Hearst Interactive Media and Venrock have invested $7.5 million in first-round funding in TurnHere, a company that produces online video clips for companies like CitySearch and Discovery. Explains Beet.tv, “TurnHere has organized a network of some 3000 independent videographers from around the globe who are creating about 400 videos a month in travel, real estate, publishing, financial services and retail. In addition to creating videos, TurnHere is syndicating content on YouTube and other channels.” In other words, TurnHere is light-years ahead of most TV operations in producing low-cost online advertorial video. Watch an interview with TurnHere’s founder here.
February 10th, 2008
Think of this show on Current.com as The Soup meets the Today Show. Because who has time to watch four hours of morning TV?
February 10th, 2008
“Off-air reporters” from the networks and cable nets are embedded with the candidates, shooting just about everything that moves. Brian Stelter in the NY Times has a great profile article on how these embeds “have changed the dynamic of this year’s election.”
February 10th, 2008
The two are “reviving their merger talks,” reports London’s Times Online. TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington pans the idea. “AOL plugs none of Yahoo’s holes,” he writes, adding he still belives the Microsoft deal is going to happen.
February 10th, 2008
No, I didn’t write the editorial in this week’s Broadcasting & Cable. But it mirrors much of what we’ve been writing on Lost Remote: newspapers are in a freefall, and flashy formulaic TV newscasts could be next. “Most network magazine shows, and morning newscasts, are now more like People than Newsweek or Time,” writes B&C. “Many local newscasts are in trouble because their cookie-cutter Action Eyewitness Newscenter formats are parodies of news, not purveyors of it. Alas, cable news, on its worst days, is just a dogfight between ‘celebrity’ ideological egotists.” The editorial says “our provocation is intentional” and suggests journalists visit the Newseum “to be reminded that it’s the news profession they are in, not showbiz.” Well said.
Adds TR: “My dear former professionmates have indeed found themselves — and until 2 months ago, I was right there with ‘em — in a series of little ruts that just keep getting deeper and deeper. If the stories don’t fall into the framework for those little ruts — weather, child molesters, abused animals, etc. — fuggedaboudit. I know, I know, supposedly the ratings /researchshow that’s what people ‘want.’ Well, not me. I want information, and sitting through a packaged half-hour or hour is not an efficient way to get it. Let’s bury the transmitters along with the presses and just get on with the everything-online world already.”
February 10th, 2008
Showrunners are due back to work on Monday. The rest of the writers are due back on Wednesday, assuming they vote in favor of the agreement (as expected) on Tuesday night.
February 10th, 2008
