The print edition of the Kentucky Post pulled the plug at the end of the year, and KYPost.com continued on with a much smaller staff. And in an interesting twist, KYPost.com moved into WCPO-TV’s newsroom, as both are owned by Scripps. Reports Broadcasting & Cable’s Michael Malone: “With the newspaper industry across America under siege, some believe partnerships such as KYPost.com/WCPO could become a common model as media companies contemplate pulling the plug on their papers. Even failing papers still have readers, says Gordon Borrell, CEO of media research firm Borrell Associates, so ‘why not cut out costs, such as ink and delivery, and transfer [content] online? Maybe it can work in other markets, and 2 + 2 can add up to more than 4.’” Interesting, eh?
KYPost.com on the left. The higher-trafficked WCPO.com on the right.
- Clear Channel settles with Providence in TV station deal (WSJ link)
- Electronic Arts offers $2 billion for Grand Theft Auto maker
- Comcast vs. BitTorrent to be focus of FCC hearing
- Director of Google’s TV ad program to speak at TVB
ABC and Cox’s cable systems are rolling out a new video on demand service with free shows like Lost and Grey’s Anatomy. The shows will have shorter commercial breaks with local avails for ABC affiliates. But… it disables the fast-forward button during the commercial breaks. “This does counter the DVR,” said Anne Sweeney, the president of the Disney-ABC television group. “You don’t need TiVo if you have fast-forward-disabled video on demand. It gives you the same opportunity to catch up to your favorite shows.”
While I agree that a faster rollout of free VOD could’ve slowed but not stopped DVR growth, I have to say that the cat’s out of the bag. Sure, I would watch a fast-forward-disabled show on VOD if I wanted to A) sample it or B) my DVR screwed up the original recording. But to think this will “counter the DVR,” in my opinion, is not going to happen.
Update: Here are some details on how the ABC affiliates will participate
After Saturday Night Live’s four-month absence - I wanted to share a couple of clips from last night’s Tina Fey-hosted show. So naturally I dialed up hulu - the NBC/News Corp. joint venture to plop down clips on a few MySpace pages. Except… last night’s show still isn’t available. Obviously Saturday Night Live is… um… live — and in the middle of a weekend - but that shouldn’t be an excuse 18+ hours after the show aired. And guess what - there are clips of last night’s show on YouTube.
Publishing company Reed Elsevier is putting Reed Business Information, a collection of 400 trade publications, up for sale in an effort to reduce its exposure “to advertising markets and cyclicality.” Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News and Variety are among the publications. PaidContent, which has redefined the trade publication model online, quotes a “top contender” in a possible bid for the Reed Business as saying, “they are a year late selling, in my opinion.” Much of Reed Business’ revenue originates from recruitment advertising, which as you know, has migrated online.
