Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

In the last year, people somehow found a way to spend 73% more time on Facebook and other social networking sites, according to a new report from Nielsen. In February, Nielsen says, people used social network sites more than they used Web-based e-mail for the first time ever. (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://www.thedeal.com/dealscape/2009/04/nielsen_facebook_use_outstrips.php 4/22)

Hulu, the video site owned by NBC Universal and News Corp., is said to be in talks with the world’s largest record labels to offer music videos in competition with Google‘s YouTube. Hulu plans to compete with Vevo, the music service planned by Universal Music and YouTube. (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aIve2K3rJFl0 4/22)

BBC’s hugely successful iPlayer will begin to offer a selection of programs in HD from the BBC HD channel. Featured shows include Doctor Who and Dragon’s Den. (Cynopsis 4/23)

Comcast is developing a Web site that will function as a portal through which the company’s cable subscribers can watch its TV content on the Internet, according to Karin Gilford, who runs Comcast’s Fancast Web site. Gilford would say only that the service, which initially will be free of charge to Comcast customers, will premiere soon. PCWorld (4/21)

Us Weekly magazine is selling sponsorship of its new Facebook profile to insurance firm State Farm in what appears to be a first for a media company on the social networking site, as well as a first for a company fan page. Facebook will not get any revenue from the deal. (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=136214 4/23)

YouTube class=”snap_preview_icon”> is trying to find more ways to monetize the popular web service, and recently started a test project with selected partners who were invited to start offering video downloads to interested viewers (they subsequently killed our own download tool, presumably because they want to minimize the risk of losing money on unauthorized download apps). Now it seems the Google-owned online video community site is ready to expand the program to other interested partners based in the U.S. (see screenshot below). (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/23/youtube-starts-rolling-out-video-download-program-for-partners/ 4/23)

Microsoft is launching a service that allows users of its MSN portal to create a home page dedicated to the goings-on around Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and other celebs. Microsoft in the future plans to offer home pages customized around other topics. (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/ebusiness/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=217000208 4/22)

Discovery CEO David Zaslav said he had nothing against putting content online, except when it didn’t make for a smart business decision. Discovery is beginning to find some success with its full-length content in the lucrative syndication market and, because of that, Zaslav said he was willing to sit on the Web-video sidelines for a little while: “We’re waiting to see if an economic model develops.” Los Angeles Times (4/22)

Josh Schwartz, co-creator of NBC’s “Chuck,” says there is a push on the Internet to get fans to go to Subway to buy sandwiches to support the ratings-challenged series. (The sandwich shop was featured in a recent episode.) Also, many fans are Twittering their support. (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/04/can-twitter-and-subway-save-chuck.html 4/22)

Barry Diller is said to be shopping the “hipster” tip sheet Very Short List. The media mogul’s IAC is in talks with several potential buyers, including Bob Pittman’s The Pilot Group and New York Observer owner Jared Kushner. The small business “likely won’t fetch a substantial sale price.” (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://www.nypost.com/seven/04232009/business/diller_dealing_web_site_165741.htm 4/23)

Not with a bang, but with a whimper. Yahoo! is unceremoniously closing GeoCities, one of the original web-hosting services acquired by Yahoo! in 1999 for $2.87 billion. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/23/yahoo-quietly-pulls-the-plug-on-geocities/ 4/23)

comScore Top 10 Gaining Properties by % Change in Unique Visitors* (U.S.) March 2009 vs. February 2009
Total Unique Visitors (000)
Feb-09     Mar-09     % Change     Rank by
Unique Visitors
Twitter.com                         4,033      9,313        131           78
Grisoft                                4,260      7,764          82          114
Oprah.com                          2,814      4,505          60          234
Usmagazine.com                  3,863     5,943           54           47
Technorati Media               11,692     16,021          37             2
MLB.com                            5,069       6,860          35           75
Groupe Lagardere                4,253      5,705          34         122
Limewire.com                      7,861     10,414         32           71
Universal Music Group          5,626       7,421         32           49
Nestle                                 3,269       4,278         31         201
Total Internet: Total Audience 192,187    192,173        0          N/A
Source: comScore Media Metrix
*Ranking based on the top 250 properties in March 2009