Archive for August 22nd, 2007
The big question surrounding Facebook is its ability to generate some serious cash without alienating its massive user base. Now the WSJ reports that Facebook is working on a new advertising approach that hopes to become the Adsense of social networking. In essense, it would target ads inside the “news feeds” on a wide variety of criteria from age, gender, location, favorite activities and preferred music, to name a few. And the hope is to take it a step further to broaden the targeting based on the preferences of a user’s friends. Like Google, all the ads would be self-service — no salespeople required. (WSJ sub. req.)
August 22nd, 2007
Open thread on Fox’s reality show premiere of Anchorwoman at KYTX-TV…
Adds Safran: Looks like it may not be around too long to debate. It did a 1.0 rating among the 18-49 set. A Lost Remote comment from user “Fox Insider” posts what purports to be an internal memo saying the remaining episodes will not air. (See comment #22.)
August 22nd, 2007
NBC-owned station KNTV in the greater San Francisco area is now hosting an online chat during its 5pm newscast. The show’s anchor plugs the chat and participates during the show. I’m torn between “gimmick” and “why didn’t I think of that?” — but give them credit for trying. Here’s the SFGate write-up and a clip of the show’s “Fast Feedback” segment.
News anchor Jessica Aguirre checks viewers’ responses during a commercial break. Photo from Lance Iversen from the SF Chronicle.
August 22nd, 2007
Traffic to Google’s maps, e-mail and search via mobile phones rose 35 percent between May and June, reports Google. And much of the jump is due to the iPhone launch.
August 22nd, 2007
Two years ago, one in every 13 homes had a digital video recorder. Now, make that one in every five homes. Leichman Research Group is out with a study that details how much the TiVo and its ilk are changing the viewing landscape. From their press release:
Other key findings of LRG’s study included:
The mean household income of DVR owners is 33% above average.
53% of DVR owners say that they have an HDTV set.
45% of DVR owners record five or fewer programs per week.
While 84% of DVR owners rate the ability to skip commercials as very important, just 8% of DVR owners say it is the greatest benefit of having a DVR.
The group estimates that 95% of all TV viewing is still done “live,” but does not spell out whether “live” includes waiting 8 minutes to watch a show so you can fast-forward through the commercial breaks.
August 22nd, 2007
It’s a change that is long overdue, well at least since CBS acquired SportsLine in 2004. The CBS SportsLine brand is being shortened to CBSSports.com. Broadcasting & Cable quotes CBS Sports and News president Sean McManus as saying, “With this name change, CBS Sports now stands for much more than its broadcasts of major sporting events. We now have a direct branding association with interactive coverage across the entire world of sports for our fans.”
August 22nd, 2007
Fox’s trashy reality show Anchorwoman premieres tonight, and it’s getting some positive reviews. I’ve already expressed my pointed opinion about this — that it demeans local TV news — and perhaps it’s best summed up by this Hollywood Reporter story that explains how many in the KYTX-TV newsroom were outraged at putting a dumb blonde model in the anchor chair: “You can understand where they’re coming from. They want their TV station to have integrity and credibility, and to practice solid journalism. But who are they kidding? At most stations, with their emphasis on crime news, celebrity gossip, fires and accidents, that ship sailed years ago.”
No integrity, credibility or solid journalism in local TV? That’s the opinion from the Hollywood Reporter — a trade magazine — not your local newspaper. And unfortunately, an increasing number of average people believe it as well. Local stations that still cling to the breathless/crime/plastic model are in danger of producing themselves into obscurity (except, you could argue, in a handful of markets.) Remember last week’s study that inferred that many people are switching to online news because they’re annoyed by TV news? As I wrote then, “TV newsrooms that ‘get it’ are focused on meaningful community enterprise coverage with smart, respectful storytelling and a ban on breathlessness.” Yes, I’m on my soapbox again, but Anchorwoman should serve as a stark reminder that many people will take the show as gospel. And it’s not just the show’s fault.
Anynewsroom, USA?
August 22nd, 2007
