You’ve seen some virtual news anchors on the web before, but a project by Northwestern University takes it to the next level. The anchor not only presents the news using a text-to-speech engine, but it collects and edits the news automatically from existing stories on the web. Plus, it displays relevant video and photos synchronized to the newscast. And adds commentary from blogs — all generated dynamically. Yikes! (Watch the video here. Long load time, but worth it). “As we continue to advance its capabilities in finding interesting stories and displaying them in interesting ways, we fully intend to offer a viable replacement to the typical televised news show, tailored to a user’s specific interests,” reads the Northwestern site. Well, it won’t replace TV news anytime soon, but it has a distinct advantage in providing personalized newscasts with up-to-the-minute information. Oh, and no anchor salary to go along with it.
The next-generation anchor. Packing heat, for some reason.
Google has just unveiled an Ajax-powered search API that you can embed on your own site. Kinda cool, check it out. Also, you can have the video search results displayed in “video bars,” which are thumbnail sequences that allow you to play the clips in-page. And it’s debuted a “video gadget” which allows you to find, play and tag clips from Google Video right off your personalized Google home page. Very smart, and it shows how Ajax can empower entirely new online interfaces.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, the NFL is now restricting local news sites from posting video of postgame press conferences or locker room interviews. “Video from our stadiums on game day is one of our most valuable assets, including video of our people, players, coaches talking about the game,” said Greg Aiello, the NFL’s vice president for public relations. “The policy is designed to ensure that our rights holders, who have paid for access to that asset, receive the value they’ve paid for.” The new rule applies to game day, not to press conferences during the week. Of course, journalists are livid. “There is a smell here,” said the Poynter Institute’s Bob Steele, “and it gives the impression that the NFL and the teams are more interested in their own financial protection than they are helping the public understand what goes on in the field with the players in the games.” Well, I think it’s obviously the case, isn’t it? Meanwhile, the Washington Post and the Associated Press — with their lawyers — plan to ask new NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to reverse the new restriction. But as we’ve seen with all the controversy surrounding the restriction of sideline cameras, the odds that anything will change are slim. Rant away…
A big thank you to WINA 1070 Newsradio in Charlottesville, VA for having me on the air Tuesday afternoon to talk convergence. The marvelously nice host Coy Barefoot put up with me for a good half hour as we went through an essay I recently wrote detailing the changes in the different media industries. Give a listen or download the podcast if you’d like, courtesy of The Charlottesville Podcasting Network’s Sean Tubbs.
A new survey by RTNDF and Ball State found 65.5 percent named local TV news as the major source, followed by local newspaper at 28.4 percent, national network TV news at 28.3 percent, local radio news at 14.7 percent and the Internet at 11.2 percent. I don’t have time to check that 11.2 percent number with other recent surveys, but it seems extremely low. And I have to admit, I’m growing a little weary of these kinds of surveys conducted by primarily TV organizations that aim to remind people that TV still dominates with news. While it may help on the advertising front, it’s counterproductive when trying to influence TV stations to shift more resources to the web — which is a priority right now.
I’m a few days late on this story, but Facebook has opened up its registration so anyone can sign up for a profile. Before, you had to have a .edu email address. But to access a particular school’s network, you still have to prove your affiliation. You have to wonder, will the move reduce the site’s exclusive feel and open the floodgates to MySpace-like commercialism? (Thanks, Don!)
In a move to sustain interest in its fall shows during the Major League Baseball playoffs and World Series, Fox has debuted Fox on Demand, a free streaming showcase on MySpace and 24 owned-and-operated station sites (as we’ve reported, the Fox sites have already been streaming a handful of primetime shows). At launch, available shows (repeats) include Bones, Prison Break, Standoff, Vanished, Justice and more, with additional shows coming later in the season. Streaming is sponsored by Toyota, Burger King and Lionsgate Films. The “Fox Full Throttle” player requires a quick download, and Fox says it delivers a “high definition quality” viewing experience. While I think the idea of offering shows online is a good idea anyway, the move to keep viewers engaged during the confusing programming weeks of the MLB postseason is a smart idea. Now the next step is to produce new shows just for the web.
Full press release with more details follows after the break…
The Cincinnati Bengals are the first NFL team to launch and promote a user video section on its website. Powered by ViTrue, the “Fan Zone” section allows anyone to upload videos that show support for the team. Then users can vote, and the best videos will be played on the big-screens inside the stadium during the games. The idea is “to get as much traffic to the site as possible and trying to keep people engaged throughout the year,” said Vince Cicero, the Bengals director of corporate sales and marketing. Hmm, sounds like a something local TV should be doing.
The site is ramping up its video offerings to 100 clips a week, from behind-the-scenes video to cast interviews. “We’ve increased the amount of short-form video content including, trailers and originals, by 330 percent from last season,” said Alexis Rapo, vice president, Digital Media, ABC Entertainment. ABC.com has also added blogs, podcasts, contests and SMS campaigns wrapped around some of its most popular shows.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, the NFL is 
