Content Director, Internet Broadcasting
Minneapolis
Read the full post March 6th, 2007
Archive for March 6th, 2007
Sneak peek of YouNewsTV
As reported earlier this week, Fisher Communications, Journal Broadcast Group and Granite Broadcasting stations will soon launch a user-generated content initiative called YouNewsTV, powered by Broadcast Interactive Media. Preview it here, currently in beta on WTMJ’s site, TodaysTMJ4.com. Screen grab…
4 comments March 6th, 2007
News briefs: Battlestar, Tribune, NYTimes
- Battlestar fans encouraged to upload videos to Sci Fi site
- Gannett buys two Connecticut papers from Tribune
- NYTCO expects digital to grow 30 percent in ‘07
- AT&T turns cell phones into remote controls
1 comment March 6th, 2007
MTVN to build thousands of websites
MTV Networks already has 150 websites in 162 countries, and it has plans to build thousands more. “People tend to find content on the Internet through thousands of front doors as opposed to one,” said Mika Salmi, the new digital president of MTVN. Salmi said MTVN plans to build sites related to every personality and aspect of its shows. The trick is to not create brand fragmentation and user confusion. “The goal is hopefully to tie it all together over the next year, and to be far more open,” he said. MTVN’s plans appear to be similar to Yahoo’s “brand universe” strategy which involves launching 100 sites tied to movies, TV shows, bands, celebrities, games and other types of entertainment.
Adds Don in comments: “Local TV stations should take a look at the MTVN model. There are so many sites out there that are trying to graft everything they can on to the legacy brand. Any local TV site that is trying to graft classifieds on to KXXX.com isn’t going to see traction…. Break that content (or whatever non-news vertical you are trying to make work) off and find another brand - one that makes sense for your market.”
4 comments March 6th, 2007
France bans citizens from reporting violence
Call it the first citizen journalism ban. France has approved a law that makes it illegal for people who are not professional journalists to videotape or stream video of violent acts. There are so many things wrong with this, but it’s best summed up by a coincidence: the law was approved on the 16th anniversary of LAPD officers beating Rodney King, which was captured on amateur video.
Adds Clément in comments: “As a French student in law and faithful LR reader, I had to comment. I just went and read the actual text of this law, and honestly saying that ‘France bans citizens from reporting violence’ is an absolutely wrong interpretation. What the law says is that the person who knowingly films a violent crime being commited in order to broadcast commits an act of complicity of the crime. There are 2 exceptions in this law: if the person who films exerces a profession whose object is to inform the public (there is no strict definition of a journalist, bloggers could be included), and if the recording is done in order to serve as evidence in justice (the Rodney King video would certainly qualify). What is left is cases where the act of violence is actually done in order to be filmed and broadcast - the ‘happy slapping’ phenomenon. In this case the person who films and therefore encourages the violence is indeed complicit.”
4 comments March 6th, 2007
MySpace users may soon embed Fox videos
BusinessWeek is reporting that MySpace may soon announce that its users will be able to embed video players of their favorite Fox shows on their home pages. “Putting Fox video on those MySpace pages could be a significant source of revenue for FIM,” writes Steve Rosenbush. With tens of millions of profiles, this could ramp up very quickly. But realistically, how many people will post entire TV shows on their pages?
1 comment March 6th, 2007
Google CEO: Media divided over online video
Speaking at the Bear Stearns conference, Google CEO Eric Schmidt stated the obvious by admitting that traditional media and technology companies remain far apart on how they view online video. He said the argument stems from how you define value in online content. Media companies say it has intrinsic value, but Schmidt says it only has value if it’s seen. “Ultimately, product value is determined if people view it,” Schmidt argued. “They vote with their clicks, they vote with where they go.”
Add comment March 6th, 2007
WBZTV.com launches special videos about future of media
WBZTV.com teamed up with the Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange, an association of media and tech professionals, to produced a series of one-on-one video interviews with local technology thought leaders about the future of media. Great interviews the LR crowd is sure to appreciate. Also, a great example of how a local broadcaster can carve out a niche online. Stations in markets like Boston and San Francisco should have special microsites dedicated to technology issues. It’s a heck of a lot more interesting, marketable, and saleable than the cops and robbers content that dominates local broadcast homepages. What special niches could you build a website around in your local market?
2 comments March 6th, 2007
Griefers take responsibility for Edwards vandalism
A band of griefers (which in video game jargon means people who exploit a game to cause grief) have taken responsibility for a vandalism attack on John Edwards’ virtual campaign headquarters in Second Life. The griefers have done this before, and they love to employ penis guns, Bill Cosby posters and a “Mario mosh pit” which involves unleashing a barrage of crazy cartoon Marios. There’s allegedly video of this on YouTube somewhere, so if you find it, please let us know and we’ll post it here. Update: Screen grab of the vandalized headquarters below. Thanks, Rob!
6 comments March 6th, 2007
