Archive for February, 2007
The Television Bureau of Advertising announced it would commit $5 million to build an online platform that would allow ad buyers to purchase local TV and ultimately online advertising. The goal is to have the first layer up and running early next year for TV ad buying, with future expansions into ad space on TV websites, mobile platforms and digital subchannels. One of the chief criticisms of buyers looking to place national ads across multiple stations is it’s too labor-intensive. “It’s crystal-clear that some of the shrinkage of national spot is because of the process,” said TVB President Chris Rohrs. Called ePort, the TVB’s platform would streamline the buying process with the aim to be completely paperless in 2009. “There is very strong broadcaster commitment to this project,” said Paul Karpowicz, president of Meredith Broadcasting and TVB board chairman. “We are putting our money where our mouth is.”
February 22nd, 2007
With the broadcast and cable networks turning their backs on YouTube (see yesterday’s story), Google CEO Eric Schmidt promised that the video site’s much-anticipated copyright filtering tools are “going to roll out very soon” and they’re “one of the company’s highest priorities.” YouTube’s biggest mistake was promising the technology — which would identify copyrighted video by unique “fingerprints” — would roll out at the first of the year. Since then, Viacom has pulled all its clips, CBS’ deal is “unraveling” and NBCU’s lawyers have told the site to remove all its video.
February 22nd, 2007
The two companies have settled Cisco’s lawsuit over Apple’s use of the iPhone name, which is trademarked by Cisco. There’s no mention of financial details.
February 22nd, 2007
MSN execs toured Revver’s headquarters in Los Angeles last month to see if the video site’s technology would be a good fit for Soapbox, Microsoft’s new video sharing site. But a source tells News.com that Microsoft doesn’t seem to be interested in buying the company. Meanwhile, Revver’s CEO says the company is not for sale. “We believe we are in the right place at the right time with the right technology, and we continue to focus on enhancing the Revver service and forging new distribution deals,” said Revver CEO Steven Starr. But some analysts say that Revver needs to start generating more revenue soon or identify an exit strategy.
February 22nd, 2007
Dallas/Ft. Worth
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Tampa, FL
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New York, NY
Read the full post February 21st, 2007
An analyst with Deutsche Bank says he believes Apple TV will sell 2 million units this year, and the iTunes-to-TV box could conceivably “carve out 20 to 30 percent” of the $26 billion DVD market in a few years. The Apple TV is supposed to ship this month — I have it on pre-order — but no word from Apple whether it will make its deadline.
Adds Allen in comments: “Do you get all of the bonus extras that come with the DVDs on these downloads? That’s part of the reason I buy DVDs.”
Adds Hussman in comments: “Until it lets me do torrent files, I may have a hard time buying it… though it does look darn cool.”
February 21st, 2007
Consumer spending on movie and TV show downloads will surpass $4 billion in 2011, up from just $111M last year, according to a study by Adams Media Research. Reseachers say internet-to-TV devices like Apple TV will help fuel the surge.
February 21st, 2007
I’m curious what everyone thinks about the increasing practice of automatically playing video with a pre-roll ad when you visit a media site’s home page. Visit ABC.com for an example, and ESPN.com has a different twist on it. As more sites sell out of traditional pre-roll inventory, there’s an increasing pressure to consider auto-playing ads on either home pages or section pages, which can drive up ad impressions astronomically overnight. Of course, there’s the annoyance factor which can frustrate and drive users away. And there’s the probability that advertisers won’t pay as high as a CPM in this environment because it wasn’t triggered by an attentive user (and what happens if a user mutes it, does the ad still count?) I’m certainly not advocating auto-play ads on news pages, but what about entertainment or weather or sports? Or will the user backlash ultimately outweigh the financial benefits?
Adds Ed in comments: “When we did our last round of user testing and focus groups, the #1 complaint was autostarting video and audio. The users said that they were afraid they’d get caught looking at websites during work.”
Adds SS in comments: “I’ve used auto-play before for both promotional use and ads. They work and drive traffic well to the promoted sections. After using them for 6 months plus saw no backlash from users. Numbers didn’t drop, the world didn’t end and no hate mail came pouring in. It’s a good idea, but be smart about it. Don’t put up loud annoying clips. Make it interesting and don’t just slap up any old commercial.”
February 21st, 2007
In 20th Century Fox’s first digital deal with a third-party network (NBC), downloads of My Name is Earl are now available on iTunes, MySpace, IGN, AOL, WalMart and CinemaNow. You can also watch the show on NBC.com within one week after an episode airs. Here’s the season price tag for iTunes (you can also buy $1.99 an episode) and click below for the press release…
Read the full post February 21st, 2007
WSJ breaks the news that NBC’s general counsel demanded that YouTube remove the company’s copyrighted content last week, and CBS’ talks to expand its relationship with the video site have “unraveled.” This after Viacom yanked its content a couple weeks ago after a long negotiation that boiled down to hard cash (Google reportedly offered $500 million but Viacom wanted more) and promised “fingerprinting” technology that YouTube has yet to deliver. The tide is turning, at least for now. Reads the WSJ story, “Although the current strife might eventually prove to be no more than hard-nosed negotiating, Google’s attempt to cut deals with media companies seems to be turning into a long slog.” Lots of good information in this story, including the tidbit that Google CEO Eric Schmidt was planning to take the stage with CBS chief Les Moonves at CES to announce a multiyear deal, but Moonves balked and Schmidt canceled his trip. “I’m not in a great hurry,” says Schmidt on teaming up with TV. “It’s more important to get it right.” So the obvious question, will the networks ultimately partner with YouTube? Does YouTube need them to succeed? (WSJ sub. req.)
Adds WizKid in comments below: “Networks are in for a rude awakening if they think we’ll choose to watch commercial-riddled programming over commercial-free third parties, pirate or not.”
Adds discreet_chaos in comments: “We all may sit around and protest that the networks are trying to protect their copyrights, but other than LonelyGirl and a couple of others, how many people are watching the stuff that’s not ganked from cable?”
Adds Joe in comments: “Most of YouTube’s traffic comes from the long tail of clips that aren’t in the ‘most viewed’ list. So without the tv clips, YouTube would still have a large and likely growing audience.”
February 20th, 2007
Microsoft’s new video game Crackdown shipped today, and it’s sold out virtually everywhere (well, at least in Seattle). Is it that great of a game? Well, not really. But it contains a key to unlock an Xbox Live beta test of Halo 3, which is due to come out later this year. A brilliant marketing move. I was just talking with a couple of my Xbox friends who saw an advance screening of Halo 3, and they assure me it’s sick (that’s awesome, for you out-of-the-demo folks). And they also say that Hellgate London, an upcoming game for the 360, is unbelievable.
Screen grab from Hellgate London. Hmmmm.
February 20th, 2007
The ever-popular HGTV.com has launched a new feature that allows users to upload photos and descriptions of their favorite rooms. Then others can rate the rooms and leave their own comments. In the end, HGTV.com builds up a library of design ideas… for free. Great idea. “If you don’t have the opportunity to work with a decorator, and not all of us do, you have a great resource right at your fingertips,” said Charity Curley, vice president of HGTV.com. Press release after the screen grab…
Read the full post February 20th, 2007
ABCNews.com has an amazing slideshow that chronicles the challenges and recovery of Bob Woodruff, who was nearly killed in an IED attack in Iraq.
February 20th, 2007
About 200 of you voted for your favorite Lost Remote T-shirt slogan, and over 20 percent picked… “404 Not Found” over a TV test pattern. Second place is “Get Lost (Remote)” followed by “Web Producers Do it on Any Platform.” The winning slogan was suggested by Lost Remote’s own blogger David Johnson, so as promised, he’ll get two free T-shirts. Now it’s time for the next contest. The best “404 Not Found” design emailed to cory@lostremote.com will win two free T-shirts and our gratitude. We’ll print up a bunch, offer them through CafePress and bring a few to NAB-RTNDA in April. (Details: The T-shirt will be black. The background image can be a test pattern, color bars and/or a TV set. Put “Lost Remote” in text somewhere in the design, although everything must be on the front. Please submit a .PNG or .TIF file.)
February 20th, 2007
Palm Desert, CA
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Park City, UT
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Milwaukee
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