Grand Theft Auto IV sold 3.6 million copies on the first day, and earned $500 million in the first week. To give you some context, the largest opening weekend for a movie worldwide was Spider-Man 3 at $381.6 million. I’ll post this so Cory doesn’t have to say, I told you so, “As I’ve written off and on over the years, video games are becoming interactive movies, and they’ll ultimately replace most of the traditional Hollywood movie industry.” Grand Theft Auto appears to be the first to realize that possibility.
May 7th, 2008
With Microsoft out of the hunt for the Yahoo! prize — will Facebook be its consolation prize? The Wall Street Journal reports today that Microsoft put out feelers to the hot social networking site to see if acquisition talks made sense. Neither MSFT or FB officials are talking. The software giant already has a $240 million take in Facebook - which tags the overall value at about $15 billion. (Here’s a Reuters write-up of the WSJ piece.)
I can just see it now: Soft Face. No?
May 7th, 2008
If you’re still calling the Internet business “new media” — stop. The “new” new media is placed-based — gas stations, malls, stores - etc. The local Albertsons now has “CheckOutTV,” the mall has a big TV ad kiosk - and even many gas stations are now using services like PumpTopTV. There’s big opportunity for advertisers here, because you can provide your existing (or repackaged) content - and perhaps even sell the surrounding ads. Part of the WNBC restructuring (below) is an increased focus on placed-based TV.
May 7th, 2008
NBC Local Media is starting a 24-hour local news channel in New York, and rebranding WNBC as a “content center,” according to the NY Times.
NBC’s plan calls for rebuilding Channel 4’s newsroom and melding its content closely with the coming news channel, the existing local Web site, and out-of-home video displayed in locations like gas pumps and back seats of taxicabs. NBC will even take WNBC’s name off its local news Web site, simply calling it NBC New York.
The report says John Wallace, president of local media, says there will be no layoffs because of the new strategy, but that’s doesn’t mean there won’t be major changes for employees:
Among other things, Mr. Wallace planned to tell the employees that the moves NBC was initiating would not entail layoffs but would mean many producers and other staff members would have to undergo extensive retraining, and would likely be working different shifts.
“We look at our content and we believe it’s relevant content,” Mr. Wallace told the Times. “It’s just not convenient because of the way people’s lives have changed with technology.”
Wallace told TVWeek ‘that In order to remain successful, local stations must put the appropriate weight on the additional platforms beyond their core television station. Consumers are demanding relevant content, round-the-clock, on the platform of their choice.’
May 7th, 2008
