to ensure accuracy. Wrk w/Ad sales mgmt, traffic mgmt. and agencies. More info: www.tvone.tv (5/30)

JOB OPENING: MGR, FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS/THE WEATHER CHANNEL/ATL: 7+ years finance or acctng. Experience with media company a plus, financial metrics/modeling, OLAP tools. MBA preferred. Resume to: [email protected] (5/30)

JOB OPENING: PROD COORD/LA: Animated TV series looking for full-time PC/APM to start ASAP. Prior television animation coordinating/ team management exp a must. Resume to [email protected] (5/30)

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: Sony Music seeks NYC MBA summer intern to assist the global Biz Dev team in analyzing new digital opportunities. MBA strongly preferred. Excel proficiency & love of music required. Res: [email protected] (5/31)

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: PRODUCTION MANAGER/LA: Experience in educational/documentary/reality TV. Prefer company focused on personal development. Will travel and/or relocate. [email protected] (6/5)

SITUATION WANTED: OPERATIONS/NYC: Previous experience includes working in tape library and master control operations. Additional experience with project management. Resume upon request. Contact: [email protected] (6/1)

SITUATION WANTED:  WRITER’S/PRODUCTION ASSISTANT/LA:  Worked as a Page on The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly, etc. Attending UCLA’s TV writing program. Very experienced with Final Draft. Has BS in journalism. [email protected] (5/31)

SITUATION WANTED:  TAKE ON ME, TAKE ME ON: NY based: willing to travel and/or relocate. Mass Comm, Media head, super organizer, creative, seeking dynamic org./individuals to work with. Pls contact, [email protected] (5/31)

SITUATION WANTED: LEGAL/BUSINESS AFFAIRS OUTSOURCING: Experienced attorneys; will handle legal for production companies or business affairs depts (www.metallawgroup.com). [email protected] (5/30)

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.

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