Archive for March 25th, 2007
The NFL is considering expanding its ban on video on newspaper and TV websites. Last year, it banned local TV photographers from the sidelines and prohibited game-day video on unofficial websites — even sound bites with coaches and players. And now it may ban any midweek practice video or press conferences, as well. “[The issue] is what, if any, amount of the interview footage should be allowed on websites since it is NFL content,” said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. The NFL owners’ meetings are this week in Phoenix, so we’ll see what happens. Rant away below…
Adds Paul in comments: “That’s pretty narrow-minded on their part. I realize they have to protect their product, but their product is irrevocably out in the public sphere. You can’t completely control who reports on it. Expect the media to challenge this.”
March 25th, 2007
Vendors that produce TV graphics, editing and newsroom systems are hard at work expanding the applications to incorporate the web and mobile. “The next wave that’s coming up is people trying to figure out how to competently and effectively do online communications and web production from the same newsroom,” said AP Director of Broadcast Technology Lee Perryman. “In most stations, it’s still a separate guy in the corner. But that’s changing with the interoperability of the newsgathering and production processes. That’s the next growth area.” One of the critical success factors will be tapping the unique strengths of interactive media instead of simply translating TV to the web. TV vendors need to consult with web management — not TV news directors and chief engineers — when developing new web functionality and pitching new web products. In my personal experience, this isn’t happening yet.
March 25th, 2007
Discovery put together a convergent online simulcast during the premiere of Planet Earth, an 11 part HD extravaganza.
While watching the show on TV, viewers can log on to the synchronized online presentation for expanded material and trivia quizzes while chatting with other users.
March 25th, 2007
The NY Times looks at how digital downloads are (finally) forcing record labels to rethink how they go about selling music. The story starts with an anecdote about a new R&B trio - Candy Hill, signed by Universal/Republic Records to record two songs. In the digital download world, people are choosing singles over albums by a 19-1 margin now.
In response, labels are re-examining everything from their marketing practices to their contracts. One result is that offers are cropping up for artists like Candy Hill to record only ring tones or a clutch of singles, according to talent managers and lawyers.
A longstanding prediction repeated here: artists will stop putting out albums of 10 - 12 songs every few years and simply release songs when the songs are done. This will benefit both the fans and the artists. Fans won’t have to wait years between hearing from the bands. And the bands won’t fall into that “Where have they been for three years?” trap. Just like how we publish stories online when the stories are done rather than wait for the once-a-week magazine, so too will music follow. I could even see myself “subscribing” to my favorite band, if that meant I would get the singles before non-subscribers. This benefits the artists and the fans. And it may even help the record labels - people may wind up buying more music from their favorite bands if the music comes out one song at a time than if the 10 songs come out at once and they just choose to download one or two of those songs. (NYT sub req)
March 25th, 2007
LR pal Scott Kirsner writes about the new front in search: organizing the ever-expanding flood of web video into online guides. You’ve read me gush over TV Guide and its understanding of how it recognized it needed to get out of the “little magazine with TV listings” business and get into the video guide information business. This is yet more proof of that. TV Guide will roll out its online video search in mid-April. But TV Guide’s not alone: there are competitors already out there with video search. Kirsner points us to Clipblast, Blinkx and Channels.com to name a few. So far there has yet to be a breakout video search site, so it will be interesting to see if an established company like TV Guide can distinguish itself.
March 25th, 2007
