Cynopsis: DIGITAL
06/18/08
Good morning, it’s Wednesday, June 18, 2008, and this is your first early morning digital briefing.
That overtime round of golf on Monday proved to be another milestone for online streaming. The USGA site claims it had 3.5 million unique visitors and delivered 2.5 million streams. NBCSports.com says it set records for page views and unique users, recording 9.14 million views and attracting over 2 million uniques. The site delivered more than 1.5 million streams of the epic US open duel between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate, with each stream averaging 17 minutes in duration. Those stats should help build the kind of sponsorship CBS attracted to the Final Four tourney next time around.
CBS relaunched the Dotspotter celebrity site it acquired last October as the online home for The Insider. Building upon Dotspotter’s Digg-like features that allowed users to vote stories up or down, the site provides various social features including a Facebook application, RSS-based blogger contributions and chat & comment functions. CBS plans to use the site to break celebrity news during the day both online and on The Insider mobile site before it ends up on the daily show.
Madvision Entertainment, led by primary investor Leo Hindery, acquired the rights to the Soul Train franchise from founder Don Cornelius with an eye on distributing its library of more than 1,100 hours of content across multiple platforms. The syndicated dance show is in its 37th year.
CBS’ social music site Last.fm added music videos from the Universal Music Group to its ad supported programming offerings, including full-length videos from The Killers, Jay-Z and Snow Patrol. The site dipped its toe in the video medium for the first time last month with the original series Last.fm Presents.
Revision3 signed a deal to distribute its shows on Revver, beginning with Scam School, Revision3’s two-month old show about bar tricks, street cons and scams, followed shortly by episodes from other shows including Diggnation, iFanboy, Tekzilla, and popSiren.
If those little town blues have got you down check out City of Fame, a new social networking site meant to be a platform for aspiring singers, actors, comedians, dancers, models and rappers. Former Forbes editor Brett Pulley acquired the NewYork.com URL and combined its tourist-geared services with a talent show concept, encouraging submissions with contests, prizes and online fame.
Sausalito, CA-based ImageSpan closed a second round financing of $11 million from a group led by Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments. ImageSpan provides content licensing infrastructure for clients such as Omnicom’s Zimmerman Partners, Sports Illustrated, TAKKLE, Dealer.com and Visible World.
City Lights Digital celebrates a milestone this month with the production of its 1000th digital episode. The online studio develops and produces digital content for wireless, broadband and video on demand for clients, including MySpace, ABC Family, Conde Nast, Sci Fi, Si TV, Wal-Mart, Hearst, Vh1, Wetv.com, Mylifetime.com, The N, G4, Heavy.com and CollegeHumor.com.
Mozilla launched the long awaited open source Firefox 3 web browser yesterday in 25 languages to much fanfare among users. The group was out to break its own record of downloads in a single day and succeed after just 5 hours of availability with somewhere between 5-7 million downloads achieved. (Demand crashed their servers for a bit, but that’s to be expected). The browser sports a whole new Safari-esque look, runs a lot faster and features:
- The “Awesome Bar” allows users to type words instead of URL addresses to find sites
- Beefed up security, warning users before they open pages known to host malware
- A handy star button on top to add bookmarks
- A “Most Visited” bar automatically keeps track of your favorite destinations
- Tons of add-ons from third party developers, easily managed through a built in app
Brightcove latest video platform, Brightcove 3, is now available in beta format to select customers (such as Lifetime, Showtime and Beliefnet) and will be ready for wide deployment this fall. The platform is built around a more contextual publishing model giving producers the ability to integrate videos with the other content on their site to deepen engagement. A newly designed video player will enable producers to do things like blend short clips and long-form broadcast-quality shows within the same website.
Ebay became the latest to join the open source movement. The company unveiled a new developers platform allowing third party developers to build applications to help its 700,000+ professional sellers market and generate additional revenue.
Releasing movies simultaneously on VOD and DVD has helped boost demand for PPV movies in trials by Comcast and Time Warner Cable, and sales have been additive, according to the LA Times. Demand for VOD rentals of day-in-date movies increased by more than 50% in Time Warner’s Greensboro, N.C. trial. DVD purchases also increased. Only video store rentals declined.
Online movie service ReelTime Rentals entered into an agreement with Disney-ABC Domestic Television to offer titles from Walt Disney Pictures, Disney-Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Miramax Films.
The city of Philadelphia is pitching in to save its abandoned municipal Wi-Fi network, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer, collecting funding from a consortium of local businesses.
If yesterday’s Nielsen report projecting flat TV ad spending alarmed you, this one may be even more surprising. Online ad spending will surpass television advertising in England this year with over 19% of the overall pie, according to a new forecast by Enders Analysis. Online ad spending will increase by 26.4% this year (mostly search driven) to 3.56 billion pounds ($7 billion.) Both TV networks and online video portals are seeing increased CPMs, but online video ads are still relatively low impact, the equivalent of just 1% of TV ad spending in 2008.
~ TRENDS, RESEARCH, ETC. ~
More than 11 billion videos were viewed online in the U.S. in April as the 18-34 Year olds demographic viewed an average of 5 hours each for the month, according to the latest ComScore Video Metrix data. YouTube.com accounted for more than 4 billion of that total for 38 % share of all videos viewed. 71% of the total U.S. internet audience viewed online video, with the average online video viewer watching 228 minutes of video. The average online video duration was 2.8 minutes.
Top U.S. Online Video Properties by Videos Viewed – April 2008
Property Videos (000) Share (%) of Videos
Total Internet 10,999,597 100.0
Google Sites 4,159,850 37.9
Fox Interactive Media 557,663 5.1
Yahoo! Sites 352,359 3.2
Microsoft Sites 268,033 2.4
Viacom Digital 199,968 1.8
Time Warner – Excl. AOL 138,771 1.3
ABC.COM 103,421 0.9
Disney Online 98,740 0.9
AOL LLC 95,288 0.9
ESPN 83,424 0.8
Source: ComScore Video Metrix. Rankings based on video content sites; excludes video server networks. Online video includes both streaming and progressive download video.
Internet Browser Market Share – June 17, 2008
Internet Explorer 73.75%
Firefox 18.41%
Safari 6.25%
Opera .71%
Netscape .62%
Source: Net Applications
Top 10 Social Networking Sites for May 2008 (U.S., Home and Work)
Site May-08 UA (000) May-07 UA (000) YOY Growth
MySpace.com 60,676 56,586 7%
Facebook 26,042 14,196 83%
Classmates Online 14,344 11,936 20%
LinkedIn 7,691 3,124 146%
Windows Live Spaces 7,649 8,172 -6%
Reunion.com 7,286 4,011 82%
AOL Hometown 6,564 7,413 -11%
Flixster 4,854 2,851 70%
Club Penguin 4,455 3,196 39%
Imeem 3,157 1,566 102%
Source: Nielsen Online
Nickelodeon announced the formation of two new gaming and virtual worlds divisions: The Games Group will be headed by Dave Williams and will encompass all paid/subscription gaming initiatives from online to console markets. The Virtual Worlds Group, lead by Kyra Reppen, will manage the entire company’s virtual worlds initiatives for kids, tweens, teens and families – including Neopets, and the upcoming Sponge Bob Square Pants and Monkey World virtual worlds. Both will carry SVP & GM titles and report to Steve Youngwood, EVP/Digital Media.
Multiplatform entertainment studio Generate announced two executive moves and the opening of its New York office. Peggy Mansfield has joined the company as SVP/Integrated Sales, based in New York, and Matt Winslow has been upped to SVP/Branded Entertainment, based in Los Angeles. Both are new positions.
Husband and wife founding team Caterina Fake and Stewart Butterfield announced they are both leaving Flickr, the latest in a series of executive losses for Yahoo.
New York-based online ad company Clickable announced seven new executive appointments from several leading web and tech firms. The new hires include:
Former Google engineer Jonathan Betz joins as Senior Director, Engineering
- Maxine Friedman, Senior Director, Business Development, joins from BrandIntel
- Bill Masterson, Senior Director, Sales, joins Clickable from Google
- Microsoft architect Sandeep Sahi was hired as Senior Director, Engineering
- Jeremy Gerstle, Director, Recommendation Sciences comes over from Boeing
- Ben Seslija, Director, Analytics, joins from Leapfrog Online
- Ken Yarmosh, Director of Search Technology, worked formerly at Viget Labs
Ad firm SmithGifford named Susan Kearney to the newly created post of EVP, responsible for expanding the company’s business and positioning them in the online/new media world. She will work directly with Matt Smith and his partner Bruce Gifford.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM SCRIPPS NETWORKS
Engaging Brands with a Passionate Audience
Engaged …
#1 Food Network #2 HGTV Passionate …
“This network has the personalities that I like.”
#1 Food Network #2 HGTV Source: Beta Brand Identity Study. Visit ScrippsNetworksAdSales .com for details.
~ WEBSITE OF THE DAY ~
Sometimes competition is a good thing. Facebook‘s explosion on the social networking scene has spurred a major new redesign of the MySpace interface taking effect today. The upgrades are the results of a year-long initiative involving usability studies, user comments and outsourcing to design firm Adaptive Path. Changes include a new sponsor-driven home page integrating community content including news, blogs, videos and top 10 charts from users. A new profile editor improves personalization options for community profiles, allowing folks with HTML skills to really spiff up their pages. Finally a new Flash 9-based MySpaceTV player was built in house to accommodate full screen, HD video and host of ad formats. Tom and the gang have been busy. It’s a good thing, too. Websites are like sharks-if they stop moving forward they die. MySpace’s design looked cool 3 years ago. That’s a lot of water under the bridge.
Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
06.19.08
Cynopsis Digital Ad Sales:
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Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]
Cynopsis website – Video Resumes, Extended Classified Ads, Archives, and the Cynopsis Daily Video
CableU – Know Networks Better. Pitch Smarter. Click here
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS MEDIA: TOP TIER
Cynopsis Media: Top Tier
Executive Search Division
High level executive search, candidates fully screened and vetted, meeting precisely your criteria.
For more information, call Trish Pihonak 203.926.9878
if you’re looking to make an executive change, or are looking for a change of scenery yourself.
[email protected]
www.cynopsis.com/toptier .
Cyn opsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here .
JOB OPENING: SR MGR/DIR, BRAND MKTG/MUSIC CHOICE/NY: Lead brand dvlpmnt/mktg strategy for new prods targeting 12-24. Integ. of relationships; analysis/proj mgmt exp a must. BA 8+ yrs consumer mktg (12-24 demo) [email protected] (6/25)
JOB OPENING: PROMOTIONS PRODUCER /MUSIC CHOICE/NYC: Create promotional video products. Integrate expertise in writing, editing, & graphics. BA/BS 3+ yrs project mgmt exp in post-production environment. [email protected] (6/25)
JOB OPENING: EDITOR, ENTERTAINMENT, GOSSIP & POP CULTURE/MTV/NYC: 3+ yrs editorial &writing exp, Strg knwldge of online pubs & blogging. knwldge of VH1/TV depts. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (6/25)
JOB OPENING: ONLINE SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER/Hearst Digital Media/San Francisco: 3+ years in ONLINE ad sales or Digital advertising agency experience. Apply to: [email protected] (6/25)
JOB OPENING: MEDIA INDUSTRY BUSINESS ANALYSTS, MULTIPLE/NYC: Exp. w/ad sales, traffic, programming, production, rights mgmt. and requirements gathering. Use case development a plus. Apply to: [email protected] (6/25)
JOB OPENING: SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER/Thirteen/WNET/NYC: Develop & track project budgets & final analyses. News & public affs pgmg and studio production exp req. See full posting & apply at www.thirteen.org/about/job-opportunities (6/25)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/WE tv/NY: 2+ yrs cable/digital res exp. Support programming w/data collection & analysis. Nielsen, MRI a +. Rez www.cablevision.jobs ref #5750BR (6/24)
JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/The Hotel Networks/NY: 2+ yrs Sales Admin/Media/Res Exp; Strong verbal & written skills; Creative presentation dvlp; Excellent PPT & comp skills req; detail-oriented. Res to: [email protected] (6/21)
JOB OPENING: RSRCH ASSOC/Discovery/MD: Support Rsrch Dir & client grps. Provide written analysis of qual & quant resch, & ntwrk ratings. 2-3 yrs media/ad sales resrch exp. Ability to travel. Apply: www.discovery.com , Req#8059 (6/21)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, PLANNING/ ABC Burbank: BS/BA/MBA, 5yrs analysis in TV media distribution deals, define strategy, innovate new media platforms, apply at www.disneycareers.com (req 165421) (6/21)
JOB OPENING: DISTRICT REP./ABC Burbank: BS/BA degree, support affiliates with questions & clearances, Strong Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Nielsen experience ++, apply to www.disneycareers.com (Req 166726) (6/21)
JOB OPENING: TRAFFIC MGR/Documentary Channel/Nashville: Mng cable net traffic, execution of copy procedures, prep of daily logs, wkly/mnthly reporting. Det. oriented. 3+ yrs com ops exp pref’d. Res: [email protected] (6/21)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED MRKTG/ VH1/NYC: 7yrs exp in TV/Adv/Media Mrktg, Strng presentation & creative writing skills. Mgmt exp. Required. Strng knwldge TV/Sales, BA/BS req, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (6/21)
JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, CS/Sony Pictures/CA: Gather ad/pub elements, support Project Mgrs. Detail oriented, excellent commu. skills, understanding of broadcast technical facilities. Apply: www.sonypicturesjobs.com ID: 10001 (6/21)
JOB OPENING: SR ANALYST STRAT RSRCH & AUD ANLYS/Turner/ATL: Exciting Corp level pos across Ent/Kids/News/Sports. Present findings to Execs/TW Corp. Solid Media math/3-5 yrs exp Apply: [email protected] (6/21)
JOB OPENING: CREATIVE/ART DIR /G4/Los Angeles: Direct Promo, Interstitials & Gfx. Must demonstrate extraordinary design & creativity. Strong creative methodology & exp directing promo shoots req. [email protected] (6/21)
JOB OPENING: SALES/MEDIA PLANNER MARKETING ANALYST/Nat’l-Los Angeles Times Media Group-LA: Create integrated marketing plans, media research/knowledge exp required.Go to www.latimes.com/marketingjobs (6/21)
JOB OPENING: EXEC ASST, BUSINESS OPERATIONS & STRATEGY/MTV/NYC: 2yrs Admin exp, Exclnt PC skills (Microsoft, Excel, Powrpnt) Strg written/oral/multi-task skills & detail oriented. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (6/20)
JOB OPENING: VICE PRESIDENT, OFFAIR CREATIVE/VH1/NYC: 5+yrs graphic dzign exp & 3+ yrs exp Sr Art Director, Exp giving direction to dzigners/writers, Strng Typo sense, Strng Prod. exp. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (6/20)
JOB OPENING: DIGITAL MEDIA MKTG MANAGER: Execute programs, gain exposure new/existing content verticals & pkgs across ABCNews.com. Exp optimizing sites for search engine index etc. Apply: www.disneycareers.com Req 166450 EOE (6/20)
JOB OPENING: MGR SALES OPERATIONS/NBC Universal/NY: Improve processes by executing sales strategy & business solutions across local media division; Create analytical solutions for bus. needs. 3+yrs/BA www.nbcjobs.com job# 824784 (6/20)
JOB OPENING: STRATEGIC MKTG MGR/NBC Universal-Bravo/NY: Devel & execute cross-platform marketing solutions and digital pure play, identify market trends, manage key Bravo clients. 5 yrs exp & BA req. www.nbcjobs.com job# 818867 (6/20)
JOB OPENING: CONTROL ROOM AD needed: Live, Syndicated TV Show in NY: Ntwrk/synd experience required. Responsibilities include prepping tape, gfx, audio elements, timing show/segs, & editing. Email resume: [email protected] (6/20)
JOB OPENING: TV TRAFFIC MANAGER/Metro Networks/Atlanta: Traffic Mgr. to oversee weekly TV traffic to 600+ stations. Detail oriented. Min. 5 years traffic exp. required. Resumes to: [email protected] (6/20)
JOB OPENING: SR ANALYST, Strategy & Opers/ABC Daytime & SOAPnet/L.A: 3+ yrs exp; aid in develpmnt of long-term bus strategy + processes; monitor/ control finance activities. Bachelors/MBA+. Apply www.disneycareers.com Req #164520 (6/20)
JOB OPENING: MEDIA ANALYST/billetts America/NY: Analyze media plans on both a cost and quality basis. Front-line access to top clients; Be part of a great, growing team. Please send resume to careers@ billettsamerica.com (6/19)
JOB OPENING: SR RESEARCH ANALYST/ABC Burbank: Min 2 yrs exp in TV/online research, apt at Nielsen/WRAP, strong written & analytical skills, college degree req. Apply at: www.disneycareers.com . (Req ID 166384) (6/19)
JOB OPENING: SR RSRCH ANALYST/NY – The Weather Channel; Diversified/fun fast paced team enviro., quantitative/qualitative rsrch, 3+ yrs. exp. Apps needed Nielsen, Star Media, IMS, MRI. Sent to: [email protected] (6/19)
SPRING AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are 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 … Interested in posting your Video Resume? Contact [email protected] for more information ….
SITUATION WANTED: Recent college grad with BA in Public Relations. Looking for a position as an Account Executive or similar within the L.A. area. Contact info: 661-297-4929 and [email protected] (6/25)
SITUATION WANTED: LA WRITER: Available young writer recently focused on TV commercials. Looking for commercial freelance writing or feature film writing assignments. Contact: [email protected] or 818.613.5503 (6/19)
E-mail [email protected] for rates and specs for Job Openings.
Interested in posting your Video Resume? Contact [email protected] for more information ….
Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email [email protected] for specs.
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