Cynopsis: DIGITAL

06/24/09

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, June 24, 2009, and this is your first early morning digital briefing. 

Cable companies have a much better chance at spreading TV everywhere if they work together. Time Warner Cable and Comcast have called a press conference for Wednesday morning to announce a partnership on the walled garden TV Everywhere initiative that will place cable TV programming online behind a walled garden. Jeff Bewkes, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner, and Brian Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast, will be in attendance. Both companies have been testing authentications systems to authenticate cable subscribers as they go online or to mobile devices to view shows.
 

 
NBCSports.com, the company that brought the Olympics and NFL Sunday Night Football to the web, is providing live streaming of Wimbledon in the U.S. featuring live matches from multiple courts, alterative camera angels and on demand replays. Microsoft’s Silverlight platform will power the coverage.
 
Mail.com acquired Nikki Finke’s muckraking entertainment industry blog DeadlineHollywoodDaily for an undisclosed amount. Nikki promises “I did not sell out. I really meant it when I said that DeadlineHollywood Daily.com will continue to be an independent editorial voice – and I would retain complete control over everything reported on the website.”

Inspired by the success of shorts like the Starz Bunnies series, Starz Digital Media unveiled a new animation destination, ABE Toons, initially aggregating work from a trio of established animators including Bunnies creator/producer/animator Jennifer Shiman. This site also launched a talent search offering a $4,000 carrot with the opportunity to direct an animated series.
 
Spanish language movie channel Cinelatino has launched a new broadband site featuring an interactive programming schedule, an alphabetized movie index, exclusive audiovisual content, and entertainment news and event info. related to Spanish-language film.
 

                                                                                
A new food video blog called Good Bite is cooking up discussions on food topics and how to recipes. Contributors include Shauna and Daniel Ahern of glutenfreegirl.com and David Lawrence from ForkingDelcious.blogspot.com.
 
Online news aggregator Newstex released a new free eBook about blog and twitter syndication under a Creative Commons license. It breaks down the types of online syndication between free, ad-supported, bartered and license to help publishers choose the right distribution strategy.
 
New Media Minute producer Daisy Whitney is also doing her part for starving artists offering a two-week, half-off special on her tome about understanding the complicated Fair Use doctrine, Keeping You Out of Court. Use the code “NATPE” at check out and you’ll pay only $17.48 for it.
 

 
Media buyers, planners and advertisers interested in the growing online ad exchange model should bookmark AdExchanger.com, a thorough news site/blog that delves into trends and happenings in the space. Founded by former ContextWeb executive John Ebbert, AdExchanger is filled with news summaries and thoughtful Q&As with executives in the online advertising space who are trying to apply technological solutions to improve efficiencies in online media buying.
 
Facebook claims its automated online advertising system, which targets small and medium sized businesses with simple photo and text pitches, has tripled its number of clients in the past year, per Bloomberg.
 
Gannett’s PointRoll launched a new “AdArchitect” collection of tools to help designers and developers easily create, develop and deliver rich media ads.
 

 
Flat panel TV manufacturer Vizio introduced a line up of new content partners to provide widgets and applications for its line up of broadband-connected HDTVs, which ship with wired or wireless internet access and a Bluetooth universal remote with a sliding QWERTY keyboard.

• An eBay widget will provide real-time auction updates and allow you to place bids
• A Facebook app provides access to your profile page
• A Twitter widget enables users to post tweets
• A Vudu app integrates with the HD movie download service
• A Revision 3 widget allows viewers to watch the studio’s made-for-the-net shows
• A Showtime app provides extras, trailers, trivia, etc.

Previously announced app providers include Netflix, Amazon on Demand, Blockbuster On Demand, Flickr, Pandora and Rhapsody.
 
Following deep job cuts stateside, MySpace announced it plans to close at least 4 offices outside of the U.S., eliminating 300 employees or two-thirds of its international staff. Meanwhile Mike Angus, EVP and General Counsel of Fox Interactive Media, is departing FIM for another position in News Corp. as the company continues a major restructuring, according to AllThingsD.
 
Music Intelligence Solutions’ uPlaya music discovery service struck a partnership with online music distributor The Orchard. The latter will exclusively distribute content sourced by uPlaya’s  hit prediction technology and Music Universe discovery solutions.

 
Tivo and Quantcast announced an intriguing partnership to combine the DVR company’s Stop||Watch measurement data with the latter’s web measurement results to come up with a new way to evaluate cross platform media campaigns. “Now, brands will have a powerful new tool to measure marketing ROI, by measuring the web activity generated by their television advertising and vice-versa,” said Todd Juenger, VP & GM of TiVo Audience Research & Measurement. Second-by-second viewing and web surfing habits for some 35,000 households will be measured to provide:

• Overlap analysis of TV and internet advertising
• How TV and web ad exposure influence web visits
• How TV viewing influences and predicts internet video viewing behavior and visa-versa
• Analysis of video consumption of TV only, web only and combined viewing

 

TV marketers use the web more than ever to drive buzz and viewership to their shows but what’s missing is way to determine which campaigns are really connecting with advertisers. (There are more generic services such as Nielsen’s BuzzMetrics blog measurement tool, but this is the first to target entertainment-themed sites and exclusively measure TV shows.) White label social networking template provider Wetpaint launched a new measurement tool to help TV networks gauge viewers engagement with TV shows they watch and follow online. Wetpaint’s TV Fandex tool measures buzz on popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Google as well as Wetpaint’s own network of 1.5 million fan sites then generates weekly rankings of the top 100 shows. The most discussed shows this week are as follows:
1. True Blood
2. NCIS
3. House
4. Weeds
5. Supernatural
6. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
7. Bones
8. The Mentalist
9. The Tudors
10. Gossip Girl
Wetpaint has been watching the results come in and have discerned a few trends that should be of interest to both marketers and development execs. Programs with big reveals, surprise twists, or dramatic finales see enormous spikes in online fan activity, often with a prolonged echo effect. Sci-Fi and supernatural genre shows can quickly gain ground even before they premiere. New sci-fi shows like Dollhouse and Fringe ramp up quickly to rival established hits like Lost and Supernatural in online momentum and, in many cases, before the program even premieres.
 

 
Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile plan to launch new Motorola phones based on Google’s Android mobile operating system, per the WSJ.
 
History is launching another iPhone/iPod touch app only this time they’re charging $3.99 for it. Ice Road Truckers, which will complement a free “lite” version that has been downloaded more than 680,000 times worldwide, launches on June 28 and features more game options including the ability to choose different routes, trucks and loads.
 

 
David Murnick joined Metacafe as VP/Sales Planning and Revenue Operations, reporting to Jack Rotherham, SVP of Strategy Sales and Partnerships from the company’s New York office. David will oversee the groups responsible for executing and managing ad campaigns on Metacafe as well as search for new revenue partners.
 
Cellufun has hired former Sony Pictures Television VP of Mobile Entertainment Andy Bishop as VP/Business Development. He will be based in Cellufun’s New York Wall Street office.
 

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Ad models, distribution schemes and syndication techniques are all critical to the success of the budding online video business but nothing is more important right now than delivering good quality content that defines the medium. Thank goodness there are still some real geniuses out there dabbling in the medium. Friends Star Lisa Kudrow returns on June 29 with a second season of her clever improv comedy series “Web Therapy,” to be featured on YouTube, Hulu and LStudio.com, the broadband entertainment channel launched by Lexus. Lisa plays a shrink that’s more inappropriate and self-centered than her self-absorbed patients. The first season of 3-minute therapy sessions were so well received (it won a Webby Special Achievement Award) that a bunch of Lisa’s acting pals have agreed to take the couch this season including Courteney Cox, Alan Cumming and Steven Weber. The iconoclastic Ze Frank is also back with Hard Times, focusing his unique sense of humor on the problem of surviving the recession. 
 
Correction: There was a typo in the yesterday’s WOTD – we referred to the protests in Iraq. We meant Iran.

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM NATPE

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Later — Wayne
 Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
06.24.09

Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom, Pres/COO – 646-468-6180 / [email protected]
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JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT MANAGER/Current TV, LA, CA: Work with sales operations to manage campaigns, insertion orders, ad trafficking, optimization, & build presentations. www.current.com . 2-4 yrs. exp. [email protected] EOE (7/1)

JOB OPENING: FREELANCE MKTG/COMM POSITION/NY JETS/Florham Park NJ: Day to day brand dev & design, assist w/website – ad serving, promotions, newsletters. Mkting degree + 1/2 yrs. exp. Apply [email protected] (7/1)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR AD SALES PROMO & MKTG/Gospel Music Channel/NYC: Develop strategies, promotions, proposals, and materials that support Ad Sales & execute on same. 10 yrs indus related exp. Res: [email protected] (7/1)

JOB OPENING: MGR AD SLS PROMO & MKTG/Gospel Music Channel/NYC: Support Dir in the development/execution of promotions, proposals and materials that support Ad Sales. 5 yrs indus related exp. Res: [email protected] (7/1)

JOB OPENING: VIDEO PROD SUPR/Rainbow Media/NY: TEMP supr prod of all assets w/prog for interactive platforms. Knwldg On Demand & encoding tech, Final Cut Pro,XML, FTP or related exp needed. res: www.cablevision.jobs ref#8791BR (6/27)

JOB OPENING: CABLE AFFILIATE SALES EXECUTIVE/Los Angeles: Media Company seeking Top-Tier Cable Affiliate Sales Exec. Min 10 years experience; excellent compensation package with Benefits.Please Email Resume to: [email protected] EOE (6/26)

JOB OPENING: SR DIGITAL AE/Sony Pictures Ent/LA: Generate leads, sell invntry, maintain deals & manage invntry rel. to online initiatives.Reports to NY. Apply: www.sonypicturesjobs.com (6/26)

JOB OPENING: CASTING PRODUCERS for a cable reality series in NYC. Must have excellent screening & pre-interviewing skills & be able to shoot casting videos. Apply: [email protected] (6/26)

JOB OPENING: SR DIRECTOR/ESPN/NYC: ESPN seeks Sr Director – Direct Response Ad Sales leader for NYC office. Must have strong mgt and DR skills. Contact [email protected] (6/26)

JOB OPENING: PT FREELANCE AP, ONLINE/Sesame Workshop/NYC: 2+yrs web exp.; Support producers on content dev& production; CMS, basic HTML, digital platforms;log +track assets. EOE/M/F/D/AAP Apply [email protected] (6/26)
 
JOB OPENING: ONLINE MEDIA BUYER/ADVERTISING/Serino Coyne/NYC: 3+ yrs exp in buying with some planning. Develop & execute online media campaigns. Strong negotiation skills. Inc. Sal. Req. Apply: [email protected] (6/26)

JOB OPENING: TRAFFIC COORDINATOR/The Hotel Networks/NYC: 1-2yrs exp broadcast contracts, copy & logs. Must be detailed/self-starter. Resumes to: [email protected] (6/26)

JOB OPENING: FORECASTING ANALYST/MTVN/NYC: 1-2yrs exp budget models & finance or ad sales pricing/inventory. Must have advanced Excel and strong analytical skills. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (6/25)

JOB OPENING: FORECASTING MGR/MTVN/NYC: 3+yrs exp preparing revenue forecast reports and budget models. Must have advanced Excel, analytical and quantitative skills. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (6/25)

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

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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: 3+ yrs as a dynamic, exp & results oriented SALES PROFESSIONAL w/ an extensive track record of creating new buz opportunities in North/Central America, Europe/Caribbean. MA graduate, email [email protected] (7/1)

SITUATION WANTED: 5 PRIME TIME EMMYS/ DOC. PROD, DIR., WRITER in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email: [email protected] (7/1)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCTION ASSISTANT college grad seeking full time or PT job, will travel anywhere. OK w/ run and gun. Worked w/ MTV as field PA/Second Camera, FCP savvy, references avail [email protected] (6/30)

SITUATION WANTED: AWARD WINNING MKTG/MEDIA/AD PRO with 11+ yrs exp. Mngd biz of major TV & cable nets. Passion = creative, breakthrough media executions that deliver significant ROI. Seeking FT position at respected co. [email protected] (6/30)

SITUATION WANTED: LA BASED Motion Picture and Television Exec is searching for a unique, boutique or established MP/TV Company to enhance career. Must have the philosophy of quality and not quantity. CONTACT: [email protected] (6/27)

SITUATION WANTED: CONTRACT MANAGER/ADMINISTRATOR: 10 yrs exp.in Contract/Sales Admin, avails, reporting, etc., looking to work out of home office, or locally in Rochester, NY. Contact e-mail: [email protected] (6/27)

SITUATION WANTED: EXPERIENCED GRAPHIC DESIGNER (LA) Reality-TV, Film, Commercial, Documentaries & Corporate. Creative & Flexible. Seeking Freelance or Staff Position, Remote or In-House. Reel & Contact Info: www.ChaztizedMedia.com (6/27)

SITUATION WANTED: FIELD/SEGMENT/POST PRODUCER: Available for work. Experience with MTV, VH1, E!, CMT, ABC, NBC and independent projects. Please e-mail me at [email protected] (6/25)

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

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