Cynopsis: DIGITAL
02/17/10
Good morning, it’s Wednesday, February 17, 2010, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
We though AT&T opening up its network to the SlingPlayer app was big. Verizon Wireless announced a landmark deal with internet-based calling service Skype at the 2010 Mobile World Congress to allow Verizon smartphone users to make international calls at bargain basement “Skype Out” rates. The exclusive Skype Mobile offering, launching next month, will also support handset to PC calling, instant messaging between Skype users and the ability to send and receive updates from your friends. Future plans include integrating Skype into FiOS TV or Verizon’s 4G LTE service. Nine smartphone models will support the app at launch including select BlackBerry Storm and Curve models and Motorola’s Droid.
After getting Netflix to agree to wait 28 days before renting any new release Warner Bros. DVDs or Blu-rays, kiosk rental chain RedBox has agreed with the studio to honor the same window.
Premium movie channel EPIX unveiled a mobile version of its service with partner Adobe enabling cable, telco and satellite partners to deliver hundreds of movies on-demand to a range of mobile devices. The mobile version of the Epix channel, a participant in the Adobe-led Open Screen Project, runs on Adobe’s Flash Player 10.1.
Hubbard Media’s Reelzchannel has acquired movie-themed comedy site HollywoodPressTV.com.
Online video ad optimization specialist TidalTV received $16 million in second round funding led by Comcast Interactive Capital, nearly doubling the total amount the company has raised. Comcast Interactive Capital’s Managing Director David Horowitz will also join TidalTV’s Board.
In the interest of showing off how “open” it is, Twitter has published a comprehensive list at all the open source initiatives it is involved in. Check it out – it’s actually kind of a who’s who of cool projects out to make the internet a more collaborative place.
Online video ad management platform Panache is unveiling a new workflow software suite this morning that addresses operational bottlenecks. The AdFlow solution streamlines the video ad development, approval and testing process allowing publishers, advertisers and agency people to log on to an integrated media map that tracks the progress of a campaign. “Pure process time is killing everyone in terms of profitability,” said new Panache EVP Cheryl Kellond. “Operational can eat up 25%-40% of a campaign’s overall revenue; we want to get that down to 3-4% – along the lines of a TV campaign.” So far MTV Networks has signed on to use the system.
Video ad start-up Adapt.tv introduced a video advertising marketplace to enable agencies, publishers and marketers to buy and sell in-stream video ads at flexible prices. Careful to avoid the low-priced stigma associated with most ad networks, the idea is to supplement high CPM video inventory sales with targeted automated ad serving to help round out campaigns. Gannett, Demand Media, Vivaki, and OMG Digital are currently testing the system.
MTV Networks announced a new partnership with Quantcast to give advertisers the chance to buy space across MTVN’s online video inventory, targeted to specific demographic and lifestyle segments. Quantcast data will help fine tune ad campaigns and improve delivery of targets such as “Moms with Kids” or “High Income Men,” says MTVN.
Ad inventory management platform PubMatic unveils a new tool set today offering additional monetization controls and strategies. The interface allows sales and ad operations teams to manage all ad revenue touchpoints from a single dashboard and gain additional insights into inventory and pricing across non-guaranteed and guaranteed inventory channels.
Havas Digital’s Media Contacts has selected Adify Media as a preferred advertising network to identify the mid-tail (audiences between 5000 and 1M unique visitors) sites.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) filed a complaint with the FCC regarding privacy issues within the new Google Buzz social networking service. EPIC’s main issue is that Gmail users are being thrown into Google Buzz by default. Google has already apologized for comprising users privacy in its initial launch, replacing an “auto follow” model set up by Buzz automatically to a an “auto suggest” model, requiring users to review people who are added to their follow lists.
Google CEO Eric Schmidt announced that the company was adopting a “mobile first” strategy in his Mobile World Congress keynote, creating software and applications with mobile as a top priority. He said Google is now shipping 60,000 Android-based handsets a day worldwide.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski outlined a new vision for a speedier American broadband at the NARUC Conference as part of an update to the National Broadband Plan, due to be submitted to Congress next month. Noting that the U.S. ranks only 16th in broadband penetration, he outlined a goal for 2020 to bring 100 Mbps connections to 100 million Americans and to deliver at least 2 Mbps to the remaining 200 million.
Movies, music, games and professionally produced video were the only content categories that over 50% of global consumers say they are willing to pay for online, in a recent Nielsen survey of some 27,000 users. Consumers are least likely to pay for social communities, podcasts, and user-generated videos and blogs. They are also less than willing to pay for newspaper, magazine, radio and internet-only content. Less than 5% surveyed have every paid a dime for such content, but nearly 50% said the would consider purchasing magazine and professionally-produced video if certain criteria were met:
- 78% believe if they already subscribe to a newspaper, magazine, radio or television service they should be able to use its online content for free
- 71% say online content of any kind will have to be considerably better than what is currently free before they will pay for it
- 79% would no longer use a web site that charges them, presuming they can find the same information at no cost
- As a group, users are ambivalent about whether the quality of online content would suffer if companies could not charge for it34% think so while 30% do not
- 62% said that once they purchase content, it should be theirs to copy or share with whomever they want
In terms of average time spent per user, Facebook grew its hold an web audiences by nearly 10% month-over-month in Jan., according to Nielsen, topping 7 hrs/user for the first time. Time spent on legacy portals Yahoo and AOL plummeted by and 26% and 57%, respectively. Meanwhile, the number of those actively using the web grew 3.8%, to slightly more than 203 million users.
Top 10 Web Brands for January 2010 (U.S., Home and Work)
Brand Unique Aud. Time Per Person MOM UA MOM Time
(000) (hh:mm:ss) % Change % Change
Google 152,708 1:23:54 4.10% -16.90%
Yahoo! 134,561 2:09:14 4.30% -26.80%
Facebook 116,329 7:01:41 5.80% 9.70%
MSN/Win/Bing 109,425 1:35:33 1.20% -18.10%
YouTube 99,525 1:02:27 7.60% -10.30%
AOL 82,306 1:01:14 -6.80% -57.80%
Wikipedia 64,917 0:15:59 10.70% -2.70%
Fox Int. Media 62,112 1:23:28 1.00% -9.10%
Amazon 60,772 0:22:34 -8.60% -32.90%
Ask Network 57,776 0:12:35 10.70% -11.40%
Source: The Nielsen Company
With 10 nominees for best picture now, you’re going to need an app to keep up. Well, it just so happens that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences premiered its first official (free) Academy Awards iPhone application yesterday, “the Oscars App,” featuring access to movie trailers, real-time Oscar Night results and shareable content. One cool feature is an Oscar prediction tool. Users’ predictions will be saved to a database that will enable sharing with friends via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail and SMS.
Overture Films and Starz Digital Media are releasing a photo-themed iPhone app, a Facebook game and a four-part motion comic series with Double Barrel Motion Labs viewable on iTunes and PlayStation to promote the zombie movie “The Crazies” premiering Feb. 26.
Hearst Magazines‘ TeenPROM magazine has launched an iPhone edition delivered through a 99 cent app, created exclusively for the platform by NearbyNow. Features include profiles of the hottest trends, hairstyles, dresses and looks for prom.
iVillage hired former MTV integrated marketing director Kelli Callanan as VP/Marketing. She reports to Catherine Balsam-Schwaber, SVP/Marketing in iVillage’s New York headquarters.
TV programmer Andy Weissberg has been named VP/Program Planning and Scheduling for Animal Planet. He will be based in New York and report to Rick Holzman, SVP of the division.
NCM Media Networks has upped Ken Venturi to Chief Creative Officer and EVP/Interactive Media. The integrated media company also hired two new sales executives in New York: VP, Online and Mobile Sales Ian Owen-Ward and Account Director Kate Noell.
San Francisco-based Premier Retail Networks named former Gateway Computers SVP Cathy Stauffer as EVP/Market Development.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM concrete5
concrete5 is a free and open source
content management system that lets you
build powerful websites anyone can easily edit.
reputation was a no-brainer – these guys were truly fantastic to work with during
the overhaul of our website.” -Meghan Brennan, Director of Marketing, Cynopsis Media concrete5.org : Build websites people can actually use.
Word on the street is that HBO’s authenticated streaming video service HBO Go will finally launch across the country after months in development and weeks of beta trials with Comcast and Verizon FiOS subscribers. Of course it’s part of Time Warner’s TV Everywhere initiative, meaning you have to be an HBO cable, satellite or telco subscriber to access its TV episodes and movies. The interface is simple and elegant, breaking down content into movies, series, comedy, sports, docs and late night. A search for “The Wire” pulls up thumbnail images of all 60 of the show’s episodes. Click on “+” to add an episode to your “watchlist” or wave over “i” for more info. And the catalogue is huge – triple what you’ll find on your local cable company’s VOD servers. Consider it a glimpse into what premium internet TV will look like. The question becomes, who will want to go back to that clunky set-top-box-based experience?
Check www.cynopsis.com for the current primetime broadcast schedule, “Some TV things I like … and a few I don’t like,” as well as Sports, International and general industry news.
Later – Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
[email protected]
02.17.10
Check www.cynopsis.com for more general industry news as well as Sports and International news
Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Mike Farina – Sr. Dir/Business Development & Sales – 203-218-6480 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]
Member of Interactive Advertising Bureau (iab)
To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here .
To unsubscribe , click the button at the end of this email.
Cyn opsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here .
JOB OPENING: VP DEV & PRGMNG HISTORY/A&E TV/NY: Direct dvlpmnt & prod process for History prgmng inc series, docs & orig films. 7 yrs dev/prgm exp reality, docs, special or series. 2+ yrs mgng staff. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (2/24)
JOB OPENING: DIR PR HISTORY/A&E TV/NY:Dev/implement results-driven PR strat & campaigns for both prgrmng & brand.8 yrs exp TV pgrm publicity or media relations.Exc written verbal presentation skills. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (2/24)
JOB OPENING: SENIOR ACCT EXEC/LATV NETWORK/TX-CHI: Sell nat’l ads for Hispanic network and 2 Synd TV shows; 5-10 yrs sales exp req. Fast growth opp in an entrepreneurial environment . Travel req. Info: www.latv.com/jobs (2/24)
JOB OPENING: DIR OF DVLPMNT/GO GO LUCKEY ENTERTAINMENT/LA: Must be exp’d & highly orgnzd. Creative w/good writing & format skills. Able to take projects from start to pitch ready. Good references a must. Resume: [email protected] (2/24)
JOB OPENING: AP’s/PRODUCERS/WRITERS/SHOW-RUNNERS: NY prod co seeking for science based and reality shows, in-style of Kardashians/Housewives. Please email [email protected] (2/23)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR RESEARCH/OWN: THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK/LA: Story-teller who uses data to inform, inspire & connect to our audience. Expert in core & 3rd party ratings systems. Digital a huge +. Apply @ http://careers.own.tv (2/20)
JOB OPENING: DIR TV SLS & COPRO DRAMA/BBC/NYC: Mng Drama TV Sls & Copro, sell, license & Coprod BBC Catalogue in US. Strong rltnship mngmnt w/ buyers, know mkt landscape, strong negotiation skills. www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (2/20)
JOB OPENING: ONLINE WRITER/PROD/BBC/DC: US edition of BBC News website, originate & prod PS of multi-media news/analysis/background. Understand what appeals to US audience, strong writing skills. www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (2/20)
JOB OPENING: ONLINE REPORTER/BBC/DC: Generate news mat for BBC.com/news, take photo, text & audio/Vid reports. Strong writing, editorial & judgment skills. To apply: www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (2/20)
JOB OPENING: MGR RSRCH temp /ABCTV/NY: Execute Sr level stats analysis, excellent written verbal presentation skills in exec environment. Min of 4 yrs exp w/Nielsen ratings, MS Office www.disneyabcjobs.com #228492 (2/18)
JOB OPENING: NBCU RESEARCH ANALYST (Yoh)/NY: Support cross network positioning & provide analyses/reports covering NBCU entertainment.Must have a BA/BS and 1-yr exp. in media research. Send resume to [email protected] (2/18)
JOB OPENING: DIR, NATIONAL ACCTS/Los Angeles: Drive dist svcs & acct mgmt-neg contract renewals, dist relationships, ovrsee maint & complnce mid-sze corp deals. https://www.abso.com/jobboard/Default.aspx?JOBBOARDID=507&JobDetail=68543 (2/18)
JOB OPENING: MKTG COORD/Ad Sales/DIY/NY: 1+ yrs Sales/MKTG exp. Support development of Upfront & Trade show materials, upkeep DIY site & materials. Full details: http://www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com/careers & select req 1331 (2/18)
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: NYC TV PRODUCTION COMPANY INTERN: Learn show development, story producing and biz dev. Across variety of network/Cable shows for NY based International Prod Co. Apply to [email protected] (2/24)
SPRING/SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: TV PRODUCTION COMPANY INTERN Learn story development, digital media & biz. dev. for a primetime network show production company in LA. Apply to [email protected] (2/18)
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: MARKETING COORD/NY: 3+ yrs exp at tv companies including MTV & Fuse; organized, creative, sense of humor, great at ppt; strong refs available [email protected] (2/24)
SITUATION WANTED: EXEC BIZ DEV/STRATEGY/HEAD OF DIGITAL MEDIA: tired of shoveling snow @ work? 10 yrs TV & Movie exp diligently clearing driveway. Harvard MBA. 2009 40 Under 40. Your next right hand. [email protected] (2/24)
SITUATION WANTED: PRGRMNG/PROD ASSIST/LA: A creative, multi-tasking quick learner – with a “fire in belly” desire; to continue growing 3yrs experience in Film/TV. LA Native, currently in GA will relocate. [email protected] (2/24)
SITUATION WANTED: 20+ yrs. experience in TV Broadcasting & Cable ACCOUNTING/FINANCE. Seeking FT/PT or Temp-to-Perm position: [email protected] (2/24)
SITUATION WANTED: Dedicated & Experienced ADV. SALES PLANNER. Sales proposals, resolving client discrepancies, quarterly post analysis, special sales service projects, expert computer skills. Contact- [email protected] (2/24)
SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA SALESMAN WITH RECORD SALES TRACK. 8+ years of experience in media sales with strong knowledge of contracts and sharp professional relationship with clients. 646-300-0546 or email [email protected] (2/24)
SITUATION WANTED: Looking for Entry-level work in television production.Experienced and versatile, with over 2years experience. [email protected] (2/23)
SITUATION WANTED: Dedicated & Experienced ADV. SALES PLANNER. Sales proposals, resolving client discrepancies, quarterly post analysis, special sales service projects, expert computer skills. Contact- [email protected] (2/23)
SITUATION WANTED: MAKEUP ARTIST/NY: Over 20 years experience, including keying several top network and cable TV programs. Competitive rates, resume available upon request. Contact Michelle 917-359-0452 (2/23)
SITUATION WANTED: Creative COPYWRITER. Award-winning, all media, affordable. [email protected]. For FREE samples, visit https://freebeaaron.wordpress.com (2/20)
SITUATION WANTED: Talented non-fiction PRODUCER/WRITER/DIRECTOR/SHOOTER; network credits; Field and Post; Emmy nominee; reality and development. [email protected]. LA based (2/18)
SITUATION WANTED: Need a Video or Spot? Need to engage an audience? See my Reel DIRECTOR /CREATIVE STORYTELLER Seeks Representation, freelance/staff gig. Major Credits, Effectiveness/Awards. [email protected] (2/18)
SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCTION MANAGER 10+ Yrs of industry experience. Worked for Bravo, Discovery, Animal Planet, TRU & Playboy.Travel exp, multiple crews, cool under fire, on-time & under budget. Please contact: [email protected] (2/18)
SITUATION WANTED: Seeking any ENTRY LEVEL WORK in the TV industry in the greater NYC area. Close to 2 years of video and new media freelance experience in NYC + an internship at VH1. [email protected] (2/18)
SITUATION WANTED: EXPERIENCED TURNAROUND EXECUTIVE/NYC (20+ years)seeks media or broadcast company needing restructuring of finances and/or operations. [email protected] (2/18)
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 2010
