Cynopsis: DIGITAL

11/21/07

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, November 21, 2007 and this is your first early morning digital briefing. 

It turns out that ABC decided to pay their writers for work done for the web before the strike began, according to The New York Times. Lost’s writing crew was paid around $800 an episode for the companion digital series Missing Pieces and promised a 1.2% – 2% residual of studio licensing fees. The backstory shorts have been premiering on Verizon’s VCast service before streaming on ABC.com. The paper contrasts the deal with NBC’s practice of not paying writers of The Office extra for their work on The Accountants, a web series also monetized by pre-roll ads. On one hand, the ABC deal is being held up as model for future agreements. On the other hand, the terms of the deal specifically state it does not set a precedent to be cited in future negotiations, underlying how uncertain networks remain in committing revenue points to new platforms.
 

 
Yahoo signed a licensing agreement with Sony BMG Music to enable users upload Sony video and music content to Yahoo sites, its first tie up with a major record label. Users will also be able to use Sony content in Yahoo player applications and widgets, which can be embedded on personal profile pages or blogs. Terms of deal were not disclosed but the two companies will share in ad revenue generated from the arrangement.
 
Si TV announced it is incorporating user-generated content into its Flow and Tell show to help provide a forum for subjects important to young U.S. Hispanics. Video sharing site Dailymotion will power the video upload interface on flowandtell.dailymotion.com. The forum kicks off this week with the topic “growing up Latino,” with new subjects to be added biweekly.
 

Haier America introduced a new Wi-Fi portable media player that can access Real Network’s Rhapsody music service, AOL video and other digital content from any Wi-Fi hotspot. The Ibiza Rhapsody unit sells for $229 to $329 depending on the size of the hard drive, shipping with a 30-day free trial for the Rhapsody subscription service and 25 free a la carte downloads.
 
A new fund has been established by Gucci and the Tribeca Film Institute to provide financing and production guidance for independent filmmakers. Grants totaling $80,000 will be given to help complete documentaries that promote social change through artful storytelling, focusing on issues neglected by the mainstream news media. Submissions open Feb. 5 and close April 11, 2008. Go to tribecafilminstitute.org for more details.
 

AT&T plans to buy online advertising company Ingenio in January in an effort to compete with Google, Microsoft, AOL and other online ad leaders. Ingenio’s technology measures the effectiveness of ads by tracking phone calls made to businesses based on phone numbers used in ads.
 

 
Senators Herb Kohl, D-Wis., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, urged federal regulators to think twice before approving the Google/DoubleClick merger. The two members of the Senate’s antitrust panel wrote they were concerned that competition and consumer choice would suffer if Google were able to extend its dominance from search into adjacent markets.
 
Online newspaper ad revenue increased 21% during Q3 to $773 million, according to Newspaper Association of America estimates. Web site advertising now accounts for 7.1% of total newspaper ad spending, up from 5.4% a year ago.
 
Despite this overall trend, The McClatchy Co. reported that it’s October online ad revenues fell 4.1% to $14.5 million in October due to softness in the California and Florida real estate markets. Online ad revenue grew only by 1.4% during Q3 after falling slightly during Q2.
 
Meanwhile Journal Communications reported that interactive revenue grew by 34.3% to $1.26 billion during the month of October, even as overall revenue at its 44 papers fell by 10.7% to $39.1 million. 
 

The user-generated video phenomenon may finally be giving way to professionally produced fare, notices BusinessWeek. Signs of the genre’s demise include Bebo’s move to open its platform to traditional media providers, ManiaTV’s decision to get rid of its user-generated channels and Sony’s decision to relaunch Grouper as a site only for professionally made content.
 
Signs are pointing to a fruitful holiday season for shopping related sites according to ComScore, Hitwise and AOL Shopping.

• E-cards, Flowers/Gifts/Greetings and Online Stock Trading sites all grew by over 20% during the last month, according to comScore
• Traffic to a custom category of Black Friday ad sites increased 145% for the week ending Nov. 17, says Hitwise. The iPod and Nintendo Wii were the most popular search terms
• An AOL Shopping poll commissioned by Zogby International found that 74% of respondents plan to do at least some shopping online with books, music and movies figuring into 57% of the planned purchases

 
NBC completed its $875 million acquisition of Oxygen Media and announced that Bravo President Lauren Zalaznick will oversee the brand. Oxygen becomes part of the NBC Universal Cable group led by Universal Television Group President Jeff Gaspin, to whom Laruen reports. She will also continue to serve as Chair of NBCU’s Green Council. 
 
Former AOL Chairman/CEO Jonathan Miller joined online ad management platform Clickable‘s Board of Directors. 
 

 
Looking for online help when navigating the deals on Friday? bfads.net will help prepare you for battle better than most “Black Friday” sites. The home page calls attention to the hottest deals submitted by outlets or users. Ad flyers from major retailers can be viewed as PDF files. A comprehensive search feature allows you search for items by store and category. Finally a new online deal section ranks specials by user ratings. Check it out before you go shopping. Remember – it’s a jungle out there.
 
We’re off now until Monday – have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday.

Later — Wayne
Wayne Karrfalt for Cynopsis: Digital
11.21.07

Cynopsis Digital Ad Sales:  Mark Bohn- 203- 583-1224 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

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Cyn opsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here

JOB OPENING: TV ACQUISITIONS MGR/Orange, CA: Research, screen, select and schedule content for inflight entertainment. Experience of global TV markets, negotiation, planning and attention to detail are musts. [email protected]  (11/30)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/Gorilla Nation Media/NYC: – Support sales team in managing proposals & campaign management. 1-2 yrs online sales & planning experience; Microsoft office exp. Apply at [email protected] (11/30)

JOB OPENING: VP CREATIVE DIR/Fuse TV/NY: Responsible for the overall dir, conception, creation, dvlpmnt & implementation of all On-Air promotions and packaging for all marketing platforms. Please send resume to [email protected]. (11/30)

JOB OPENING: WRITER/PRODUCER/Discovery Communications/LA: Conceive, write & produce TV & Radio campaigns for TLC On-Air promotions & mktg. Please apply online at www.discovery.com/corporate to job opening number 5931. EOE M/F/V/D (11/30)

JOB OPENING: NETWORK CABLE BUSINESS ANALYST/NY: Exp. With VCI software required. Background in Traffic & Ad Sales. Strong documentation & training skills needed.  [email protected] (11/30)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, CUSTOM RESEARCH/NHL: 3+ yrs exp in ad sales rsrch. Extensive exp with custom research (e.g. Simmons/Scarborough/MRI) req’d. Strong knwldg of Excel and Power Point a must. Apply: [email protected] (11/29)

JOB OPENING: WDCW Washington DC seeks BROADCAST SALES VETERAN with 4+ years of exp. Aggressive seller with successful agency and direct business exp. Stellar presentation and negotiating skills required.  [email protected] EOE (11/28)

JOB OPENING: Rainbow/NYC: PROD MGR, ONAIR PROMOS for VOD cable nets; create & oversee budgets & project mngmt for post-prod/shoots/gfx. 3+ yrs ent/media exp. Strong detail/org/comm skills. www.cablevision.jobs.com req 4856BR. (11/28)

JOB OPENING: Rainbow/NYC: ASSOC. PROD, ONAIR PROMOS for VOD cable nets; write/produce/edit promos on FCP. Writing test req. Oversee digital file mgmt. Apply to req 4780BR at www.cablevision.jobs.com (11/28)

JOB OPENING: VP CONSUMER/AFFILIATE MKTG/Fuse TV/NYC: Establishes strategic mktg, promos & ad campaigns for Fuse, drive awareness & promote brand attributes to the trade, press & consumer.  Please send resume to [email protected] (11/28)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT/NY: 2 yrs devo or agency exp to maintain databases, draft deal memos and conduct research for fastest growing ad-supported cable network. To apply go to www.turnerjobs.com req# 90639 (11/28)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL AE/History/A&E/LA: Sell digital advertising solutions to clients/agencies. Dvlp new business. Client service and acct mgmt. 4 yrs in sales -min 2 yrs digital sales. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (11/28)

JOB OPENING: VP, PROGRAMMING & DEVELOPMENT/ EGO TV/LA: Scout, produce web and mobile video content for new Gen Y network. Must have strong talent agency relationships. 10+ yrs  exper. Resumes to [email protected] (11/28)

JOB OPENING: ON AIR TALENT/Web/NY:Looking for a 30-45 yr old female talent. To host a weekly prgrm on the latest in books, CD’s, DVD’s. Needs to appear knwldgble & authoritative, ditzy need not apply. Contact: [email protected] (11/28)

JOB OPENING: EXP’D CO-EP SHOW RUNNER/Powderhouse Productions: Develop and execute a stripped one-hour infotainment series for a major cable net. Science-tech background, web integration, a big plus. Resume to: [email protected] (11/28)

JOB OPENING: PR COOR/Classic Media/NYC: Min 2+ yrs PR exp; writing press materials, compiling press clips, handling media requests, pitching stories, some admin; Strong writing skills req’d; apply:  [email protected] (11/23)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER, PRICING (Telemundo) – NBC UNI/NY: Finance manager for sales properties. Lead and manage sales forecasting and analysis. Degree w/ min 4 yrs related exp. www.nbcjobs.com keyword job#744645. (11/23)

JOB OPENING: CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR/CBS-3 Philadelphia: Direct the promotion, design & branding of CBS 3 and CW Philly. 5 yrs major market exp. req’d & degree pref’d. Visit www.cbs3.com/jobs for full details. EEO ADA M/F (11/23)

JOB OPENING: DIR RIGHTS & CLEARANCES/WE tv/NYC: Exp’d rights & clear to support all original dom/intl prod. TV/Music/Photo exp in tv prod, rights mgmt, clearance & new tech a must. Res to www.cablevision.jobs ref #4832BR (11/22)

JOB OPENING: CREATIVE DIRECTOR/Voom HD Networks/NY: Seeking on-air promotions and branding visionary with 10 plus years experience at a broadcast/cable network. Send reels & resumes to [email protected] (11/22)

JOB OPENING: MARKETING DIRECTOR/Lightworks (NYC): Manage company brand as well as pr, program catalogue and conventions. Strong writing skills. Int’l experience a plus. Email resume to [email protected] (11/22)

JOB OPENING: SALES EXEC/CableU/CT: Immed opening for outgoing, aggressive self-starter w/ solid knwldg of US cable ntwrks, ind organizations & ad agencies, to prospect & close new accts. Online sales exp pref’d. [email protected] (11/28)

WINTER AND SPRING 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 …

SITUATION WANTED:  Script Coordinator with previous work experience in animation industry seeks script or production coordinator position in Vancouver, BC. [email protected] (11/30)

SITUATION WANTED: CASTING DIRECTOR: Commercials, shorts, music videos. Very experienced Reality Casting Director/Frmr Talent Agent would love to do scripted! Great eye for talent of all kinds! Contact: [email protected] (11/29)

E-mail Trish Pihonak 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 Trish Pihonak for specs.