Cynopsis: DIGITAL

07/28/10

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, July 28, 2010, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.  If you would like to read this or any other Cynopsis edition online, click here. 

As expected, Disney has agreed to purchase Mountain View, CA-based social gaming company Playdom for up to $763 million, including $563.2 million up front with another potential $200 million in pay outs linked to performance terms. Playdom, whose best known Facebook game is probably Sorority Life, is generating revenue by getting users to buy virtual goods and gifts for their characters, generating some $50 million in 2009. The company has 15 game development studios under its wing and is currently the #3 social gaming publisher on Facebook with 42 million active users. Playdom is Disney’s second big purchase in the casual gaming space this year, following its July 1 purchase of iPhone developer Tapulous.
 

 
Are you ready to stream some (preseason) football? NFL Network will kick off a new subscription streaming package next month, offering 54 of the 65 NFL preseason games for $40. (All but the nationally televised games are available.) NFL.com’s “NFL Preseason Live,” which complements the network’s live coverage, offers features such as movable picture-in-picture and mosaic layouts to enable fans to watch multiple games at once. Watch T.O. in his first Bengals game against the Broncos on Aug. 15.
 
In more Swedish media news, Stieg Larsson, author of the internationally bestselling Millennium Trilogy, has become the first author to sell over 1 million books on Amazon‘s Kindle eBook platform.
 
Amazon.com’s DVD on-demand division CreateSpace has struck deals with three fitness programmers – Anchor Bay Entertainment, Exercise TV and Gaiam, Inc. – to utilize the platform to sell on demand exercise DVDs. A number of fitness entrepreneurs have also been using CreateSpace to sell their programming.
 

 
Preparing for the ongoing rollout of broadband-connected 3D TVs, Break.com has launched a new online 3D channel showcasing action sports videos (skateboarding, Motocross, BMX, and MMA) and short-format shows, including horror series Scare3D and a show that examines everyday objects in 3D. Yes, you’ll need 3D glasses for the full 3D effect. Sponsors such as Dell will be able to incorporate 3D creative into video ads using Break’s in-house Apex ad server.
 
Following up on its hit music parody show “The Key Awesome,” Next New Networks-distributed Barely Digital is at again with Rated: Awesome, this time poking fun at films and movie culture. Mark Douglas (“Key of Awesome”) and Erik Beck (“Indy Mogul”) host.
 

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM WESTDOC

 
Serving ads to mobile phones has been a logistical nightmare that has slowed mobile ad development, with the industry divided mostly among the Flash vs. HTML5 battle line. Rich media mobile ad network iVdopia unveiled a new HTML5 video platform touting the ability to provide a unified video ad experience across all devices and smartphones, including the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or Android. iVdopia’s “create once, run anywhere” V5 platform will incorporate HTML5 ad creation capabilities and launch new video ad units in partnership with brands and agencies. For instance, a “Multi-Video” ad unit will offer users the ability to browse and choose from multiple video ads.
 
Online video platform Ooyala also announced support of dynamic insertion of IAB-standardized ads for the iPhone and iPad. The enhancement to Ooyala’s HTML 5 player is the latest addition to the company’s soup-to-nuts video monetization offering.
 

 
Yahoo Japan signed a deal to utilize Google‘s search technology to run its search engine and search ad delivery system. Microsoft, which struck a deal to power’s Yahoo’s search in the U.S. and was poised to tie itself to Yahoo’s 60% market share in Japan, has already criticized the deal. VP and Deputy General Counsel Dave Heiner complained the agreement will “eliminate” competition in the Japanese paid and unpaid search markets in a blog post. Yahoo Japan says it has already discussed the tie-up with Japan’s Fair Trade Commission, who raised no objections to the virtual monopoly. Regulators rejected a proposed deal between Yahoo and Google in the U.S. on the grounds it would be anticompetitive.
 
Social marketing management platform Vitrue introduced the latest update to its publishing software suite optimized for Facebook’s “Open Graph API” architecture. (New advances to Facebook allow publishers to connect directly with users using the “Like” button.) Vitrue Publisher 2.0 supports this new feature and enables publishers to quickly create streams and actions around Like buttons or other social objects. The platform also offers advanced moderation tools, real-time metrics and the ability to schedule Facebook and Twitter publishing in advance.
 

 
Monsoon Multimedia, maker of a line of placeshifting devices, is launching a pair of Vulkano DVR/media streaming gadgets on Aug. 10 that have video processors and hard drives. Designed to combine the functionality of a Tivo, Roku box and Slingbox, the Vulkano box can navigate channels using an embedded EPG, schedule recordings (remotely via a smartphone app) and transfer and watch programs live or recorded via a Wi-Fi or 3G connection to a PC, Mac, Android, Blackberry, iPhone or iPad. The company also says it plans to roll out free service upgrades to link the Vulkano with Netflix, CinemaNow, Amazon On Demand, Google TV, Yahoo! Widgets, Netflix and Hulu. The 8GB HD unit will sell for $259; the 16GB HD unit for $279 and the 500GB HD model for $349.
 
HTC announced its first line-up of advanced handsets for the Chinese market including the HTC Sense, The HTC Tianxi, HTC Tianyi, HTC Desire and HTC Wildfire.
 
Paramount Digital Entertainment has updated the $1.99 Star Trek Captain’s Log app for the iPhone, with features to take advantage of the iPhone 4. Open your pretend communicator (customizable with various skins and sounds – “Beam me up Scottie”) and create geotagged logs with audio notes and pictures. Keep your recordings private or share them with other “Starfleet captains.”
 

 
Former President of Digital Media and Corporate Development Bruce Campbell has been named Chief Development Officer and General Counsel for Discovery Communications.  He assumes the General Counsel role from Joe LaSala, who will leave the company at the end of 2010. Bruce will continue to oversee global business development for Discovery, reporting to President and CEO David Zaslav and dividing his time between Discovery’s Silver Spring, MD and New York City offices. Former ITV and Fox executive Lee Bartlett is also joining Discovery as EVP/Global Production Management, Business and Legal Affairs reporting to COO Peter Liguori.
 
New York-based mobile location analytics company Sense Networks has named former Nielsen Mobile SVP David J. Petersen as the company’s new CEO. David will also join the company’s Board of Directors.
 
Ascent Media has hired a trio of new executives: Larry Birstock joins as SVP/Media Services, Alan Silvers as VP/Media Services and Charlie Mitchell as VP/Digital Services Group. All three will be based in Ascent’s DMDC in Burbank, CA and report to Adam Poulter, SVP/Global Media and Digital Services.
 
Broadcast newsroom technology provider Bitcentral tapped Tom Hartmann for the newly created position of Director of Customer Support and Technical Services.
 

 
Online chat service Meebo is quickly expanding its reach with its Meebo Bar toolkit that provides another way for third party publishers to add social sharing features on their sites. (You know you’re on to something when Facebook sets out to imitate you; the social network announced plans at its F8 developers conference to launch its own social bar later this year with “Like” and chat functionality.) Adding the bar gives publishers like recent converts EW.com and TVGuide.com the ability for users to chat and share headlines and links with friends via Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, email and IM, with the idea of increasing engagement and bringing new users into your site. It has been gaining popularity with publishers (7,000+ total sites) because it’s non-obtrusive (the Meebo bar appears across the bottom of a third party site) and it adds another bell and whistle beyond simple sharing. The company, which has recently opened new offices in New York, Chicago and L.A., says monthly visitors who use Meebo tools have expanded to 52 million monthly uniques (+300% over the last 10 months, according to ComScore). Meebo hopes the monetization aspect of the toolbar will kick into high gear this fall when it introduces new ad and branding products, including sponsored buttons and interactive ad placements with customized skins.
 
Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
[email protected]
07.28.10

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ATTENTION JOB RECRUITERS FOR THE TELEVISION AND ADVERTISING INDUSTRY – send us your contact information so we can begin to build a database for referrals.  We get people all the time around the country asking us for names of local recruiters.  Help us out – send us your contact information, name, company, address, phone, email and fax.  NY and LA are great, but we also need names of firms in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, DC, and elsewhere.  We have people to send you!   Email your info to [email protected].

 
  JOB OPENING: RESEARCH DIRECTOR/Miami, FL/Discovery LATAM/USH: 6+ yrs LATAM Programming Research exp a must. Strategic leadership in dev of creative approaches to position & differentiate portfolio.  [email protected] (8/4)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/ WTIC/WCCT/Hartford: Seeking two AE’s: 3+ years, 1+ yrs sales/media experience  multi-media experience preferred; excellent negotiation skills; strong work ethic; desire to win. [email protected] (8/3)

JOB OPENING: EP/IMAGINATOR /Houston: A DIF APPROACH TO LOCAL TV NEWS… THE NEW TRIBUNE IS LOOKING FOR A PERSON TO HIRE/LEAD/IMPLEMENT A REVOLUTION IN TV NEWS.EXP RUNNING A NEWSROOM NOT CRITICAL. www.tribjobs.com Job ID 2010-14912 (8/3)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network/LA: Min 1-2 yrs exp in TV/MP Research, expert in Star, NPower, Omniture & Rentrak, strong written and analytical skills. Apply at: http://careers.own.tv/  (8/3)

JOB OPENING: DIR/MGR DEAL STRATEGY/MTVN/NYC: supports Content Distribution & Mktg (CDM) group in a brd variety of matters arising from the dist of Viacom. 5yrs+ exp buz & develp/strategy. BA deg.Apply: www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (8/3)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER, CONTENT & PROGRAMMING/Nickelodeon Digital/NYC. 4+yrs exp. in digital media envrnmnt, Exp. Manging Digital Content, Stng research,fact cheking & trnscrbng skils EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (8/3)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, CONTENT & PROGRAMMING/ Nickelodeon Digital/NYC. 2+yrs exp in digi media envrnmnt/detail orientd/strng writen & oral skils/ability to multitsk & thnk creativly EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (8/3)

JOB OPENING: VP COMMUNICATION/NICKELODEON/Santa Monica: 10+yrs exp strong industry knowledge. construct & lead multi projects. Media savvy & dynamic communicator EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvnetworkscareers.com (7/31)

JOB OPENING: SR. RESEARCH ANALYST/BET NY Sales: 2-3yrs exp TV or media rsrch. Prof in StarTrak, Nielsen Npower/MarketBreaks/AdViews, MRI. Strong PPT & Excel; PPT creativity a must. Res: [email protected] (7/31)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/GolTV, Inc. /North Bay Village, FL: Support Ad sales in all aspects, incl but not limited to–bldg proposals, maint of deals/schedules, client requests, ADU’s, posting. Apply: [email protected] (7/31)

JOB OPENING:  MOBILE PRODUCT TECHNOLOGIST/NYC/NBCU:  Talented and detail-oriented. This contract position with the Interactive Media Tech Team will manage mobile: web, video, apps and messaging. http://bit.ly/9UK66s (7/30)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL MEDIA/Sesame Workshop/NY: Seeking freelance producers, production assistants, interaction, viz designers, QA managers to work on various digital platform projects. [email protected]  (7/29)

JOB OPENING: VP,  STRATEGIC SALES MKTG/Citadel Broad/NYC: 5+ yrs exp developing successful multi-media mktg campaigns. Oversee brand image strategy and mktg. materials execution. . [email protected] ref. NY 154 EOE/AA (7/29)

JOB OPENING: TV One Vacancies (4) TV One/MD: DIR, AFFL. MRKTNG; 2 REGIONAL SALES MGR FOR NE/SE reg & W/MIDWEST reg:  Req’s. sales/mrkting exp; WEB DESIGNER: mng. crtve devlp of online consumer comm. Visit: www.tvoneonline.com (7/29)

JOB OPENING: SR. WRITER-PRODUCER/Fuse/NY: Write, produce and edit promos for on-and-off air. Lead Editorial Creative for Creative Services. Must know Final Cut Pro, AVID a plus. Rez to [email protected] “SWP” in subj. (7/29)

JOB OPENING:  SR RESEARCH ANALYST/ABC Burbank: Min 2 yrs exp in Digital & TV research and software, strong written, PC & analytical skills, college degree req. Apply at: www.disneyabcjobs.com REQ ID:  256368 (7/29)

JOB OPENING: TV Host: QVC/West Chester, PA: Experience in hosting TV, radio, trade shows, live events, product demos or web. Must be energetic, intelligent enthusiastic, curious, sincere and credible. [email protected]   (7/29)

JOB OPENING:  DVLPMNT MANAGER/RSRCHR/NYC: For reality/non-fict TV. Extnsve rsrch for characters, subcultures, formats for next big hit. Basic shoot/edit/cast & treatment writing. Res/Cov Ltr: [email protected]. 1+ yrs exp req’d (7/29)

JOB OPENING:  ACCT EXEC,DIGITAL SALES, NY,NY-WWE seeks experienced Digital AE w/ proven experience, established contacts, and excellent sales acumen. Competitive compensation & excellent benefits. Apply: http://wwe-careers.com/ (7/29)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH /MTV Networks/LA:   MTV Networks has a few openings in Research for both Nickelodeon and MTV/VH1. Please apply directly to www.mtvnetworkscareers.com to check out the specifics. EOE/M/F/D/AAP (7/28)

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] .

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:  NEED A BUDGET DONE?? LINE PROD 10+ yrs. exp- Freelance budget work in all formats including 3D. Accurate budgets, Reasonable rates, fast turnaround 30 days unlimited revisions: email [email protected] (8/4)

SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIR/SALES STRATEGIST – 20+ yrs media, Nielsen, Hisp, research, sales, and presentation experience. Email: [email protected] (8/4)

SITUATION WANTED:  Hard working, self-starter PRODUCTION MANAGER/NY: with Field Producing and Post Supervisor experience seeks challenging new position. Past companies include HBO, MTV, A&E, Thirteen & Nat Geo. [email protected] (8/4)

SITUATION WANTED: PRIME TIME EMMY DOCUMETARY. PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email: [email protected] (8/4)

SITUATION WANTED: Top VP/DIRECTOR DIGITAL SALES now available for your turnaround, new venture or next level challenge. It’s all about proof of performance…contact [email protected] (8/3)

SITUATION WANTED: SALES MANAGER/LA: Bilingual Spanish-English professional seeks position in US/international distribution of features or television programs. 5+ years multicultural experience. Travels well. Contact [email protected] (7/30)

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] (7/30)

SITUATION WANTED: NYC  MARKETING M.B.A with 3 years experience including work at NBC Universal and Warner Bros. seeks to add value in a marketing role. Details at www.nikhilsonlineresume.com E-Mail: [email protected] (7/30)

SITUATION WANTED:  DRAMA/LIFESTYLE: Seeking Development / Acquisitions / Legal position. 6+ yrs exp, with background in production coord. Looking to grow with supportive team at network / prod co. Can relocate. [email protected] (7/30)

SITUATION WANTED: DIGITAL MEDIA/ TECHNOLOGY/CABLE ATTORNEY Broad in-house exp incontent distribution, digital media, technology licensing,affiliate & ad sales. Avail for project/consultant/FT. Contact [email protected] (7/29)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA SALES/MARKETING MANAGER/LA: 15+ years experience in educational, documentary, advertising media sales , product, biz development   True Closer!!!!!  [email protected] (7/29)
 
SITUATION WANTED:  WEB/TV PRODUCER/EDITOR/MANAGER seeking full-time work. 14 years experience, based in L.A. willing to relocate. Contact: [email protected] (7/29)

E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 203.926.9878 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

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