Daily Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

Part-two of the CSI:NY episode “Down The Rabbit Hole” about a virtual world killer concludes today with a nifty 3D Machinima segment produced by The Electric Sheep Company. (Cynopsis 4/2)

Down the Rabbit Hole Part 1

 
Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards show Saturday attracted a record 7.4 million viewers, a 22% spike over last year’s version. The event, hosted by actor Jack Black, also brought in children of all ages: 3.8 million in the 2-to-11 demographic watched, and 2.7 million 9- to 14-year-olds tuned in, according to Nielsen. (The Hollywood Reporter 4/1)

Jack Black and Orlando Bloom Get Slimed

 
On May 25, HBO will premiere “Recount,” a drama focusing on the 2000 presidential election that resulted in George W. Bush’s first presidential term. The film stars Kevin Spacey as Ron Klain, Al Gore’s former chief of staff. (World Screen News 4/1)

 
The CW announced the premiere date for its reality series Farmer Wants A Wife on April 30 at 9p. This U.S. version from FremantleMedia North America takes one young farmer from Missouri and introduces him to ten city slicker gals who come to his hometown to learn about farming and country life in hopes of one becoming his wife. (Cynopsis 4/2)

All weekend CBS College Sports Network will air additional coverage of the 2008 NCAA Division I Mens Final Four and Championship Game as a compliment to CBS Sports live game broadcasts from San Antonio. CBS College Sports Network extras begin Friday at 1p with the live Final Four Team Practices and concluding with the National Championship Pregame Show on Monday at 8p and following the game with NCAA March Madness Highlights at 12a. (Cynopsis 4/2)

 
SCI FI Channel’s new original 13-episode series Sanctuary begins production this month with a debut set for this fall. The series, about bizarre creatures living among us that are only seen by a few, was originally a hi-def web series.  The one-hour drama uses live-action actors shot mostly against virtual sets and is produced by Stage 3 Media, in collaboration with the network. (Cynopsis 4/2)

The three months TV writers spent on the picket lines, when the production of new episodes were halted, led to steep year-to-year ratings drops for four of the five broadcast networks, according to Nielsen data for the first quarter. Not surprisingly, cable networks such as ESPN, Nick at Nite, TBS and History all posted solid gains for the first three months of the year. (USA TODAY 4/1)

The Hills on MTV

 
Despite the slowing economy, mergers and acquisitions in the media industry are keeping up a fairly strong pace, according to a report released by media investment bank Jordan, Edmiston Group. AOL’s $850 million acquisition of Bebo helped lift the deal value in this year’s first quarter. (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/FREE/995082902/1001  4/1)

 
CBS will cut about 1% of its 1,200-employee news work force, the network says, amid a tough media environment. Television news operations, whose viewers tend to be older, have had less success attracting a younger audience drawn to the rapid updates of news on the Internet. ((Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN0131772320080402  4/1)

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has been a consistent thorn in cable’s side, and the industry has no option other than to bide its time until he is replaced, according to NCTA President Kyle McSlarrow. “It’s a given: This is what it’s going to be like while he is chairman,” McSlarrow said. “There’s nothing the industry does that’s going to be good enough. So we have to make our case to other people.” (Multichannel News 4/1)

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Something big is brewing between Google and Ebay’s Skype, we’ve heard from multiple sources. Actually, for weeks now there have been low level rumors of the two companies talking, but nailing down any details was difficult. New information, however, suggests that they are in current talks and that a partnership or outright acquisition may be announced in the near future. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/01/googleskype-acquisition-or-partnership-imminent 4/1)

Shares in Expedia jumped more than 10% in Tuesday trading, after rumors swirled that the online travel agency was a takeover target by Google. The Bellevue, Wash., company’s shares rose $2.20 to close at $24.09 Tuesday, after speculation about “unsubstantiated rumors.” (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/03/31/daily14.html?jst=b_ln_hl 4/1)

Google will announce layoffs Wednesday at DoubleClick’s New York City and San Francisco offices, sources say. Supposedly, the cuts will be focused on middle management, not sales staff. Google’s press office says the company doesn’t “comment on rumors or market speculation.” (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://venturebeat.com/2008/04/01/doublclick-layoff-announcements-coming-tomorrow 4/1)

Radiohead is using the Internet for another initiative built around its chart-topping album, “In Rainbows.” The rock act is allowing fans to remix the new single “Nude” by buying separate tracks from the recording — bass, voice, guitar, strings/effects and drums — from iTunes Plus. ((Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003783599 4/1)

Head to the site to listen to the top-rated remix. It’s been on repeat on my iTunes deck all day.

The Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held an invite-only hearing about virtual worlds yesterday which was simultaneously broadcast in Linden Labs’ Second Life, the leading virtual community with about 6 million registered users. The subcommittee, led by Net Neutrality advocate Ed Markey, wanted to explore some of the issues involved in virtual worlds such as, Can they be used to launder money? or Are the safe for children? So they figured, why not meet as avatars virtually? Rep. Markey also made headlines last December when he sent his chiseled avatar to attend a United Nations conference on global warming in Bali. But hey - at least it’s a way to save on jet fuel. (Cynopsis 4/2)

CBS Radio placed a giant web 2.0 foot forward announcing a deal to stream its stations to Last.fm listeners through a new online player coming out later this Spring. The deal follows CBS Radio’s recent agreement to offer live streaming on AOL and is similar to the Last.fm partnership struck with the BBC’s digital radio stations. (Cynopsis 4/2)

Sony Pictures Television joined the crowded comedic video space with C-Spot, an ad supported web comedy channel that will distribute short form sketches on Sony’s Crackle, YouTube, Hulu, AOL Video and Verizon Wireless’ VCast, (not to mention directly to Sony Bravia TVs via the Bravia Video Internet link.) C-Spot will try to tickle the funny bone with an initial 6 series, each of which will run for 13-weeks and debut a new episode a different day of the week: Hot, Hot Los Angeles, The Writers Room, Gaytown, The Roadents, Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show, and Best of Penn Says. (Cynopsis 4/2)

Online video search company Blinkx plans to launch its own peer-to-peer Internet television service. Blinkx Broadband TV will initially offer independent films and news free of charge, delivered over the Internet but with picture quality on a par with ordinary TV. (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d6ee25a8-001a-11dd-825a-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1 4/1)

Blinkx Broadband TV

Eh. . .so so selection of content and definitely not picture quality on par with TV. Mediocre quality at best in my very minimal usage.

A week after dozens of people ransacked an Oregon home in response to a Craigslist ad offering its contents for free, police have arrested a couple for orchestrating the hoax. After subpoenaing Craigslist records, investigators traced the online posting to the alleged perpetrators. (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0401081horse1.html 4/1)

Dissident shareholders led by investment fund Jana Partners are belittling CNET Networks’s leadership as incompetent in their latest effort to steer the slumping tech news company in a new direction. Jana says it wants to deploy “better tools to sell more advertising.” (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080401/ap_on_hi_te/cnet_investor_rebellion 4/1)

Music and video content streamed over the Web, IPTV networks and mobile handsets will generate $70 billion in total revenue between this year and 2013, according to a report from Insight Research. (InformationWeek 4/1)

WIRELESS

Amazon.com’s brick-and-mortar rivals have another reason to fear the Web: a new service that lets shoppers compare prices and buy things via cellphone. The new Amazon TextBuyIt lets people order products from anywhere their cellphones work — including from inside physical stores. (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080402/ap_on_hi_te/amazon_text_message_shopping;_ylt=AuNy29mn8a0acQjdNOvxFEP6VbIF  4/2)

My first inclination to this product?  Sketchyville.  Remember back to the times of yesterday when audiences felt uncomfortable purchasing online?  Many felt that the online environment was less secure and that their personal information would be compromised.  If that was the case then, it’s bound to be the case here.  On top of this security concern, there’s the fact that this process is not easy.  Texting any number assortment involves number recall.  I don’t know about you, but I can’t even remember my best friend’s phone number.  Remember to text this number/word combination for one situation and this number/word combination for another situation does not even faintly feel like a solution.  Apple seems to have figured this out when they installed native applications on the phone’s home screen.  I’m more than excited about mobile purchasing. . .but this isn’t the method to turn the tide.

 
Sprint Nextel will release its answer to the iPhone in June, a touch-screen phone that executives hinted will cost less than Apple’s $399 device. The company has earmarked $150 million to market the Samsung Instinct, five times the amount it usually spends on a new product, executives disclosed Tuesday. (Yahoo!/Associated Press 4/1)

How do you say “blatant iPhone rip-off” in Japanese?

 
AT&T has introduced the first handset to support its AT&T Navigator GPS service. The quadband Motorola Z9 also marks the premier Motorola device that offers AT&T’s Video Share service. (CNET 4/1,  Chicago Sun-Times 4/1)

 
Here’s a study that helps explain some of the cynicism displayed by mobile content providers at CTIA this week. Nearly half of wireless phone consumers do not know whether or not their carrier offers mobile TV or video services, according to an online survey by QuickPlay Media. In a strong argument for the ad supported model, another 43% of respondents said perceived cost was the #1 reason they hadn’t tried mobile TV or video. (Cynopsis 4/2)

 
Looking to increase its digital presence outside the U.S., HBO has entered into a deal with Bell Canada to provide its mobile-phone customers full episodes of shows such as “The Sopranos,” “Entourage,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Tell Me You Love Me.” The service costs $9.75 a month and also includes stand-up comedy clips, bonus footage and ringtones. (The Hollywood Reporter 4/1) (

 
AOL rolled out a beta version of MyMobile, designed to give mobile users a much more sophisticated interface through which to access personalized AOL services including AIM, AOL Mail, AOL CityGuide, Moviefone, MapQuest, AOL Local Search, AOL News, Weather, AOL Sports and AOL Pictures. AOL also announced expanded availability of the new AIM TXT service, now available through all major U.S. carriers. (Cynopsis 4/2)

 
FCC chairman Kevin Martin told a CTIA audience the FCC should reject a petition by eBay’s Skype division to require wireless carriers to allow any device access their network. (Cynopsis 4/2)

 
Disney-ABC Television Group’s Disney Channel will be added to MobiTV’s subscription mobile TV offering as a 24/7 simulcast. (Cynopsis 4/2)

 
Those who watch TV over their mobile phones now have a TV Guide Web site of their own with TV-Guide’s  launch of M.TVGuide.com, the company announced. The site, which the company sought to optimize across platforms, contains most of the features found on TVGuide.com, executives said. (TWICE 4/1)

GAMING

Blu-ray’s victory in the DVD standards battle will enable Sony to exploit the big guns in its gaming line, said Scott Steinberg, an executive at Sony Computer Entertainment America, in a wide-ranging interview. “So 2008 is going to be the year where both on the service side as well as on a Blu-ray side, you’re going to see everything that we’ve got,” he said. (GameDaily BIZ 4/1)

TECHNOLOGY

AT&T will debut Microsoft’s Surface touch-screen tabletop computer in New York City, Atlanta, San Antonio and San Francisco beginning April 17. Shoppers will select content and interact by touching the 30-inch display screen in an experience Microsoft says will “transform the way consumers shop for mobile devices.” (Pocket-lint.co.uk 4/2)

Consumers appear to be turning down the volume on purchases of television sets. Recent consumer surveys and comments from TV suppliers point to a slowing demand. But while big-screen-TV sales are slowing, sales of videogames are helping to boost the consumer electronics industry. (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120709784073182019.html  4/2)