Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: ESPN, Federal Communications Commission, Fox Broadcasting Company, National Football League, NFL Network, Simpsons, Supreme Court of the United States, United States
Football fans flocked to watch the 2009 NFL Draft, with the NFL Network, ESPN and ESPN2 gauging a record 39 million viewers, based on data from Nielsen. This year’s viewership number equates to approximately 2.5 million more tuning in from the previous year and also breaks the 2007 record of 38 million viewers. (Cynopsis 4/28)
Beginning next week, FOX is moving its newer animated comedy Sit Down, Shut Up out from under The Simpsons‘ shadow on Sundays to 7p followed by reruns of American Dad at 730p. The final episodes of King of the Hill’s last season will fill the 830p time period following The Simpsons. (Cynopsis 4/28)
(Below) It’s official. I’m outside the target demo age range. Now, I officially feel bad for watching The Hills…
MTV serves up a variety pack of new programming covering different genres such as reality, fashion, sports, comedy, animation as well as a live afternoon show. MTV continues to aim its programming to the millennial generation, those born between 1980-2000, with shows that are “aspirational, escapist and optimistic.” Nine new series join MTV’s lineup. (Cynopsis 4/28)
Despite a strong push by TNT with its coverage of the NBA playoffs, USA Network maintained its dominance in the weekly ratings race among ad-supported cable nets. For the week that ended April 26, USA averaged 3.18 million total viewers; TNT finished with 2.93 million viewers and finished No. 1 in the 18-to-34, 18-to-49 and 25-to-54 demographic groups. Mediaweek (4/28)
The U.S. Supreme Court says that the Federal Communications Commission may penalize even the occasional use of certain expletives on the air. The court’s ruling says the FCC — prompted by Cher’s use of the F-word during a 2002 live broadcast — is justified in fining broadcasters. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/04/28/ST2009042801819.html 4/29)
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Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA | Tags: Facebook, Facebook Connect, Mark Zuckerberg, Myspace, News Corporation, Sheryl Sandberg, Social network, Twitter
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
More than 60% of Twitter users stop using the microblogging service a month after joining, according to Nielsen Online. “Twitter has enjoyed a nice ride over the last few months, but it will not be able to sustain its meteoric rise without establishing a higher level of user loyalty.” (Iwantmedia 4/29, http://tech.yahoo.com/news/afp/20090428/tc_afp/usitcompanyinternettwitternielsen 4/28)
Bravo is tapping into the hottest social networks to help fans participate in The Real Housewives of New York City finale. On Tuesday, May 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, fans can utilize Twitter, Facebook Connect and live mobile chat integrations on BravoTV.com to interact directly with their favorite Housewives live and the ladies will respond in kind during the finale. (Cynopsis 4/29)
MTV is joining forces with both Facebook and Twitter for its new “The Alexa Chung Show.” The show will be similar in format to MTV’s former “TRL.” Audiences — whether on the set or watching from home — will be asked to tweet their reaction to guests while the show is on the air. (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002926.html?categoryid=1009&cs=1 4/28)
IAC/InterActiveCorp CEO Barry Diller is stockpiling cash and says he aims to “spend it intelligently.” Speaking at the USA Today CEO Forum, he says Facebook is “the real deal.” However, “nobody can buy Facebook now.” Also, Web video will evolve “just like the movie business did.” (http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2009-04-28-diller-ceo-forum_N.htm 4/29)
Facebook is on a “clear path to be cash-flow positive next year,” says COO Sheryl Sandberg. One indication that 2009 is an important year: Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s 24-year-old founder and CEO, has committed to wearing a tie everyday to the office, she adds. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aKLGItgfmt48 4/28)
With its new management team, News Corp.’s MySpace “looks more like a media and entertainment portal,” observers say. If MySpace comes to define itself that way, the site could incorporate social networking like Facebook, but with a focus on “consuming entertainment.” (http://www.thewrap.com/article/2736 4/28)
Network’s digital arms are beginning to get serious about monetizing their content. NBC.com will launch a series of targetable segments starting in Q2 2009 enabling advertisers to target groups of users using a menu style selection matching their target to NBC audience clusters or custom segments. The network also unveiled a whole new suite of ad delivery solutions and products geared toward attracting premium brand ad dollars. (Cynopsis 4/29)
One way to possibly track the spread of the swine flu is to look at where spikes in search activity around related terms is occurring. Google already does this with its Google Flu Trends
, and has now extended that analysis on an experimental basis to Mexico with a site it just put up called Experimental Flu Trends For Mexico. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/29/searching-for-the-swine-flu/ 4/29)
The U.S. District Court for Massachusetts set aside a prior jury verdict against content delivery network Limelight, stating that Limelight doesn’t in fact infringe upon Akamai‘s CDN patents. Limelight hopes to reverse expenses of about $66 million saved for potential damages and interest in the case. Akamai promised to appeal the ruling. (Cynopsis 4/29)
Top U.S. Online Video Properties by Videos Viewed -March 2009
Property Videos (000) Share (%) of Videos
Total Internet 14,468,345 100.0
Google Sites 5,919,530 40.9
Fox Interactive Media 437,098 3.0
Hulu 380,102 2.6
Yahoo! Sites 334,724 2.3
Microsoft Sites 288,239 2.0
Viacom Digital 277,753 1.9
CBS Interactive 191,686 1.3
Turner Network 167,323 1.2
Disney Online 125,248 0.9
AOL LLC 105,237 0.7
Source: comScore Video Metrix, Rankings based on video content sites; excludes video server networks. Online video includes both streaming and progressive download video
Top U.S. Online Video Properties by Unique Viewers – March 2009
Property Unique Viewers Average Videos
(000) per Viewer
Total Internet 149,410 96.8
Google Sites 100,382 59.0
Fox Interactive Media 55,156 7.9
Yahoo! Sites 42,524 7.9
Hulu 41,564 9.1
CBS Interactive 35,400 5.4
Microsoft Sites 32,194 9.0
Viacom Digital 27,168 10.2
AOL LLC 22,349 4.7
Turner Network 19,644 8.5
Disney Online 12,965 9.7
Source: comScore Video Metrix, Rankings based on video content sites; excludes video server networks. Online video includes both streaming and progressive download video
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Filed under: WIRELESS | Tags: Apple, Ethan Lowry, Handhelds, iPhone, Jobster, Microsoft, Smartphones, Verizon Wireless
CBS Interactive released an updated version of its TV.com iPhone app offering a new continuous play feature enables users to watch full episodes without having to (annoyingly) click to the next chapter. The app also added new full episodes from Harper’s Island, Rules of Engagement and 60 Minutes, all viewable via a WiFi connection. CBS says the app, launched in Feb., has been downloaded more than 1 million times. The TV.com online portal also reported a 401% year-over-year increase in unique viewers, 153% increase in video streams and 117% increase in minutes month-over-month, citing comScore‘s March Video Metrix figures. (Cynopsis 4/29)
UrbanSpoon, a restaurant recommendation service, started out with a simple plan. It was three former Jobster employees, Ethan Lowry, Adam Doppelt and Patrick O’Donnel who set out to see if they could build a company in today’s world without needing any traditional outside investments. Today, they can safely say they succeeded — big time. IAC, the Internet giant, has just bought the completely self-funded company. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/29/iac-buys-urbanspoon-based-on-good-recommendations 4/29)
Not another iPhone knockoff … Microsoft is in talks with Verizon Wireless to launch a touchscreen, app-friendly phone early next year, per the WSJ. Perhaps it will be targeted at the female demo; it’s code name is “Pink.” (Cynopsis 4/29)
Verizon could also be in talks with Apple to come up with a pair of “iPhone lite” devices that allow users to watch HD videos over a Wi-Fi connection, reports BusinessWeek. Verizon has also been rumored to be waiting in the wings for the exclusive AT&T/Apple to expire early next year. (Cynopsis 4/29)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Business, Emergency management, Microsoft, Personal computer, Seattle Times, Software testing, Television, United States
Afterglow is a presentation system that allows you to draw and point on a projector screen using a laser pointer and a PC. First announced way back in 2007, the system is now available online for $1980. (http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/04/29/afterglow-a-laser-drawing-system-for-presentations-now-available 4/29)
Microsoft is beta testing a new hyperlocal desktop app dubbed The Vine it is pitching to emergency management officials as a way to instantly update the public during a disaster, per the Seattle Times. (Cynopsis 4/29)
Grim economic conditions and low consumer demand functioned like a one-two punch for the plasma-panel TV market in the first quarter. According to DisplaySearch, shipments came in at 2.8 million units during the first three months of the year, a 22% drop from the 3.5 million shipped during the comparable period in 2008. TWICE (4/28) , CEPro.com (4/28)
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Filed under: MISC | Tags: 20th Century Fox, Entertainment, Gordon Gekko, Michael Douglas, News Corporation, Oliver Stone, TECHNOLOGY, Wall Street
News Corp.’s 20th Century Fox is signing up Oliver Stone to direct a sequel to his 1987 hit “Wall Street.” Michael Douglas will reprise his role as Gordon Gekko, in a “timely story ripped from today’s headlines.” (Iwantmedia 4/29, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_en_mo/us_people_michael_douglas 4/28)
As I watch the morning news filled with swine flu warnings and the recent toddler’s death, it’s nice to see something which warms the cockles of my heart. Gordon Gekko is back but looking at this picture below, I’m pretty sure the technology will be a bit newer. Prepare for an uptick in gel sales at a pharmacy near you.
C
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