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I Want Media is taking its annual summer break and will return with daily updates on Monday, July 20. -- Patrick Phillips, editor/founder
Coming soon: an all-new I Want Media ...
Today's Headlines
Murdoch Talks Media, Google, Twitter
TheStreet.com
News Corp. is going to be "more outspoken" about payment for copyright material, says chief Rupert Murdoch. "And that goes to every aggregator, whether it be Yahoo or Google or Ask.com." Also: Twitter is "an amazing phenomenon but I have no idea how they can monetize it."
Media Giants: Glass Half Full at Half Year
Hollywood Reporter
Among the publicly traded media giants, shares of Viacom (+19%), Sony (+19%) and News Corp. (+12%) fared best in the first six months of 2009. Time Warner (-7%) and CBS (-14%) lagged their peers. Media companies, analysts say, need to "show investors the money."
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Public Trusts Google More Than Old Media
Journalism.co.uk
The mainstream media are failing to explain basic information about the news, says a report published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Meanwhile, the public sees the Internet -- and Google specifically -- as "the most trusted resource of explanation."
Google: Consumers Are Searching for Deals
Bloomberg
Google CEO Eric Schmidt says consumers are coping with the recession by spending more time online searching for bargains. "The luxury stuff is off, and the core stuff that people need they are buying more of." He adds: "This is a classic recession. There will be a recovery."
Amazon.com is 'Next Generation Wal-Mart'
Barron's
Cowen analyst Jim Friedland, noting that Amazon has 9.5% of the U.S. book market, thinks the company is well-positioned to gain share in other categories. "Amazon is a next-generation Wal-Mart." Its focus on lower prices "will result in substantial share gains over time."
Twitter: Average User Has 126 Followers
Guardian
The average Twitter user has 126 followers, according to Evan Weaver, the lead engineer of the microblogging phenom's services team. Among other factoids: Only 20% of Twitter's traffic comes through its Web site; the other 80% comes from third-party programs.
Facebook Tell-All Gets Negative Reviews
CNET
Author Ben Mezrich's new "hilariously over-the-top" Facebook tell-all, "The Accidental Billionaires," hits bookstores July 14. The leading online social network released a statement about the book: "We think future efforts will tell a better and more accurate story."
YouTube Preps Redesign Amid Complaints
PC World
YouTube plans to switch all of its members to a redesign of its channel pages that it has been testing, although many people want Google's video-sharing site to give them the option to keep the old layout. Google insists that the new design will provide a better user experience.
Joost, Lagging YouTube, to Restructure
AFP
Joost, an online video portal which has failed to live up to the buzz surrounding its launch, is announcing a management shakeup and layoffs and plans to reinvent itself as a tech provider. Mike Volpi will be replaced as CEO by Matt Zelesko, senior VP of engineering.
Pirate Bay File-Sharing Site to Go Legit
World Screen
The Pirate Bay, the file-sharing site whose owners were recently convicted of copyright infringement, is being acquired by Swedish gaming group Global Gaming Factory X. The new owner aims to relaunch Pirate Bay as a legitimate site that will pay copyright fees to content owners.
Netflix CEO: DVDs Aren't Obsolete -- Yet
USA Today
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings believes that DVD rentals have four to nine years to keep growing, despite inroads in Internet delivery of movies. For all the hoopla over YouTube and Hulu, there is still demand for DVDs, he says. "A lot of consumers prefer the simplicity of discs."
Viacom's Paramount in DVD Merger Talks
Financial Times
Viacom's Paramount Pictures is in talks with both Sony Pictures and News Corp.'s Fox studio, seeking to merge its home entertainment division with one of its rivals. The talks follow an industry-wide slump in DVD sales, one of Hollywood's most profitable revenue streams.
Sony 'Should Drop' Walkman Brand at 30
Associated Press
Sony is struggling to reinvent itself and win back its reputation as a gadget pioneer once exemplified in the Walkman, which is marking its 30th anniversary as Apple's rival iPod reigns supreme. There is even some speculation that Sony should drop the Walkman brand.
CBS Shares Fall Amid 'Tangible Tension'
Associated Press
Shares of CBS are slumping as Deutsche Bank cuts earnings estimates, reflecting uncertainty over the timing and extent of an advertising recovery. The bank says there is "tangible tension" between the idea that media stocks are set to rally and predictions of a prolonged slump.
Clear Channel Radio Empire 'Fading Out'
San Antonio Express-News
Clear Channel, which has about $22 billion in debt, will have trouble making scheduled payments later this year, analysts say. The company, already down to about 800 radio stations from its peak of about 1,200, either will have to start selling outlets itself or go into bankruptcy.
| The Future of Media: 2009 |
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Sirius XM: Howard Stern Pal Nabbed in Taping
Smoking Gun
Ivy Silberstein, a frequent guest of satellite-radio host Howard Stern, is being cited for violating federal court rules by recording the sentencing hearing of swindler Bernard Madoff. Court rules bar both reporters and audience members from recording court proceedings.
Cablevision to Launch a Wedding Channel
Broadcasting & Cable
Cablevision's WE TV, which airs "Bridezillas" and other wedding shows, is said to be preparing to spin off a wedding-themed cable channel. WE is currently in talks with magazine partners for programming. Wedding magazines are among the most recession resilient titles.
HBO: 'Hung' is Biggest Premiere in Years
Hollywood Reporter
The premiere of HBO's newest comedy "Hung" was seen by 2.8 million viewers, making it the Time Warner network's most-watched series debut since "John From Cincinnati," which aired after the finale of "The Sopranos" in June 2007. Lead-in "True Blood drew 3.7 million viewers.
Oprah Sees Decline in Her Print Popularity
Mediaweek
Hearst is replacing Susan Reed as editor of O, the Oprah Magazine, less than a year after naming her to the position. She will be replaced by Time Inc. veteran Susan Casey. The 9-year-old O is starting to struggle on the newsstand. Both circulation and single copy sales are dropping.
Vibe Magazine May Be Revived Online Only
EbonyJet.com
Vibe magazine founder Quincy Jones, distraught over the news that the famous hip-hop title is shutting down, says he wants to buy it back. Owner Wicks Group "messed my magazine all up. You better believe it, I'm'a take it online because print and all that stuff is over."
Gannett Plans to Cut More Than 1,000 Jobs
Wall Street Journal
Gannett is said to be planning to cut between 1,000 and 2,000 jobs out of its 41,500-person work force in response to continuing revenue declines. Gannett, which like most newspaper publishers is suffering from steep advertising declines, cut about 10% of its work force last year.
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MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS
Journalism Online Announces First Deal
Crain's New York
Journalism Online, the brainchild of Steve Brill and Gordon Crovitz, is retaining Portland, Ore.-based ITZ Publishing to develop online strategies for small- and medium-sized U.S. newspapers. ITZ customers include the Philadelphia Inquirer and Dallas Morning News.
Wall St Journal Opens High-Tech News Hub
Twitter
The Wall Street Journal is taking the wraps off its new "high-tech news hub" at the newspaper's new offices in midtown Manhattan. WSJ.com is posting original videos featuring interviews with the paper's journalists, as well as clips provided by corporate sibling Fox News.
Tribune 'Super Blog' Links to Facebook
News & Tech
Tribune's new local "super blog" ChicagoNow reflects newspapers' continuing quest to redefine themselves online. The site uses software that allows users to connect with various social media sites. "People will be able to see what their friends have written on Twitter or Facebook."
Sun-Times Seeks Time for Exit Strategy
Crain's Chicago
Sun-Times Media, parent of the Chicago Sun-Times, is asking a bankruptcy judge for three more months to file its Chapter 11 reorganization plan. The company's lawyers say they need more time to come up with an exit strategy, a request they consider "neither surprising nor remarkable."
OK! Mag Pays for Jackson 'Death Photo'
Mediaweek
OK! magazine's British owner Northern & Shell reportedly paid $500,000 for an exclusive photo of the dying Michael Jackson being whisked to the hospital June 25. OK! plans to use the image in its international editions. "I hope the cover will provoke readers," says top editor Sarah Ivens.
AOL: Does It Devalue Time Inc Magazines?
Advertising Age
Time Warner's AOL is rolling out a series of content sites (Daily Finance, Politics Daily), produced by a mere handful of staffers. AOL appears to be counting on audiences and ad rates to become big enough to displace their magazine counterparts at corporate cousin Time Inc.
NY Times Sets Bid Deadline for Globe
Boston Globe
New York Times Co. is said to be asking potential buyers of the Boston Globe to submit preliminary bids by July 8. The Times wants to sell the Globe as part of a package that includes the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, another newspaper the company owns.
Martha, People Lead Magazines on Twitter
MinOnline
Martha Stewart Living and Time Inc.'s People, InStyle, Entertainment Weekly and Health rank at the top of the list of U.S. consumer magazine Twitter accounts, ranked by number of followers. Fast Company attributes its Twitter prowess to a new StumbleUpon tool.
Time, Rolling Stone Publish Jackson Specials
WWD
Time magazine is publishing a special issue on Michael Jackson. The newsweekly last published a special edition shortly after Sept. 11. Also, Rolling Stone will publish its own Jackson bookazine. The major celebrity weeklies are expected to publish tribute issues later this week.
Celeb Magazines Scramble to Cover Jackson
Crain's New York
Michael Jackson's death left some celebrity magazines scrambling. Us Weekly is said to have a deal for exclusive photos of the wedding of ex-Playboy Bunny Kendra Wilkinson and NFL star Hank Baskett. Now the deal is up in the air as the title considers focusing on Jackson.
Time Warner in Talks About Magazine Unit
Wall Street Journal
Time Warner is said to be talking with investment bankers about options for divesting its Time Inc. magazine unit, the publisher of Time, Sports Illustrated and People. Whether this is the focus of discussions isn't certain; Time Warner may be simply getting pitches from bankers.
Google News, LATimes.com Strained by Jacko
CNET
Many online news sites fared poorly in handling a flood of traffic following the death of Michael Jackson. LATimes.com, ABCNews.com and CBSNews.com saw a big drop-off in performance. Users of Google News complained that the service was inaccessible.
TMZ Breaks Story of Michael Jackson Death
Los Angeles Times
TMZ broke the news of the death of Michael Jackson -- a huge scoop for the Time Warner-owned celebrity news site. However, corporate sibling CNN refused to acknowledge TMZ's initial report about the pop star's death. "That's typical," says TMZ head Harvey Levin.
Twitter Messages Double on Jackson News
New York Times
The news of Michael Jackson's death rocked Twitter on Thursday as fans of the pop star sought the latest information and posted their reactions to the news. "We saw more than double the normal tweets per second the moment the news broke," says co-founder Biz Stone.
HuffPost Eyes Global Readers with Ad Deal
Journalism.co.uk
The Huffington Post is adding to its expansion plans by signing a deal to target non-U.S. readers with advertising. The site will use San Francisco-based AdGent 007 to sell ad inventory aimed at international traffic. HuffPost says it reaches "millions of consumers" worldwide.
Washington Times to Launch National Edition
News & Tech
The Washington Times plans to launch a national edition this fall, says executive editor John Solomon. The newspaper will be able to compete successfully against other national dailies, such as USA Today and the New York Times, because of its Washington perspective, he adds.
Hearst: Readers Will Pay for Bigger Magazines
Forbes
Hearst is enlarging the physical size of some of its print magazines, including Redbook, House Beautiful and Good Housekeeping. "Consumers want higher production values and they're willing to pay for them, according to all the testing we did," says Hearst exec Michael Clinton.
Conde Nast's Vogue Faces a Lean September
New York Post
Rumors are circulating that Vogue, the perennial fashion category leader and flagship of Conde Nast, will have a hard time producing a 500-page edition this September. Vogue's biggest September issue ever was in 2007, with 727 ad pages. Last year, it slipped to 607.
Dennis' The Week Unveils New Cover Design
Mr Magazine
The U.S. edition of Felix Dennis' The Week is revealing a new cover design that brings the newsmagazine closer to the look of its British counterpart. The cover sports a skyline of topics rather the previous left side rail approach. The new look is "more single copy friendly."
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TELEVISION & RADIO
Time Warner Rebuffed on Cablevision DVR
Bloomberg
The U.S. Supreme Court is refusing to question a television-recording service planned by Cablevision, turning away a challenge by media companies led by Time Warner's CNN. Cablevision's new service will let customers copy and store programs on a remote hard drive.
Comcast to Offer Wireless Internet Service
Associated Press
Comcast is rolling out wireless Internet service in Portland, Ore., with plans to add Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago by the end of the year. Comcast is the first major U.S. cable operator to offer wireless broadband. The service offers speeds of up to 4 megabits per second.
Viacom's MTV Goes Wall-to-Wall Jackson
Market Wrap
Despite charges that Viacom's MTV Networks "dropped the ball" with its slow response to Michael Jackson's death, MTV says that within two hours of his passing its channels were on the air with "wall-to-wall Jackson music videos, live performances, news segments and specials."
NBC Universal Cuts Jackson from 'Bruno'
The Wrap
A scene involving Michael Jackson's sister LaToya, hastily cut for the U.S. premiere of its much-anticipated "Bruno," will remain out of the film, says Universal Pictures. The cut will be made worldwide, even though the uncut film already has premiered in Europe.
CNN Leads Cable News Coverage of Jackson
Hollywood Reporter
CNN once again jumped to the ratings foreground during a national news event Thursday night, easily dominating its cable news rivals, Fox News and MSNBC. CNN averaged 3.9 million viewers with its coverage of Michael Jackson, an increase of about 381% over its usual numbers.
MSNBC Bests CNN, Fox News on the Web
MarketWatch
MSNBC.com is attracting the most unique visitors among news and global events sites, according to Nielsen Online. General manager Charlie Tillinghast credits the site's devotion to video: "Newspaper sites may not be investing in the technology to the extent that we are."
Al Jazeera to Debut in D.C. on Wednesday
Forbes
Middle East news giant Al Jazeera will begin airing in Washington, D.C., its first major carriage in the United States, amid perceptions of bias. Its carrier is the nonprofit MHZ Networks. In the Obama era, Americans have an "appetite for more international news," the network says.
Xinhua to Launch English TV News Show
Financial Times
Xinhua, China's official news agency, will launch an English-language television news program this week on screens in supermarkets and outside Chinese embassies in Europe. The move is seen as a first step towards spreading Beijing's view of the world to western audiences.
TV Prepares for $2 Billion Ad Shortfall
Financial Times
U.S. broadcast and cable networks will face a $2 billion slump in advertising revenues during the next four years as younger viewers spend more time online, says a report by Screen Digest. "We're at an inflection point in the TV business model." Online video ads "won't fill the gap."
News Corp Cuts Nearly 100 LA TV Jobs
LA Observed
News Corp.'s KTTV in Los Angeles is said to be cutting nearly 100 jobs in all newsroom departments at the Fox affiliate station. "Editors, writers, promo people, our chief helicopter guy ..." News Corp.'s New York TV stations, WNYW and WWOR, laid off 20 staffers last week.
Murdoch Daughter Eyed for TV CEO Job
Telegraph
Elizabeth Murdoch, the daughter of Rupert Murdoch and founder of Shine Entertainment, is on the short list to become the new CEO of ITV, the British television network and principal rival to the BBC. Her understanding of media and entrepreneurial skills "make her an obvious candidate."
CBS to Roll Out 'Project LENO' for Affiliates
Variety
CBS is partnered with its affiliates to launch an aggressive 10 p.m. marketing plan -- dubbed "Project LENO," as in "Late prime Enhanced News Opportunity." The network is offering stations a "tool kit" to promote the hour, as rival NBC prepares "The Jay Leno Show" for 10 p.m.
NBC, GroupM Poised to Open Upfront Market
Adweek
NBC Universal and GroupM are close to finalizing a major deal for broadcast and cable inventory for next season. Observers believe NBC, the fourth-rated broadcaster, will have to move first due to its weaker position. ABC, CBS and Fox aren't believed to be close to cutting deals.
CBS: Letterman Has First Win Over O'Brien
Bloomberg
CBS' David Letterman has beat NBC's Conan O'Brien in the late-night talk-show ratings race on a weekly basis for the first time since O'Brien succeeded Jay Leno as host of "The Tonight Show." Letterman has also won the weekly ratings for the first time since December 2005.
Sirius XM Signs O'Donnell for 'Rosie Radio'
New York Daily News
Rosie O'Donnell is jumping back into the talk show game, on Sirius XM Radio. Starting this fall, the outspoken O'Donnell will host a two-hour daily show called "Rosie Radio." Signing the high-profile O'Donnell suggests that the struggling Sirius XM intends to remain an aggressive player.
FCC: Former IAC Exec OK'd as New Chairman
Bloomberg
The U.S. Senate is approving Julius Genachowski, a Democrat, as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Genachowski is a former adviser to IAC boss Barry Diller. Senators are also approving Republican Robert McDowell to serve a second term on the agency.
Nielsen: Teens Still Like Traditional Media
Adweek
The notion that teens are too busy texting and Twittering to be engaged with traditional media is false, according to a new research report by Nielsen. The leading type of media use among teens is still television, with the average teenager watching 3 hours and 20 minutes per day.
NBC Universal CEO Vows 'Imminent' Changes
DHD
NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker is said to be planning "imminent" changes, possibly involving much-criticized NBC entertainment head Ben Silverman. Zucker reportedly has already quietly moved Silverman into NBCU marketing to focus on advertising-related business.
Murdoch's Fox News Set for Best Year Yet
Hollywood Reporter
Fox News, which is believed to be benefiting from an Obama presidency, is averaging about the same number of viewers as rivals CNN, CNN Headline News and MSNBC combined. Fox News currently ranks third behind USA and TNT among all ad-supported cable networks.
Time Warner-Comcast Web TV Faces Hurdles
Los Angeles Times
A plan by Time Warner and Comcast to ensure that people who watch television on the Web are already pay-TV customers faces several hurdles, including a workable encryption system that is easy to use. The technology "has to work for the consumer; it cannot be obtrusive."
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INTERNET & DIGITAL MEDIA
Google, YouTube Seeking News Partners
eWeek
Google and its YouTube video-sharing site are looking for more advertising revenue by inviting news organizations to partner with them. In a new program, professional news sites will be able to upload their videos to YouTube and see them distributed in Google News.
YouTube Offers Tips from Top Journos
Associated Press
YouTube is opening an online journalism training hub featuring tips from top names, including Bob Woodward, Katie Couric, Arianna Huffington and Nicholas Kristof. YouTube describes the venture as a bid to help "citizen reporters" learn more about how to report the news.
Google Books May See Action by Congress
Financial Times
Oxford University Press is calling for action by U.S. Congress to prevent Google gaining exclusive rights to exploit the "orphan works" made available through its book search initiative. "Congress should pass orphan-works legislation that gives others the same rights as Google."
The Pirate Bay Aims to Take On YouTube
PC Mag
The Pirate Bay, the infamous Scandinavian Web site whose founders were found guilty of contributing to copyright infringement earlier this year, is launching a video site. The Video Bay allows users to upload and watch video files, much like YouTube, regardless of copyrights.
Mobile Phones Ads Forecast to Explode
Reuters
Advertising on mobile phones should take off within two to three years, driven by new applications on smartphones, say industry execs. "Mom and pop" local retailers could shift their ad budgets away from local newspapers to mobiles for local highly-targeted campaigns.
Facebook Taps Revenue Pro for New CFO
Reuters
Facebook is naming former Genentech CFO David Ebersman as its own CFO, filing a spot that has been empty for about three months. In March, Facebook announced that CFO Gideon Yu was leaving and that it was seeking a replacement with "public company experience."
Dell is Working On Pocket Internet Gadget
Wall Street Journal
Engineers at Dell are said to be developing a pocket-sized device for tapping into the Internet. The gadget will run on Google's Android software, sources say. The device is described as slightly larger than Apple's iPod Touch and could go on sale later this year.
Google CEO Says Worst of Crisis is Over
Reuters
A U.S. recovery is likely to begin this autumn and the worst of the crisis has passed, according to Google CEO Eric Schmidt. It is "reasonable to be optimistic for 2010," he says. "The rate of jobless claims is decreasing although the absolute number is increasing."
Microsoft to Put Razorfish Up for Sale
Financial Times
Microsoft is hiring Morgan Stanley to find a potential buyer for Razorfish, the digital agency it acquired in 2007. France's Publicis Groupe is said to be a possible bidder. Razorfish is viewed as a conflict of interest with Microsoft Advertising, which sells technology to rival agencies.
Sony Mulls Adding Phone to PlayStation
Reuters
Sony is said to be considering developing a cellphone-game gear hybrid in a bid to better compete with Apple's popular iPod and iPhone. Sony reportedly plans to set up a team to develop a product combining its PlayStation Portable gaming system and Sony Ericsson's mobile phones.
Twitter: Companies Cope with Imposters
Wall Street Journal
Businesses are becoming targets of fake Twitter profiles -- sometimes from rivals. But while Twitter plans to introduce a verification service to confirm profiles of well-known individuals, there are no plans to offer a similar service for businesses, due in part to the cost.
Time Warner: TMZ Generates Buzz, Not Cash
Los Angeles Times
Time Warner's TMZ broke the news of the death of Michael Jackson. But TMZ's dubious tactics make other news outlets -- including corporate sibling CNN -- reluctant to cite its reporting. Major advertisers such as Procter & Gamble avoid TMZ, wishing to "maintain their integrity."
Jackson's Death: The Web Almost Died, Too
Wall Street Journal
Web usage more than doubled its normal traffic to 4.2 million global visitors per minute on Thursday, according to Akamai. AOL calls Thursday's Web traffic a "seminal moment in Internet history." Google Trends is rating queries related to Jackson's death as "volcanic."
Google's 'Obscene' Content Slammed by China
Reuters
China is accusing Google of spreading "vulgar, lascivious, pornographic" content that violates the nation's laws. Access to Google's search engine in China is seeing disruptions. A government spokesman says that "punishment measures" against Google are lawful.
Apple iPhone 'Porn' App Removed by Request
V3.co.uk
"Hottest Girls," the first adult content iPhone application, went on sale at Apple's iTunes App Store on Thursday, only to be withdrawn a few hours later. Developer Allen Leung requested the app be removed because the traffic surge took down the server holding the photos.
TMZ Breaks Story of Michael Jackson Death
Los Angeles Times
TMZ broke the news of the death of Michael Jackson -- a huge scoop for the Time Warner-owned celebrity news site. However, corporate sibling CNN refused to acknowledge TMZ's initial report about the pop star's death. "That's typical," says TMZ head Harvey Levin.
Twitter Messages Double on Jackson News
New York Times
The news of Michael Jackson's death rocked Twitter on Thursday as fans of the pop star sought the latest information and posted their reactions to the news. "We saw more than double the normal tweets per second the moment the news broke," says co-founder Biz Stone.
HuffPost Eyes Global Readers with Ad Deal
Journalism.co.uk
The Huffington Post is adding to its expansion plans by signing a deal to target non-U.S. readers with advertising. The site will use San Francisco-based AdGent 007 to sell ad inventory aimed at international traffic. HuffPost says it reaches "millions of consumers" worldwide.
AOL's Truveo Video Search Gets a Makeover
WebProNews
AOL's video search engine Truveo is relaunching its site for 17 countries. The update gives users more personalized control over search. Truveo is also adding sharing features that let users send their favorite videos and search terms to friends through Facebook and MySpace.
Yahoo to Develop 'Fluff-o-Meter' for News
Hollywood Reporter
CEO Carol Bartz says Yahoo is developing a "Fluff-o-meter," which will allow users to customize the mix of hard news and fluff they prefer to see on the site. While Bartz says that the glut of Britney Spears stories makes her want to "throw up," some people "love that kind of news."
Google Opens AdSense for Mobile Applications
InformationWeek
Google is unveiling a beta of its AdSense advertising partner program for mobile applications on Apple's iPhone and Android phones. The program allows developers to integrate AdSense network ads into their mobile apps and advertisers to bid for placement.
Yahoo Preps Brand Overhaul for Relaunch
AllThingsD
Yahoo is working on a campaign to overhaul its brand in order to focus on what defines the Internet company. The new branding is expected to be built around the latest relaunch of its home-page design, slated for fall. One motto considered: Yahoo as "your home on the Web."
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ADVERTISING & MARKETING
TV Prepares for $2 Billion Ad Shortfall
Financial Times
U.S. broadcast and cable networks will face a $2 billion slump in advertising revenues during the next four years as younger viewers spend more time online, says a report by Screen Digest. "We're at an inflection point in the TV business model." Online video ads "won't fill the gap."
Obama Campaign Takes Top Global Ad Prize
USA Today
Barack Obama's historical win to become U.S. president also made history at last week's Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, where his "Obama for America" election campaign won two Grand Prix awards, among the top honors at the world's biggest ad competition.
NBC, GroupM Poised to Open Upfront Market
Adweek
NBC Universal and GroupM are close to finalizing a major deal for broadcast and cable inventory for next season. Observers believe NBC, the fourth-rated broadcaster, will have to move first due to its weaker position. ABC, CBS and Fox aren't believed to be close to cutting deals.
WPP: Global Ad Spend Revised Down Again
Reuters
Global advertising spending is expected to drop 5.5% in 2009, more than previously thought, before a mild recovery begins in 2010, according to a new forecast by WPP's GroupM. U.S. ad spending is forecast to fall 4.3% this year followed a 6.5% drop in 2010.
Microsoft Books Hyatt for Mobile Ad Campaign
Bloomberg
Microsoft is signing a deal with Global Hyatt Corp. to put hotel ads on Verizon Wireless phones, as it chases Google in mobile-phone advertising. Microsoft, which mostly sells ads designed for viewing on personal computers, is adapting the business to faster-growing mobile.
Google Tests Product Ads with Prices, Images
Wall Street Journal
Google is launching a test that will show people who search for products, like shoes and televisions, an entirely different advertising format known as a "product ad." Such ads will "feature product specific information directly in the ad such as price and product image."
Ad Festival Sees Drop in Entries, Attendees
USA Today
The week-long 56th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, the ad industry's most prestigious annual award show, begins in earnest Monday. Attendance, which topped 10,000 last year, is down 40% and entries are off about 20%, leading some to question its relevance.
Twitter, Google to Chat at Cannes Ad Festival
Business Standard
Top advertising execs will gather in the French resort of Cannes for the 56th annual Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. This year's event emphasizes digital with speakers including Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone.
Google's Anti-Malvertising.com Fights Bad Ads
InformationWeek
Google is quietly launching a new search site called Anti-Malvertising.com to help its ad network partners identify potential providers of malware. The Google custom search engine on the site is designed to provide publishers with background information about advertisers.
Internet Poised to Become No. 2 Ad Medium
New York Post
By 2013, Internet advertising will be second only to television ads in total media spending, according to the new PricewaterHouseCoopers report. Consumer magazines, newspapers and radio will be flat or down. Some segments "may never rebound to previous levels."
YouTube Testing Video Ad Viewing Options
AFP
YouTube is testing an option allowing users to choose between watching lengthy ads before uninterrupted videos or having brief ads mixed with viewing. The test is being held on a small percentage of videos. YouTube rival Hulu has been dabbling with a similar advertising format.
PwC: Media Growth in Video Games, Not Ads
Financial Times
Advertising is set for a prolonged slump, says PwC's new media outlook report. The downturn will accelerate the move to digital, and the newspaper industry will "fare worse." Growth in media over the next five years will be in video games, television subscriptions, film and Internet access.
Broadcast Networks to Mull Ads for Hard Liquor
New York Post
Local television affiliates are actively courting advertising for hard liquor, as networks report ad revenue off about $250 million in the first quarter. The spirits industry believes it is only a matter of time before broadcast networks revisit the idea of airing liquor commercials.
Amazon to Hold User-Generated TV Ad Contest
Adweek
Amazon is readying a return to television advertising after it stopped running commercials in 2002. The Internet retail giant is kicking off a user-generated commercial contest to find submissions that tell its story. "We're expecting great advertising creative," Amazon says.
TV Commercials Are Too Loud, Lawmakers Say
Dow Jones
Congress wants broadcasters to turn down the volume on television commercials. A new bill would require the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to "preclude commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes." The idea might be difficult to mandate, observers say.
Google to Make Grab for Online Display Ads
BusinessWeek
Google will soon unveil an overhauled version of the advertising exchange that it picked up in its acquisition of DoubleClick last year. The search giant hopes to place more display ads on its YouTube site as well as on thousands of partner sites, from blogs to the New York Times.
TV Viewers to See Fewer Traditional Ad Breaks
TheWrap
Next season, network television execs say viewers will see fewer traditional commercial breaks and an increase in innovative techniques such as shorter, more frequent ad stops, a heavier reliance on single sponsors and using actors from the shows in the commercials themselves.
Media Business Recovery Isn't Expected Soon
Reuters
U.S. advertising spending in the first three months of this year crashed 14%, according to TNS Media Intelligence, the biggest drop since 2000 when the industry researcher began keeping records. The figure suggests that a recovery in the media business may still be some time off.
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MEDIA COMPANIES
Media, Cable Among the Riskiest Sectors
Reuters
Companies in the media and cable sectors are at most risk of default and will help drive overall U.S. junk bond default rates to 12 to 14% by year end, according to a report by CreditSights. The risk is attributed to the decline in advertising revenues accelerated by the recession.
Media's Hot Topics Discussed in Aspen
Hollywood Reporter
"The News Has No Clothes," a stage show to be tested at this week's Aspen Ideas Festival, could end up being pitched to television networks. The festival also will host sessions about hot topics in media. Speakers include Michael Eisner, Steve Brill and Nick Denton.
Murdoch in Lawsuit Over 'Wolverine' Firing
Bloomberg
News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch and Fox News are being sued by former columnist Roger Friedman over claims he was illegally fired for viewing a download of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" to write a review of the movie. Friedman says his employment contract was violated.
News Corp's MySpace Brazil to Shut Down
Billboard
As part of its worldwide restructuring, MySpace will reportedly shutter its Brazilian operation. In addition to Brazil, MySpace's operations in Argentina and Mexico will also close, sources say. The decision to shutter Brazil was a "surprise," says a MySpace Brazil exec.
Apple Chief to Work Part of Week at Home
Financial Times
Steve Jobs will spend part of his working week at home, Apple says, as the company's CEO, who has been recovering from a liver transplant, returns to work. His partial absence suggests that he has not recovered fully. "As far as health is concerned, we're not out of the woods."
Time Warner Rebuffed on Cablevision DVR
Bloomberg
The U.S. Supreme Court is refusing to question a television-recording service planned by Cablevision, turning away a challenge by media companies led by Time Warner's CNN. Cablevision's new service will let customers copy and store programs on a remote hard drive.
Analyst: All Media Face Bankruptcy Risk
Advertising Age
All media companies need the economy to turn around -- and fast, according to Benchmark analyst Ed Atorino. Otherwise, "every media company is going to face Chapter 11." In the meantime, companies will "continue to look at options," like selling assets or reorganizing.
Sony-Jackson Firm to Keep Beatles Rights
Bloomberg
Sony/ATV Music Publishing, co-owned by Michael Jackson and Sony, will maintain control of Beatles songs following the pop singer's death. Sony/ATV holds rights to more than 200 songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Jackson's stake is worth about $1 billion.
Time Warner: Sole Bid for Midway Games
Los Angeles Times
Time Warner's Warner Bros. has emerged as the only bidder for Midway Games, all but assuring that it will take control of the bankrupt video game publisher previously owned by Viacom chief Sumner Redstone. Time Warner is set to become a major force in the video game biz.
Liberty Media Expresses Interest in AOL
Bloomberg
Liberty Media, the cable company controlled by John Malone, would like to talk with Time Warner about its AOL assets, says CEO Greg Maffei. Time Warner plans to spin off the entire AOL Internet unit into an independent, publicly traded company by the end of the year.
AdMedia's Edmiston to Retire This Week
MinOnline
AdMedia Partners managing director Mark Edmiston ends 37 years in executive suites when he steps down Tuesday. Edmiston, who has held many magazine positions, including president of Newsweek, plans to continue to consult for AdMedia and serve on Bonnier's advisory board.
Murdoch Daughter Eyed for TV CEO Job
Telegraph
Elizabeth Murdoch, the daughter of Rupert Murdoch and founder of Shine Entertainment, is on the short list to become the new CEO of ITV, the British television network and principal rival to the BBC. Her understanding of media and entrepreneurial skills "make her an obvious candidate."
FCC: Former IAC Exec OK'd as New Chairman
Bloomberg
The U.S. Senate is approving Julius Genachowski, a Democrat, as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Genachowski is a former adviser to IAC boss Barry Diller. Senators are also approving Republican Robert McDowell to serve a second term on the agency.
Sony's Sales May See a Boost from Jackson
Bloomberg
Sony, owner of rights to Michael Jackson's music, may boost revenue through a rebound in sales of the late pop icon's CDs and DVDs. "There will likely be a positive impact," analysts say. Sony owns the rights for Jackson's "Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad" and other albums.
Death-of-Old-Media Video Touches a Nerve
Wall Street Journal
"Mad Avenue Blues," a media-industry video ditty set to "American Pie," skewers virtually everyone in traditional media, from television to newspapers. The clip, a YouTube hit, is now drumming up business for creator Terry Kawaja, a managing director at GCA Savvian Investors.
Time Warner in Talks About Magazine Unit
Wall Street Journal
Time Warner is said to be talking with investment bankers about options for divesting its Time Inc. magazine unit, the publisher of Time, Sports Illustrated and People. Whether this is the focus of discussions isn't certain; Time Warner may be simply getting pitches from bankers.
News Corp: More Layoffs in Interactive Media
AllThingsD
The layoffs at MySpace parent Fox Interactive Media are moving to Photobucket, as one-third of its staff of about 120 is let go. The photo- and video-hosting service was bought by News Corp. in 2007. Other properties, such as the IGN videogame firm, are also seeing layoffs.
Viacom is No Longer Interested in MySpace
Reuters
Viacom, which lost the bidding war for MySpace in 2005, may still want to nab the social network, which could go for a bargain nowadays. But when contacted, Viacom says it is "not interested." Former Viacom CEO Tom Freston lost his job for failing to acquire MySpace.
Sony Seeks Digital Success with New Service
Fortune
Sony, seeking to exploit its technology and content, is developing a new service described as an "omnibus Web-based software platform" that will connect the company's vast library of content and devices. The new service will "overlay the backbone of the PlayStation Network."
Viacom's 'Transformers' Summer's Top Movie?
Dow Jones
The new "Transformers 2" sold $120.1 million in tickets on its opening Wednesday, with the U.S. total of $60.6 million, setting a record for movies debuting on that day. The results are good news for Viacom, whose Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks SKG are behind the film.
Viacom/CBS: Redstone Gets Bids for Cinemas
Financial Times
Israel Theaters and Empire Cinemas have reached the second round of bidding for the 21 British cinemas put up for sale by media boss Sumner Redstone. The theater chain is being sold to help Redstone pay down a $1.6 billion debt and avoid having to sell shares in Viacom.
Microsoft CEO: Old Media Won't Bounce Back
Guardian
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, named "Media Person of the Year" at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, sees a bleak future for print and broadcast media. Global advertising has been permanently "reset" at a lower level, he says. "All content consumed will be digital."
Time Warner-Comcast Web TV Faces Hurdles
Los Angeles Times
A plan by Time Warner and Comcast to ensure that people who watch television on the Web are already pay-TV customers faces several hurdles, including a workable encryption system that is easy to use. The technology "has to work for the consumer; it cannot be obtrusive."
'Idol' Star's New Firm 'Bigger Than Disney'
Daily Star
Simon Cowell, the "American Idol" judge and television producer, is teaming up with billionaire British retailer Phillip Green to launch their own global entertainment firm. The two claim that their new Los Angeles-based venture, dubbed "Project X," will be "bigger than Disney."
Time Warner, Comcast to Take Aim at Hulu
Los Angeles Times
Time Warner and Comcast plan to unveil a partnership that will make it harder for people to watch television shows online for free. Called "TV Everywhere," the initiative will require viewers to subscribe to a pay-TV service before they may watch certain shows online.
News Corp Building Platform for Web Pay
Hollywood Reporter
More media execs are insisting that consumers will be willing to pay for digital content as new online pay models are explored. Les Hinton, CEO of News Corp.'s Dow Jones, says the company is working on a technical platform that will allow people to pay for online content.
Time Warner is 'The Best Stock in Media'
Hollywood Reporter
Time Warner is the best stock in the media business, according to Miller Tabak analyst David Joyce. The company has a good shot at more than doubling during the next two years, he says. News Corp. is ranked further down on the list at No. 11, for "bulking up in newspapers."
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