Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Internet advertising may be vulnerable to a consumer slowdown after all, suggests a new report from comScore that shows a decline in clicks on Google ads. A bleaker Internet-ad outlook could increase pressure from shareholders of Yahoo to accept Microsoft’s takeover offer. (http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120406885089594779.html 2/27)
AOL CEO Randy Falco spoke today at IAB’s annual conference, and echoed what the official and unofficial thinking within Time Warner is at this point: “I’m hoping the two of them will beat each other’s brains out over search and leave the display market to us,” he said. This is what Jeff Bewkes’ line of thinking is on Microsoft’s bid for Yahoo. Also, he thinks the deal is a mistake, “But I think Napoleon said never interrupt your enemy when they’re in the middle of making a mistake.” (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-aol-ceo-msft-yhoo-a-mistake-but-were-happy 2/26)
Just when everyone else is cutting CD floor space at retail, Apple’s digital media store edged out BestBuy and Target to become the second-largest U.S. music retailer, behind Wal-Mart, according to NPD data, reported by AP. This is by unit volume data, meaning the number of times people shop at a retailer…tough to compare digital piecemeal sales with physical packaged sales, but it makes a better headline. The comparison is based on a 12-track CD equivalency for song downloads. (http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-appels-itunes-second-biggest-music-retailer-in-us-by-volume 2/26)
The European Union is fining Microsoft $1.3 billion — the largest ever for a single company — for charging “unreasonable prices” to software developers who want to make products compatible with Windows. “Flouting the rules is expensive,” says one EU commissioner. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080227/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_microsoft 2/27)
MySpace is launching “Special Delivery,” a non-scripted hidden-camera reality show produced in association with Avalon TV. MySpace users will also be able to become “friends” with the “Special Delivery” profile, allowing them to receive show updates and share episodes with friends. (http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=myspacetv022608.htm 2/26)
Facebook first announced last year that it was working on a redesign of members’ profiles. Now, the social-networking site is unveiling previews of its upcoming new look. Users won’t be able to see a member’s entire profile on one screen; personal data will be on one “tab.” (http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9879858-36.html 2/26)
(Below) If the recommendations are relevant, I am ALL over this. But as Netflix can tell you, building an algorithm for recommendations isn’t as easy as one would think.
YouTube is testing a new experimental personalized home page with a small group of users it has selected at random. The experimental home page will add personalized recommendations, videos from subscriptions and a way to see what videos your friends are uploading and rating. (http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2008/02/26/youtube-to-test-personalized-homepage 2/26)
Yelp, the popular local review site, will soon announce a new $15 million dollar round of financing led by DAG Ventures. The valuation is rumored to be in the $200 million range. Yelp says that they will be using the money to expand geographically, add onto their sales team, and establish an office in NYC (they are based in San Francisco). This is Yelp’s fourth round of funding since their founding in 2004. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/26/yelp-raises-15-million-fourth-round-valuation-200-million 2/26)
ESPN will expand its coverage of The Masters in April on ESPN.com, ESPN360.com and masters.org to include live streaming of the linear channel’s Wednesday – Friday coverage on the broadband channel and live streaming of “Amen’s Corner” on ESPN.com. Broadcasting & Cable (2/26)
Advertising.com veterans Scott Ferber and Mollie Spilman received $15 million in series A funding led by New Enterprises Assoc. and Valhalla Partners for the launch of TidalTV. The upcoming a web-based television service will feature interactive ad-supported, professionally produced television programming.
It turns out there was an interesting story behind YouTube’s outage over the weekend. Pakistan officials had requested that an anti-Muslim film clip from Dutch lawmaker/filmmaker Geert Wilders’ upcoming expose on the Koran to be removed from the local version of the site, for fear of it inciting violence. Pakistan Telecom implemented the government’s orders and blocked the clip, but an error in PTCL’s “black holing” procedure inadvertently replicated the blocking message across the internet worldwide.
The IAB and PricewaterhouseCoopers estimated internet advertising revenues will grow to $21.1 billion in 2007, a 25% increase from last year’s total of $16.9 billion.
Kids/teens online ad network Go Fish added teen focused, avatar-based social network WeeWorld, increasing its aggregate reach to 18.2 million users, according to comScore figures.
Most Popular Online Video Genres Viewers Watch Monthly or More, 2007
Genre % of viewers
News/current events 61%
Jokes, bloopers, comedy 57%
Movie trailers, previews 51%
Music videos 49%
TV shows (clips, previews) 44%
Entert. news/movie reviews 41%
User generated videos 39%
Weather info. 36%
Sports clips/highlights 30%
TV shows (full episodes) 27%
Business/financial news 20%
Cartoons/animation 14%
Full-length movies 14%
Concerts 14%
Source: eMarketer estimates
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