 |
|
 |
|
|
|
| MEDIA NEWS & RESOURCES |
HOME · ABOUT · CONTACT · PRESS · LEGAL |
|
|
Thursday, 5/23/13  
Recent Headlines Media news by sector GO TO: MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS TELEVISION & RADIO INTERNET & DIGITAL MEDIA ADVERTISING & MARKETING MEDIA COMPANIES MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS Tribune Taps Yahoo Veteran to Run Digital Ventures AllThingsD Shashi Seth, a former top product exec at Yahoo, has joined Tribune as president of Tribune Digital Ventures. Seth will report to CEO Peter Liguori and be based in Silicon Valley, apparently to set up a brand new digital arm of the Chicago-based media company. Hearst Moves Closer to Launch of Dr Oz Magazine New York Post Hearst is said to be moving closer to launching a new self-help magazine with Dr. Mehmet Oz. If the plans come to pass, the new title will debut with a January/February issue that will be one of the biggest launches in magazine history, with a possible rate base of 800,000. Time Magazine Staffs Up for Relaunch of Website WWD Edward Felsenthal, Tina Brown's former deputy at the Daily Beast, joined Time.com as managing editor in March and has been preparing for a relaunch. Felsenthal is said to be looking to hire about 15 staffers to help make the site look more like the Daily Beast. Rolling Stone Preps Website Redesign for Autumn Adweek Jann Wenner picked his son, Gus, 22, to head up Rollingstone.com, overseeing its editorial and business operations. While critics were quick to cry nepotism, the senior Wenner said his son had to prove himself. The redesigned site, he added, will be "more Internet-friendly." Wired Becomes a Lifestyle Magazine in Design Redo Mashable Wired is debuting a new look for its June print issue. The magazine has been completely made over by Scott Dadich, who before being named editor-in-chief in November worked as creative director of the Conde Nast title. The new Wired "feels more like a lifestyle magazine." All You Magazine Launches M-Commerce Program Folio Time Inc.'s All You has added shoppable capabilities to its tablet edition. Starting with the May issue, customers using an iPad or Kindle Fire can tap a "shop now" icon to see where the product is for sale with a direct link to purchase. "You don't ever leave the tablet edition to shop." Saturday Evening Post Finally Comes to iPad, iPhone TechCrunch The Saturday Evening Post aims to reach younger readers and adapt to the digital world, as the magazine releases its iPad and iPhone app, which was built by digital publishing firm Yudu. The app includes digitized versions of the Post's issues since November/December 2012. New York Media Shutters Grub Street Local Blogs Eater Grub Street, the New York Media-owned restaurant site, is shutting down all of its local blogs with the exception of the New York City branch. "Since the 2011 sale of MenuPages, New York Media has been evaluating the best way to grow Grub Street and decided to shift resources." New York Times Says Web Replica is Infringement TechCrunch Web designer Cody Brown made a video showing his online replica of the New York Times's "Snow Fall" interactive reporting piece, prompting a takedown request from the newspaper: "You are promoting your tool as a way to quickly replicate copyright-protected content." Financial Times Unveils Spanish-Language Service Talking Biz News The Financial Times is launching a service in Latin America providing news and analysis translated into Spanish. Available through the FT Syndication service, subscribers will receive 10 articles per week covering international trends and developments relevant to Latin America. Gannett, Belo Among Investors in Local Deal Startup TechCrunch Wanderful Media has raised another $9 million from the long list of newspaper and media companies that were already backing the startup and its local deal service Find&Save. The service allows readers to browse deals aggregated from newspaper circulars and other sources. Advance Leads Investment in Online News Software San Francisco Business Newsle has raised $1.65 million in its first round of venture funding. The San Francisco startup makes software that mines online news for reports about friends or colleagues for users of social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook. The round was led by Advance Publications. New York Times Aims to Reinvent Boring Banner Ads Adweek The New York Times is feeling the pinch of the display advertising market, like all of publishing. But in the Times's case, it is trying to breathe new life into the banner ad rather than abandon it. Its Idea Lab is charged with cooking up new products to bolster the bottom line. Rolling Stone Website Names Wenner Son as Boss Gawker Wenner Media chief Jann Wenner's son, Gus Wenner, 22, has been named to run the website of the company's Rolling Stone magazine. "Gus Wenner, after leading the re-launch re-design effort for our website, will now continue by heading up the overall operations," said a memo. Atlantic Media Taps Editor for Digital Defense Title Mashable Atlantic Media has hired an editor to run Defense One, a digital-only publication covering defense and national security launching this summer. Kevin Baron, a national security reporter for Foreign Policy magazine, has been brought in as executive editor, effective June 3. Essence, MSNBC Team to Cover Magazine's Festival MSNBC Essence and MSNBC are uniting for coverage of the 2013 Essence Festival. Running July 4 to July 7, the annual event will heat up New Orleans with music stars from around the world, including headliner Beyoncι. MSNBC will be on hand to provide live coverage. Bonnier Scoops Up Interlink Motorcycle Magazines Advertising Age Bonnier and Source Interlink have inked separate deals that will send nine motorcycle titles to Bonnier and all but one TransWorld title, as well as Sound + Vision, to Source InterLink. Both companies pursued the deals to deepen their presence in the verticals the magazines cover. Ziff Davis: We're No 1 in Tech After Nabbing NetShelter Adweek Ziff Davis has announced the acquisition of NetShelter, a tech-centric advertising network/platform representing about 150 websites. Ziff Davis boasts that the deal will elevate the company to the position of No. 1 property in the tech category, per comScore. Rodale to Open Online Store with 500 Products Morning Call Rodale on Monday is launching Rodales.com, where shoppers can find clothing, beauty and household products selected to appeal to the stylish, eco-minded consumer. The publisher of Prevention and Men's Health hopes e-commerce will shore up its legacy magazine business. Hearst's Esquire Launches Digital Weekly Edition Esquire Esquire has announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind weekly tablet edition. The new Esquire Weekly features original content from the Hearst men's magazine. The weekly edition is free to subscribers of the monthly tablet edition and is also sold separately for 99 cents per issue. Conde Nast Exports Traveler Title to Middle East Arabian Business Conde Nast and Arab Publishing Partners have announced the launch of Conde Nast Traveler Middle East. The travel magazine currently has seven editions globally including Russia, China and India. The Middle East edition will be Conde Nast's first title in the region. Rodale Bash Promotes Redesign of Men's Health WWD On Wednesday evening, Men's Health magazine threw a party for its annual grooming awards. The Rodale title took over New York's Top of the Standard at the Standard High Line. Champagne flowed freely. The glitz factor was as if ousted top editor Dave Zinczenko had never left. Bloomberg Upset Over Firm's Snooping Scandal New York Post Mike Bloomberg is said to be fuming at the data breach that has imperiled the reputation of his global media company. "The mayor is very upset." Bloomberg LP has named former IBM chief Samuel Palmisano as an adviser to review the firm's privacy and data standards. Chicago Tribune to Settle Subscribers' Lawsuit Chicago Tribune The Chicago Tribune has begun mailing out a proposed offer to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by two subscribers who claimed the newspaper illegally charged increased rates to subscribers' credit and debit cards. Some 41,000 subscribers will receive $6.50 each. New York Times Site Hit by Unidentified Hackers New York Times The New York Times said it was a victim of online attacks early last week that slowed down its website and limited access to articles and other types of content. The company does not "have confirmation on who is responsible for the most recent attacks on nytimes.com." Village Voice Restructuring Includes Staff Layoffs Gawker Top editors at the Village Voice resigned in protest when they learned that management wanted them to lay off several members of their already-decimated staff. Friday morning, those layoffs arrived. Longtime columnist Michael Musto was among the many employees let go. USA Today to Expand Ad Meter Beyond Super Bowl Adweek USA Today plans to expand Ad Meter, its platform for rating Super Bowl advertising, to other categories of sports media. Ad Meter: The Year in Sports will invite fans to vote in categories like Best Athlete Endorsement Ad. The Ad Meter has been "underleveraged." Tribune Acquisition Sought in Crowdfunding Effort Wichita Business A nonprofit group called the Other 98% has launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy Tribune, owner of the Los Angeles Times and other daily newspapers. The group said the move is designed to keep the papers "out of the hands of Rupert Murdoch and the Koch brothers." Hearst Launches Sales Division for Global Media Adweek With the launch of a new division, Totally Global Media, Hearst hopes to bring efficiency to ad buying and production, at least on the digital side. TGM will give brands a way to advertise across all Hearst magazine digital brands worldwide, as well as licensees and related companies. Time Inc: No Clear Front-Runner for CEO Position New York Post Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes is nearing the home stretch in his search for a successor to Time Inc. CEO Laura Lang. And with little more than a month to go, no clear front-runner has emerged. "It's not like there are 10 people lining up outside his office waiting to get the job." Conde Nastie Jumps to Audio Content Syndicator Adweek Former Time Inc. CRO Paul Caine isn't wasting time raiding media companies as he bolsters his staff at Dial Global, the audio content syndicator he joined as CEO in March. In his first major hire, he tapped Conde Nast veteran Christina Albee as chief marketing officer. Bloomberg Faces More Questions from Customers USA Today Bloomberg LP is facing more questions from banks and regulators who want detailed information on its breach of customer data. JPMorgan is asking for data going back to 2008 and wants logs of all Bloomberg staff and a description of their roles and what they were checking. Financial Times Website, Twitter Account Hacked Reuters The website of the Financial Times was hacked on Friday, apparently by the "Syrian Electronic Army," a group of hackers and online activists who say they support Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Stories on the FT site and messages on the newspaper's Twitter feed were replaced. News Corp Publishing Spin-Off Names Executive VP Broadcasting & Cable Antoinette Cook Bush has been named EVP and global head of government affairs for the new News Corp., the publishing portion of News Corp. following its bifurcation into two independent companies. She will report to Robert Thomson, CEO of the new News Corp. Tribune Newspapers Said to Lure 40 Possible Suitors Chicago Tribune Seeking to reduce the "noise" over the possible sale of its newspapers, Tribune CEO Peter Liguori has sent an email to employees calling speculation about a transaction premature. "A sale transaction is only one of our possible strategic options, and there are many others." McClatchy Digital Subscription Program Sees Results Sacramento Business The digital subscription initiative that McClatchy rolled out last year is exceeding expectations, CEO Pat Talamantes told shareholders at the company's annual meeting. "The Plus Program is on pace to generate approximately $25 million in new revenues this year." >> MORE TELEVISION & RADIO ESPN Whacks 250 Jobs After Programming Deals New York Post ESPN is cutting 250 jobs after shelling out big bucks to secure sports programming rights. On top of pricey contract renewals with the NFL and MLB, the cable sports powerhouse just struck an 11-year, $770 million deal with the USTA to snag rights to the U.S. Open matches. CBS Wins 2012-13 TV Season, Snaps Fox's Streak EW CBS has overthrown Fox to win the 2012-13 broadcast season among the coveted adults 18-49 demographic. With only two nights left in the season, CBS claimed victory Tuesday given its insurmountable lead. The win snaps Fox's unprecedented eight-year winning streak. Fox Affiliates to Air U.S. Army Reality TV Series CNNMoney The U.S. Army plans to launch a new reality TV program, "Starting Strong," aimed at recruiting 18- to 24-year-olds to enlist in the military. The "reality-TV inspired" advertisement is scheduled to air on Fox affiliates in 16 markets, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Disney to Produce 'Star Wars' Animated TV Series Reuters Disney plans to produce a new "Star Wars" animated series to air on TV in fall 2014, giving fans of the science-fiction franchise fresh stories before the next live-action film hits theaters in 2015. The series will premiere on the Disney Channel and shown on Disney XD channels. ABC's 'Don't Trust The B----' to Finish Run Online World Screen The final unaired episodes of "Don't Trust The B---- in Apartment 23" are now available in their entirety through Watch ABC on ABC.com, the Watch ABC Player for the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Kindle Fire, Hulu and iTunes. The show was previously cancelled by ABC. CBS Pulls Tornado-Themed 'Mike & Molly' Episode EW CBS yanked Monday night's season finale of "Mike & Molly," which talked about a tornado hitting Chicago, though no devastation was going to be shown. "Due to the tragic events in Oklahoma, we are pre-empting the season finale, which has a related storyline," CBS said. NBC Hires News Division Chief Turness from Britain Associated Press NBC went out of the company and out of the country to find a president for its news division, naming the first woman to hold the top job. Deborah Turness, former editor of ITV News in Britain, replaces Steve Capus, who resigned earlier this year, and will begin her new job in August. Fox News Journo Rosen Eyed by Justice Department Fox News Fox News correspondent James Rosen has been accused in a Justice Department affidavit of being a possible criminal "co-conspirator" for his alleged role in publishing sensitive security information, in a leak case that takes the unusual step of claiming a journalist broke the law. CNN Analyst Bergen Writing Book on U.S. Terrorism Associated Press CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen has a deal with Crown for a book on homegrown terrorism. The book will cover topics including the Boston Marathon bombings and the impact of government surveillance. The book's tentative title is "The United States of Jihad." Broadcast TV Execs: Old Rules Don't Mean Much Associated Press The most striking thing about the broadcast TV networks announcing their new fall schedules last week was how little that actually meant. More broadcasters are embracing the cable TV idea of limited run series. "We're not constrained by traditional broadcast schedule anymore." Cable Pressured to Change as TV Migrates Online CNBC Television content is showing up on non-TV screens like never before, and people are willing to pay for it. Whatever will become of cable? For one, experts say, cable companies may finally be forced to kill their sacred cash cow: bundled channels. "Bundling is a dead man walking." Time Warner Cable to Test Lineup Based on Genre Multichannel News Playing into the notion that viewers watch certain types of programming, Time Warner Cable will test a genre-based channel lineup in Syracuse, N.Y., next month. Should the test prove successful, the U.S. cable giant will roll out genre-based lineups in other markets. Comcast to Slash 350 Jobs in Maryland, Virginia Washington Business Comcast plans to cut 357 jobs in Maryland and Virginia, as part of a regional consolidation of call centers. The company is shifting those operations to other locations. Employees whose jobs are cut will be able to apply for one of 200 positions being created elsewhere. NBC Expects $800 Million in Olympics Ad Sales Philadelphia Inquirer NBC Sports exec Seth Winter says advertising sales for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, are going "exceptionally well," with the company projecting $800 million in revenue. The first phase of the Olympics ad sales was completed ahead of schedule, he said. Fox's 'Idol' Finale Suffers Record Low Ratings Associated Press Ratings for the "American Idol" finale plunged to a record low for the 12-year-old show. Candice Glover's victory over Kree Harrison was watched by 14.3 million viewers a 33% drop from last year. "Idol" saw an even steeper 44% drop among advertiser-coveted young adults. TV Music Award Shows Boost Download Sales Wall Street Journal The digital age is transforming the music industry, but an old-fashioned standby is boosting record sales: the TV awards show. Such shows draw huge audiences, breed lots of online buzz and can quickly drive sales higher. More artists are timing their releases to award shows. Billboard Music Awards Introduce 'Live GIFing' Billboard The Billboard Music Awards, which aired Sunday night on ABC, turned to social media to help boost audience engagement. This year's telecast introduced live GIF artists on Billboard's Tumblr site. The GIF artists were "live GIFing" this year's show at billboard.tumblr.com NBC to Air Reruns on Amazon Prime Video Service AllThingsD Amazon is boosting its web video catalog in a new deal for reruns of several shows from NBC and other channels owned by Comcast. Amazon's Prime Instant Video customers will get exclusive access to programs including "Grimm," "Suits" and "Hannibal." ABC's Revived Online Soaps Cut Release Schedule Reuters New episodes of relaunched soap operas "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" will now appear online two times a week, rather than four, said producer Prospect Park. Many fans have been viewing several installments at once, and viewers had trouble "keeping up." CBS Sees Advertising About-Face on DVR Viewers Bloomberg Les Moonves said advertisers are having a change of heart about the value of viewers who record shows and watch them later. About a fifth of CBS's ad commitments this year will target viewers who watch shows as many as seven days after the broadcast, the CEO said. ESPN Nabs Rights to U.S. Open Tennis from CBS Bloomberg ESPN has reached an agreement for exclusive rights to the U.S. Open, wresting the tennis tournament's finals away from CBS after 47 years. The cable sports network's 11-year-deal with the U.S. Tennis Association begins in 2015. The deal is said to be worth $770 million. CW, TMZ Teaming Up for 'Famous' Reality Show WWD The CW plans to air a new reality show called "Famous in 12," which will give one family 12 weeks to become famous. Tasked with challenges "to create a public profile fit for a Kardashian," the family will be shepherded by TMZ chief Harvey Levin and his crew at the celebrity news site. CBS Master Showman Moonves on Top of the World USA Today CBS CEO Les Moonves said the television industry faces challenges as the way people watch TV changes. "The biggest challenge is getting used to all the different devices." While CBS remains the No. 1 network, "this wasn't broadcast TV's greatest year in terms of new product." TBS, TNT Cable Channels to Begin Streaming Online Bloomberg Time Warner's TBS and TNT channels will begin streaming their content online 24 hours a day this summer, letting pay-TV subscribers watch the networks using the web or a mobile-device app. The channels are making the move as part of an industry shift toward "TV everywhere." USA Network Draws Battle Line with Twitter, Facebook Wall Street Journal Comcast's USA Network will unveil a rebuilt web and mobile platform that will bring more of the real-time conversation about its shows happening on Twitter, Facebook and other social media onto its own site. The cable network plans to sell ads to run alongside the content. Warner Bros Studio to Realign TV, Digital Operations Dow Jones Warner Bros. said it is realigning its television business and digital operations, as the studio, under new CEO Kevin Tsujihara, seeks to adapt to a shift in the way people seek entertainment. The changes will give new responsibilities to three of the company's top execs. >> MORE INTERNET & DIGITAL MEDIA Microsoft Xbox One Stakes Claim to Living Room CNET Microsoft's focus during the unveiling of its new Xbox One demonstrates the company's bid to secure a digital hub in living rooms. "Team Xbox is on a new mission," said Microsoft's Don Mattrick, adding that the console is the "ultimate all-in-one-home entertainment system." Google Fiber Not Going Nationwide, Report Says Home Media Google's heralded fiber optic network is likely to remain a minor player in the U.S. broadband market, with the search behemoth unlikely to deploy the service nationwide due its high cost, according to IHS Screen Digest. IHS believes Google Fiber will remain in smaller markets. Yahoo to Raise Tumblr to Facebook, Twitter Status Mashable One of Tumblr's earliest investors, venture capitalist Fred Wilson, said the Yahoo deal will lead to an influx of advertising on the platform and bring it to the level of Facebook and Yahoo in the minds of advertisers. Tumblr's native ad system is "beautiful," he said. Facebook Losing Interest of Teenagers, Study Says BuzzFeed A study by the Pew Research Center and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society has confirmed anecdotal evidence that Facebook is falling out of favor with teenagers. "Teens who used Twitter and Instagram reported feeling like they could better express themselves." Netflix to Import New Gervais British Comedy 'Derek' Daily News Ricky Gervais's latest British TV comedy is coming to the United States. But this time, unlike with "The Office," it won't be a remake with American actors; it will be the British original. "Derek," written by and starring Gervais, will be released Sept. 12 on Netflix. BuzzFeed to Launch Coverage of Business News Talking Biz News BuzzFeed is expected to officially launch its business news coverage on Wednesday. The social news site has hired a team of business journalists to produce "smart, sophisticated analysis that can hold up against the Times, the FT, the Journal," said business editor Peter Lauria. Hollywood.com News Website Lays Off Reporters New York Observer Layoffs are hitting Hollywood.com, the entertainment-news website. Reporters are announcing that they are newly unemployed via Twitter: "Anyone looking for a writer? I was laid off from Hollywood.com today along with several of my other fabulous co-workers. Hire us!" Reddit Helps Find Missing Pets in Oklahoma Tornado Daily Beast After misidentifying a potential suspect in the Boston bombing, Reddit is on the road to redemption. The social news site created a "subreddit" to help relocate missing pets in Moore, Okla., following the devastating tornado. "Found chihuahua near plaza towers," one post reads. Tumblr's Karp Scolds ABC News Over 'Hipster' Label New York Post Don't call Tumblr mogul David Karp a "hipster." The 26-year-old, shaggy-haired CEO who sold his site to Yahoo for $1.1 billion scolded ABC's George Stephanopoulos for branding him "the original hipster CEO." Said Karp: "I don't know if I really appreciate that one." Target to Test Netflix-like Video-Streaming Service Star Tribune Target is testing a Netflix-like movie streaming service with its own employees. Called Target Ticket beta, the service offers "instant access to 15,000 titles, new releases, classic movies and next-day TV." The move comes as video streaming is becoming a challenger to TV. YouTube Posts Pirated Version of 'Star Trek' Movie BuzzFeed A pirated version of "Star Trek Into Darkness" was posted on YouTube Sunday night, where was accessible for more than 24 hours. The Paramount Pictures film was released on Friday. The video appeared to have been shot on a hand-held camera in a movie theater. Yahoo to Move Into Former New York Times Building New York Times Yahoo, the web giant web that just announced plans to acquire Tumblr for $1.1 billion, is moving its New York headquarters into the former home of the New York Times, on 43rd Street. Yahoo hopes to erect a large illuminated sign with its name at the top of the building. Tumblr Buy Turns Attention to More Potential Targets CNBC In the wake of Yahoo's plan to snap up Tumblr, the attention has shifted to other private tech companies that could be next. Several other potential takeover targets in the media and tech sectors have been identified. They include: Foursquare, WhatsApp, Waze and Hulu. Apple Avoids Taxes with 'Web' of Offshore Entities Washington Post Apple used a "complex web" of offshore entities that allowed it to pay little or no taxes on tens of billions it earned overseas, according to a Senate investigation. Apple's scheme was "unprecedented" in its use of multiple affiliates that had no semblance of a physical presence. Facebook Hit with Lawsuit by Eminem Publisher Hollywood Reporter Eight Mile Style, the firm that administers the rights to Eminem's music, has filed a lawsuit against Facebook. The complaint accuses the social network of lifting one of Eminem's songs for the launch of a new application called "Facebook Home," among other charges. Microsoft Xbox Live Preps 'Music Room' TV Project Edge Xbox Live plans to host a new interactive TV project, The Music Room, as Microsoft looks to increase its presence in entertainment. Described as a "new interactive series," The Music Room's first show will feature former Libertines co-frontman Carl Barat as its special guest. AOL Mulls Launch of 'Bling' Subscription Business AllThingsD Is there room for another subscription commerce business? AOL has been working on a new operation that it is calling "Bling Thing," a business that would offer "subscriptions to receive boxes filled with assorted items in the fields of consumer products and consumer services." Yahoo Vows Not to 'Screw Up' Tumblr in Acquisition AllThingsD Yahoo and Tumblr have announced a deal for the Internet giant to acquire the New York-based blogging startup for $1.1 billion. "Per the agreement and our promise not to screw it up, Tumblr will be independently operated as a separate business," said the official press release. Facebook Transforms Into Media Giant After IPO Upstart Business Facebook is said to be on its way to becoming "another big media company in a tech startup hoodie." A year ago, the social networking giant went public, "and a company that previously hadn't even bothered to put ads on its mobile product suddenly had to answer to Wall Street." Google's New Glasses Eyed by Adult Film Industry Daily Mail Adult film directors said they plan to use the new high-tech Google Glass eyewear for their flicks to explore the "full potential" of the technology. "A device that allows you to shoot high-quality video in a truly hands-free fashion will make shooting 'point of view' that much easier." Microsoft New Xbox to Battle Tablets, Smartphones Wall Street Journal Microsoft will unveil its new Xbox on Tuesday. What's underneath the hood of the latest videogame console represents a multiyear odyssey of trying to figure out how to keep the machine "cool" in the age of smartphones and tablets. The last Xbox was rolled out in 2005. Hulu Video Site Acquisition Considered by DirecTV Wall Street Journal DirecTV, the second largest U.S. pay-TV provider, is said to be weighing a potential bid for Hulu, the latest company to show interest in the six-year-old video site. Pay-TV operators could be interested in Hulu in part to expand their so-called "TV Everywhere" services. YouTube Worth $20 Billion by 2020, Analysts Say CNBC YouTube could be a $20 billion business within seven years, according to a research note from Morgan Stanley. Based on the site's current share of the video advertising market, analysts at the firm estimate that YouTube will do $4 billion in gross revenue this year alone. Twitter Teams with NBA to Stream Replay Videos Bloomberg Twitter has teamed with the National Basketball Association to stream video clips of game highlights as the blogging service expands beyond 140-character status updates ahead of a possible initial public offering. Short advertisements will appear alongside the clips. AOL's Patch Names New CEO, Lays Off Staffers AllThingsD Jon Brod will step down as CEO of Patch, the AOL local content site, according to a memo sent to employees. He will be replaced by COO and president Steve Kalin. Also, the company is said to be laying off about 3% of its 1,400 employees, to help "make Patch profitable." Pinterest Makes Move to Work with Big Brands GigaOM Pinterest plans to announce a new type of pin that will highlight major U.S. retail brands, marking its first step in integrating images with associated brands -- and making it easier to purchase items. Launch partners include Bon Appetit, Epicurious and Martha Stewart Living. Gawker's Gizmodo Pivots From Gadgets to Design New York Observer Gizmodo, Gawker Media's tech blog, is getting a new editor and a new focus. Geoff Manaugh, a former senior editor at Dwell magazine and contributing editor at Wired U.K., will take over. Manaugh is bringing his architecture and design website along with him. TMZ Launches Bus Sightseeing Tour in New York New York Celebrity-gossip site TMZ has rolled out a New York City sightseeing tour for tabloid-obsessives. The two-hour bus ride will, according to the company, make around 70 stops. The TMZ team has been coy about the route, except to say that it will "change constantly." Yahoo Approves $1.1 Billion Acquisition of Tumblr AllThingsD The board of Yahoo has approved a massive deal to pay $1.1 billion in cash to acquire Tumblr. The deal was said to be a unanimous vote by the Internet giant. Despite reports, there were no other competing bids to snap up the New York-based hipster blogging service. Internet Week New York to Gather Tech Celebrities Daily News Famous names in the tech world will descend upon lower Manhattan to "geek out" during Internet Week New York, the annual festival kicking off Monday. BuzzFeed founder Jonah Peretti and Neil Blumenthal of Warby Parker will mix with the likes of Jerry Seinfeld and Frank Ocean. Survey: Young People Prefer to Read on a Screen BBC News Young people are now much more likely to prefer to read on a computer screen rather than a printed book or magazine, according to a survey by the U.K. National Literary Trust. "Not only are young people more likely to read on electronic devices, they also do it more often." Facebook 'Fatigue' Stirs Concern Among Investors Financial Times As Facebook marks its first year as a public company on Saturday, it is facing pressure from investors to address fears that young people are losing interest in the social network. Many investors believe that under-25s are defecting to services like Twitter and WhatsApp. Google Glass Targeted by Congress Over Privacy Wall Street Journal Members of Congress have asked Google to make assurances about privacy safeguards for the Google Glass wearable-computing device, which isn't yet for sale. The demands come as Google coaches developers on how to write programs for the new product. Yahoo in Talks to Acquire Tumblr in $1 Billion Deal Adweek Yahoo is said to be in serious talks with Tumblr to acquire the social blogging site. The deal is not done, but could reach as high as $1 billion. Such an acquisition could be just what CEO Marissa Mayer has been looking for to turn around Yahoo's momentum. Apple App Store Surpasses 50 Billion Downloads Associated Press Apple said its customers have downloaded some 50 billon applications from its App Store since its launch in 2008. The App Store had 500 apps when it first opened. It now has more than 850,000. Apps range from newspapers and magazines to games and business tools. YouTube: Judge Denies Copyright Class Action Hollywood Reporter In a nearly six-year-old dispute, a U.S. judge won't allow a large number of copyright owners to pursue YouTube in a massive class action. The lawsuit was brought by a group of plaintiffs including U.K.'s professional soccer league and the National Music Publishers Association. Groupon Founder Plans Launch of New Company Chicago Tribune Groupon co-founder Andrew Mason is heading to San Francisco to work on launching a new company. The former CEO announced on his blog that he has "accumulated a backlog of ideas over the last several years" and will be turning his favorite one into a company this fall. Yahoo to Display Twitter Updates in Streaming News Bloomberg Marissa Mayer plans to start displaying posts from Twitter alongside other items featured in news feeds on Yahoo. U.S. users will see updates from the microblogging service on desktop and mobile versions of Yahoo's news service in the next few days, the CEO said on a blog post. >> MORE ADVERTISING & MARKETING Nielsen's Slow Shift to the Web Hinders TV Networks Bloomberg Broadcast and cable networks like CBS and Nickelodeon are failing to get paid for surging web audiences because those viewers are almost invisible to Nielsen. The dominant ratings measurement firm has been accused of being slow to count audiences on tablets and smartphones. TV Ad Sales Threatened by Fragmented Audience New York Post The rapid rise of time-shifted viewing driven by DVRs, video-on-demand options and mobile devices has decimated TV ratings in the first quarter and threatens to drag down the annual ad-sales season. Total primetime commercial ratings fell 8% across the board. Nielsen Gets Digital to Track Online TV Viewers Wall Street Journal Nielsen is testing a tool to measure online viewing of TV shows. TV networks are expected to use the tool to track viewership of programs on their own websites. The new technology is hoped to become the standard to measure viewing on sites like Hulu, YouTube, Yahoo and AOL. ZenithOptimedia: Online Video, Social Ads to Grow Financial Times Global advertising markets will grow 3.9% in 2013, according to the latest benchmark analysis from ZenithOptimedia. Internet advertising will remain the fastest-growing medium this year, propelled by rapid rises in online video and social media ads, the media buying agency said. WPP Chief Eyes Tech Deals Amid Media Change Beet.TV WPP is eyeing investments and acquisitions in technologies that power media buying, according to CEO Martin Sorrell. "We're not just 'Mad Men,' we're maths men as well," he said. "We're starting to get involved with the chief information officers and chief technology officers." Report: TV Regarded as Most Effective Ad Medium World Screen Television accounted for 62.8% of the total global advertising dollars taken in for 2012, according to Nielsen's quarterly Global AdView Pulse report. TV was again dominant, while spending on newspapers and magazines took a hit. Display Internet ads showed growth. Study: Public is Tired of 'Bad Ads' on the Internet BtoB A large number of U.S. Internet users are fed up with "irrelevant" ads and will ignore a company completely as a result, according to a study by marketing analytics firm InsightOne. Some 88% of U.S. Internet users said they have been "flooded" with online ad spam. Advertisers Embracing 'Brand Publishing' Trend Washington Post Dozens of companies, including Boeing, General Electric, Pepsi, American Express and Verizon Wireless, are becoming their own publishers, creating and distributing "content" articles, videos, photos that would be right at home in a traditional newspaper or magazine. Report: Digital Ad Revenue Climbs to $36 Billion Reuters Digital advertising revenue in the United States increased 15% to $36.6 billion hitting a record, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Advertisers turned mostly to search ads, the format that dominated almost half of total spending representing 46.3% at $16.9 billion. TV Ad Market Outlook Muted by Lower Ratings Wall Street Journal Broadcast-TV ratings have dropped sharply this season. And that, combined with the weak economy and competition from other media, augurs badly for the spring ad-sales market. Some analysts predict broadcast networks' take will be steady to slightly lower. WPP, Ford Apologize for Ads Showing Bondage CNBC Ford Motor and WPP, its advertising agency, have apologized for ads in India depicting women in bondage. One of the ads features scantily clad women gagged, bound and crammed into the back of the Ford Figo. The ads "should never have been created," said WPP. Advertisers Launching Branded Online Magazines ClickZ More and more marketers and ad agencies are launching their own online publications to directly compete with traditional magazines. Degree deodorant's The Adrenalist website offers content on the "coolest adventures, extreme sports, speed, gear and gadgets." Nielsen: Cord-Cutters Are 'Zero TV' Households LA Biz Nielsen is working hard to track the cord-cutters. The TV ratings service is calling them "zero TV" households, but it's a bit of a misnomer. While most of these households do own a TV, the set is not connected to a cable or satellite service but to the Internet. >> MORE MEDIA COMPANIES Sony to Consider Spin-Off of Entertainment Business Reuters Sony said it plans to assess a proposal from its biggest shareholder, billionaire Daniel Loeb's Third Point hedge fund, that the company should sell up to a fifth of its music and movies business, which includes artists such as Adele and hit franchises like "Spider-Man." Viacom Study Reveals Social Media's Deadly Sins Blog.Viacom Viacom is unveiling findings from multi-country research on the interplay between TV and social media, looking at not just how but why viewers engage in TV-related activities on social media. The study helped researchers create a list of social media's "deadly sins." Tribune Taps Yahoo Veteran to Run Digital Ventures AllThingsD Shashi Seth, a former top product exec at Yahoo, has joined Tribune as president of Tribune Digital Ventures. Seth will report to CEO Peter Liguori and be based in Silicon Valley, apparently to set up a brand new digital arm of the Chicago-based media company. Dish Network Chief Bids for LightSquared Airwaves Bloomberg Dish Network chief Charlie Ergen is said to have made a $2 billion bid for radio frequencies from LightSquared, the bankrupt wireless-broadband company. Obtaining the airwaves would help Ergen expand his wireless assets at the same time Dish is seeking to acquire Sprint. Liberty to Sell Chellomedia TV-Channel Business Wall Street Journal Liberty Global, John Malone's international cable operation, has put its Chellomedia TV-channel business up for sale, in a move that could lead to a deal valued at between $800 million and $1 billion. Chellomedia produces and distributes TV channels worldwide. Core Media Seeks to Sell Elvis' Graceland Mansion Financial Times Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion and rights to the images of Elvis and Muhammad Ali are on the market with a possible price tag of more than $200 million. Core Media, the entertainment group behind TV programs such as "American Idol," has begun approaching bidders. FCC Chief Reflects on 'New World' of the Internet USA Today Julius Genachowski's stewardship of the Federal Communications Commission ends Friday, after more than four years dealing with issues such as broadband and media consolidation. "One of the most important things the FCC can do is preserve the openness of the Internet." News Corp: Facebook Faces Same Fate as MySpace Telegraph Rupert Murdoch warns Facebook may suffer the same fate as MySpace as the social network marks the anniversary of its IPO. He tweeted: "Look out Facebook! Hours spent participating per member dropping seriously. First really bad sign as seen by crappy MySpace years ago." Sony, News Corp Hackers Are Sentenced to Prison Wired Four members of the LulzSec group, an offshoot of Anonymous, have been sentenced in London to between two and two-and-a-half years in prison for their roles in a series of high-profile hacks against Sony Pictures, News International, Electronic Arts and other targets in 2011. Viacom's 'Star Trek' to Put Summer in Warp Drive Bloomberg "Star Trek Into Darkness," the second installment in director J.J. Abrams's reboot of the science-fiction series, is forecast to take in $112 million in its debut, boosted by an early start in theaters this weekend. The Paramount Pictures film opened a day earlier than originally planned. Comcast Shareholders Meeting Attracts Protesters Philadelphia Inquirer About a dozen tea party activists gathered outside Comcast's annual shareholders meeting to protest the company's ownership of the liberal-leaning MSNBC. Inside, shareholders complained about show host Rev. Al Sharpton. "Conservatives can abandon your business." Time Warner, Hearst Unveil Apps for Google Glass CNET Google has unveiled several new apps or "Glassware," as it calls them for Google Glass, its wearable computing device. The apps include CNN, Elle magazine, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Evernote. They join apps already available from the New York Times and Path. CBS Master Showman Moonves on Top of the World USA Today CBS CEO Les Moonves said the television industry faces challenges as the way people watch TV changes. "The biggest challenge is getting used to all the different devices." While CBS remains the No. 1 network, "this wasn't broadcast TV's greatest year in terms of new product." MGM Stake Bought by Activist Investor Daniel Loeb Hollywood Reporter Activist investor Daniel Loeb, who last weekend sent Sony a letter urging a spinoff of its entertainment assets, has another Hollywood target Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Loeb apparently has been acquiring shares on the private market in the closely held movie and TV company. Time Warner's 'Gatsby' Opens Cannes Film Festival Reuters The Cannes film festival opens Wednesday with Baz Luhrmann's lavish period drama "The Great Gatsby." Leonardo DiCaprio and co-star Carey Mulligan will walk the red carpet on the French Riviera to promote the Warner Bros.-backed adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel. News Corp: James Murdoch Sells $25 Million in Shares Bloomberg James Murdoch, deputy chief operating officer of News Corp. and son of chief Rupert Murdoch, has sold $25.1 million of nonvoting shares in the company, capitalizing on a 65% gain in the stock over the past year. The sale comes ahead of a proposed News Corp. split-up. Sony Entertainment Asset Spinoff Seen as Inevitable Billboard The idea of spinning out Sony's entertainment assets isn't a new one. It's been in the air at 550 Madison Avenue for several years. Despite CEO Kazuo Hirai's protestations, some sort of spinout is "inevitable," according to a former Sony senior management veteran. Big Media: Report Names Industry's Top Paid Execs Deadline Media CEOs don't run their companies by themselves a tally of the best paid media chairs, COOs, CFOs, general counsels and other execs with standout compensation includes CBS/Viacom's Sumner Redstone, Comcast's Stephen Burke and News Corp.'s Roger Ailes. >> MORE |
||||||
HOME · ABOUT · CONTACT · PRESS · LEGAL Copyright © 2000-2013 I Want Media Inc. All rights reserved. |
||||||||
