Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Amazon.com’s video-download service now is available in the U.S., according to this report. Amazon Video On Demand allows PC and Mac users to download TV shows and movies for a small fee, either with their Web browser or via the downloadable Amazon Unbox application. Pocket-lint.co.uk (9/4)

Yahoo’s already crushed stock price has fallen further today - its down 8.36% since this morning, bringing it to a nearly five year low of $17.75. Yahoo has been as high as $34 in the last year (thanks to that Microsoft takeover bid), which means nearly $23 billion has been taken out of shareholder pockets in that period. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/04/yahoo-stock-falls-off-the-cliff-when-will-jerry-give-up-and-quit 9/4)

There have been a number of timed and anecdotal speed tests performed on Google Chrome over the last couple of days.   Techcrunch’s personal testing: Chrome is the fastest browser Michael Arrington haa ever used. More structured TechCrunch testing showed similar results: It’s fast. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/04/so-is-chrome-the-fastest-or-what 9/4)

Until today Google was saying Google Analytics would not track Chrome usage for some time. Today they added Chrome tracking, allowing site owners to see how many of their users are coming to the site from the Chrome Browser. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/04/google-analytics-now-tracks-chrome-our-share-623 9/4)

As online advertising spending continues its meteoric rise — the Wall Street Journal is reporting a healthy gain of 20 percent in the second quarter alone — not every form of advertising is enjoying such success. In fact, as economic troubles continue, more and more advertisers are only willing to spend money on search ads and are increasingly ignoring other forms of advertising. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/04/the-great-online-advertising-divide-widens 9/4)

Overlay.TV, a startup that lets users augment streaming videos with customized text, audio, images, and links, has launched to the public. The service overlays videos from a number of video sharing sites with a new layer containing this customized content, which can be used for entertainment purposes or as an easy (and potentially effective) means of monetizing video. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/04/overlaytv-helps-you-customize-monetize-streaming-video 9/4)

Really dig this site.  What would be helpful though would be building this functionality into an established leader like a YouTube rather than trying to wrangle market share on yet another destination site.

NFL.com kicked off football season last night streaming the Giants/Redskins matchup live, produced in partnership with NBC and powered by Adobe. The video quality was decent, offered in 16×9 format, and the presentation featured some impressive next-generation interactive features including the ability to switch between 4 live camera feeds - each with picture-in-picture capabilities. (Cynopsis 8/4)

Comcast is calling foul on the FCC’s network management ruling drawn up to put a stop to its bandwidth throttling practices. Comcast filed a suit against the commission yesterday to try and block the commission’s 3-2 decision to sanction the MSO on the grounds the agency acted in a “legally inappropriate” manner. The FCC’s decision marked the first time it officially ruled on the Net Neutrality issue. (Cynopsis 8/4)

While JohnMcCain.com continues to generate more online video views than its rival site (2.1 million through June vs. 612,000,) BarackObama.com is winning the online advertising battle, according to a new study from ComScore Ad Metrix. During the first half of 2008, the Obama campaign consistently displayed more online ads than the McCain campaign, averaging nearly 92 million exposures per month compared to approximately 7 million per month for McCain. In recent months, Obama’s online efforts have ramped up even more with 150 million exposures in May and 244 million in June. (Cynopsis 8/4)

Yahoo and Verizon are extending an agreement for a co-branded Web portal, which will appear as a home page for new Verizon FIOS and high-speed Internet customers. A customizable Verizon-Yahoo Web portal will be offered as the starting point for all Verizon new broadband customers. (Iwantmedia 9/4, http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/search/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210300337 9/3)

Professional social networking service LinkedIn struck a deal with CNBC under which the network will feature content and tools from the site on CNBC.com and gain the ability to target ads to LinkedIn’s 27 million user base. In return LinkedIn gets to feature content from CNBC including text, articles and blogs, financial data and video content. (Cynopsis 8/4)

Officials at Cablevision say the Bethpage, N.Y., company has completed the first part of a $300 million wireless Internet network in the New York metropolitan area. The work extends free Wi-Fi access to Nassau and parts of Suffolk counties as well as commuter train stops on Long Island. By 2010, the wireless net is expected to cover Cablevision’s entire footprint. Bloomberg (9/4) , Google/Associated Press (9/4)

Nearly one-fifth of online U.S. households now watch TV episodes online according to a new TNS study - double the viewership from just two years ago. Official TV network homepages and YouTube were named as the top two destinations and streaming was the preferred method of consumption, used by 68% of viewers vs. 38% who took advantage of free downloads. Among consumers connecting to online broadcasts, 43% tune into the news, 39% watch drama shows, 34% view sitcom/comedy shows, 23% watch reality shows, 16% view sports and 15% view user generated content. (Cynopsis 8/4)