Cynopsis: DIGITAL

01/14/09

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, January 14, 2009, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.

Yahoo hired former CEO of Autodesk Inc. Carol Bartz to succeed Jerry Yang as CEO of the company, confirming whispers that have been circulating for the past few days. (Carol is a familiar face in Silicon Valley – she ran software company Autodesk from 1992-2006 and currently sits on the boards of Cisco and Intel.) Yahoo President Sue Decker will resign and Jerry Yang will return to his founder’s role. What direction will the company now take? Ms. Bartz gave out little details in a conference call to announce the transition. With its leadership issue solved, Yahoo will be free to pull the trigger on a search agreement with previous suitor Microsoft, according to the WSJ’s BoomTown blog, citing several sources close to both companies. Apparently Microsoft has had a proposal in place for some time, waiting only for a new face to present it to.
 

 
In order to utilize additional platforms to their fullest potential it makes sense that each medium be considered from a project’s gestation stage. CBS and lonelygirl 15 creators EQAL are taking this approach on their next big social media entertainment extravaganza – a whodunit murder mystery called Harper’s Island. Sort of a Lost meets And Then There Were None scenario, the story revolves around a wedding on a secluded island where guests begin to be picked off one by one. The 13-episode show will exist as a weekly hour-long primetime series (premiering on CBS on Thursday April 9 at 10 pm) with active online and mobile elements, the characters and narratives of which will be interwoven with the main show. HarpersGlobe.com will serve as the project’s online interactive hub, with additional content to be distributed across the CBS Mobile and CBS Audience Network. Ari Schlossberg (Hide and Seek) is co-executive producer and creator of the television show with Jericho co-creator Jon Turteltaub among the executive producers. Social show elements will be produced by EQAL founders Miles Beckett and Greg Goodfried; written by Jennifer Yale; and directed by Tony Valenzuela.
 
Time Warner’s AOL has formed a new publishing unit dubbed MediaGlow, built around 2 new interactive studios in New York and LA encompassing 70 niche vertical content sites including AOL Money & Finance, AOL Music and Country Music offshoot TheBoot. AOL EVP Bill Wilson will serve as President of the new unit, which plans to create an additional 30 niche sites this year.
 
Now you can enjoy the low quality animation of South Park in high definition. Comedy Central officially launched in HD on Cablevision Systems yesterday with close to 200 hours of programming in native high definition. Mainstays The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report will initially be upconverted from standard def but will shift to native HDTV in the near future.
 
MTV Network’s Logo unveiled a new documentary film series focusing on people, issues and places important to the LGBT community. The films, profiling such notables as Keith Haring and David LaChapelle, will air simultaneously on Saturday nights beginning Jan. 17 at 8 pm ET/PT on Logo and mtvU and be available online at Logoonline.com.
 

 
Social media widget vendor KickApps unveiled its new App Studio, a drag-and-drop widget and video player authoring solution enabling publishers to create more advanced Flash applications on the fly. KickApps will invite developers to submit their Flash applications and components to the KickApps Flex-based App Studio, allowing any web publisher to gain instant access to its customizable widgets, players and embeddable applications. IM app Meebo and Yahoo Maps are the first third party applications to take advantage of the solution. For instance, Parenthood.com deployed a custom Meebo chat application to allow community members to participate in live weekly chats on the Parenthood.com website. More plug-in APIs for the App Studio are due out in early Q2.
 
Huffington Post peeled off some bills from its recent $25 million investment to purchase comedy news site 236.com outright from Barry Diller’s IAC/Interactive Corp. 23/6, formerly a joint venture between Huff Po and IAC, will become integrated into a comedy vertical on Huffington Post.com.
 
Independent movie distributor Screen Media Ventures announced the creation of The Film Exchange, a web-based subscription program service that will enable broadcasters to order films, specials, and series from its consortium of independent producers.
 

 
Online video ad insertion/management platform Panache announced one of its largest clients to date – MTV’s Network‘s family of sites including MTV.com, VH1.com and Nick.com, which collectively stream nearly 400 million videos/per month according to Nielsen Online. Panache creates avails, handles ad insertion and reports on a variety of linear and non-linear ad formats for its publishers. Its ability to help larger publishers streamline their video monetization efforts have helped convinced major media companies like MTV to come on board, according to Panache President Steve Robinson. “We’ve focused on being a catalyst for larger groups to centralize their operations around,” said Robinson.
 
Mobile ad network operator Quattro Wireless announced a new “strategic relationship” with Microsoft’s Advertising unit to help advertisers and agencies plan, buy and execute mobile advertising as part of their integrated marketing campaigns. Mobile campaigns set-up through Microsoft Advertising’s Atlas Media Console together with Quattro’s ad-targeting platform will be able to be seamlessly served across any publisher within the Quattro Ad Network.
 
Online ad agency avVenta Worldwide received a $20 million investment from private equity firm TZP Group.
 

 
President-elect Barack Obama intends to nominate his technology advisor Julius Genachowski to take over as chairman of the FCC, according to reports. A former classmate of Obama’s at Harvard Law School, Genachowski helped shape the President-elect’s detailed technology platform which includes ardent support for net neutrality principles and investment in communications infrastructure to help bring affordable broadband access to all communities in the U.S.
 
IBM Chairman and CEO Samuel Palmisano called for government investment in broadband, powergrid and healthcare IT infrastructure as a way to create jobs and shore up shortcomings in key industries, in an op-ed piece in the WSJ. Likening the investment to the Eisenhower-era building out of the federal freeway system, he claims building out a new information superhighway is needed to help businesses expand at the necessary speed.
 

 
The online video ad spending totaled $2.1 million in 2008, up 36% from 2007 and is forecast to continue its double-digit ascent through 2010, according to a new report from AccuStream iMedia Research. The report aggregates and separates media spending delivered though video platforms including direct sales teams, rep firms, ad serving engines, search and super syndicators. It also quantifies current, forecast and historical CPMs for all inventory formats attending monetization of online video. For instance, pre-roll inventory expanded by 12.6% in 2008 to 18.75 billion total avails following a 16.8% uptick in 2007, according to AccuStream, but insertion frequency for onsite viewing fell by 13.7% in 2008 to 1.5 content views per avail.
 
The Golden Globes telecast may have taken it on the chin on Sunday night (recording its second-worst ratings since ’95) but at least one online venue saw an increase in eyeballs. AOL’s Moviefone.com site notched 81 million page views on Monday, with close to 67 million views coming directly from the site’s Golden Globe’s hub, according to internal Omniture numbers.
                                                                                    

 
McCann Worldgroup San Francisco hired former CEO of Oglivy Interactive Mike Windsor as EVP, Executive Director of Integrated Operations. Mike will oversee the agency’s technical group as well as its production and studio operations, working with stakeholders across the San Francisco units of McCann Erickson, Universal McCann, MRM and Momentum. He will report to Matt Ross, President, McCann Worldgroup San Francisco and CEO, Global Microsoft brands.
 
NBC Digital Entertainment upped Emre Celik to VP/Technology. Emre, who will continue to oversee all technical development and support for the group, previously served as the Technical Director of NBC.com. He reports in Burbank to Stephen Andrade, SVP of NBC Digital Entertainment.
 
Mara Sternthal was named SVP/Business Development for Ascent Media Group’s Global Media Exchange (GMX) service scheduled to launch later this year. In her new role, Mara will spearhead efforts to bring global buyers and sellers of premium content onto the virtual online platform. Mara previously served as a new media consultant and before that served as SVP of Business Affairs and Development at Paramount.
 
ContextWeb. Inc, operator of the ADSDAQ Exchange, has promoted John Ruvolo to VP/Sales, US and has hired Ken Lauher as Director of Marketing. Both will be based in the company’s New York offices.
 
Air America Media has hired founder editor of the political blog Wonkette, Ana Marie Cox, as its first Washington, D.C.-based National Correspondent.
 
Westfield, NJ-based Animation studio SpeakeasyFX added three industry veterans to its ranks: Executive Producer Sally Anne Syberg, Animation Director Jan Carlee, and Art Director/Designer David Michael Friend. Each will report to SpeakeasyFX Owner/Executive Director Scott Stewart.
 
Global digital marketing specialist Clash-Media has appointed Matthew Koncz as Network Development Manager USA, to help drive the company’s Path Partnering initiative launched last October. He will be based in the company’s New York office.
 

 
Newseum.org is the website for the News-themed Newseum museum on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. At first glance, the museum’s website looks to be nothing more than a informational/promotional tool for the 250,000 square foot institution, founded to celebrate and inform the public about the history of newgathering in the U.S. But click around and you’ll find some very cool stuff. The museum’s curators and web editors do a great job posting stories about news trends, such as Monday’s posting about how front page ads are nothing new. (The New York Times attracted attention for running an ad for CBS across the bottom of its front page earlier this month but the practice dates back to the 18th Century.) Test your news knowledge with the Flash game News Mania. Noam Chomsky, co-author of Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, would particularly enjoy Today’s Front Pages. It features daily PDFs of the front pages of 692 different newspapers from 69 countries. (Chomsky found that smaller newspapers follow the lead of papers of record such as The Times when deciding what stories to run with.) Find out for yourself. You can sort papers by region or view them by clicking on an interactive map of each continent. Archived pages are available for major events dating back to the Columbia Shuttle Explosion in 2003.
 

CYNOPSIS EVENTS AT NATPE 2009

Later — Wayne
 Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
01.14.09

Cynopsis Digital Ad Sales:
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Mark Bohn- 203-583-1224 / mark@cynopsis. com
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JOB OPENING: MARKETING COORD/iN DEMAND Networks/NYC: Support on-air, online and off-channel marketing plans. BA/BS Marketing/Advertising & 1+ yrs experience. Outgoing/creative/proactive. Apply: [email protected] (1/22)

JOB OPENING: DIR MKT/RLTV/MD: Dev/execute affil mkt & media plans, set ROI and benchmarks, helps set creative & brand direction, dev cross-plat partnerships & mkt alliances, 7 + yrs exp w/strong bus skills. Resume: [email protected] (1/21)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/AETN/NY: Create TV & digital sales proposals, develop integrated ideas/build presentations. Min 2 years exp in sales or buying. Knowledge of Powerpoint & media math. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (1/17)

JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC/Radio Disney/NY:Sell local advrtsng, spnsrshps & events in NY mkt.2 yrs exp sales req, pref in children’s mktg/promos. Spec events or media sales a +. BA pref. Apply: www.disneycareers.com. Req ID 184566 (1/16)

JOB OPENING: REGIONAL NAT’L SALES DIRS/NY/CHI/LA: Meredith Broadcasting seeks 3. College or equiv. req’d. 5+ yrs in TV sales, incl 2+ yrs as Nat’l Sales Mgr for local station. Res/sal info: [email protected]. EOE (1/16)

JOB OPENING: DIR PROJ MGMT/Versus/PA: Mng mult TV promo/pckgng projects for busy mktg/creative services dept. Req. 5 yrs exp at ntwrk, post/design firm or ad agency. Apply online: www.ecentralmetrics.com/url/?u=573692462-7 . EOE (1/16)

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: Spring Intern – non-fict. Prod. co. in Greenwich, CT. Support Assistant & prod. office. Prior prod/edit exp. a plus. *College Credit Only.* Contact: [email protected] with resume and cover letter (1/22)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: ONLINE MKTG & COMM INTERNS for NYC based Hispanic cable network: Must show interest in social networking/viral marketing. Spanish Fluency preferred. Contact [email protected] (1/22)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: LEAD DOG MARKETING GROUP/NY: a full-service event management and promotions agency is searching for Spring and Summer interns. Flexible schedule and transportation reimbursement. Contact: [email protected] (1/21)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Oxygen/Bravo/DIGITAL RSRCH INTERN: Maintain ongoing analysis of digital properties, admin tasks, reports, presentations. Excel, PP & fast learner desired. 2-3 days, Reply: [email protected] w/ res/cover (1/17)

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: Top-tier agency ACCOUNT MANAGER/SUPERVISOR seeks full-time employment in LA area. If your agency needs a professional w/ multi-platform technology, entertainment or interactive experience, e-mail [email protected] (1/22)

SITUATION WANTED: SR. MARKETING/BRAND/PRODUCT MANAGER with home video, TV, animation and indie film experience is seeking a dynamic opportunity with a Los Angeles area studio or agency. E-Mail: [email protected] for a resume (1/22)

SITUATION WANTED: WRITER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Deadline activist to the rescue. FREE COPY @ COPY @ https://freebeaaron.wordpress.com contact: [email protected] (1/22)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA/CABLE/INTERNET ATTORNEY: Broad in-house experience in content production& distribution, operations, affiliate & ad sales. Available for project/consultant/full-time. Contact [email protected] (1/22)

SITUATION WANTED:TONY NOM. B’WAY PROD/THEATRE CONSULT/ACQUIS. & DEV./NYC: 30+ yrs exp. in theatre. Superb theatre/film/TV contacts seeks FT or Consulting Position w/Studio/Prod Co. looking for properties. Contact: [email protected] (1/21)

SITUATION WANTED: CONSULTING PRODUCER/EDITOR w/ 18+ yrs exp. Seeks TV & new media projects. Credits: PBS (Buster, Fetch!, ZOOM, NOVA), History, CBS, NPR, BBC. CV, reels, contact info @: http://www.alangrazioso.com (1/21)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING & COMM. CONSULTANT: 17 yrs in ad copywriting, media planning/buying, collateral, promotions, and public relations. Access to affordable graphic designer for complete ad services. [email protected]   (1/21)                  

SITUATION WANTED: SR. CASTING PROD/DEPT HD Always Delivers! Netwrk shows/perfor/game have database 5K acts/Kid/Dance/Cirq/ Singers/Animal/Crazy & Top acts Celebbker Top indus. contacts/Talk bckgnd can book anything! [email protected] (1/21)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODCR-WRTR;TALENT-CASTNG EXEC/BOOKR/LA + track record ENT.PR/PROMO/MKTG/ADV. Great work ethic & references (see IMDb.com, Jane Shayne)eager for next challenge! FT/Project. Contact: [email protected] (1/21)

SITUATION WANTED:NY based PM associate seeking F/T or freelance production or PM position. Experience in coordinating production shoots and tracking show costs at cable TV network. Contact: [email protected] (1/21)

SITUATION WANTED: EP BUDGETING & SCHEDULING LA: Reasonable rates, short turn around. Knowledge of REBATES & INCENTIVE PROGRAMS including: NM, MI, IA and UT. Contact: [email protected] for samples & rates (1/21)

SITUATION WANTED: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/ANIMATOR/EDITOR/LA: Meg Barbour – seeks work in top design studio. 5+ years experience as producer, motion graphic designer, editor, project manager, web 2.0 consultant. [email protected] (1/17)

SITUATION WANTED: OUTSOURCED MKTG-Emails to Events:Affil & ad sales mktg expert;cross-platform promotion pro. 12 yrs Sr staff mktr, 7 yrs consulting exp. Concept to implementation. Project or long term. Email: [email protected] (1/17)

SITUATION WANTED: Accomplished ADVERTISING, MARKETING, SALES PROMOTION AND DIRECT MARKETING EXECUTIVE experienced in developing advertising programs. Will consider Agency freelance, consulting assignments. Contact: [email protected] (1/16)

SITUATION WANTED: Experienced FIELD AND POST PRODUCER looking for work. Experience in television and documentary film. References available. Please e-mail [email protected] (1/16)

SITUATION WANTED: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER in L.A. Credits include National Geographic, PBS, Discovery, History Channel, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email: [email protected] (1/16)

SITUATION WANTED: SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCER (NY): Seeking F/T or Freelance. 10 years exp. w/major networks. Field, Segment, Writer, Talent Booker.  Contact: [email protected] (1/16)

SITUATION WANTED: FREELANCE or Full-time MEDIA BUYER w/ over 25 yrs of buying exp. is newly available. Seeking F/T or Freelance wk from your office or my home (New York based) Please contact me @ [email protected] (1/15)

SITUATION WANTED: ASSOCIATE PRODUCER or ASSOCIATE STORY PRODUCER (L.A.): 9+ yrs in all aspects of production, exp. in reality, inc. game, & scripted.. Valid passport – willing to travel. [email protected] (1/15)

SITUATION WANTED: SPONSORSHIP MARKETING/NY: Experience in evaluating and negotiating sponsorships and promotions. All media types- broadcast, outdoor, print, digital, mobile, hospitality, etc. Contact: [email protected] (1/15)

SITUATION WANTED: COMEDY WRITER: For samples, please visit www.msannthropic.com Contact: [email protected] (1/15)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/WRITER/DIRECTOR (NY) Ultra-creative, award winning, all formats, all genres, all major networks and major cable. Fast, frugal and fun! [email protected] (1/15)

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