Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
BROADCAST/CABLE
Tim Van Patten has signed on to direct the first installment of HBO’s World War II miniseries “The Pacific.” Filming on the 10-part miniseries is scheduled to begin next month in Australia. (Variety 7/30)
Verizon added 167,000 new FiOS TV customers during the second quarter, bringing its total subscriber base to 515,000 subs. Broadband subscriptions increased by 25% to 7.7 million, including both FiOS and DSL customers.
Would Viacom/CBS chief Sumner Redstone consider taking any of his companies private? Redstone: “The stocks of both companies made new highs in recent weeks. … Now, having said that, would we consider [going private] at some time in the future? We consider all alternatives.” (http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_32/b4045047.htm 8/6)
CBS’s second-quarter profit fell 48%, reflecting a sizable year-ago gain from the sale of its Paramount theme parks. Revenue slipped 3% to $3.37 billion, due to a loss in television revenue from the absence of UPN, which was shut down last September, along with TV station divestitures. (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/cbs-profit-nearly-halved-vs/story.aspx?guid=%7BC14EAB5E-1B45-46F4-8ED5-AD47969149C6%7D 7/31)
iN Demand’s HD channel Mojo announced a new eight-part series dubbed Technology Jones. Taking a walk down memory lane , it challenges contemporary artists to create something with the technology available in the past. Prettiest Pony Productions is producing.
Cablevision and CNET have joined forces on a new technology-focused, interactive channel that will be available for free to Cablevision’s digital customers. CNET TV will feature product reviews, help and how-to programs that are ad-supported. (Broadcasting & Cable 7/30)
AT&T IPTV service U-verse signed an agreement with Tribune to carry Superstation WGN and local Tribune stations in markets where U-verse has launched, including CW stations in New York (WPIX), LA (KTLA), Dallas (KDAF) and Houston (KHCW).
Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
MySpace co-founder Brad Greenspan sent out another missive claiming that five separate “highly credible” groups are now interested in Dow Jones who are prepared to collectively invest $600 million in new online/new media efforts for the company. The latest vote among Bancroft family members to give permission to News Corp. to follow through with its planned buy out came up short yesterday. (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/greenspan-other-groups-interested-dow/story.aspx?guid=%7B5A7DFFDB%2DF47B%2D485A%2DAB52%2D3E4A51DF24A9%7D 7/30)
NBC and The New York Times figure two heads are better than one. NBC News/msnbc.com and The New York Times will team up to cover several aspects of the 2008 presidential campaign, sharing breaking news, linking to each other’s web sites and sharing video, text and photos across platforms. Msnbc.com will publish premium political coverage from nytimes.com. The Times will have access to breaking NBC video and text-based news from the campaign trail.
YouTube announced its second music competition, calling for the best rap and hip hop performances from the U.S. “This is your shot to claim your spot as an MC,” raps 50 Cent in the intro. Would-be rappers are vying for a $10,000 gift certificate from Guitar Center and a trip to New York to get a single produced for G-Unit/Interscope Records. Submissions to the OntheRise Rap Edition will be accepted from August 10 to August 17.
NBC Universal Cable’s Chiller announced a short film contest to scare up some talented shorts for Halloween. The “Dare to Direct” contest will be judged based on Best Picture, Creepiest Character and Scariest Special Effects, with the winner of each category getting $5,000 in cash. Shorts can be uploaded on ChillerTV.com from September 5 to September 17. NBCU TV producers will select the final winners.
Former MTV and CBS Radio exec Rob Barnett has lined up the likes of Harry Shearer, Andy Milonakis and Paul Reiser for a new Web site set to launch Tuesday featuring original video content. The new My Damn Channel will offer brief, professionally produced programming. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070731/ap_on_hi_te/online_video_pros 7/31)
In an effort to boost online ordering, Blockbuster’s new online purchase-recommendation software, developed by ChoiceStream, moves beyond the obvious to suggest movies with subtle similarities to those previously ordered. Since adding the new application, Blockbuster has lost fewer customers to rivals, and customers are putting more movies on their “to watch” lists, the company says. (The Wall Street Journal 7/31)
TV news and community site BuddyTV raised $2.8 million in first round financing led by Gemstar-TV Guide International, which has been expanding its presence on the web as of late. Recent TV Guide acquisitions include JumptheShark.com, TVShowsOnDVD.com and FansofRealityTV.com.
PC-based DVR service ReplayTV is recruiting beta testers for its new HD software suite that will enable users to record and watch HDTV on a computer. Replay’s PC DVR service, available for free for 30 days, currently costs $49.95/year and $19.95 for each additional year. It requires a 1.3 Ghz or faster PC, Windows XP and Hauppauge WinTV PVR tuner card.
Some interesting findings from comScore‘s May video streaming report:
- Online viewers watched an average of 158 minutes of streaming video per streamer.
- The average video stream duration was 2.5 minutes.
- Nearly three out of four (74.3 percent) U.S. Internet users streamed video online.
- More than one out of three (35 percent) U.S. Internet users streamed video on YouTube.com.
- The average online video viewer consumed 63 video streams, or more than two per day.
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration is entering a deal with Amazon.com to reproduce and sell to the public DVD copies of thousands of its historic films and newsreels. Offerings include the 1960 presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/30/AR2007073001589.html 7/31)
ESPN is increasing digital distribution of the X Games 13 franchise beginning August 2. ESPN is offering more than 40 hours of live coverage on EXPN.com, ESPN 360.com and ESPN mobile platforms including ESPN Mobile TV and the ESPN MVP service. The newly-redesigned X-treme Sports-focused EXPN.com will host the X Games first fan-determined contest asking users to choose the best Skateboard Street trick. Dish Network will also offer ESPN Interactive X Games, featuring a 6-screen interface. Look for coverage on iTunes as well.
NBCU also relaunched its affiliate website nbcunetworks.com, improving navigation and functionality. The new password-protected site includes automatically updated programming schedules, grids, press releases, marketing materials and content required for online spot ordering.
Filed under: WIRELESS
WIRELESS
Virgin Mobile also crossed over into hip hop, adding rapper T.I. to its First Dibs ringtone program, offering customers access to exclusive content from selected artists. Snippets from his latest album “T.I. vs. T.I.P” will be featured.
This service is currently only available to Sprint and Nextel customers with more service providers on the way. Check out the demo video for a truly cheesy experience. What to do when waiting for that next business meeting? Flirt on match.com of course!
Match.com developed a mobile application allowing users to receive date invites and text message alerts (“winks”) anytime, anywhere. The MatchMobile service costs an extra $5/month.
EMusic, the second-largest U.S. online music seller after Apple’s iTunes, plans to announce a deal with AT&T that will allow people to buy songs from independent labels through their cellphones, without the need to go through a personal computer. The service will charge $7.49 for five songs. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/31/business/media/31music.html?_r=1&oref=slogin 7/31)
Google’s recent moves in the mobile space have many industry watchers speculating as to whether the company plans to build its own wireless network or come out with its own Google phone that will take on the likes of the Apple iPhone and manufacturers like Motorola and Nokia. (http://news.com.com/Google+bets+on+mobile+market/2100-1039_3-6199725.html 7/31)
Does Microsoft feel threatened by Google’s plan to develop software for mobile phones? Not at all, Bill Gates told The New York Times. Gates said that out of 30 Google products, only one is profitable. (The Boston Globe/Reuters 7/30)
Mobile phone service Buzzwire launched in beta format, allowing users to create a customizable line up of audio, video and live internet radio feeds for the mobile handset. The Boston-based company raised $4 million from Spark Capital and Matrix Partners last fall is planning a second round of funding later this year.
MovieTickets.com is partnering with Apptera to offer audio ad placements on mobile phone screens consumers use to search for movie times. Advertisers can target users by location to improve relevancy.
Filed under: GAMING
GAMING
Rockstar Games’ “next great franchise” will be available exclusively for Sony’s PlayStation 3. “Rockstar really wanted to make a game that you can truly only do on PS3, harnessing the power of Cell and Blu-ray disc,” wrote Sony’s Michael Shorrock on the PlayStation blog. Few details about the game are known except that it is a “crime thriller.” (Yahoo!/NewsFactor Network 7/30)
Filed under: TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
Retailers may be choosing one HD DVD format over another, but those are just battles in the format war. Universal Studios Executive Vice President Ken Graffeo reiterated the company’s support for HD DVD, saying that HD DVD players are still “more affordable” than Blu-ray players. (Yahoo!/NewsFactor Network 7/30)
Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
BROADCAST/CABLE
John Malone, the U.S. media mogul and chief of Liberty Global, is considering entering the auction for U.K. cable operator Virgin Media. Malone describes his interest as exploratory. Liberty Global, the holding company for Malone’s non-U.S. cable assets, spans much of Europe. (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/40b7048c-3dfc-11dc-8f6a-0000779fd2ac,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F40b7048c-3dfc-11dc-8f6a-0000779fd2ac.html&_i_referer= 7/29)
A judge is dismissing a lawsuit brought against Viacom chief Sumner Redstone by his nephew, Michael, ruling that the plaintiff’s charge that he was defrauded by his uncle arrived “two decades too late.” Michael had claimed he was “cheated” out of the Redstone family business. (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-redstone28jul28,1,218536.story?ctrack=1&cset=true 7/28)
Nielsen is now offering ratings for the cumulative commercial breaks of each primetime television show. Viewers are expected to see longer commercial breaks, commercial breaks taken at awkward times during a show, and more ad spots dressed up as programs. (http://www.nypost.com/seven/07292007/business/ad_just_to_it__tv_about_to_change_business_don_kaplan.htm 7/29)
CNBC, preparing for the competitive onslaught from the Oct. 15 launch of News Corp.’s Fox Business Network, is said to be planning a new branding campaign. Featuring interviews with high-level CEOs who are often featured on the network, the spots could start in the next week. (http://cnedit.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070729/FREE/70728027 7/28)
The CNN/YouTube debate for the Republican presidential candidates, scheduled for Sept. 17, is being moved to another date, possibly in December. Some of the candidates have expressed a lack of interest in the show. The debate for the Democratic candidates was held July 23. (http://time-blog.com/swampland/2007/07/youmoved.html 7/28)The CW is continuing its role as the ad lab of TV networks with the Aug. 10 launch of “cwickies,” a series of 10-second spots for marketer Electronic Arts. Unlike most networks, which have stuck by the 30-second spot for fear of raising the profile of one marketer over another, The CW believes its ads must be different to keep the attention of its young audience, according to this article. (Advertising Age 7/30)
DirecTV has amended its false-advertising lawsuit against Comcast, changing its filing to allege that Comcast Media Center participated to produce what DirecTV calls an “inadequate survey” that made claims about perceived HDTV picture quality. “We stand behind the results of our survey,” Comcast said. (Multichannel News 7/27)
Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Better late than never. Testifying in the high-profile Viacom-Google lawsuit on Friday, a Google lawyer told a federal judge that video fingerprinting technology should “hopefully” be available on YouTube by September, allowing the company to quickly identify and remove copyright-violating clips. It is the first time the company has set even a tentative date for the long-awaited filtering system. (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,135197-c,video/article.html 7/27)
Copies of NBC’s “Bionic Woman,” ABC’s “Pushing Daisies” and several other shows are already available for illegal download on Web sites such as Torrent Spy. Network reps are expressing surprise that the full-length pilots are on the Web and alerting their studio partners. (http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/07/top_fall_pilots_leaked_online.php 7/29)
Can someone approve my application already? I want in on this testing action.
The BBC launched its iPlayer for users who applied to be beta testers, laying the groundwork for full release in November. The player allows users to download full versions of most BBC shows up to 7 days after they originally air. Downloads can be saved on the user’s hard drive for up to 30 days before automatically expiring. The current version can only be used on computers running Windows XP though, excluding Mac and Vista user from the trial. (The New York Times/Reuters 7/27)
This would be even cooler they added video functionality was overlaid across the comic art. Regardless, the graphics are brilliant. I’m not a comic book fanatic but if I was, this would be pretty intriguing indeed.
MySpace and Dark Horse Comics launched a free online anthology series featuring the work of some of the best-known names in the fantasy/sci fi genre. The inaugural August issue of “MySpace Dark Horse Presents” includes Sugar Shock, from artist Fabio Moon and Buffy the Vampire Slayer showrunner Josh Whedon, as well as The Umbrella Academy, from artist Gabriel Ba and Gerard Way, lead singer of My Chemical Romance.
An Internet video brainchild of three former University of California grad students is winning financial support from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Clear Channel co-founder Red McCombs. The moguls are backing Hotswap.com, which plans to bring e-commerce to Internet video. (http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2724266220070727 7/27)
Microsoft told analysts last week the company will focus more on web-based services and consumer devices in the future, according to reports, presumably taking pages from the playbooks of Google and Apple. Nearly every Microsoft software application will add web-based services within the next 3-10 years, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told analysts.
Kid-targeted music site Kidz Bop reported a huge increase in traffic following an upgrade that allowed kids to upload their own music videos to the site. Video streams, which totaled just 238,000 before the July 3 relaunch, increased ten-fold to 2.8 million. Kidz Bop also kicked off “Be a Kidz Bop Star,” a national talent search culminating in a live world tour this October.
This may be the most talented child dancer I’ve every seen in my life. Here, Kendall dances to Beyonce’s Work It Out. Ah, there’s nothing like a small child imitating Beyonce. . .[sigh]
Top U.S. Online Streaming Video Properties (By streams May 2007)
Property Video Streams (million) Share (%) of Video Streams
Total Internet 8,357 100.0%
Google Sites 1,796 21.5%
Fox Interactive Media 680 8.1%
Yahoo! Sites 387 4.6%
Viacom Digital 237 2.8%
Time Warner Network 185 2.2%
Microsoft Sites 171 2.0%
ABC.com 100 1.2%
Disney Online 84 1.0%
ESPN 62 0.7%
NBC Universal 58 0.7%
Source: comScore Video Metrix, July 2007
P2P video start up Babelgum launched a dedicated channel to highlight content from the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival running through August 3 in London. The festival showcases short films from both established filmmakers and newcomers, judging entries based on six categories. Babelgum will also provide access to a wide selection of films produced for past festivals.
Wikia, the commercial start-up of Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, is acquiring Grub, a Web crawler that will enable his forthcoming search service to scour the Web to index relevant sites. Wikia aims to shift the balance of power “from the search companies back to the publishers.” (http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN272470320070727 7/27)
The New York Times is adding long-form sponsored videos to its Web site. The first videos, produced by FedEx, tell about five employees of the overnight delivery service from around the globe. The clips, running under five minutes each, are identified as “Video Advertisements.” (http://www.beet.tv/2007/07/the-new-york-ti.html 7/27)
The National Black Programming Consortium opened the application process for this year’s New Media Institute, a 6-week virtual workshop and one-week onsite residency digital training program for emerging and seasoned filmmakers. Projects will focus on creating content about the history of the Delta region and the impact of Blues in America. Applications will be accepted until August 22.
Monster Worldwide, the world’s largest network of online job-hunting sites, said it will cut 800 jobs, or 15% of its staff, after reporting lower second-quarter profit. According to one analyst: “There’s concern about both the job environment and the strategic direction of the company.” (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=a.2oOArdhU4g 7/30)
The second annual gathering of the Daily Kos liberal political blog starts this week in Chicago. The YearlyKos convention has become so influential that five top presidential candidates plan to attend, including Hillary Clinton, even though the Kos bloggers “don’t like her that much.” (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/07/29/MNGRVR91RU1.DTL 7/29)
