Cynopsis: DIGITAL
12/21/11
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, December 21, 2011, and this is your first early morning digital briefing. If you would like to read this or any other Cynopsis editions online, click here .
The NFL has announced that NBC’s broadcast of the 2012 Super Bowl will be streamed online and on select mobile phones, for free. NBC’s telecasts of the Wild Card round of the upcoming NFL playoffs, as well as the Pro Bowl, will also be available for viewing on both NFL.com and NBCSports.com. On top of that, owners of Verizon smartphones will have access to an additional, exclusive viewing option via the Verizon-only NFL Mobile app. This is the first instance of the NFL offering multi-screen viewing access to any postseason game. The multiplatform offering will include additional content such as more camera angles, in-game highlights, DVR controls and live stats. NBC already streams its Sunday Night Football telecasts online and to Verizon mobile phones, which average 200-300K viewers (comparatively, the telecasts average 21 million viewers). The upcoming Super Bowl will be broadcast live from Indianapolis on February 5.
Following in the footsteps of Time Warner Cable and Cablevision, Bright House Networks will also launch HBO Go for its subscribers in January, 2012. Time Warner Cable (TWC) allows Bright House to take part in programming deals it signs, reports Multichannel News. After TWC announced over the weekend it had landed HBO Go for an initial short beta trial (to work out any kinks), Cablevision announced on Monday that it had also signed up the popular TV Everywhere service. According to HBO, this means that HBO Go, which is free as long as you have a subscription to the pay-TV channel and an approved cable or satellite partner, will now be available for 98% of its U.S. subscribers.
Netflix and BBC Worldwide have inked a new digital licensing agreement to bring a wide array of BBC programming to Netflix subscribers in the U.K. and Ireland. Starting in early 2012, when Netflix plans to unveil its offering for customers in the U.K. and Ireland, previous seasons of BBC programming such as Torchwood, Doctor Who, Top Gear, Fawlty Towers and Spooks will be available for instant watch. BBC shows are already available for current Netflix subscribers in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
The Hallmark Channel used QR codes to offer additional content for viewers of Christmas Comes to Canaan, an original movie from the channel starring Billy Ray Cyrus, reports Mobile Marketer. The on-air codes let fans download a new music video from the star of the movie, which aired this past Saturday night at 8 pm ET. Before the QR code was shown, three separate alerts were sent out on-air notifying viewers to have their smartphones at-hand. According to the report, thousands of viewers scanned the code during the two times it was broadcasted live, with additional scans rolling in post-air date.
Social Media Factory and its tech partner Orca Digital have been commissioned by Channel 4 Online to produce a live, interactive web series to accompany the U.K. channel’s new seasonal primetime show, Home for the Holidays. Home for the Holidays – Extra Stuffing, hosted by comedian Charlie Baker, will feature interviews with stars of the TV show, including a chance for fans to send in questions live via the web, Facebook or Twitter. It will air immediately after the TV broadcast.
NYC-based ad technology company appsavvy has completed a $7.1 million Series 1-A round of funding, led by existing ventures such as The New York Times Company and True Ventures, as well as new investor AOL Ventures. The company will use the new funds to drive the growth of the recently launched adtivity by appsavvy platform. The new platform falls in line with appsavvy’s focus of delivering ads based on user activity, rather than using current dominant targeting metrics like location or behavior. The adtivity API is attached to a user’s action, such as updating a status, answering a poll, completing a level in a game and more. According to appsavvy CEO Chris Cunningham, it’s all about delivering “better display advertising that reaches people when they’re the most engaged and as part of what they’re doing.”
Nuance Communications, the company that helps power Apple’s Siri software, has acquired rival mobile voice-recognition software firm Vlingo for an undisclosed sum. This is essentially an about-face between the two companies as Nuance has spent the last three years suing Vlingo for patent infringement. This past August, a federal jury sided with Vlingo, ruling it did not infringe on any of the 30 claims argued by Nuance. Since then, Nuance had been considering further litigation. However, all of that is now history. The companies cite a $5 billion market opportunity stemming from consumer interest and demand for virtual assistant and voice-enabled software capabilities, covering various industries including phones, tablets, televisions, cars and PCs, as the driving force behind this deal.
Mozilla has signed a new revenue agreement with Google that will extend both companies’ existing search partnership for another three years, as first reported by AllThingsD. Google Search is the default search service on the browser, and accounted for 84% of Mozilla’s $123 million revenue in 2010. Specific terms of the deal were not released.
New research from Parks Associates finds that consumers prefer connected TVs over 3DTVs. 20% of all U.S. households with broadband intend to purchase a new, flat-panel TV before the end of 2011. Among these households, 73% plan to select a TV with advanced features such as 3D or built-in internet connectivity capabilities. However, the demand for connected TVs is almost double that of 3DTVs. “The combination of a maturing product ecosystem with great holiday deals is putting smart TVs within the reach of the American middle class,” says Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst at Parks Associates. The report also indicates that the good news for TV manufacturers is not necessarily good news for pay-TV providers. Consumers who intend to purchase a smart TV this holiday season are more likely to cancel or downgrade their pay-TV services within the next 12 months than the average subscriber.
SocialGuide’s year-end look at the “Most Social TV & Movies” of 2011 (from May to December) finds that FOX was the most talked-about broadcast network, followed by ABC, CBS, NBC and the CW in that order. MTV led the way in the cable network rankings, with ESPN, Nickeloden, BET and TBS rounding out the top five. MTV’s ranking is not surprising when considering it was network behind the most social TV series (Jersey Shore) and the most social TV special (Video Music Awards) of 2011. The company also announced that it will be releasing SocialGuide Intelligence (SGI), a social TV analytics and audience engagement platform available via a web-based dashboard, in January, 2012.
The CNBC Real Time App is now available on Roku, Google TV 2.0 and the latest Samsung Smart TV and Blu-ray players. The app delivers customizable real-time news, data and analysis, as well as on-demand global programming from CNBC EMEA and CNBC Asia, directly to viewers.
Mark Kortekaas has been named Senior Vice President of Digital of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group, a Gannett company. He will report to USA TODAY Sports Media Group president Tom Beusse. Kortekaas will help the Group “build out a digital architecture that will present and deliver content in the most engaging, user-friendly and relevant ways possible,” said Beusse. The Group was created in January of 2011 to take charge of all sports initiatives across USA TODAY, as well as Gannett’s 81 daily media properties, 23 broadcast television stations and several web properties.
KHBS/KHOG-TV (channels 40 and 29), the local ABC and CW affiliates in the Fort Smith/Fayetteville market, which are both owned by Hearst Television, has hired Shea Singleton to be the new Digital Sales Manager. Singleton will oversee all digital sales for 4029tv.com, its mobile site and all other associated digital properties.
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The Zappos ZN iPad app is a new digital magazine from the popular online shoe and clothing retailer. For those of you who haven’t already rushed to click the link and download the free app, allow me to fill you in on what it offers: editorial spreads based on style and latest trends; articles covering fashion, gifts, travel and more; and the ability to buy the featured product directly from the app. And, just in case you still somehow need convincing that this app is worth your time, ZN readers receive free next-day shipping on all orders (as long as you make the purchase by 4 pm ET), as well as the customary free return shipping and 365-day return policy that Zappos offers to everyone. As a final incentive, Zappos also provides 24/7 customer support, which doesn’t seem like a big deal; that is, unless you’ve chatted with a Zappo phone rep (very friendly and incredibly helpful).
Later – Sahil
Sahil Patel, Associate Reporter for Cynopsis Digital
12.21.11
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JOB OPENING: SALES EXECUTIVE/RLTV/NY: Revenue goals, new bus development and sponsorship sales. Strong decision maker relationships, strategic, creative, 7+yrs direct selling experience. Send to [email protected] (1/4)
JOB OPENING: MKTG COMM MGR/Weather Channel/NY: Exp Mktg Comm prof w/ ext creative/tech & prof presentation develpmt skills. Req excep written/verbal skills. Understanding of media rsrch & media exp a +.Resumes: [email protected] (1/4)
JOB OPENING: AE AFFILIATE DIST/GSN Santa Monica: 5+yrs cbl network exp. BA/BS in related field. Strong comm, hvy travel, dig/integrated campaigns. Send res + CL to [email protected] (1/4)
JOB OPENING: DIR, DIGITAL AD SALES MKTG/Syfy/NYC: Oversee Digital Ad Sls Mktg campaigns across all platforms including On Air, Web, Games, Mobile and Social. Min 10 yrs Ntwk/Web exp. To apply, click: http://bit.ly/rIZd3i (1/4)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, MEDIA AD SALES RESEARCH/NY-Warner Bros. Media Sales: (Syndication) strong analytical and presentation writing skills. Adept w/Nielsen systems, MRI and Simmons. Email: [email protected] RE: UCTC/128416BR (12/24)
JOB OPENING: SR. RESEARCH ANALYST/nuvoTV/LA: Nielsen rating analysis, collect/evaluate audience & market research data, 3+ years TV media research experience, familiar w/American Latino market+, EOE/M/F/D/AAP [email protected] (12/24)
JOB OPENING: MANAGING DIRECTOR CONTENT ENTERPRISES/Owings Mills MD: Responsible for production, development, funding, distribution and marketing. BA/BS: Mass Comm. or related field. Email Resume and cover letter with the title to: [email protected] (12/24)
JOB OPENING: VP, BUS & LEGAL AFFAIRS/RHI Entertainment/NYC: Neg. & draft documentation for variety of TV program/content. Knowledge of TV dev, prod & distrib. transactions. J.D. & 10 + yrs exp in the entertainment industry. CV & cover to: [email protected] (12/24)
JOB OPENING: CLIENT SRVCS MGR/WN/Queens NY: Mng client prod launches; provide training, acct mgmt & strategic support for clients; 2-4 ys exp in client services, acct mgmnt, project mgt or sales support. Apply: [email protected] (12/23)
JOB OPENING: DIR, MULTICULTURAL DIG SALES/NBC News/NY: Lead Sales efforts on behalf of theGrio.com and our new English language Hispanic News Website 7 yrs exp. To apply, visit: http://www.nbcunicareers.com/search_nbc/ Job#3250BR (12/23)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network/LA: 1-2 yrs exp in TV Research, detailed oriented, knowledge of Star & NPower required. Apply at: http://careers.own.tv/ (12/23)
JOB OPENING: DIG. RSRCH ANALYST/LAS VEGAS: Track/analyze perf of company’s official website & digital dist. Proficient w/ Google Analytics. Exp w/ content mngmnt system reporting tools a +. More info/Apply to: www.ufc.com/jobs (12/23)
JOB OPENING: SALES ASSISTANT/LER/NY: Exp w/ Excel/Word/PowerPoint, DDS a +plus, work closely w/AE’s in all aspects of sales, Multi-tasker, Strong comm skills, Fluent in Spanish. Send resume to [email protected] (12/22)
JOB OPENING: MARKETING COORDINATOR/FOOD NETWORK/NYC: Assist 2 Marketing Managers w/all aspects of consumer/ brand partnerships marketing. 2+ yrs brand/media/entertainment industry exp req’d. Resumes: www.scrippsnetworks.com #2592 (12/22)
JOB OPENING: SOCIAL MEDIA COORD/The Hub/Burbank, CA: Temporary position. Salaried, no benefits. BA and writing samples req’d. This position will be the project coordinator for the network’s social media efforts. Apply: www.hubworld.com (12/22)
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: NON-FICTION TV DEV INTERNSHIP/NYC: Major TV Prod Co seeking creative interns interested in reality TV and motivated to research, write and develop new ideas for TV series. Res/cov let: [email protected] (12/23)
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: Jeanne Intile Burns, VOICE-OVER ARTIST/VOICE COACH, Cell: 845-721-9681, E-Mail: [email protected], Web Links: www.castingnetworks.com/jburns, http://jburns.voices.com, www.allegro-music.com (“American Biographies”) (12/24)
SITUATION WANTED: SUMMER, CREDIT 2012 INTERNSHIP TV/FILM HI-ENERGY & IN-PRODUCTION CO/LA: Syracuse Newhouse: Exp: HD Camera Shooting & Prod, FCP, & PA duties. In LA 12/19-01/13 [email protected]; linkedin.com/in/aaronmwfrank, 818.569.9678 (12/22)
SITUATION WANTED: AD SALES ASSISTANT: (CHICAGO) Interned at Comcast Sports Net in Ad Sales, Works as Sales Assistant at NBCUniversal. Has B.A. from DePaul in PR/Advertising. Resume upon request. Contact [email protected] (12/22)
SITUATION WANTED: On air guest for major TV shopping network available as your PITCHMAN FOR YOUR PRODUCT(S). NY based,will travel. 38/M, clean, high energy, articulate, also host a high profile radio show. 631-415-5013 [email protected] (12/22)
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