Filed under: MISC
CADILLAC AND CBS TEAM UP FOR SOME USB ACTION
Now, I realize I’m late to the game in mentioning this. That said, being that this is an intriguing piece of TV promotion, I think it still bears mention. Several weeks ago, while on a flight from NY to LA, an American stewardess flung a tiny USB in my direction. After several seconds of general confusion on my part, I noticed the CBS and Cadillac logos emblazoned on the top. Ah, TV promotion wrapped in some Cadillac branding. . .
CBS/Cadillac distributed these 128MB USB flash drives via Entertainment Weekly and on American flights.
The drives were loaded with previews of CBS’s fall spectrum of programming as well as a preview widget to be incorporated on users’sites (rendering this a viral application as well). Cadillac branding was light but included a link to more information well as a few videos.
While many of the TV networks focused on online distribution of previews, I thought that this was a really brilliant move on CBS’part. Consumers still appreciate having a physical object if that object presents some sort of value. This one in fact did present value. Distribution on American flights was particularly intriguing given that many business travelers had their laptops handy for viewing. And as you all know, American does not have much in the realm of in-flight entertainment options. Value = end to boredom. Et voila. (American: perhaps this means you should distribute the drive at the beginning of the flight rather than at the end.)
Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
BROADCAST/CABLE
Voting shares of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. have gained ground of late and are up year-to-date after trailing their year-end 2006 closing price late in the summer. Most Wall Street observers are bullish on the stock, with some calling it their favorite pick among sector biggies. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/business/news/e3ic81707e04a7d921745fd092caca1b4b1 10/10)
This has been in the works for a bit and is a natural fit … NBC Universal is acquiring women’s cable net Oxygen Media for $925 million, $875 million net of financial assets. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. (http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/corporate-20071009000000-nbcuniversaltoacq.html 10/9)
Hollywood studios are putting a hiring squeeze on writers, as a possible Writers Guild of America strike looms when the union’s contract expires on Oct. 31. Writers want pay rates for Internet distribution; producers argue that online entertainment is too new to establish pay formulas. (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117973733.html?categoryid=10&cs=1 10/9)
The CW is the first to announce a pick-up of a freshman series as Gossip Girl will return next year with a full season of episodes. In its Wednesday 9p time slot, Gossip Girl has posted season to date averages of 2.8/7 among W18-34 and 1.9/5 with A18-34 and 4.7/15 with female teens as well as 3 million total viewers.
Charles S. Dutton and HBO have made final an overall deal in which Dutton will act in and direct a variety of projects. Dutton directed the 1997 film “First Time Felon” for HBO, his first behind the camera, as well as “The Corner.” (The Hollywood Reporter 10/10)
Comcast plans to move about 100 management positions at its Versus sports network to the corporation’s new headquarters tower under construction in Philadelphia. The studios for Versus, formerly known as Outdoor Life Network, will remain in Stamford, Conn. (http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2007/10/08/daily9.html 10/9)
With deals in hand for Africa and Poland, Comcast International Media Group said it would launch globally a 24/7 version of its Style Network. The company also announced that it would make channels such as E! Entertainment, the Golf Channel, G4 and Exercise TV available internationally through its video-on-demand service. (The Hollywood Reporter 10/10)
Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
ONLINE/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
BitTorrent continued with its transition from pirated content enabler to legit video streaming provider, unveiling new software to help make streaming video over the web faster and more cost effective. Dubbed the BitTorrent Delivery Network Accelerator (DNA), the service uses peer-to-peer architecture to save on server costs; when one user watches a video the software sends data to others requesting the same stream. It can also be used to facilitate downloads of feature length movies, games, software and other large files. The Hollywood Reporter/Reuters (10/10)
Speaking with reporters at MIPCOM in Cannes, CBS chief Les Moonves discussed the company’s new-media strategy. The linear network will continue to be CBS’s core focus for first-run programming, he says. Short-form clips and online “mashups” are “good for us promotionally.” (http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=moonves100907.htm 10/9)
Blinkx, an Internet video search company based in London, will allow consumers to make money from the videos they show on their own blogs, social network sites or home pages if they agree to embed advertising in the videos. Blinkx hopes the offer will help it compete with YouTube. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/business/media/10video.html?_r=1&oref=slogin 10/10)
Here’s what I like: An additional revenue stream for bloggers like moi. Here’s what I don’t like: The blogger cannot control how many ads are inserted in a particular piece of content. Ads are inserted based on relevance which means that this could be 0 or 4. From the user side of the curve, I wouldn’t mind seeing ads in videos across the net in general but it would be a bit frustrating in a social networking type of environment. Anything that close to my Facebook profile feels like an invasion of space.
Joost plans to add live TV shows to its on-demand content in the first quarter of 2008. In an interview with paidContent:UK, content strategy and acquisition EVP Yvette Alberdingkthijm said the programming has been arranged for testing, though she declined to identify the source. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-mipcom-broadband-content-bits-online-tv-distributors-scale-up 10/9)
EBay is launching its own social networking service, hoping to woo shoppers who say the auction Web site has lost its folksy appeal. The new Neighborhoods feature allows users to post photos and product reviews, creating a more interactive experience than eBay’s text-based forums. (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ebay10oct10,1,6397181.story?ctrack=4&cset=true 10/10)
Welcome to the Coffee Lovers neighborhood. I like how these neighborhoods connect users’interests with the applicable products (in my case, an espresso machine). That said, I would rather reach out to eBay via a social networking application such an eBay app in Facebook. eBay’s Marketplace app in Facebook is aight but I like the connection to personal interest they have going here with the neighborhoods.
MTV launched a new fashion website TheLookRightNow.com to showcase the original micro-series Fashion: The Life, also available for viewing across MTV’s The Hills on VOD as well as the show’s virtual world site. The 3-10 minute webisodes, powered by iFilm, feature co-branded content opportunities for sponsor Pepsi to plug its new designer clothing line.
Fashion: The Life Webisode 1
‘This is how we grind it out.’
Turner Broadcasting is entering a deal with YouTube to allow clips from CNN and Turner Classic Movies to be available on the video-sharing site. Short clips from CNN International and TCM will be made available via specially branded channels on YouTube. (http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/News/Articlex/f1432e3274c042e49eb3631ce76423db/Turner-Broadcasting-pens-deal-with-CNN.html 10/10)
Finnish instant-messaging start-up Jaiku was acquired by Google. Like Twitter, Jaiku utilizes web and IM-based tools to allow users to keep track of their friends’ comings and goings without having to cumbersomely text individual friends. The site assures users its IM, SMS and web based apps will continue work normally. (http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0943791520071009 10/9)
Vuze announced it is opening up its platform to allow independent producers distribute video content through its portal. Video, audio and gaming publishers have the option to offer ad-supported downloads or pay-for-play rentals. Vuze also announced it reached the 10 million user milestone, adding 2 million new users in September alone.
Not saying that this isn’t a great thing to do. . .but do we really need yet another destination to upload video? I need less in my life, not more.
Craigslist is currently estimated to have annual revenues of about $150 million, largely from charging $25 for job listings in a handful of U.S. cities. The classifieds site is adding fees in Chicago, Orange County, Sacramento and Portland, which could boost sales to more than $200 million. (http://www.internetfinancialnews.com/financialblogtalk/news/ifn-6-20071008Craigslistracksupanother75million.html 10/8)
Filed under: WIRELESS
WIRELESS
What started as an open discussion on Apple’s forum has hatched into a class action lawsuit. California resident Timothy Smith is suing over Apple’s aggressive stance against hackers who have figured out how to unlock the iPhone. The company recently sent out updates that would disable unlocked phones and announced it would deny warranty services to those affected.
High-def broadband lifestyle network KushTV signed a deal with Helio to distribute a number of its original episodic series to 3G mobile phone users. KushTV currently has branded channel partnerships with Helio, Joost, YouTube and Akimbo.
Alltel, in conjunction with Boingo Wireless, is offering its customers access to Wi-Fi hot spots in North and South America. The carrier also is selling prepaid Wi-Fi cards at retailers and offering a Wi-Fi/EV-DO bundled package. (Yahoo!/TechWeb/InformationWeek 10/8)
Filed under: GAMING
GAMING
Electronic Arts is teaming with energy company BP to offer a more realistic portrayal of how power is generated and its environmental impact, as part of the new edition of its PC game SimCity, which is set for a Nov. 15 release. (The New York Times 10/10)
Publishers are supporting Nintendo’s popular Wii by shifting to its format as Sony struggles to generate more interest in its PS3 system, according to industry analysts. Eighty-six titles will be released for the Wii in the fourth quarter, while 47 titles are headed for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and only 38 are set for the PS3. (GameDaily BIZ 10/9)
