Archive for April 16th, 2007
When you decided to build your TV station (well, not you - but the figurative you), it was a great idea. You saw where the technology was going - away from radio and toward pictures and sound. You were very smart. You invested in the project. There was a ton of new and unfamiliar technology and a lot of leaps of faith. There were plenty of people who said “TV is a fad.” But you knew better. So you didn’t let the naysayers stop you. And you became a huge success. At no point did you say, “We going to start a TV station, but nobody install so much as a door until we get some good ad revenue coming in!”
But that’s what we’re seeing with the web now. Sites are getting built by the lowest bidder. They’re being run by the cheapest employees. They’re a mess and everyone knows it. Is there any wonder TV website sales are underperforming? You didn’t start the TV station with nothing but promos for the TV station and shows about what your anchors are doing in the community. You can do better. Start from scratch. Ask yourself: “If I were to start a local media company today, how would it look?” Change the model. Change the way you gather and spread information, change (don’t add to) the requirements of your staff, and stop throwing away 95% of the information you gather every day. Reinvention isn’t about “spending more money.” It’s about changing the workflow and building your business around what the customer wants.
April 16th, 2007
Some other sites covering the RTNDA/NAB convention: Poynter’s RTNDA Notebook | Avid NAB 2007 Student Blog | FreshDV (for the photog set) | Macworld | Buzzmachine | BC Beat | The PoMo Blog (Disclosure: Terry Heaton is my AR&D partner) | Rosenblum
April 16th, 2007
An all-star cast of panelists tackled the issue of how the web is changing election coverage at a super session here at NAB-RTNDA. Hardball’s Chris Matthews led the conversation — which turned into a heated debate more than once — along with NBC News President Steve Capus, Jeff Jarvis, Joe Trippi and YouTube’s Jordan Hoffner, among others. The first debate began when a radio panelist, Hugh Hewitt, randomly ripped the news media for its coverage of Katrina. And the second began when an audience member (also from radio, hmmm) ripped blogging. That fired up Jeff Jarvis, which results in wonderful blogging fodder. Otherwise, the discussion revolved around sites like YouTube and the impact of user video on election coverage. Live blog follows below…
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Nine station groups are teaming up to speed the development of technology that will allow their stations to broadcast video to cell phones and vehicles over digital airwaves. Called the Open Mobile Video Coalition, the group is working with NAB and is actively recruiting members and investors. “Mobile is the next killer app for DTV to recapture and reassemble audiences that have been migrating out of the living room,” said ION Media president and CEO Brandon Burgess. “I’ve been talking to a lot of investors, and what they say is, if you want me to invest, show me the demand…. This does that.”
April 16th, 2007
With details about the Virginia Tech shooting coming in fast, Roanoke Times reporters and editors are posting short bursts of information blog-style on Roanoke.com. “We have found this works well,” said Assistant Managing Editor Michael Stowe. “It won’t stop as long as there is stuff coming in. Everyone is working.” Also, NYTimes.com directed readers to its The Lede blog for the latest information.
The blog-style story page on Roanoke.com with frequent updates. The site has also started a guest book in honor of the shooting victims on Legacy.com.
April 16th, 2007
Lexington, KY
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Syracuse, NY
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The Journal was the only paper to win multiple awards in this year’s Pulitzer Prizes, one for public service and another for international reporting. Other winners include the LA Times, NY Times, Boston Globe, Miami Herald, Oregonian and others, all listed here.
April 16th, 2007
Google CEO Eric Schmidt sat down with former NBCer John Seigenthaler for a terrific session that just wrapped up here at NAB-RTNDA. Schmidt said YouTube is “very close” to launching “Claim Your Content” (CYC) tools that will identify copyrighted content via audio and video fingerprinting. And he said YouTube is working on a video advertising network that will involve pre-rolls and post-rolls. Lots more in the session including:
- His reaction to Viacom’s $1 billion lawsuit over YouTube
- The Google-Clear Channel radio advertising deal
- NBCU and News Corp’s new video joint venture
- He doesn’t mince words with Microsoft’s antitrust talk over Doubleclick
- His advice for broadcasters and where he would invest money now
Live blog follows below…
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Comcast is joining the NBCU-News Corp video joint venture in a big way by providing content, distribution and technology. On the content side, Comcast Networks will add video from E!, Style, G4, Versus and Golf Channel to the online network. Comcast will also distribute video from the venture on Comcast.net and its upcoming Fancast site. And finally, Comcast’s thePlatform will provide the media management and distribution technology behind the new venture. Comcast is the only content provider that’s not taking an equity position. “We’re delighted that the nation’s largest cable provider will be a major player in this new venture,” said Peter Chernin, president and CEO of News Corporation. News Corp. and NBCU say that permanent management and branding will be announced for the new venture shortly. Full release follows below…
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I took a quick look at the bulletin board where students and young reporters post their resumes — about 50 of them now — and less than a quarter make any mention of the web. This despite the fact that most of them likely have MySpace or Facebook blogs (and aren’t all journalism schools teaching HTML now?) Most of the resumes, however, do mention that they can shoot and edit. It’s good to see they’ve caught up to 2004, but a lack of web experience on a resume is a non-starter for me if I were hiring for a TV reporter position — especially in a smaller market.
April 16th, 2007
Billed as the first website of its kind to provide users with a way to “channel surf” internet video, Gemstar-TV Guide’s brand new Online Video Guide (video.tvguide.com) combines video search with aggregation from 55 entertainment websites. “It’s a logical extension for us as we continue to focus on providing guidance on platforms beyond just linear television,” said Rich Cusick, Gemstar-TV Guide’s SVP and GM, digital media. The Online Video Guide does not host clips, but links to them. “Viewers will be sent directly to the specific clip or full episode they are interested in viewing, bypassing the host site’s homepage or other landing page,” explains the press release. The site is still in beta, which may explain why when I searched for “Heroes” I was never presented with a way to watch any of the episodes. Screen grab followed by the press release…
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For at least three times today so far — including one that blitzed this very blog post — internet access has crashed across the entire NAB-RTNDA convention area. You can imagine how this is impacting exhibitors who live and die by the internet on the convention floor. And in the press room, reporters stared at blank screens and hit the food line for a second time around. Foiled there, I retreated to my hotel room where I’m blogging now. Combine this experience with the lack of WiFi in most RTNDA sessions, and we have a connectivity-challenged convention.
April 16th, 2007
Please leave your coverage observations and resource links in comments…
- Live streams: WSLS | NBC 12 | WRAL | WVEC
- Cell phone video of sound of shots fired on CNN.com I-Report
- Incredible on-the-scene photos on Roanoke.com (site loading slowly)
- Virginia Tech on Wikipedia (updated with information about shootings)
- Networks moving staff fast to Virginia. TVNewser is covering.
April 16th, 2007
Just came out of the RTNDA offices here at the convention where I spoke with RTNDA president Barbara Cochran. She points us to the ethics section of the RTNDA/F site, where you can find guidelines for live coverage and the coverage of “hostage taking crises, police raids, prison uprisings and terrorist actions,” which Barbara told me was updated after the Columbine tragedy. A number of people have been visiting the RTNDA office to watch the live coverage from Virginia Tech.
April 16th, 2007
The internet did get a shoutout at the National Association of Broadcasters keynote speech Monday morning in Las Vegas. David K. Rehr, CEO and President of the NAB, said “internet.” He mentioned it once. In passing. During his discussion of issues about radio. It came 47 minutes into the keynote session and was the only time anyone said “internet.” That’s really all you need to know about the keynote. The NAB is simply not interested in the potential of the web, and what little interest it may have is only in terms of saying how broadcasting is better.
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At the NAB keynote on Monday, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D – LA) announced a new bill she is introducing to the Senate that would put broadcasters on the official list of ‘first responders’ in the event of a major disaster. Said Landrieu: “The next time there is a disaster, police, fire and now journalists are on the list to get fuel, water and food. You won’t be told you’re not on the list… As far as I’m concerned you’re essential to help with whatever catastrophes happen.”
April 16th, 2007
We picked up the story last week but the official announcement of Yahoo’s partnership with a consortium of newspaper publishers came today. The original partnership formed last November focused only on job ads, but the news today is that more than 264 newspapers in 44 states are now wedded to Yahoo for search, news and advertising in a sprawling agreement that will surely have huge impact. (Disclaimer: E.W. Scripps, my employer, is a partnering company)
April 16th, 2007
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