Broadband Producer, Yahoo
Sunnyvale, CA
Read the full post May 8th, 2007
Archive for May 8th, 2007
WSJ editors held news of Murdoch’s offer
So how did CNBC beat the Wall Street Journal on the story that Murdoch was bidding for the paper? Well, WSJ editors knew about the story but held it.
Add comment May 8th, 2007
Worst ratings since ‘87 for ‘CBS Evening News’
In the first week of May sweeps, Katie Couric and CBS Evening News recorded the lowest ratings for the newscast since 1987. Meanwhile, ABC’s World News outpaced NBC Nightly News. “(It) adds to the sense that Charles Gibson is eclipsing Brian Williams as the nation’s favorite network news anchor,” writes the AP’s David Bauder. For NBC, the week was its fourth lowest ratings since ‘87. “Those are worrisome numbers for networks heading forward,” Bauder writes.
Just take a look at this chart from SFGate.com. Ouch…
11 comments May 8th, 2007
CNET joins NBCU-News Corp joint venture
CNET properties will both distribute and host clips as part of NBC Universal and New Corp’s upcoming video joint venture. Details in the press release…
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KING5.com looking for Internet Sales Manager
Just a quick note to let you know we have a great job opening here at KING5.com in Seattle. We’re looking for a smart Internet Sales Manager to oversee our large, web-only sales force for KING5.com, NWCN.com and any other sites we may launch in the near future. Now, if you work in online sales with some TV experience, this is a premiere job to have on the local level. We’re in a very tech-savvy market with a top-rated TV station, successful cable news operation and an aggressive “get it” staff. Our existing sales manager just took a senior position at Revenue Science, a very successful online behavioral targeting company. And the two before that (stretching back a few years) went on to work at MSNBC.com, where one is now their VP of sales and the other now owns the online ad agency, LION New Media. Plus, you’d be working alongside my team on some innovative products we have in the pipeline. Interested? Know someone who’s interested? Email a resume to hr@king5.com.
2 comments May 8th, 2007
ABC, ESPN to test VOD with fast-forward disabled
Well, you knew someone would try this sometime soon. Cox Communications is teaming with ABC and ESPN in an “unprecedented digital platform trial” by making top shows available on cable video on demand for free — Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives — but with the fast-foward button disabled. The trial will begin in Orange County, CA with other areas coming soon. The shows will be made available the day after they air, and they’ll have dynamic ad insertion. In essense, they’re TiVo-proofing VOD in the hope it will attract new advertisers. (Some questions come to mind: How are the affiliates involved in this arrangement? How many commercials will VOD viewers sit through without getting frustrated and leaving? Would this supplant any DVR recordings of the same shows because people know it’s available on VOD?) “It provides consumers with more access to our hit programming, while showcasing our continued dedication to working with our distribution and advertising partners to develop and grow viable multi-platform business opportunities that better meet the evolving needs of our industry,” said Anne Sweeney, president of the ABC Television Group. Orange County subscribers will also be able to watch the ABC shows on Cox.net inside ABC.com’s video player — the first time ABC.com has syndicated the player to anyone else. More details in the release…
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NBCU sites set 15-second limit for pre-rolls
Coming in July, NBC Universal sites will stop accepting 30 second pre-roll ads for short-form video clips (anything shorter than a TV show) and institute a cap of 15 seconds. Currently, about one-third of NBCU’s short-form clips are carrying 30 second spots. NBCU has also established relationships with four rich media partners — Viewpoint, Eyewonder, Pointroll and Eyeblaster — to explore a variety of online video advertising techniques. “It has a lot to do with the entire real estate of the screen, not just the video window,” said Peter Naylor, SVP of digital media sales for NBCU. “How can we take advantage of the entire screen? Even good old data capture could happen in the companion spaces.” We’ve never been a fan of anything longer than 15 second pre-rolls, and any attempt to make the experience less interruptive, more relevant and increasingly pay off for the advertiser is moving in the right direction. (Thanks for the tip Alyssa!)
1 comment May 8th, 2007
Cable execs tread carefully on web
With new broadband channels popping up left and right on the web, cable execs on a panel at NCTA said operators should continue to experiment online but with an understanding it could ultimately undercut their core business. Which leads to this interesting quote. “In our view, the Internet, while it should be available and open to the networks and [is] not a totally inappropriate avenue, should be supportive and promotional to the core linear networks,” said Comcast Executive VP of Content Acquisition Matt Bond. I look at this misplaced idea from two directions. First, if cable TV doesn’t start allowing consumers to buy channels a la carte (see below), they will only expedite the exodus from cable TV to internet-delivered TV in the coming years. Second, by using broadband channels to support and promote their “core linear channels,” they may be overlooking unique web-focused opportunities that would ultimately carve out larger online revenue positions that they’ve ever anticipated. Yet at the same time, Comcast has been the most aggressive cable operator pursuing new opportunities online — recently acquiring Fandango and readying a new site called Fancast.
2 comments May 8th, 2007
FCC commissioner chides cable industry
Speaking at the NCTA conference, FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin told cable TV attendees that they “can’t have it both ways” when they want the market to decide which broadcast multicast channels to carry but they refuse to let consumers buy a la carte cable channels. “I don’t believe they should have to buy Spike to get Discovery,” he said.
Plus: Read the NCTA’s blog from Las Vegas
Add comment May 8th, 2007
Murdoch’s MySpace to acquire Photobucket
MySpace’s is buying Photobucket for somewhere in the $250-300 million range. Photobucket is the web’s most popular photo-sharing site, and it also has a vibrant video community. It has butted heads with MySpace in recent months after the social networking site began blocking its photo slide shows and video clips. Nevertheless, Photbucket’s unique visitors have doubled to 18 million in the last year, and users are submitting around 45,000 video clips a day. If the acquisition price is indeed around $300 million, that’s affordable by today’s standards.
2 comments May 8th, 2007
