Filed under: MISC
ZUNE 2.0
As promised, Microsoft released an upgrade to both the Zune device and the desktop software today. Above is a side-by-side comparison care of Engadget with the 2.0 version on the left. Among the new features that come as part of the update are: wireless sync, a new Zune Marketplace, and a social lnetwork built around the device.
Along with an upgrade to the software itself, new versions of the Zune released yesterday including a $250 80 GB version and a $200 8GB flash-based version. (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,139519-c,mp3players/article.html 11/12)
Ballad of Tina Pink (Zune’s New TV Commercial)
I’ve been obsessed with this commercial since the very first time I saw it. It’s ethereal and creatively-inspired. What’s more, the music selection is ingenious: Rogue Wave’s Lake Michigan.
Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
BROADCAST/CABLE
Details are emerging on EchoStar’s proposed spinoff of its technology and infrastructure business, including the recently acquired Sling Media, whose financials are available for the first time. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-earnings-echostar-q3-revenues-up-13-percent-outlook-dim-on-economy-hous 11/12)
About 500 news writers could soon join their creative colleagues on the picket line. The writers, employees of CBS News television and radio, are expected to approve a strike authorization. Represented by Writers Guild of America East, the writers are scheduled to vote Thursday. (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071112/wga_cbs_news.html 11/12)
Three new series announced today – all unscripted (see below). Also two renewals – only one of those is scripted, Damages on FX. As the writers strike continues, look for more unscripted series to hit the primetime schedule, including (but certainly not limited to):
- Duel on ABC beginning December 17 and scheduled to air thru the 23rd at 8pm. In this gamer, players have to bluff well to win. Also coming to ABC, new seasons of Supernanny and Wife Swap.
- On CBS - a midseason edition of Big Brother is planned as well as another season of Amazing Race and Survivor. Also a couple of games – Million Dollar Password with Regis hosting, and Do You Trust Me with host Tucker Carlson.
- NBC – American Gladiator with Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali hosting; Amnesia game with host Dennis Miller, and more episodes of 1 vs. 100 and Deal or No Deal.
- You know American Idol is returning to Fox on January 15th, and you can expect more new eps of Hell’s Kitchen, 5th Grader and Don’t Forget the Lyrics. Also look for game show The Moment of Truth to kick off on January 23rd.
- CW will bring back more new America’s Next Top Model, Beauty and the Geek and Pussycat Dolls.
Cable-television companies including Comcast are fighting a plan by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to claim new regulatory powers. The National Cable and Telecommunications Association says the FCC is “twisting statistics” in its claim that cable is getting too big. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aio4yJTC3Bzg 11/12)
Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Two years after the launch of successful gossip site TMZ.com, Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG) hopes its latest entry in a crowded field can follow suit: MomLogic.com, a combo online destination and cross-platform ad network “for thinking moms who don’t have time to think” and the advertisers who want to reach them. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-warner-bros-tv-hopes-to-strike-online-lightning-twice-with-momlogiccom 11/12, http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-warners13nov13,1,1676386.story 11/13))
Reebok’s entertainment division is producing a branded interview show called “Framed,” which features some of the footwear company’s athlete endorsers paired with celebrity questioners. The six-episode series will be shown on the Independent Film Channel and will feature such pairings as baseball star David Ortiz interviewed by comedian Carlos Mencia and basketball standout Allen Iverson interviewed by singer Nelly. (The New York Times 11/13)
Earlier this summer, Break.com, the online video site based in Beverly Hills, announced an undisclosed amount of investment from Lionsgate, the major independent film and TV studio….which Variety later reported around $21 million. The exact amount and more details were revealed in a 10-Q filed on Friday by Lionsgate: It was about $21.4 million investment, with Lionsgate getting about 42 percent of the company. “The aggregate purchase price was approximately $21.4 million, which included $0.5 million of transaction costs, consisted of the issue of 1,890,189 of the Company’s common shares,” the filing said. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-lionsgates-214-million-inv*stm*nt-in-breakcom-option-to-buy-rest 11/12)
Lifetime relaunched its female-focused web portal pulling content from a number of partners including Hearst Digital, About.com, RealArcade, RevolutionHealth.com and Glam Media – regarded the hottest vertical network of sites in the women’s category. MyLifetime.com will offer continually refreshed content across a number of categories taking the form of casual games, community features and broadband programming. In addition to streaming Lifetime originals, the site is planning seven new made-for-the web series this year and at least 16 series next year. (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6500181.html 11/12)
News Corp.’s Twentieth Television is entering a deal with Yahoo to develop a series featuring popular Web videos for syndication that could air next year. The potential series, which is in active development, would be “a fast-paced program” featuring “the hottest videos from around the Web.” (http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/11/twentieth_yahoo_plan_joint_sho.php 11/11)
Instead of creating new products, Google’s developers and engineers are now being called on to improve existing services. Google is “trying to make itself into a ubiquitous brand” on the Web. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/12/AR2007111201774.html 11/13)
MTV Networks will launch a new password-protected affiliate relations site on Wednesday optimized for today’s rich media needs. MTVN.com will incorporate feedback from the company’s more than 10,000 affiliates and feature new user-friendly functionalities including targeted promotions and spots sections, an enhanced programming section and a planned area for wireless clients offering mobile-based programming, content and applications.
MSNBC is launching its redesigned MSNBC.com. Surfers will be able to customize the site to reorder the stories any way they like. Stories will feature more videos and slide shows. The page will be more horizontal, a “wide screen” view that MSNBC says will make it easier to navigate. (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6500287.html 11/12)
Beliefnet.com, a leading Web site for faith and spirituality, is testing a social networking site “where beliefs and values can be safely explored by people of all faiths,” says Steven Waldman, CEO and editor of Beliefnet.com. “Social networks aren’t just about dating or bands anymore.” (http://www.informationweek.com/internet/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=202805331 11/12)
Marvel is putting some of its comics online, hoping to reintroduce young people to the X-Men and Fantastic Four. Comics can only be viewed in a Web browser, not downloaded, and new issues will only go online at least six months after they first appear in print. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071113/ap_on_hi_te/comics_online 11/13)
TVGuide signed syndication agreements with Variety, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and Voxtant, licensing its online program listings grid and additional editorial and video content.
The NHL is launching a series of interactive widgets powered by Gydgets built to pull live content from NHL.com to social networking sites or blogs. The widgets can provide breaking news, schedule info and links to purchase tickets.
News Corp. spent $1.7 million to lobby the federal government in the first half of 2007 on efforts to limit taxes for Internet companies and curb downloading of copyright material among college students. So says a disclosure form posted online by the U.S. Senate. (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071112/news_corp_lobbying.html 11/12)
Internet advertising exceeded $5.2 billion for the 3rd quarter in the U.S., according to new figures released yesterday from the IAB and PricewaterhouseCoopers, a $1.1 billion or 25.3% increase over Q2 2006. Revenues for the first nine months of 2007 totaled $15.2 billion, up nearly 26 percent over the $12.1 billion recorded for the same period in 2006. Search continues to make up about 40% of all internet ad revenue.
Filed under: WIRELESS
Microsoft says it is in exclusive talks to purchase Musiwave, a provider of mobile music services to wireless operators and entertainment companies. Paris-based Musiwave was acquired by mobile browsing and applications firm Openwave in September ’05 for $121 million. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-microsoft-in-talks-to-acquire-mobile-music-service-musiwave-from-openwa 11/12)
Google is offering developers $10 million in prizes to improve its cellphone service.(http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071113/ap_on_hi_te/google_mobile 11/13)
Warner Music’s chief executive officer, Edgar Bronfman, is urging the mobile industry to refocus its efforts away from ringtones and toward easier-to-use music players or risk losing out to companies such as Apple and Google. “With Apple’s iPhone innovation and Google coming in, if the mobile phone industry doesn’t respond with highly competitive offerings, they’re going to watch their share of the opportunity diminish,” Bronfman said. (Financial Times 11/13)
Nokia will ship two 3G 8800-series cell phones over the next few months, the company announced Tuesday. The 8800 Arte will roll out this year, and Nokia will ship the 8800 Sapphire Arts in the first quarter of 2008. Both will be priced in the $1,500 range, with the Sapphire about 15% higher. (The Washington Post/Reuters 11/13)
Filed under: TECHNOLOGY
Intel unveiled a new line of microprocessor chips optimized to deliver HD video over the internet. Built utilizing a new formula that harnesses more of the chips’ electrical power, the processors will first be used in servers and high-end desktops to compress online video. But it should only be a matter of time before they trickle down to consumer-grade PCs.
Monsoon Multimedia recently unveiled the HAVA Titanium HD media-control device, which it hopes will attract consumers interested in Slingbox-like functionality for high-def programming. “The HAVA Titanium’s modular design allows [the device] to evolve with changing Wi-Fi standards and expand functionality by attaching specific USB peripherals,” said Monsoon’s Colin Stiles. (TheRetailBRIDGE.com 11/13)
Filed under: MISC
MISC
Hollywood movies no longer make money in large part because of the participation deals studios make with stars, directors and producers, according to a report by Global Media Intelligence with Merrill Lynch. Today’s movies “are weighed down by participations that never stop.” (http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=report111207.htm 11/12)
