Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Carl Icahn sent an open letter to Yahoo detailing his proxy bid to replace the company’s entire board, naming former Viacom CEO Frank J. Biondi, Jr. and HDNet founder Mark Cuban among the replacements. Yahoo’s chairman Roy Bostock responded to letter, defending the board’s action and claiming Mr. Icahn “significantly misunderstood” the facts about the Microsoft proposal. (Cynopsis 5/16, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aTj8PKot7gsQ 5/15)

Carl Icahn, a billionaire investor, speaks during the World Business Forum in New York, Oct. 11, 2007. Photographer: Chip East/Bloomberg News

Yahoo and Google are said to be continuing to talk about a search advertising partnership, but an announcement is not imminent. Talks have “not cooled” after Microsoft withdrew its offer for Yahoo. Although talks remain fluid, a deal could come “as early as next week.” (Iwantmedia 5/16, http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN1537405720080516 5/15)

Yahoo and WPP will announce a partnership that the companies say will make it easier and more effective for WPP and its agencies to buy and target advertising across the Web. WPP agencies will develop a proprietary trading system for placing display ads on Web sites. (Iwantmedia 5/16, http://www.nypost.com/seven/05162008/business/yahoo___wpp_plan_web_ad_alliance_111130.htm 5/16)

The CW network has lost 28% of its target audience so far this season, despite the buzz surrounding its show “Gossip Girl.” The CW’s young audience is most prone to spending time on the Internet. Industry people are asking whether this coming season is the CW’s last chance. (Iwantmedia 5/16, http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121089546043097065.html 5/16)

Facebook is suspending participation in Google’s new Friend Connect project, citing a violation of its internal terms of service. Friend Connect, says Facebook, “redistributes user information from Facebook to other developers without users’ knowledge, which doesn’t respect privacy.” (Iwantmedia 5/16, http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9945308-36.html 5/15)

Google is adding visitor demographic information for advertisers on YouTube. A new demographics tab will display statistics on the total views of all the videos uploaded by a person or organization. Viewership is broken down by age group, gender or a combination of the two. (Iwantmedia 5/16, http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/google/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207800348 5/15)

CBS’s acquisition of CNET Networks for $1.8 billion aims to make the company an online powerhouse. But Wall Street doesn’t seem to be sold on the news. The high price CBS is paying “borders on irresponsible,” says Douglas A. McIntyre, editor of 24/7Wallst.com. CNET is “troubled.” (Iwantmedia 5/16, http://www.cnbc.com/id/24650777 5/15)

Amazon.com launched a handy dandy MP3 Clips Widget allowing bloggers, social networkers and website owners to showcase song samples from Amazon’s catalog of over 5 million DRM free tracks. When a user listens to a song on your site then clicks over to buy it from Amazon, the owner can earn up to 10% in referral fees depending on the label. The Amazon MP3 Clips Widget comes on the heels of the release of several new digital product widgets from Amazon’s Associates Program, including the Kindle Chicklet, Your Video Widget and Unbox Movie & TV Preview Widget. Check out the list available to associate members here. (Cynopsis 5/16, InformationWeek 5/15)

Vuguru, the new media company run by former Disney chief Michael Eisner, is releasing a new, 50-episode Web series designed as to be a prequel to “Foreign Body,” the new medical thriller by author Robin Cook. The series features “a group of dangerous Indian beauties, brimming with desire.” (Iwantmedia 5/16, http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2008/05/15/eisner-and-his-dangerous-indian-beauties 5/15)

MySpace TV is developing a short-form original series starring “Beverly Hills 90210″ alumnus Ian Ziering. The series is based on a comedic short film Ziering directed, produced and starred in. Ziering plays a cubicle worker who faces a rough Monday morning where everything seems to go wrong. (Iwantmedia 5/16, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iddf6bb69274592b721b2f563dc3f5b71 5/16)

A 49-year-old Missouri woman accused of pretending to be a love-struck teenage boy on News Corp.’s MySpace and driving a 13-year-old girl to suicide with cruel messages is being indicted on federal charges. Social-networking sites are under pressure to crack down on cyber-bullying. (Iwantmedia 5/16, http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN1531758020080516 5/15)

If there was ever a case for drawing and quartering someone, this is surely it.  Simply disgusting behavior from a so-called adult.

Tina and Ron Meier’s daughter, Megan, killed herself after being dumped by “Josh”, in reality a female neighbour.
Photo: Peter Newcomb/The New York Times

Comcast and Cox routinely block Internet file sharing, says a study from the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems. The report challenges the cable companies’ claims that they interfere only when traffic is heavy. The two companies are “hiding behind ‘network management’ excuses.” (Iwantmedia 5/16, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=adlkag18d2VY 5/15)

Top 10 Gaining Properties by Percentage Change in Unique Visitors* (U.S.)
April 2008 vs. March 2008 - Total U.S. - Home, Work and University Locations
Total Unique Visitors (000)
Mar-08       Apr-08        % Change Rank by Unique Visitors
PlayList.com             5,548        7,632             38                137
MLB.com                  9,799       13,318           36                   76
IRS.gov                  17,311       23,354           35                   34
TheStreet.com Sites  3,733         4,667           25                 238
Chrysler LLC             4,167         5,149           24                 209
CondeNet Network     8,760       10,563           21                  97
Lowes.com                8,728       10,445           20                  99
Womensforum.com+  6,150       7,252            18                 149
Yum! Brands Inc.       4,109        4,845           18                 224
ABC.com                   7,667        9,032           18                 111
Total Audience       188,010     190,728            1                  N/A
* Ranking based on the top 250 properties in April 2008
Source: comScore Media Metrix

Here are some web metrics that address what a combined CBS/CNET will look like, courtesy of Nielsen Online. In April, CNET Networks had 21.2 million unique visitors who did not also visit a CBS Web property - meaning a 44% increase in visitors to the total unique audience of the two companies will result. (Cynopsis 5/16)

Unduplicated Unique Audience for CBS Corporation & CNET Networks, April 2008 (US, Home and Work)
Parent Company            Unique Audience (000)
CNET Networks                    31,394
CBS Corporation                  26,526
Unduplicated Audience         47,773
Source: Nielsen Online

Composition Index for Males 12-17 and 18-34 (U.S., Home and Work)
Demographic      CBS Corporation      CNET Networks
Male 12 - 17           50                        108
Male 18 - 34           104                      130
Source: Nielsen Online
Note: Average composition index is 100.

Unique Audience Growth for CBS Corporation & CNET Networks, April 2008 (US, Home and Work)
Parent Company           Apr-07 UA (000)     Apr-08 UA (000)     YOY Growth
CBS Corporation             21,927                  26,526                   21%
CNET Networks              31,899                   31,394                  -2%
Source: Nielsen Online