Archive for August 8th, 2007
Fox News Channel’s 7 p.m. ET newscast The Fox Report with Shepard Smith will relaunch in September with new graphics, a new set, and a “new way to approach stories.” Smith talked with TVGuide’s Stephen Battaglio about some of the changes - and noted that his show has done something many local newscast producers would find Shocking! Stunning! and Unbelievable!: they dropped the teases. “We’ve already given up the “coming up” teasing that we were known for in the early days. We’ve taken all of that time and put it into content,” Smith said. “We did that because viewers said that’s what they wanted. Viewers have said, ‘Stop telling me for 45 seconds what you’re going to do in the next four minutes.’ So we have. We’re not going to do more crap.” (via ICN)
August 8th, 2007
During a fourth quarter earnings call for News Corp., Rupert Murdoch gave some hints of what he’s planning for the soon-to-be acquired Dow Jones. No layoffs; CNBC/WSJ deal is “an obstacle” - any DJ help will be “gravy” for Fox Business Network; national and international coverage will be beefed up to compete with the New York Times; Ottaway papers will be sold off quickly.
Related: Fox Interactive Media saw revenue double, to $183 million
August 8th, 2007
Ever been the subject of a news story? Now you can give your take for the whole world to see - as Google News begins allowing story subjects to post their comment or rebuttal along-side results. A Gooleplex-er will first verify the author’s identity before posting the comment.
Heres an example on yesterday’s “kids like healthy food better in McDonald’s packaging” story:
August 8th, 2007
So I didn’t “catch” ABC News’ new magazine show i-Caught last night. I browsed over to the site, and found today’s webcast - “Does a sexy title mean more views for internet video?” Hmm. Sounds intriguing. After a few little anecdotes, the host tee’d up an experiment. ABC filmed several short videos - then uploaded them to YouTube. They started with the title “Woman Waits for Bus” - and worked their way up to “Frumpy Turned Hot Woman with Dog & Guitar Attacked by Ninja.” The segment caps with host Don Dahler asking a producer which video got the most clicks. 
“Don! You knoooow I can’t tell you! To find out, you’ll have to tune into i-Caught this Tuesday!” WHAT?? You just teased me? On the web? Really?
So instead of going to the effort of TiVo’ing the show… I hit up YouTube and did some research. The verdict? None of the videos got much notice.
Woman Waits for Bus - 16 views
Man Waits for Bus - 58 views
Hot Woman Waits for Bus - 50 views
Guitar Woman Waits for Bus,Music - 40 views
Singing Dog and Woman Wait for Bus - 37 views
Frumpy Turned Hot Woman with Dog & Guitar Attacked by Ninja - 147 views
Woman Attacked by Ninja at Bus (stop motion) - 245 views
The webcast itself has seen 249 views. i-Caught’s premiere tied for second place on ABC last night
August 8th, 2007
In my newsroom, there’s an often-told story of an intern getting the boot after waving to friends while a reporter was live on the flash cam. That behavior seems mild compared to an editor at the Orange County Register did recently on PBS affiliate KOCE. Here’s the (best ever) internal member from KOCE’s news director:
During an interview, which will air tonight, with Register reporter John Gittelsohn another Register employee walked over to the interview area, intentionally stood behind John, faced the camera, picked his nose, and wiped it on his shirt.
Unfortunately, this was part of our live-to-tape 30 minute broadcast which airs tonight at 6:30 for all to see. It is also scheduled to be posted on the Register website after it airs on Real Orange. I have attached a video still image for you to see right now.
That employee is taking a buyout from the paper… and decided to pick on the poor reporter before bailing out. For those who have a nose for news, here’s the video still.
August 8th, 2007
NBC Universal’s USA Network will roll out “Didja” - an all-advertising website that hopes to be the YouTube of commercial content. The idea be the “go to destination for on-demand content,” so says Variety. USA will give the site a big push, with other NBCU properties pitching in later. The site will not feature NBCU content - but all sponsor-related video. “We know people like watching commercials,” USA’s Chris McCumber said. “They just don’t like being force-fed at the wrong time.” Didja will roll out after “New Site” - the NBCU/News Corp. joint venture that is designed to be a viral video site that combines user-created and branded content.
August 8th, 2007
NBC and ABC are making it easier to use debate footage online, according to B&C. ABC will allow its debates to be used without restriction after 3 p.m. the day they air. MSNBC’s forums will be cleared for unlimited use, as long as on-screen credit is given. Both policies allow online use. This after CNN put its debate footage for unrestricted use earlier this summer.
August 8th, 2007
Here’s Eric Schmidt’s explanation of web 3.0, videotaped at a conference in Seoul.
August 8th, 2007
Scripps has acquired Incando, which owns the video and photo sharing site Pickle.com and the technology powering it. Scripps explains that Incando “enables speedy uploads of photos and videos from computers, mobile phones or digital cameras to any website and will enhance the user-centric, social media and personalization functionality around Scripps Networks’ lifestyle content.” For more background on Pickle, read Techcrunch’s review here, and the press release below…
Read the full post August 8th, 2007
The Onion will provide exclusive content for MySpace under a new partnership. In addition, there will be a MySpace community for The Onion and an exclusive editor’s blog. Area Man said to be excited at opportunity to spend more time in front of computer talking with made-up friends about fake news…
August 8th, 2007
