Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
“American Idol,” the most-popular show on U.S. television, attracted 33.2 million viewers in its seventh season debut on Fox, winning Tuesday night with an audience that was down 11% from last year. The show will probably lead the News Corp. network to its fourth-straight primetime victory. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=a1ZFadGI7br8 11/16)
Will actors skip the Oscars? Writers Guild of America West head Patric Verrone is reiterating that he does not anticipate granting the Academy Awards a waiver unless the striking writers and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reach a deal. (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6522928.html 1/15)
The fate of the Academy Awards show is still in limbo, but ABC’s sales department is not waiting to discuss contingency plans with advertisers. One advertiser that has bought time in the Feb. 24 telecast says “it’s safe to say that we’re having conversations.” (http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=74392 1/16)
Discovery and Oprah Winfrey are announcing a deal where the Discovery Health network will be turned over to Winfrey, becoming OWN — the Oprah Winfrey Network. “This network isn’t just about me,” says Winfrey. “It’s about creating possibilities for any number of people.” (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-wed_oprah0116jan16,0,4561091.story 1/16)
A video clip of Katie Couric “unplugged” while on the set covering the New Hampshire primary is becoming a viral video hit. In one segment, the CBS news anchor lets loose a stream of expletives about her rush to get everything in one brief report. CBS has no comment on the video. (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080115/tv_couric_unplugged.html 1/15)
Television listings are getting a makeover, as TV Guide, TiVo and other companies plow research into simplifying and customizing on-screen program guides. New guides also help consumers find entertainment on the Web and from cable on-demand services. (http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120045429906193681.html 1/16)
Two USA series that soon will be repurposed on NBC, “Monk” and “Psych,” enjoyed strong ratings for season-premiere episodes recently. The sixth-season opener of “Monk” on Friday attracted 5.6 million viewers, while the beginning of season three of “Psych” drew 4.6 million people. (Multichannel News 1/15)
Click on the images below for full episodes.
In a legal victory for Charter and its suppliers, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a ruling by a lower court that investors cannot sue third-party entities in security-fraud cases. StoneRidge Investment Partners had alleged that Charter suppliers Motorola and Scientific Atlanta conspired to inflate the prices of their set-top boxes in 2000.
(Broadcasting & Cable 1/15)
Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
News Corp.’s MySpace pulled in 76% of U.S. visits to social networking Web sites in 2007, according to data from Hitwise. Facebook, the nearest social network competitor, pulled in a mere 12.57% of U.S. visits. Still, Facebook, year-over-year, grew by some 50%. (http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2008/01/16/despite-facebook-rise-myspace-still-king 1/16)
Google and other search engines may lose advertising dollars to sites such as Facebook, as more businesses shift their marketing focus to social networking. A new report by market experts Experian/Hitwise says that social networks know far more about their users than search sites. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/01/15/bcngoog115.xml 1/16)
Facebook is being asked to remove the Scrabulous game from its Web site by the makers of Scrabble. The Facebook add-on is hugely popular on the social networking site. Lawyers for toy makers Hasbro and Mattel say Scrabulous infringes their copyright. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7191264.stm 1/16)
German Internet entrepreneurs Alexander, Marc and Oliver Samwer are buying a stake in Facebook. The brothers are expected to become the social networking site’s strategic partners in Europe. The Samwers also hold investments in LinkedIn, among other sites. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/15/breaking-samwer-brothers-invest-in-facebook 1/15)
Scripps is unveiling RedBlueAmerica.com, a social networking site focusing on the 2008 U.S. elections. The ad-supported network aims to serve as a public forum for user-generated content, including blogs and videos. Staff bloggers will moderate the “red” and “blue” sides. (http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/01/14/daily39.html 1/16)
A hungry online video audience offset the holiday traffic slowdown for YouTube, which grew its audience by nearly 9% in December to 68.6 million unique visitors. The video-sharing site’s growth is particularly noteworthy given that Web traffic tends to slow in the final weeks of the year. (http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/01/youtube_audience_grew_9_in_dec.php 1/15)
Mansueto Digital plans to introduce FastCompany.tv in March. The online video network will feature coverage of tech trends and reviews. Popular tech blogger Robert Scoble will serve as the site’s managing director. He will also bring his blog, Scobleizer.com, to Mansueto. (http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080116/FREE/379002602/1078 1/16)
Cablevision has started offering CA’s Internet Security Suite Plus 2008 for no charge to subscribers of its Optimum Online service. The security technology, which retails for about $70, protects computers against hackers, spyware and spam while enhancing data backup and file transfers. (Multichannel News 1/15)
Filed under: WIRELESS
T-Mobile has teamed up with Current TV to invite viewers to produce ads for the mobile firm’s Sidekick LX cell phone. Current TV, under its “Viewer-Created Ad Messages” program, has been shifting 50% of its ad inventory to user-generated messages, in response to research showing Current TV’s viewers, by a 9-1 ratio, prefer user-generated ads, according to this article. (Adweek 1/15)
Filed under: Feature | Tags: XBox Live, Apple, Keynote, iPhone, Macworld 2008, iTouch, Time Capsule, MacBook Air, Steve Jobs, iTunes, Movie Rentals
MACWORLD 2008: KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Click the image above to watch Steve Jobs’ keynote from MacWorld.
And here are the highlights:
1) Time Capsule
2) Software Updates for iPhone and iTouch
3) iTunes Movie Rentals
4) MacBook Air
Time Capsule
Product Overview: Built to work with Time Machine in Mac OS X Leopard, the Time Capsule allows for wireless transfer between multiple computers and the external hard drive. No wires. Nothing for me to lose or trip over.
Capacity: 2 Models (500 GB and 1TB) I have NO idea what I would do with 1TB of storage space but I’d love to find out.
Price: 500 GB = $299, 1TB = $499
Launch Date: Ships in February (Pre-order available here with free shipping)
Software Upgrades for the iPhone and iTouch
iPhone Sales
Before we get to the upgrade itself, Jobs presented some interesting facts surrounding iPhone sales since launch. On this, the iPhone’s 200th day in market, Apple has sold 4 million units. The pie chart above demonstrates what those sales signify in terms of Q3 US smartphone sales. Apple represents the green at the bottom at 19.5% of the smartphone market. Even though this chart represents the smartphone market and not overall cellphone sales, this is pretty impressive stuff.
Now on to the good stuff. . . Well, actually, I would call this mildly satisfying stuff.
iPhone Upgrade (available free online now)
1) Maps with Location
2) Customizable Home Screen
3) SMS Multiple People at Once
Maps with Location:
Does NOT work on GPS technology. Instead, through a partnership with Skyhook Wireless, a location is triangulated by locating the closest Wi-Fi location. In my own test, the phone located me several blocks from my home but close enough to be pretty impressive. The new user interface on the map is even easier to use than the old interface. General Feedback: Eh. Several cell phones back the GPS punch. The iPhone is just now coming up to speed.
Customizable Home Screen:
Links to web pages of interest can be added to the iPhone home screen. In addition, icons can be moved around on screen to fit your every desire. My Daily Marauder icon now sleeps blissfully next to my iTunes icon. Review: I dig. A preview of what the SDK release in February will allow for applications on the iPhone.
SMS Multiple People at Once:
Is there anything more to say here? Review: Again, most all cell phones allow you to text message several people at once. Don’t tell me you felt special when you got that Happy New Year text?!
iTouch Upgrade
In essence, the iPod Touch has upgraded its resemblance to the iPhone. . .without the phone and SMS capability. The iPod Touch also features maps with location and the customizable home screen. Upgrade available for $20 online now. Yup, I don’t get the $$ attached either.
iTunes Movie Rentals
Above is the current top selling rental on iTunes as of this posting. Notice the rent movie button above the buy movie button. In coordination with all of the major studios, Apple now allows you to rent movies.
Rental Model: Viewers have 30 days to watch. From the time they start the movie, they have 24 hours to complete it and can watch on an iPod, iTouch, iPhone, or Apple TV product.
Available Content: 1,000 titles by the end of February
Window: Films available 30 days after DVD release
Price: $3.99 new SD title, $2.99 library SD title
$4.99 new HD title, $3.99 library SD title
Launch Date: Upgrade available for iTunes now.
When I think about the biggest competitor for HD movie content to rent online, I think of the Xbox Live Marketplace. Check out a comparison below. I based my calculations on the fact that 1,000 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live costs $12.50.
In essence, Apple is choosing to be more competitive on price in the HD marketplace.
Apple TV Update (Apple Take 2): Apple TV product can purchase TV and films without the aid of a computer. Price drop from $299 to $229. Free software upgrade and updated product shipping in 2 weeks.
And finally. . .
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air replaces the Sony TZ series as the thinnest computer in the world, able to easily fit into a manila envelope.
The Sony TZ:
The MacBook Air:
Price: $1799 for 1.6 GHZ and 80 GB hard drive, $3,098 for 1.8 GHZ and 64 GB solid state hard drive
Ship Date: 2 Weeks. Available to pre-order now online here with free shipping.
Pros: Super Slim, Large Hard Drive, Mighty Speedy and Full Keyboard
Cons: No optical drive (DVD/CD) and a bit on the pricey-side like most Macs
Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
Time Warner, News Corp., CBS and NBC are canceling dozens of writer contracts, conceding that the current television season cannot be salvaged. The move signals that development of next season’s new shows also could be in jeopardy because of the Hollywood writers strike. (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-strike15jan15,1,512764.story?ctrack=5&cset=true 1/15)
Fox’s “American Idol,” the most-watched show on U.S. television, is capitalizing on both its popularity and the Hollywood writers strike to set record advertising prices. Commercials are currently priced in the low $900,000s, up about 50% from a year earlier. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=av3Kujb0NzsI 1/14)
Several top recording artists who also have Screen Actors Guild cards — Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent and Queen Latifah — are being lobbied by the Writers Guild of America to not attend CBS’ Grammy Awards telecast or present awards, in order to show solidarity with the writers. (http://adage.com/article?article_id=123081 1/14)
NBC’s bare-bones Golden Globes telecast Sunday night, presented without the usual Hollywood pomp due to the Hollywood writers strike, attracted a meager 5.8 million viewers. That is a little more than one-quarter last year’s U.S. television audience, at some 20 million viewers. (http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1442094020080114 1/14)
Chrysler, the third-largest U.S. automaker, is shifting its television advertising dollars to live sports and car-enthusiast Web sites and out of primetime television. The Hollywood writers strike is “changing the whole broadcast model,” says Chrysler exec Deborah Wahl Meyer. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=aPq6pedPyL9o 1/14)
Spyglass Entertainment and Media Rights Capital are becoming the latest companies to sign interim deals with the Writers Guild of America, allowing writers to work on productions. The new deals follow similar agreements with Worldwide Pants, United Artists and the Weinstein Co. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3icc0677078a81a6335fe4bf693b4436e9 1/15)
Justin Timberlake will perform “wild stunts” in a new commercial for Pepsi Stuff, set to air during this year’s Super Bowl. The pop star previously appeared at the Super Bowl in 2004, performing on CBS live with Janet Jackson during the infamous half-time show “wardrobe malfunction.” (http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Entertainment/2008/01/14/timberlake_stars_in_super_bowl_commercial/2121 1/14)
Responding to heightened interest in this year’s presidential election as well as its own ratings success in covering it, CNN will launch a nightly election roundup show, to be named “CNN Election Center.” “There is no question that this political campaign is bewitching viewers,” said CNN U.S. President Jon Klein. “We’re having so much fun covering it that we wanted to do more of it on the air.” (The New York Times/Associated Press 1/15)
Disney boss Bob Iger will deliver the opening keynote interview at the 2008 Media Summit New York conference on March 12. Editors from BusinessWeek will conduct the interview at the fifth annual conference for media, entertainment and tech leaders at McGraw-Hill’s headquarters. (http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=disney011408.htm 1/14)
Traditional media companies will have “limited exposure” to the projected $21 billion global online advertising market in 2008, according to JP Morgan. It may be years before media-company balance sheets and valuations substantively reflect digital growth potential. (http://blogs.mediapost.com/on_media/?p=77 1/14)
ION Media Networks and Comcast have agreed to extend their current programming and distribution deal that would keep ION’s flagship network, ION TV, and its digital networks, qubo and ION Life, accessible to subscribers of the cable company. (Broadcasting & Cable 1/14)
Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Comcast says it has been contacted by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission regarding complaints that the company interferes with its subscribers’ Internet traffic. Consumer groups want the FCC to clarify how much power ISPs have in controlling traffic on their lines. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080114/ap_on_hi_te/comcast_data_discrimination 1/14)
New services and tools, some of which include audio and video, are helping bloggers earn advertising dollars on their sites. Nielsen Online exec Pete Blackshaw says: “There’s going to be a lot of new business models in 2008 that are geared toward more monetization.” (http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120036638439890355.html 1/15)
