Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Just as Google is trying to deflect growing antitrust concerns (see previous post), its core search market share also keeps on growing. ComScore’s August search engine market share numbers came out today—via Citi analyst Mark Mahaney—and are reproduced above. Its share of U.S. search queries rose in August to 63 percent, from 61.9 percent in July. Looks like its march towards monopoly is back on track after a slight dip in June. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/18/speaking-of-competition-googles-search-market-share-just-went-up-again-in-august-to-63 9/18)

Searching for music is one thing, but have you ever wanted to search for an artist and play their songs without needing to visit other sites? If so, Yahoo and Rhapsody have launched a new service that will let you do just that. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/18/yahoo-and-rhapsody-team-up-for-full-song-playback-in-search-results 9/18)

It was only a matter of time before Amazon would decide to release a Content Delivery Network, and according to the company in an official statement released today, it has done just that. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/18/amazon-gets-in-on-the-content-delivery-biz 9/18)

The new browser-based Joost, which Techcrunch wrote about two weeks ago (screen shots here), launches this morning. The new Joost still requires a plug-in to facilitate P2P transfers of files (reducing Joost’s bandwidth costs and making high-demand live performances feasible). (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/18/new-joost-launches-now-and-next-month-joost-will-be-100-flash 9/18)

NBC announced an ambitious, multiplatform effort featuring full episodes of series and season premieres including Kath & Kim, Crusoe and Knight Rider. Look for shows online (NBC.com, Hulu & partners, iTunes, Amazon, Yahoo); on VOD (Comcast, Cox, Charter, Dish, Fios); and on gaming/device platforms (Xbox Live, Zune). (Cynopsis 9/18)

Comedienne Bridget McManus’ confessional video blog featured on AfterEllen.com is being developed into a late night series on Logo beginning late Friday night at 2 am ET/PT. To give you an idea of her shtick, here’s a collection of Bridget’s “best bits.” (Cynopsis 9/18)

Ever make tapes or movies of your friends as a child?  This video, like those, includes several awkward moments in which everyone is laughing but I’m not quite sure why.  If she leaned a bit more professional in production, I think these could be a hit.

Interactive live video streaming pioneer Stickam.com will stream comedian Adam Carolla’s Free FM radio show live tonight from the invite-only NBC Fall Premiere Party. Festivities kick off at 9p ET/6 p PT. (Cynopsis 9/18)

The New York Jets are auctioning off 2,000 of its best seats on eBay‘s StubHub to help pay for the team’s new stadium. Beginning the week of Oct. 19 fans can bid on seats in the so-called Coaches Club section. Winning bidders will be granted licenses enabling them to purchase season tickets in that spot for the life of the stadium. (Cynopsis 9/18)

Widgetbox, one of the web’s largest widget creation and distribution platforms, is launching a new blog network and becoming a destination site in the process. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/18/leading-widget-platform-widgetbox-launches-blog-network 9/18)

The Olympics and the U.S. Presidential campaign were the main drivers of online activity during August, according to comScore, resulting in strong gains at politics, sports, news and humor sites. Politics was the hottest category, led by BarackObama.com with nearly 4 million visitors (up 113% from July.) Political satire also boosted traffic to entertainment sites; FunnyOrDie drew 2.4 million visitors (up 256% from July) as users dropped in to view videos like Paris Hilton’s mock response to “White Haired dude’s” celebrity critique of his opponent. (Expect an even bigger spike this month from the Sarah Palin feeding frenzy.)  (Cynopsis 9/18)

comScore Top 10 Gaining Properties by % Change in Unique Visitors (U.S.)
Total Unique Visitors (000) – August 2008 vs. July 2008
Jul-08      Aug-08     % Change   Rank by Uniques
BEIJING2008.CN                     459        5,832          1,171       193
Activision Blizzard                 1,174       4,566             289        249
NFL Internet Group               7,482     13,902               86          69
HotChalk Network                 3,622      6,239                72        176
Kohls Corporation                 7,568     13,016               72          75
Cablevision                           4,134      5,924               43        188
Mevio Network                      3,890      5,547               43        201
Symantec                             5,298      7,531               42        139
Sun-Times Media Group, Inc.  3,503     4,675               33        242
Buzznet                                 6,772     8,991               33        113
Total Internet Audience       189,134  188,937                0        N/A
Source: comScore Media Metrix: Ranking based on the top 250 properties in August 2008

comScore Top 10 Gaining Categories by % Change in Unique Visitors (U.S.)
Total Unique Visitors (000) – August 2008 vs. July 2008
Jul-08          Aug-08        % Change
Politics                             10,576          14,040           33
Sports                              74,109          93,307           26
Humor                              23,542          26,464           12
Online Gambling                12,648          14,215           12
Retail – Music                    17,890          20,061           12
Online Gaming                   74,165          82,279           11
General News                     95,321         104,969         10
Consumer Goods                22,455          24,577            9
Education                           88,171          96,017           9
Gay/Lesbian                         2,526            2,748           9
Total Internet Audience     189,134         188,937           0