Archive for April 1st, 2007
MSNBC.com is in the process of a gradual, stage-by-stage redesign. The first step is a new logo and a redesigned top nav. Screen grab…
Click the new slogan, “A Fuller Spectrum of News,” for a preview of MSNBC.com’s upcoming RSS game Newsbreaker, a beta download of new screensaver called NewsStream and a video clip of the site’s new ad campaign.
Adds Rex in comments: “This is just a graphic change for now. You’ll start to see incremental changes over the next several months. (It’s) a staged relaunch.”
April 1st, 2007
My friend Rex posts a Twitter (Tweets?), like, four times a day (even on my bachelor’s party). So why is Twitter growing like crazy? Rex takes to the airwaves, on G4, to debate its popularity with some hot podcast girl. Go Rex!
April 1st, 2007
Microsoft and Google are bidding for DoubleClick, an internet advertising heavyweight. “Microsoft has appeared less likely to win the bidding as the potential price for the company surpassed $2 billion,” reports the WSJ. Both Yahoo and AOL are also in the hunt. (WSJ sub. req.)
April 1st, 2007
I unplugged my cable TV box and substituted my Apple TV in a week-long experiment to see if I could live off the a la carte shows on iTunes for less than my $92/month cable bill. I’ll admit up front that it didn’t trump my Comcast service (I have a HD DVR with VOD and HBO), but with a few added features and a little more iTunes programming, Apple TV would be my choice. Here’s a full report, along with some lessons for anyone producing internet video that will end up on TV…
Adds SS in comments: “A good experiment, but 12 shows a week could go by real quick… and if you have kids you can forget about it. Not that I think kids should watch a ton of tv, but add 2-3 shows to your scenario and you’re paying MORE for less.”
Adds Eon: “If you go to Google Video and do an empty search with duration over 20 minutes, high rating, then click on the RSS button, you will be presented with good content that you can add to iTunes by clicking on the Subscribe in iTunes button on the lower right of the Safari window. The Chris Titus standup special is there as is American Pie and other good stuff.”
Read the full post April 1st, 2007
Mountain View, CA
Read the full post April 1st, 2007
When we published LR Daughter’s open letter to Fox, it was suggested by some that this fifth grader did not have a proper understanding of Nielsen ratings. (Imagine!) Recap: LR Daughter was protesting that Fox puts the American Idol results show on Wednesdays at 9pm, too late for her to watch live. She further protested that it is after Bones, a drama too gruesome for kids. Idol is at 8pm on Tuesdays, when she and her friends watch and vote relentlessly online. So I decided to go back and check out the numbers from the February book to find out if Fox executives are Smarter Than A Fifth Grader:
Tuesdays: 8 pm Idol - 17.3 rating and 26 share. 9 pm House - 15.2 rating, 22 share.
Wednesdays: 8 pm Bones - 7.9 rating, 12 share. 9 pm Idol - 17 rating, 26 share.
Look at that. When Fox has a drama after Idol, the two do better. House essentially holds most of the lead-in audience. When Fox has a drama before Idol, it doesn’t do as well and Idol does a slightly lower number - even though it’s the more suspenseful results show. Now before you cry “LR Daughter still doesn’t understand demographics!”: Bones does a 4.5/12 in Adults 18-49, putting it 21st overall. Idol is #1 on Tuesday and #2 on Wednesday in the same demo, and House is #4. Also of note to our new key demo: the two nights of Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader were the 4th and 5th top specials of the month. Let the network bidding for LR Daughter’s consulting begin.
April 1st, 2007
Every day during the season, MLB will post a 25-minute “Daily Rewind” highlight show on iTunes for $1.99. MLB will also sell two full games a week (”the best games” from both leagues) for the same price. Press release below…
Read the full post April 1st, 2007
Google has just announced it will offer free wireless broadband access to anyone with a computer and a toilet. (Yes, you are reading that correctly.) I’m from Boston, so you know how susceptible we are to hoaxes (it is April Fool’s Day after all). Can this really be true?? I’m not sure what is making me more skeptical, that Google is really offering all of us free broadband access or they have found a way to turn raw sewage into gold. I’m sure you’ve got questions, so Google is ready with some answers. So who is going to give this a try and report back to LR? Has Google gone too far or am I even having trouble appreciating their brilliance? Let the jokes fly my friends . . .
Plus: CNET publishes an April Fool’s Day edition
April 1st, 2007
