Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Guiding Light, Headline News, Mergers and acquisitions, NBC Universal, New England, New England Cable News, Project Runway, Soap opera
After 72 years, “Guiding Light,” the longest-running U.S. soap opera, will end its network run Sept. 18. “Light” is the lowest-rated of the eight network soaps still on the air. Producer Procter & Gamble says it will explore other avenues to keep the show alive, such as an online version. (Iwantmedia 4/1, http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/04/cbs_will_turn_off_light_in_sep.php 4/1)
NBC Universal, the Weinstein Co. and Lifetime are resolving their dispute over the hit fashion reality show “Project Runway.” Weinstein will pay NBCU for the right to move the show to Lifetime, which will start airing the show this summer. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed. (Iwantmedia 4/1, http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090401/FREE/904019963 4/1)
Despite the recession-induced advertising slump, 13 of the top 40 ad-supported cable networks recorded double-digit ratings increases in the first three months of the year, according to Nielsen. Some of the biggest gains came in the so-called second tier — cable networks that rank between 11 and 40 — such as Headline News (up 54%), Oxygen (up 24%), MSNBC (up 23%) and BET (up 20%). Mediaweek (3/31) , The New York Times (3/31)
The value of mergers and acquisitions in the media and information sectors fell to a record low of $1.3 billion in the first quarter, according to Jordan, Edmiston Group. The media investment bank, however, says it is “starting to see a bit of sunlight at the end of the tunnel.” (Iwantmedia 4/1, http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090401/FREE/904019969/1078 4/1)
Comcast has reached the 11-billion views milestone for its On Demand video services since the launch of the feature 6 years ago. The cable operator threw out some interesting factoids to help measure the magnitude of its milestone. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/01/comcasts-ondemand-reaches-11-billion-views-nearly-twice-the-number-of-itunes-music-downloads/ 4/1)
Comcast, which already owns 50% of New England Cable News, apparently wants to acquire the other half from Hearst Corp. A spokesman for NECN, which reaches 3.7 million homes in New England, said that the two companies were “engaged in discussions about a change in ownership,” but that a deal had not yet been made final. Mediaweek (3/31)
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Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA | Tags: 20th Century Fox, Google, Hugh Jackman, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Veoh, X-Men, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, YouTube
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
A near-DVD quality print of Hugh Jackman’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is being pirated and leaked onto the Internet. News Corp.’s 20th Century Fox, the film’s distributor, is scrambling to get the bootlegged copy off the Web. “Wolverine” is due to open in theaters May 1. (Iwantmedia 4/1, http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7014635479
So far, programmers aren’t generating much money from online video advertising, observes Time Warner COO Landel Hobbs. To help remedy the situation, viewers should see the same commercials during television shows on the Web as they do on traditional TV, he says. (Iwantmedia 4/1, http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Time-Warner-Cable-exec-says/story.aspx?guid=%7B7A38BF4F%2DF59E%2D4464%2D9083%2DAC2DFF0B6855%7D 4/1)
In the world of Web video, either you are YouTube or you are in trouble. Today, well-funded video site Veoh laid off 25 people, the company confirmed today. The layoffs were brought on by a restructuring, as the company shifts focus away from its standalone site, says founder and now-reinstated CEO Dmitry Shapiro. Shapiro replaces former CEO Steve Mitgang. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/01/veoh-lays-off-25-employees-and-shifts-focus-away-from-competing-with-youtube-and-hulu/ 4/1)
MarchTweetness.com — a new college basketball-themed mash-up from Twitter, online advertising firm Federated Media, and sponsor AT&T — is being taken down at the insistence of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which objects to the use of its copyrights. (http://www.clickz.com/3633253 4/1)
Google AdSense is eliminating its video units feature, which allows publishers to show YouTube content and video ads on their pages. Google says that by the end of April, the feature will be fully eliminated for existing AdSense clients and that new clients of the revenue sharing ad program will no longer be given the option to place video ads on their pages through the program. Publishers can still display video content on their pages by pulling embed codes directly from YouTube. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/31/google-adsense-says-goodbye-to-video-units-feature/ 3/31)
YouTube is blocking music videos from recording firms on its German platform, in a move similar to an action the video-sharing site took in Britain two weeks ago. Licensing deal talks between YouTube and GEMA, a body representing German artists, are said to have collapsed. (Iwantmedia 4/1, http://tech.yahoo.com/news/afp/20090401/tc_afp/entertainmentgermanyusmusicinternet 4/1)
Disney Online, the online publishing business unit of Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG), announced this morning that it has acquired a number of assets from Toronto, Canada-based firm Kaboose, in a deal worth CAD 23.3 million (approximately $18.4M). The acquisition encompasses Kaboose.com and other properties including Babyzone.com, AmazingMoms.com, Funschool.com and Zeeks.com. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/01/disney-online-buys-kaboose-assets-for-184-million/ 4/1)
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Filed under: WIRELESS | Tags: Blackberry, iPhone, Mobile phone, QuickPlay, Smartphone, Sprint Nextel, Wi-Fi, WiMAX
Samsung has introduced its new WiMAX-enabled device, Mondi SWD-M100, which features a 4.3-inch touch-screen display, optical mouse and a QWERTY keyboard over Windows Mobile 6.1 software. Samsung, which also announced a new version of its Instinct smartphone for Sprint Nextel, said the Mondi would include an upgrade of its TouchWiz overlay that uses widgets to give users one-touch access to an array of applications on their home screen. PCWorld (3/31) , MobileBurn (3/31
QuickPlay Media plans to deliver full-length television shows to BlackBerry smartphones via Research In Motion’s applications store after forging agreements with networks including NBC, CBS and MTV. QuickPlay will charge a monthly fee of $7.99 for the service. (Iwantmedia 4/1, http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSTRE5300S420090401 4/1)
As wireless capabilities drive the sales of high-end products such as the iPhone, more and more phone makers plan to include Wi-Fi in their product lines. According to ABI Research, 90% of smartphones will have Wi-Fi by 2014, compared with just 44% today. Computerworld (4/1)
Research shows mobile-phone makers are betting features such as music players, GPS systems and full keyboards will lure consumers back into the flagging mobile-phone market. ABI Research says 35% of new phones have full keyboards, while 85% have music-playing capabilities. InformationWeek (3/31)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: April Fools' Day, Digital video recorder, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Personal computer, Time Warner Cable, Tru2way, us
April Fools Day arrives with fear of the latest superworm, dubbed Conflicker or alternatively Downup or Kido. The worm, which is believed to have burrowed its way into more than 3 million Windows-based PCs in the U.S. and another 10 million internationally, is expected to manifest itself in some way today, possibly causing massive network outtages. Microsoft has been concerned enough about the malware to organize a task force to combat the effects of Conflicker and offer a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the hackers who cooked it up. (Cynopsis 4/1)
Panasonic plans to launch new 3-D Blu-ray players and 3-D HDTVs by 2010. The company hopes the new technology will allow it to charge more for products that have been slipping in value lately, even as competitors eye similar strategies. The Boston Globe/The Associated Press (3/31)
(Below) Not sure of the purpose of this one but OK. When have you thought to yourself…I’m going to start watching in the living room…and finish in the den! Or maybe it’s because I live in a cramped NYC apt?
Time Warner Cable and Motorola have announced that they are partnering on a multiroom DVR system that is based on tru2way technology. The system, to be called Follow Me TV, is expected to launch later this year and will give users the flexibility to begin watching a show or movie in one room and finish watching it on another set in the house. Multichannel News (3/31)
Samsung Vice President Jonas Tanenbaum says the company is making a play to “take an ownership position” in three out of four ranges of the LED HDTV market. The company is relying on side-fired LED HDTVs to give it a competitive edge, saying the new technology is more cost-effective and allows the devices to be even slimmer. Dealerscope (4/1) , TWICE (3/31) , ElectronicHouse.com (3/31)
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Filed under: MISC | Tags: DreamWorks Animation, Kung Fu, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Monsters vs. Aliens, Paramount Pictures, Shrek, Sports
Following a blockbuster opening weekend for DreamWorks Animation‘s Monsters vs. Aliens, FX made a deal with distributor Paramount Pictures for all DreamWorks Animation releases through 2012. The license deal includes Monsters vs. Aliens, Kung Fu Panda and its sequel, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Shrek Goes Fourth. Terms of the agreement were not available. (Cynopsis 4/1)
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