Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
News Corp. and NBC Universal are naming their new online video joint venture Hulu. The two media companies say the site — referred to by some as a “YouTube killer” — will be available for private trials by consumers by October, a month later than originally planned. (http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSWEN072120070829 8/29)
They pushed back the site launch a month but at least they have a name. Click below to sign up for beta test availability starting in October.
Google signed a multi-year online ad agreement with CNN.com, replacing Yahoo as the site’s ad partner. Google’s AdSense will deliver targeted text-based ads to CNN.com, though no video ads are included in the deal. (http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9767613-7.html 8/28)
The MySpace film channel is relaunching this month with exclusive footage from Rob Zombie’s upcoming Halloween movie opening in theaters August 31, as well as a personal video message from the heavy metal rocker/filmmaker.
News Corp.’s MySpace will hold a concert tour this autumn, stopping in several major U.S. markets, in a move that further shapes its image as an MTV-like pop culture hub. Tour co-headliners Hellogoodbye and Say Anything made their names as MySpace Music artists. (http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9768308-7.html 8/29)
Apple will sell television programs in Britain via its iTunes store as part of its push to become a one-stop shop for digital entertainment. Apple, which launched a similar service in the United States in 2005, will sell shows such as “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” for 1.89 pounds an episode. (http://www.reuters.com/article/technology-media-telco-SP/idUSL2934315320070829 8/29)
Apple is sending out invitations to a Sept. 5 event called “The Beat Goes On,” fueling speculation that it will release new models of the best-selling iPod media player to spur holiday sales. A new video iPod may incorporate the iPhone’s 3.5-inch touch screen, analysts say. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=aNK8XeCqVHT8 8/28)
Sweden-based virtual doll site Stardoll announced its 10 millionth registered user, according to ComScore figures, making it the top site for girls aged 9-17 among ComScore’s top 1000 sites. To celebrate, the site is giving each user a virtual “swag bag” as well as 1,000 “stardollars.”
Yup, I can completely see why. For this go around, I dressed Paris Hilton. Users can dress a myriad of celebrities and change their environments as well. They can then send their creations via e-mail to friends adding a viral component to this site as well. It seems imminent that a content provider like Disney with their High School Musical 2 success would jump on this bandwagon at some point and allow users to dress characters from their shows.
MSNBC’s Web site and CondeNast’s online arm CondeNet are forming a partnership that will allow MSNBC.com to offer content from Vanity Fair, GQ, Vogue and other magazines. MSNBC.com aims to use CondeNet’s “impressive portfolio of leading brands” to boost traffic. (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/msnbccom-condenast-partnership/story.aspx?guid=%7B0F735284%2D2CDF%2D45DB%2DAFD0%2D609791913ECA%7D 8/29)
MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites are yet to realize their full potential as advertising media, experts report. Analyst firm IDC says that some services may never be able to attract advertisers on a large scale, since they “cannot guarantee a brand-safe environment.” (http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2197566/social-networking-sites-miss 8/29
)Yellow pages publisher R.H. Donnelley is now selling ad placements on Yahoo Local in 14 Midwestern states. If the new partnership is a success, Donnelley will look at expanding the Yahoo arrangement to other parts of the country. Donnelley is the No. 3 U.S. yellow pages publisher. (http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/685660.html 8/29)
A new study from ABI Research finds that nearly half of U.S. consumers are using their PCs to watch video in one form or another. Of those people, 72% watch video through their browsers, 65% watch DVDs and 7.1% are watching premium content. ABI says its study illustrates that people are becoming more accepting toward using their PCs as video devices, but aren’t yet using a TV tuner on their computers. (Dealerscope 8/28)
Top-Visited US Broadcast TV Websites for Week ending August 25, 2007
Rank Network Website Market Share of Visits
1 CBS Big Brother 29.46%
2 NBC America’s Got Talent 5.13%
3 FOX American Idol 4.97%
4 FOX America’s Most Wanted 3.47%
5 FOX So You Think You Can Dance 3.00%
6 CBS Pirate Master 2.95%
7 CBS Power of 10 2.93%
8 ABC Grey’s Anatomy 2.37%
9 FOX The Simpsons 2.27%
10 NBC Heroes 1.99%
Source: Hitwise Custom Report
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