Cynopsis: DIGITAL
Good morning, it’s Wednesday, February 2, 2011, and this is your first early morning digital briefing. If you would like to read this or any other Cynopsis edition online, click here.
Rumors continue to swirl that Amazon is getting ready to launch an online subscription movie service to compete with Netflix. The company has reportedly met with several large and independent studios to secure content for the service, identifying a launch date of mid-late February. Amazon, given its experience in streaming movies, its huge customer base and sizeable cash reserves, is believed to be in the best position to take on Netflix in the online SVOD space – a realm that cable companies increasingly feel threatened by and that Hollywood studios are likely to welcome competition in.
Days after finalizing the NBCU deal, Comcast has broadened its TV Everywhere agreement with Turner to include more networks and some actual live streaming later this year. Most content will be made available on multiple Turner sites, Comcast’s Xfinity.com, and various Comcast and Turner-branded mobile and tablet-based apps shortly after appearing on air. (Expect a delay of no more than 3 days if multiplatform viewership is to be counted on Nielsen’s new “C3” standard.) Networks included in the deal include TNT and TBS (available under the previous agreement), CNN (a strong candidate for live streaming), HLN, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.
AOL co-founder and head of the Case Foundation, Steve Case and Carl Schramm, CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, were tapped by the Obama Administration to coordinate private-sector funding efforts in the new Start-up America initiative President Obama mentioned in his State of the Union address. The program, which will combine government funds with private sector donations, will raise money to funnel into start-ups with promising ideas. The Small Business Administration will commit $2 billion as a match to private sector investment over the next five years.
Twitter desktop app maker Seesmic has landed $4 million in additional funding led by Salesforce.com and Japan’s Softbank. The deal includes the roll-out of a new feature integrating the Seesmic desktop with Salesforce’s Chatter app, which allows employees to follow documents, people and business processes posted by customers as they would friends on Facebook and Twitter.
Salesforce.com also announced the acquisition of social productivity start-up Manymoon, a tool-based web platform that has launched on Google Apps, LinkedIn and the Google Chrome Web Store enabling employers to track the work activity of their employees.
Gearing up for the Oscars, EW.com is offering a number of interactive brand extensions to increase stickiness around the event. Honda Odyssey is sponsoring an interactive voting app complete with full clips and links to reviews; Redbox is powering a Facebook game that pits fans against EW’s top award prognosticator; and Cinemax will air a co-branded TV special, The Editors Room, featuring a roundtable discussion about the Oscar Race.
Search retargeting start-up Chango completed a $4.25 million round of series B financing led by Rho Canada, a division of NY-based Rho Capital Partners.
Public interest groups Public Knowledge, EFF, Media Access Project and Open Technology Initiative have filed a brief opposing the motion for a preliminary injunction to be brought against TV station streaming start-up ivi TV. “[The Networks which filed the injunction] are unlikely to prevail on the merits, because ivi’s service fits the Copyright Act’s definition of a “cable system,” and its actions are permissible under FCC rules,” reads the memorandum.
Online video distribution platform Taboola has expanded its partnership with Brightcove to enable small and medium businesses to more affordably run Taboola’s video recommendation engine in conjunction with the Brightcove platform. Monthly subscriptions start at $60/mo.
A pair of studies commissioned by video ad network YuMe, one with Nielsen the other with Frank N. Magid Associates, seem to debunk several myths about online viewing as it grows into a mainstream activity in the U.S. The Magid study, analyzing attitudes and behaviors across a 500 member sample of the YuMe network, found that: viewing is growing across a wide swath of demos; that quality of content online has vastly improved; and that more exclusive content is available online than on TV. Nearly half of viewers responded that they watched online video daily (with 7 hrs./week the mean). Multitasking was actually more prevalent when watching TV, suggesting higher engagement online. The Nielsen TV study, conducted using the company’s internet/TV “Fusion” data, explored the results of reallocating 5%, 10% of 15% of marketers’ budgets to online video and found that ads ended up reaching entirely new audiences at a fraction of what it would have cost to reach them on television. For instance, shifting just 10% of ad dollars resulted in reaching 1.7 million new 18-54 year old women, the biggest demographic for online video.
Profile of YuMe Viewers Who Say Online Video Consumption Increases in Past 12 Months
Age 18-34 22%
35-54 78%
Gender Male 30%
Female 70%
Education No college degree 48%
College degree + 51%
Children in No 65%
Household Yes 33%
Marital Married 42%
Status Not Married 50%
Source: YuMe survey conducted with Frank N. Magid Assoc.
ABC unveiled its Grey’s Anatomy Sync app for the iPad, launching in time for the Feb. 3 episode of the show. Powered by Nielsen’s “Media-Synch” platform, the app is designed to be used while watching first-run episodes – prompting viewers to participate in live polls, answer trivia questions and view and share behind-the-scenes insights into what they’re seeing on screen. Lexus is an initial sponsor, providing ads with trivia queries that link directly back to the Lexus site.
TV guide data specialist Rovi introduced a free TV listings iPad app that allows users to browse and search for what’s on within a 24-hour period. The app prompts users to enter their zip code and service provider to pull up the appropriate listings.
Google‘s location sharing app Latitude added the ability to “check in” to specific locations and add a photo of yourself with captions as well. The software can also be configured to automatically check you in to selected spots.
Live streaming site Justin.tv is preparing to launch a new SocialCam video sharing app in early March that will make it easy to upload videos you shoot on your iPhone and Android device directly to your social network of choice, per Mashable. The site updated both its iPhone and Android apps in Dec. with “frame reinsertion” technology to enhance the quality of mobile video broadcasts.
Korean electronics giant LG confirmed it will unveil the industry’s first glasses-free 3D smart phone, the Optimus 3D, later this month at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
News Corp. has tapped John McKinley for the dual role of Chief Technology Officer for News Corp. and President of Technology for the News Corp. Digital Media Group, a newly-created position. John, former CTO and President of Digital Services for AOL, will report to Chief Digital Officer, Jon Miller.
Amy Winter was promoted to GM and EVP of TLC and Edward Sabin was named Group COO, Discovery and TLC Networks. Both positions report to Eileen O’Neill, Group President, Discovery and TLC Networks.
Gregg S. Zegras has been named President of Hearst’s consumer-health media vertical RealAge, based in San Diego. He reports to Chuck Cordray, SVP and GM of Hearst Magazines Digital Media.
Content syndication platform Mochila has hired Steve McEvoy to serve as VP/Advertising Sales. He will be based in New York and will report to Carolyn Bekkedahl, President and Chief Revenue Officer.
Video ad network SpotXchange has added former Walt Disney/ABC technologist Bernard Gershon to its Board of Directors.
In honor of Black History Month, AETN’s Biography Channel has updated its Celebrate Black History website to include a wealth of new content including an interactive timeline, the Fact of the Day (one for every day of the year), a new Black History crossword puzzle, four new photo galleries, original mini-bio videos and several full Biography episodes. Access individual biographical pages through the Notable Biographies page, which profiles 400 prominent Black Americans from poet Maya Angelou to activist Andrew Young, Jr.
Later – Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
02.02.11
Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Mike Farina – VP/Business Development & Sales – 203-218-6480 / [email protected]
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JOB OPENING: DIG. SALES PLNR/AM Universal Sports/NBC Sports/NYC: Mng daily partner relationships & sales proc. for sales team; 2+ yrs online mkg exp media plan’g/client srvc role, BA/BS req’d. Res: [email protected] (2/9)
JOB OPENING: ASST MKTG MGR/NY: create strategic mktg. materials, manage comm. Various mktg. programs, oversee strategies/creative BA/BS Mktg & 4 + yrs sales/mktg env. Prof. Office Suite Apply: www.nationalcinemedia.com (2/9)
JOB OPENING: ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/Scholastic/NYC: Short term pos avail to ass’t in all aspects of developing high-quality console games for kids. 1-3yrs interactive exp req’d. Apply: [email protected] (2/9)
JOB OPENING: EXEC DIR, VIDEO/RODALE/NY or Emmaus PA: oversee video ops. 10+ yrs exp with a strong rolodex, great mngmnt chops & extremely creative. Demonstrated ability to teach & influence others. Resume: [email protected] (2/9)
JOB OPENING: ASST DIR- MOBILE, SOCIAL & EMERGING MEDIA/ NY or Emmaus PA: 3-5 yrs exp working on mobile, social & media w/ exc proj mngmnt skills. Proven track record of success using social media tools. Res: [email protected] (2/9)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH & MKT MGR/TV Guide/ NYC: Manage Ad Sales wkly reprts- prform v. budget/sales, provide ntwrk hghlights of grwth & comp wins, dev & integrate concepts into mktg pres/ promo materials. [email protected] (2/8)
JOB OPENING: PRODUCER, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/LA: Must have Talk, Reality, or Court Show experience. EOE. [email protected] (2/8)
JOB OPENING: DIR, BUS AFF/DISNEY CHANNEL/LA: Min 5+ yrs combo firm/netwk/studio exper; in-depth knowl guild/union agrmts, IP; top nego/drafting esp for live-action/scripted; JD/state bar; Apply www.disneycareers.com Req 269593 (2/8)
JOB OPENING: SR MGR/ DIR/ BIZ DVLP/TPE/LA: Exp. Sales ‘n Mktg specialist for dvlping new & existing biz ptnrshps. Strong sales leader. Cable exp. rqd. Exclnt opportunity. Rez: [email protected] click here for details (2/5)
JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC/DISH Network Ad Sales/NY: Join fast-growing nat’l sales team. Develop & grow new & existing Ad Sales business for advanced TV platform. 5+ yrs cable/iTV ad sales exp. Resumes to: [email protected] (2/5)
JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/DISH Network Ad Sales/NY: BA pref. 3+ yrs exp in advertising/buying/planning. Knowledge/exp in broadcast/cable TV entertainment industry a +. MS Office proficient. Resumes to: [email protected] (2/5)
JOB OPENING: ADMIN ASST/The Hotel Networks/NY: 3+ yrs Admin Asst exp supporting media execs; Req excel org & comm skills; Exp w MS Office, PPT, Excel a must; Media/digital/internet bkgd a +; BA pref; Res: [email protected] (2/5)
JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC/OUTDOOR CHANNEL/SW terr: Dvlp, sell, implmt on-air/online media plns; crte new biz, mng accts, meet sls gls; Must be slf strtr; Media sls ind exp, 4yr deg reqd. To: [email protected] (2/5)
JOB OPENING: VP AD SLS RESEARCH/20TH TV/NY: 6+ yrs tv rsch exp. Proficient in Nielsen systems. Rsch presentations for Ad Sales dept. for more info/apply: www.myfoxla.com Email: [email protected] (2/5)
JOB OPENING: MEDIA RESEARCH ANALYST/OUTDOOR CHANNEL/CA: Collect/eval ratings, market and/or sales data, Ad Hoc requests for Ad/AF Sales, Prog. 1-3yr media/brdcst exp; 4yr deg prefd. To: [email protected] (2/4)
JOB OPENING: 2 SR. DIRECTORS: TOYS & GAMES/TOYS & SPORTING GOODS/Nickelodeon/NYC: 6+ yr licensing & toy mktg exp. Brand mktg/strategy exp. Experience with boys & girls toys a plus. EOE/M/F/D/AAP Apply www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (2/3)
JOB OPENING: SVP CONTENT/DISCOVERY COMM/MIA: Lead prgm, prod, mrktg, publicity & OAP; digital dvlpmnt; strgy implementation consistent w/brand values; 15yrs exp Latin America/USH w/deep content dvlp www.discovery.com Req 3181 (2/3)
JOB OPENING: SR DIR TRAFFIC SALES/NYC: Mng daily operations. Incl order approvals, EDI, backup for log duties, resolve billing issues, maint integrity & enforce best practice.10+ yrs exp traffic/sales ops. www.tvoneonline.com (2/3)
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 CREDIT ONLY: DIGITAL MEDIA INTERN/assistant W LA Digital company seeking a capable intern to work directly with CEO. Mobile apps, web development, film/vid Production and social media. Resume to [email protected] (2/9)
SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDIT ONLY: DESIGN/DEVELOPMENT INTERN W LA Digital company seeking intern with experience in design, web and/or mobile development. Work on client and internal projects and report to CTO: Resume to [email protected] (2/9)
SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT/W Hollywood: Digital agency, managing high-profile clients. Interest in the PR/entertainment industry w/ great web skills. An opp to break into the biz and make contacts! [email protected] (2/5)
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: Dedicated & Experienced ADV. SALES PLANNER (NY) Sales proposals, resolving client discrepancies, quarterly post analysis, special sales service projects, expert computer skills. Contact- [email protected] (2/9)
SITUATION WANTED: PERSONAL ASSISTANT/LA: 10+ yrs Exp’d, honest, loyal, & dedicated. Exp in Film/Music. Strong Management, Accounting & technical background. Computer savvy, Microsoft Office Suites. Email [email protected] (2/8)
SITUATION WANTED: SALES CLOSER in TV, FILM & MEDIA NY 7+ years of Domestic and International experience in Film & TV sales, a powerful sales closer w/ strong Rolodex of clients, email [email protected] (2/5)
SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIR/SALES STRATEGIST: Upfronts coming? 20+ yrs media, Nielsen, Hisp, research, sales, and presentation experience. Email: [email protected] (2/5)
SITUATION WANTED: International and U.S. Hispanic Executive in Production Management, Marketing, On-Air Promotions. Emmy award winner. Bilingual Spanish/English, Executive MBA. [email protected] (2/4)
SITUATION WANTED: EXPERIENCED DIRECTOR OF POST/POST SUPER: 20+ years in post production. Experienced with multi-format and tapeless workflow. Avid and FCP. Worked with HD since 2004. Contact: [email protected] (2/3)
SITUATION WANTED: EXPERIENCED TV PRODUCER WITH MBA – I have an MBA and 9 years experience as a TV Producer. Ideally looking for a position that integrates content and brands. Also open to other opportunities. [email protected] (2/3)
E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 203.381.9096 for rates and specs for Job Openings.
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