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Friday, 2/3/12  
Recent Headlines Media news by sector GO TO: MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS TELEVISION & RADIO INTERNET & DIGITAL MEDIA ADVERTISING & MARKETING MEDIA COMPANIES MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS Time Inc to Shutter Maghound Online Venture Folio Time Inc.'s print magazine venture Maghound.com is closing. The service debuted in 2008, and is expected to fold early this year. Dubbed the "Netflix of the magazine industry," Maghound hawked multiple titles for a discount price, without a subscription commitment. Conde Nast's Glamour 'Less Boring' in Redo New York Times Both Conde Nast's Glamour and Hearst's Harper's Bazaar are unveiling major redesigns. Glamour will be the first out of the gate. "We felt like Glamour had become a little too formulaic," said editor in chief Cindi Leive. "If I'm bored, the reader probably is, too." Hearst Former Intern Sues Over Unpaid Work New York Times A former unpaid intern for Harper's Bazaar has filed a lawsuit accusing owner Hearst of violating federal and state wage and hour laws by not paying her even though she often worked full time. Some labor advocates assert that many employers are exploiting interns. Wenner to Relaunch Men's Journal Website Adweek Men's Journal plans to unveil a new website this spring that, in a departure from many magazine websites that still mirror their print counterparts, will focus on product reviews and advice. The site will be "recommending the best things to experience for men." New York Times Sees Decline in Profit, Ads New York Times The New York Times's fourth-quarter profit declined 12.2% as rising subscription and digital advertising revenue could not offset the continued drop-off in print ads. The Times said it plans to sell an additional part of its stake in the owner of the Boston Red Sox. Los Angeles Times Revenue Officer Departs TheWrap Los Angeles Times exec John O'Loughlin has become the latest high-ranking official to leave the Tribune newspaper. O'Loughlin, who served as executive VP of advertising and chief revenue officer, is leaving to become president of Hearst's Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle Makes Leadership Changes Houston Chronicle Hearst has announced new leadership at its leading Texas newspaper, the Houston Chronicle. Jack Sweeney, president and publisher, becomes chairman; Thomas Stephenson, of the San Antonio Express-News, becomes publisher; and John O'Loughlin joins as president. San Francisco Bay Citizen Said in Merger Talks Wall Street Journal The Bay Citizen, a nonprofit online news publication that covers the San Francisco area, is said to be in merger talks with a nearby nonprofit news organization, the Center for Investigative Reporting. "It's unclear where the conversations will lead, if anywhere." Times of London in Probe Over Email Hacking BBC News Britain's Times newspaper is being investigated by police in connection with hacking allegations that have plagued other publications of Rupert Murdoch's News International group. The probe is linked to charges that a Times journalist hacked into the email of a police blogger. Guardian: No Paywall But 'Things May Change' Media Week Guardian CEO Andrew Miller has ruled out erecting a paywall, as he tries to stem losses with an ongoing restructuring and redundancy program. He admitted, however, that "things may change," pointing to the British newspaper's early success with "quasi-paywalls." Newspaper Websites Boast Extensive Reach MediaPost Newspaper websites attracted an average of 111 million unique visitors per month in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 5.7% from 105 million in the same period of 2010, according to new comScore figures cited by the Newspaper Association of America. Hearst, Conde Nast Sell Magazine Distributor Folio Comag Marketing Group, the Princeton, N.J.-based national magazine distributor jointly owned by Hearst and Conde Nast, has been sold to the Jim Pattison Group. The deal signals the exit of the two leading publishers from the magazine distribution business. Conde Nast Shifts Leadership of Bon Appetit Adweek It's not exactly a January surprise, but there has been another leadership change at Conde Nast. Bon Appetit has cycled out of executive VP Bill Wackermann's stable. The move leaves him with publishing duties for Glamour, which remains a top company money-maker. Vogue Wins Top Honors from Conde Nast Adweek Vogue took top honors at the Conde Nast publishers' meeting, where CEO Chuck Townsend gave out the annual performance awards. Vogue publisher Susan Plagemann won Publisher of the Year for 2011, in which the fashion bible turned in an 8.8% increase in ad pages. New Yorker: Print Edition Isn't Going Away Advertising Age New Yorker editor David Remnick said his long-form publication continues to invest in web staff and digital-exclusive content. But he still sees the digital extensions as complementary to the core print product, not a replacement -- at least not anytime soon. Harper's Bazaar Gets Bigger in New Redesign WWD Editor Glenda Bailey is unveiling the first redesign of Harper's Bazaar in a decade. The magazine is larger by one inch, the paper quality is noticeably thicker and there is new cover typography. Inside the issue, the pages look less cluttered, with more white space. Forbes Journalists 'Build Their Own Brands' Forbes Forbes' "new model for journalism" allows the media outlet to be a brand-building platform for its staffers and contributing writers, according to chief product officer Lewis DVorkin. Tech reporter Andy Greenberg parlayed his Forbes.com branded page into a book deal, he said. The Daily iPad 'Newspaper' Marks First Year Digiday The Daily, the News Corp. tablet-only news publication, launched one year ago with much fanfare. The Daily said it now has 250,000 monthly readers and 100,000 paid subscribers, which would put it the size of the Detroit Free Press or the Seattle Times. Wall Street Journal Plans 'Off Duty' Web Show TalkingBizNews "Off Duty," a new 30-minute video show that will launch next month on the Wall Street Journal's website, will air five days a week. Journal reporter Wendy Bounds will be the host. The show will be modeled after the Off Duty section that runs in the Weekend Journal. Financial Times 100% Wrong, Murdoch Says Media Week Rupert Murdoch turned to Twitter to deny a report claiming the launch of a new Sunday tabloid had been put on hold because of the arrest of four Sun journalists. Murdoch's tweet reads: "FT Financial Times or Fawlty Towers? Sun on Sunday story today 100 per cent wrong." Guardian Hires Former Adweek Editor Wolff Politico Michael Wolff, the contrarian villain-or-hero of Manhattan media circles, has joined the Guardian, where he will cover media, publishing and politics for the British newspaper's U.S. operation in New York. Wolff most recently served as editor of Adweek magazine. Los Angeles Times Set for 'Massive Layoffs' LAist Some 25 writers "are about to be terminated" at the Los Angeles Times, according to recently fired pressman Ed Padgett. A Times spokesperson declined to comment on the claim. Padgett was let go in late 2011 after working at the Tribune newspaper for nearly 40 years. New York Journalist Tax Bill 'Absurdly High' Crain's New York James Stewart, the financial journalist, said his combined federal, state and local tax rate is 49% of his taxable income and 74% of his adjusted gross income. Stewart is "penalized because he gets most of his income from freelance work and because he lives in New York City." Journalists.com Web Domain Name for Sale Press Release The owner of the domain "Journalists.com" has indicated he will entertain offers for the name, according to newspaper brokerage firm Cribb, Greene & Associates. This domain is currently unused. The firm is also offering the domain name "Newspapers.com." Hearst Legend to Fund Digital Media Institute San Francisco Chronicle Helen Gurley Brown, former longtime editor of Cosmopolitan, has made a $30 million gift to fund a new institute for media innovation, split between the Stanford School of Engineering and Columbia Journalism School. The partnership "could change the future of journalism." Gannett Readies Digital Initiatives for February News & Tech Gannett said publishing revenues dropped 5.3% as digital sales rose 7% in the fourth quarter. The company will launch another round of digital initiatives — paywalls, e-editions and tablet and smartphone apps — across an additional six dailies next month. Tribune Bankruptcy Bill to Reach $231 Million Crain's Chicago Tribune has spent nearly $231 million so far on its three-year-old bankruptcy and related litigation. The company's bill for professional fees, mostly for attorneys who represent it in court, totals $212.9 million, and it has spent another $17.8 million on their expenses. Philadelphia Newspapers Eyed for Possible Sale Philadelphia Inquirer Alden Global Capital may be looking to reduce or sell its stake in the publisher of Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. A spokesman for Philadelphia Media Network said: "Shares of investment are always for sale at the discretion of our owners." UK Sun Sunday Newspaper on Hold After Arrests Financial Times Plans for a new British Sunday newspaper to replace the News of the World have are said to have been put on hold after the arrest of four senior journalists from its News Corp. sibling paper, the Sun. "The launch of that newspaper is not even being discussed now." France's La Tribune Publishes Last Daily Edition WWD La Tribune, the French financial newspaper, has new owners — France Economie Regions and Hi-Media — and has ceased daily publication. The troubled title will continue to publish news on its website and create a new weekly tabloid with national distribution. Village Voice Loses Ads Over Backpage Website New York Observer Film Forum, the indie Manhattan movie house, has pulled its advertising from the Village Voice, citing concerns about Backpage.com, the classifieds site owned by Village Voice Media. Nicholas Kristof's op-ed in the New York Times prompted the decision. Conde Nast: New Headquarters Faces Extra Costs New York Post The underground loading dock to 1 World Trade Center, future home of Conde Nast, won't be finished in time for tenants to use for moving in equipment to build out their space. The delay will add "tens of millions" of dollars to the construction cost of the building. Penton Media Names Time Warner Veteran CEO BtoB Penton Media, publisher of Registered Rep. and Supermarket News, has named David Kieselstein as CEO. He was previously CEO of TNS North America, a custom research division of WPP. Kieselstein succeeds Sharon Rowlands, who left to join Altegrity in November. Ebony, Jet Founder Immortalized on U.S. Stamp WBEZ The U.S Postal Service's black heritage stamp this year honors publisher John H. Johnson, creator of Ebony and Jet magazines. He founded Johnson Publishing Co. with a loan from his mother. At the time of his death in 2005, at age 87, Ebony's circulation topped 1.6 million. Hollywood Reporter, Deadline in 'Hot News' Feud New York Times The Penske vs. Prometheus copyright dispute is due to arrive in court in July 2013, pitting the owner of Deadline.com against the owner of The Hollywood Reporter. Penske is considering whether to augment its complaint with a new claim for "hot news misappropriation." Slate Offers 'MySlate' Personalized News Service Mashable Slate has begun giving readers more control over the news discovery process. The Washington Post online magazine's new MySlate service is a personalized newsfeed made up of stories from topics and authors of a reader's choice, functioning as an on-site RSS reader. Demand Media Sees Departure of Three Founders paidContent Demand Media is known for churning out lots of content. But now it is notable for a churn of another kind: Three of the people who helped found the company are leaving. The simultaneous exit of Larry Fitzgibbon, Joe Perez and Steven Kydd is said to be "just coincidence." BuzzFeed Social Website Expands Editorial Staff AllThingsD BuzzFeed plans to add a tech section run by Gizmodo star Matt Buchanan. The move follows the recent hiring of Politico's Ben Smith to run the site's political coverage and editorial operations, as well as RollingStone.com's Doree Shafrir to oversee culture coverage. New York Times: 13% of Revenue from Digital Crain's New York Business The New York Times will report quarterly earnings Thursday, and the good news will likely be that things aren't worse. However, the company still faces high debt. And despite the paywall success, the Times is estimated to derive only about 13% of its revenue from digital. Daily Mail: A 24-Hour Online News Operation Anorak The Daily Mail Online — the world's most-read news site — is a 24-hour operation, according to an article in January's U.K. Esquire [unavailable online]. Pressure to produce stories quickly is greater than in a newspaper newsroom. One result: The site has more spelling errors. Dow Jones in Talks to Hire Bloomberg Exec Wall Street Journal News Corp. is in serious talks to hire former Bloomberg LP CEO Lex Fenwick to be the new chief of Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones & Co. The hire would fill a position vacated six months ago when the previous CEO stepped down amid the phone-hacking scandal. News Int'l to Launch Magazine on Facebook Media Week News International is launching its first "social media magazine" on Facebook for its Fabulous magazine. The app will distribute fashion and beauty content on Facebook every day. The content will appear in users' timelines and can be shared with their friends. Hearst, JC Penney E-Commerce Sites to Shutter Dallas Morning News J.C. Penney Co. said it will shut down Clad and Gifting Grace, two recently launched e-commerce sites created in partnership with Hearst magazines. The retailer said the decision was made because it plans to focus on the transformation of its core J.C. Penney brand. Time Inc Creates Tablet Editions for Its 21 Titles Talking New Media Time Inc. has fulfilled its promise to bring all 21 of its U.S. magazine titles to the iPad. What the company hasn't accomplished, however, is coming to terms with Apple. All of their apps remain outside of Newsstand, and they continue to not offer digital subscriptions. In Touch Weekly Editor Heads to Hollywood.com New York Post In Touch Weekly editor-in-chief Michelle Lee is leaving the Bauer title to become editorial director at Hollywood.com. The entertainment and celebrity news website is owned by Mitchell Rubenstein and Laurie Silvers, co-founders of the Sci-Fi Channel. Variety, Deadline Feud Over Web Time Stamps FishbowlLA Variety.com has alleged that the time-stamps of certain news items on Deadline.com were false, insinuating that its entertainment industry news rival must have jerry-rigged the times to make it appear that the items were posted earlier than when they actually were. Media General: More Talk of Selling Assets RBR-TVBR When an analyst asked during Media General's quarterly conference call, management didn't hesitate to discuss how they view the marketplace for divesting some properties. The newspaper and TV station owner has been talking with lenders about refinancing its debt. Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News Set for Sale New York Post Randy Smith's Alden Global has shown no indication of expanding its 30% ownership of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, as it was expected to do. The owners of the Philadelphia Media Network are now in the middle of an auction to sell it for roughly $100 million. Newspaper Deals Driven by Web, Real Estate New York Times More than 70 U.S. daily newspapers were sold last year. While papers are seen by some analysts as underperforming assets, they provide "the backbone to produce a digital product." Real estate holdings may also play a part in decisions to buy. "Newspapers have big buildings." New York Times Faces Vacuum in Leadership Bloomberg The departure of New York Times CEO Janet Robinson last month leaves the company with a leadership vacuum amid profit declines. Robinson was "pushed out" by chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and his cousin, COO Michael Golden, who is "unlikely" to take on the CEO role. Miami Herald to Move Headquarters Out of Miami Associated Press The Miami Herald will be moving from its downtown Miami location to the former headquarters of the U.S. Southern Command in nearby Doral, Fla., in May 2013. McClatchy, the newspaper's parent company, sold the 13.9-acre Herald property for $236 million last year. Daily Mail Online Boosted by U.S. Editorial Offices Daily Mail The Daily Mail, the British tabloid, now runs the world's biggest newspaper website, according to new figures from comScore. The opening of new editorial offices in New York and Los Angeles has made Mail Online a leading newspaper among U.S. readers. Reed Elsevier Dismisses Calls to Sell Off Assets Financial Times Calls for a break-up of Reed Elsevier have fallen on deaf ears as sources said the publisher has no plans to sell any of its assets this year. Reed's business publishing unit, which publishes Variety, has no "natural buyers" although assets within the group remain "attractive." The Economist Launches Section Devoted to China The Drum The Economist has launched a new section offering insight in China — the first section devoted to a single country within the magazine in its 70-year-history. Said editor John Micklethwait: "China's emergence as a global power justified giving it a section of its own." Vogue Still No 1 in Fashion-Magazine Business New York Post March U.S. fashion magazines grew at a healthy clip, raising hopes that the magazine industry could be headed for a rebound. All the major fashion titles reported ad-page gains for the closely watched issues. Conde Nast flagship Vogue retained its customary No. 1 spot. Bloomberg to Launch Luxury Lifestyle Magazine WWD Users of the Bloomberg Terminal are among the richest in the world, and advertisers will soon be able to reach them via a new luxury lifestyle magazine. The new Bloomberg Pursuits will reach most of the Bloomberg Professional service's 310,000 subscribers. Bleacher Report to Staff Up with 'Real' Writers paidContent Bleacher Report is using part of the $22 million cash infusion it received last summer to hire 20 bona fide writers. The move will likely improve the quality of the popular sports news site, which currently relies mostly on fans to churn out barstool-style sports chatter. Drudge Report Takes On Anti-Gingrich Stance Daily Beast The Drudge Report, which has been a monster traffic-driver since the Clinton-Lewinsky era, has never hidden its conservative leanings. But now, in the midst of a hard-fought GOP primary, Drudge appears to be going all out against candidate Newt Gingrich. >> MORE TELEVISION & RADIO Time Warner Cable Buys Super Bowl Spot FierceCable Time Warner Cable has purchased a TV spot in NBC's coverage of the Super Bowl to kick off a new branding campaign. The ad, starring Ricky Gervais and Mary Louise Parker, is expected to show how subscribers can "enjoy" pay TV on multiple platforms. Comcast to Seek Global Expansion via NBC Philadelphia Inquirer After four decades of snapping up U.S. cable companies, then acquiring NBC Universal in 2011, Comcast is ready to take on the planet. CEO Brian Roberts said he sees "tremendous opportunities" for international expansion, mostly likely via a reenergized NBC Universal. NBC Super Bowl Ad Spot Sells for $3.5 Million Forbes NBC is charging 17% more for a 30-second Super Bowl ad this Sunday than Fox charged when it had the game last year. NBC is charging double the amount that a spot cost 14 years ago. Super Bowl ad spots "could easily hit the $7 million mark within the next decade." Seacrest Gets $300 Million from Private Equity Bloomberg Ryan Seacrest has garnered a commitment for $300 million from Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital to fund media ventures. The private-equity investors will provide capital to Ryan Seacrest Media to buy and develop companies, content and other properties. Fox News Honors 10th Year as Most-Watched New York Daily News Amid the day-long coverage of the Florida primary vote, there was a little cheering in the halls at Fox News Channel. The network has notched its 10th consecutive year as the most-watched cable news network. Fox News surpassed CNN within five years of its launch. CBS Letterman Marks 30 Years Without Fanfare New York Times David Letterman will celebrate 30 years as a late-night TV host on Wednesday, though without much fanfare. There has been little media attention paid to the anniversary planned by CBS. The "Late Show" host "has never really liked anniversary specials." NBC Bets $32 Million on New Drama 'Smash' New York Post Bob Greenblatt, NBC's entertainment chief, has spared no expense with "Smash," his heavily hyped backstage musical drama. The network lavished $7 million on the pilot episode alone. NBC shelled out another $25 million to market the show ahead of its Monday premiere. Comedy Central's Colbert Raises $1.02 Million New York Daily News Stephen Colbert's Super PAC, Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, has raised $1.02 million, its latest filing with the Federal Election Commission shows. The Super PAC was set up by the Comedy Central star as a satirical take on campaign finance laws. NBC to Dissect Super Bowl Ads on Google+ Mashable Google has partnered with NBC to run a Super Bowl post-game Hangout where visitors will dissect the big game's commercials, tapping sports business reporter Darren Rovell to host. The goal, said Rovell, is to take "water cooler conversations to a digital stage." Martha Stewart Eyes Move to Internet Video Wall Street Journal Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's deal with the Hallmark Channel will end this year, and the company is examining other outlets for its programming, including the Internet, according to president Lisa Gersh. The Internet could also serve as a product-sales outlet. BSkyB to Launch Internet TV, Movie Service Telegraph BSkyB plans to launch an online TV service to non-customers in the first half of 2012. The U.K. broadcaster, which is 39% owned by News Corp., aims to take on cheaper on-demand services, such as Netflix, which launched in the U.K. this month, and Amazon's LoveFilm. Clear Channel to Invest in Seacrest Company New York Times Clear Channel plans to take a minority stake in Ryan Seacrest's TV and film production company, financing future growth and allowing for new collaborations. The investment comes weeks after Clear Channel Radio renamed itself Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. NBC Yanks Donkey Fluid 'Fear Factor' Episode TMZ NBC has decided not to air an episode of "Fear Factor," the stunt reality game show, in which contestants were shown drinking bodily fluids from a donkey. NBC entertainment head Bob Greenblatt said: "I reviewed the episode and decided it was a segment we should not air." Fox's 'Simpson' to Feature WikiLeaks Founder EW Julian Assange, founder and editor in chief of WikiLeaks, will portray himself in the 500th episode of "The Simpsons." Assange recorded a guest spot over the summer that is part of the animated Fox comedy's landmark episode scheduled to broadcast on Feb. 19. IGN Launches Series-Led YouTube Channel Media Week IGN, the News Corp-owned gaming publisher, is launching a Google-funded YouTube channel tomorrow, backed by a European ad deal with Sega. The channel, called Start, is one of several funded by Google in a bid to introduce more professional content onto YouTube. Food Network Exec to Run YouTube Channel New York Times Bruce Seidel, who oversaw shows for the Food Network on cable, is moving online to a forthcoming food channel for YouTube. Electus, the multimedia studio formed by Ben Silverman, has recruited Seidel as CEO of the channel, which is scheduled to start in July. Netflix Drama Tests New Ground in Streaming Wall Street Journal Steven Van Zandt, the E Street Band guitarist and "Sopranos" actor, will star as a mobster in the new series "Lilyhammer" — the first of five original series Netflix is developing. The eight-episode first season of "Lilyhammer" will be instantly available on Feb. 6. CBS Fires News Aggregator for Bogus Story Washington Post CBS Sports dismissed journalist Adam Jacobi for aggregating a bogus story about the death of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. "I had an awesome 17 months with CBSSports.com," said Jacobi. "I'm sorry to everyone, most importantly the Paterno family." NBC Asks Romney to Remove Story from Ad Associated Press NBC asked GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney to pull a campaign ad made up of a 1997 "Nightly News" report on Newt Gingrich's ethics reprimand. The footage "inaccurately suggests that NBC News agrees with the political position espoused by the videos." Fox's 'American Idol' Eclipsed by 'Big Bang' New York Times The CBS sitcom "Big Bang Theory" easily topped "American Idol" last week among 18- to 49-year-old viewers — the standard Fox has always used for success. Compared with the ratings of "American Idol" last year, Thursday night's decline was the show's biggest falloff yet. CBS Orders Pilot for Series Set at Groupon EW ABC and CBS have picked up a slew of comedy pilots. One pilot, "Friend Me," for CBS, centers on two twenty-something best friends, Evan and Rob, who "move from their hometown of Bloomington, Ind., to Los Angeles to begin their exciting new lives working at Groupon." CNN: Teenagers Broke In to Check Facebook Atlanta Journal-Constitution Police said they arrested two teenagers for breaking into the CNN newsroom in Atlanta and using the news network's computers to check their Facebook pages. The teenagers, who were found on the fifth floor of CNN Center, were charged with criminal trespass. Comcast, NBC Donate to Broadcasting Museum Chicago Tribune Comcast and NBC has given $2.7 million in cash and content donations to the Museum of Broadcast Communications, expected to open this year in Chicago. In return, the museum has agreed to name the principle presentation area the Comcast NBCUniversal Center. DirecTV Signs Accord Ending Blackout Threat Bloomberg DirecTV reached an agreement with Sunbeam Television, restoring subscriber access to two stations in Boston and one in Miami and ensuring that viewers in Massachusetts will be able to see the Super Bowl. The accord was reached following a fee dispute. Hulu Premieres Reality Show with Vogue Editor Next Web Hulu continues to expand into exclusive programming with a new reality show. "The Fashion Fund" will follow competitors in a fashion design competition, with a jury that includes Vogue's Anna Wintour. The winner gets $300,000 and a mentorship with a fashion leader. NBC Plans 18 Hours of Super Bowl Coverage EW NBCUniversal announced more than 18 hours of coverage for the 3.5-hour Super Bowl game, across NBC and its cable channels. A highlight: "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" will go on the road for the first time in its history, traveling to Indianapolis for four shows. Oprah Makes Exec Changes at OWN Network New York Post Oprah Winfrey's OWN network is drafting some cable talent to help spark ratings momentum. Lisa Erspamer, executive VP for production and development, has exited the talk show queen's employ after a year. She will be replaced by Discovery exec Rita Mullin. BBC Boss Said to Plan Departure After Olympics Guardian Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC, has signaled to senior colleagues that he is ready to step down. Insiders believe that Britain's most powerful TV exec will quit at the end of 2012 or early in 2013, at the end of the broadcaster's Olympic year. Fox New York Anchor Kelly Accused of Assault New York Times The Manhattan district attorney's office is investigating an accusation that Greg Kelly, a New York Fox TV anchor who is a son of police commissioner Raymond Kelly, assaulted a woman last October. Kelly, a co-anchor of WNYW's "Good Day New York," denies the charge. CNN: We're the Leading News Brand in Mobile Broadcasting & Cable CNN has released data showing that an average of more than 73 million people visited its digital platforms each month in 2011. CNN said it "remains the No. 1 mobile news brand for the fourth year running" and is the "most followed news organization on social media." Comcast to Help Launch Sean Combs Network Broadcasting & Cable Sean "Diddy" Combs, the entertainment impresario, plans to launch a music cable network called Revolt. Former MTV programming chief Andy Schuon is involved. Comcast will provide distribution as part of its commitment to help launch minority owned networks. >> MORE INTERNET & DIGITAL MEDIA Facebook's Future Eyed by Media Industry Variety Facebook's long-anticipated IPO filing provided few details on the role media content will play in the social network's growth strategy. According to the filing, advertising accounted for 85% of revenues, with another 12% derived from Zynga, the gaming company. Apple TV Set Coming in 2012, Analyst Says Fortune Analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray said he is confident that Apple is poised to enter the connected TV market, possibly in late 2012. Apple has contacted a "major TV component supplier" regarding "capabilities of their television display components." YouTube's Top Star Earns $1 Million a Year Wall Street Journal Ray William Johnson, a 30-year-old comic known as RayWJ, curses constantly and sometimes dresses up as a penguin. And he attracts more than 5 million regular viewers to his twice-weekly video commentaries, making him the biggest draw on YouTube. Twitter Unveils More Enhanced Brand Pages GigaOM Twitter has switched on enhanced brand pages for accounts owned by NBC News, Volkswagen, the Huffington Post, Al Jazeera, and Anobii, among others. This is the first batch of premium Twitter pages from companies other than the handful of launch partners. LivingSocial Lost $558 Million, Amazon Says Washington Business LivingSocial posted a net loss of $558 million in 2011 on $245 million in revenue. For all of CEO Tim O'Shaughnessy's efforts to draw a distinction between his company and Groupon, the numbers show the two companies are experiencing similar struggles. YouTube Mulls Launch of Subscription Services GigaOm While much of YouTube's efforts have been based on advertising, CEO Salar Kamangar said his company could potentially create a service that could enable content providers to create their own subscription-based video offerings. "We're a media platform." Hulu: Original Shows Are Pivotal to Strategy Wall Street Journal Hulu is investing in the development of original content in part as a way to identify itself as a distinctive service amid an increasingly competitive marketplace, according to CEO Jason Kilar. "It is important that we deliver great content and stories that aren't being told." Vevo Sells Sponsorship of Obama, Jay-Z Event ClickZ News Vevo is selling the opportunity for corporate brands to wrap their names around an interview with President Obama and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z on the popular video site. Vevo said the event isn't happening, but sources said advertisers have already bought sponsorships. Facebook Set to File $5 Billion IPO Wednesday Reuters Facebook is expected to submit paperwork to regulators on Wednesday for a $5 billion initial public offering and has selected Morgan Stanley and four other bookrunners to handle the mega-IPO. The $5 billion is a preliminary target and could be ramped up in coming months. IAC Sees Losses from Newsweek Daily Beast Hollywood Reporter Barry Diller's IAC has reported stronger-than-expected earnings and revenue for the fourth quarter. The company said that its Newsweek Daily Beast joint venture saw $9.6 million in losses for the latest quarter, of which $5.7 million were related to an impairment charge. Amazon Book Sales Banned at Barnes & Noble Wall Street Journal Barnes & Noble will no longer sell in its stores any books published by Amazon.com, saying the web retailer had "undermined the industry" by trying to sign exclusive agreements with publishers, agents and authors. The move is likely to exacerbate tensions between the two. Facebook Widens Lead in Online Display Ads Wall Street Journal Facebook has widened its lead in the online display-advertising market, just days ahead of an expected filing for an initial public offering. The social network's share of the U.S. display ad market grew to 27.9% for 2011, according to data from comScore. Twitter Global Expansion to Increase Ad Sales Bloomberg Twitter's international expansion may help fuel a threefold gain in revenue, even as it raises censorship challenges. Ad revenue is set to rise to $540 million in 2014, according to eMarketer. Increasing popularity overseas will decrease the site's reliance on U.S. advertisers. LinkedIn, Facebook Preferred to Blogs by Biz San Jose Business Blogging is on the decline while use of LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter is more common among the fastest-growing U.S. private companies, according to a study by the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Still, only 24% of the Inc. 500 have a written social media policy. Facebook Targets IPO Filing on Wednesday Wall Street Journal Facebook could file papers for an initial public offering as early as this week and is close to picking Morgan Stanley as the lead underwriter. Facebook's IPO, which could raise $10 billion, has been hotly anticipated as a defining moment for the latest web investing boom. Twitter to Offer Profile Pages to Advertisers Business Insider Twitter is said to be planning to launch Facebook-style profile pages, allowing advertisers to enhance their tweets via a new environment. A "confidential" Twitter document reveals product specs, background designs, geographic targeting and other tools. AOL Traffic Drops After HuffPost Acquisition New York Post One year after acquiring the Huffington Post for $135 million, AOL has seen the traffic for its website fall from 78.9 million unique visitors to 73.6 million. One insider described the acquisition as CEO Tim Armstrong's "biggest mistake to date" and "a total disaster." Abrams Website Network 'Solidly Profitable' Advertising Age Abrams Media Network of seven websites, including Mediaite, is "solidly profitable" some two and a half years after its founding, according to founder Dan Abrams. "Media figures can often say things politicians can't," he said. Next up in 2012: a new food site. Google, Facebook Appear at British Press Inquiry Financial Times Google and Facebook urged the Leveson inquiry into the future of press regulation to preserve the distinction between professional publishers, such as newspapers, and Internet platforms. The two companies also warned against rules that could diminish free speech online. Facebook Hires Managing Editor from Bloomberg Business Insider Facebook has hired Dan Fletcher, former social media director at Bloomberg, to be its managing editor. Both Fletcher and Facebook confirmed that he will make the move, but weren't ready yet to discuss what his responsibilities will be at the social network. Twitter: Activists Urge Boycott to Protest Changes Monsters & Critics Free speech activists are calling for a boycott of Twitter to protest the microblogging service's new tools that will allow it to redact tweets on a country-by-country basis. Twitter has been credited with playing a vital role in helping activists organize anti-government protests. Amazon 'Hit Man' to Burn the Book Business Bloomberg Businessweek Larry Kirshbaum, the ultimate book industry insider, was named head of Amazon Publishing last May. As traditional book publishers have come to regard Amazon as a threat, Kirshbaum "has gone from one of the most well-liked people in publishing to the one of the most reviled." Netflix CEO: DVD Subscribers to Decline Forever CNET News Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who has sent mixed signals for the past year about whether the company was committed to DVDs for the long term, has sounded a very loud death knell for the format: "We expect DVD subscribers to decline steadily every quarter, forever." Google Users Pay $5,000 to Use 'Free' Services SmartMoney New research finds people fork over $5,000 worth of personal information a year to Google in exchange for access to its "free services," such as Gmail and search. According to privacy experts, the Internet giant's plan to pool user data makes it less than a fair trade. Facebook Move Stokes Talk of Impending IPO San Jose Business A reported three-day halt in private trades of Facebook's stock has stoked speculation that the social networking giant may be about to file papers for the biggest initial public offering in history. The company is expected to seek as much as $10 billion in an IPO this year. Groupon Debuts on Kiosks for On-the-Spot Deals Chicago Sun-Times Deal seekers will have a new way to find coupons, as Groupon starts appearing on kiosks for people to use to find transportation, restaurants and nearby events throughout Chicago, the company's hometown. The deals will be targeted to each kiosk's location. Apple iPhone, iPad App Rewards Watching TV Associated Press Want to earn stuff by watching TV? A free app for that has made its debut. Viggle's software for iPhones and iPads listens to what's on, recognizes what you're watching and gives you credit to redeem as gift cards for retailers such as Burger King, Starbucks and Best Buy. >> MORE ADVERTISING & MARKETING P&G to Cut Ad Costs by Shifting to Digital MM&M Procter & Gamble plans to lower its promotion costs by leaning more on digital media, said CEO Bob McDonald. The consumer goods giant has historically spent 9%-11% on advertising. However, "Facebook, Google and others can be much more efficient." Forrester: Mobile Commerce to Skyrocket in 2012 WWD If 2011 was seen as the year e-tail exploded, it was a mere precursor to what is expected in 2012. Mobile commerce spending on smartphones is expected to reach $10 billion this year, according to Forrester Research, and this projection doesn't even include tablet shopping. AOL in Hot Water for Running Super Bowl Ad MediaPost Two years ago, Boost Mobile ran a Super Bowl ad featuring former Chicago Bears players revisiting their 1985 "Super Bowl Shuffle" rap song. Renaissance Marketing, a company that said it licenses the song, has sued AOL for allegedly infringing copyright by posting the ad. Social Media Embraced by Super Bowl Advertisers USA Today Coca-Cola's computer-animated polar bears will star in Super Bowl TV ads and also in a novel social-media campaign. The bears will appear in a video stream running throughout the game on a site hosted within Facebook and will respond in real time to the game action. MagnaGlobal Revises U.S. Ad Forecast Upwards BtoB U.S. ad revenue will grow by 3.7% this year over last year, according to a revised forecast by MagnaGlobal. U.S. political advertising and the Summer Olympics will help increase ad revenue this year. Internet advertising will be the fastest-growing media category. Twitter Ad Pulled by McDonald's After Backfire Bloomberg McDonald's, the world's biggest restaurant chain, said an advertisement on Twitter backfired after people began using the social-media website to criticize the company. A Twitter label, meant to promote a campaign about the company's suppliers, "did not go as planned." Report: Online Ads to Beat Print for First Time ClickZ Online advertising will edge out print in total spending this year, according to eMarketer. While it said that online dollars have already outstripped newspapers and magazines separately, the announcement marks the first time digital is projected to surpass the two combined. Study: 31% of Online Display Ads Go Unseen ClickZ Thirty-one percent of ad impressions are never seen by consumers, according to research by comScore. "The display advertising market today is characterized by an overabundance of inventory, often residing on parts of a web page that are never viewed." NBCUniversal 'Big Winner' of Super Bowl Ads MarketWatch The big winner of this year's Super Bowl could well be broadcaster NBCUniversal. Last year's game, airing on Fox, was the most-watched program in U.S. TV history and saw advertisers spend $228 million. This year's audience is likely to be of a comparable size. Conde Nast Ads to Offer Mobile E-Commerce ClickZ News Glamour magazine plans to run print ads in March allowing readers to purchase items with a scan of their smart phone. The Conde Nast property isn't revealing advertisers for the issue yet, but suggests there is no shortage of interest from brands and retailers. Twitter: Journos Are 'Obsessed,' Not Advertisers Financial Times Twitter is more of a journalistic than a marketing phenomenon, according to WPP digital exec Mark Read. "Newspaper editors and people in the media are obsessed" with the microblogging service. Some advertisers, however, give Twitter and its products mixed reviews. ComScore: Online Holiday Spending Up 15% Reuters U.S. online sales for the 2011 holiday season rose 15% to hit an all-time high, according to comScore. Retail e-commerce sales reached $37.2 billion, compared to $32.4 billion a year ago, with growth outpacing that of traditional brick-and-mortar stores. NBC Gets $4 Million for Super Bowl Ads Bloomberg NBC has sold out its 30-second advertising spots for this year's Super Bowl, getting as much as $4 million per slot — a record for the network. The average ad for the Feb. 5 game in Indianapolis sold for $3.5 million. NBC has also sold out its digital ads. Facebook Readies First Foray Into Mobile Ads Bloomberg Facebook is said to be planning its first push into mobile advertising by the end of March, giving the company a fresh source of revenue ahead of a possible IPO. An idea being considered is putting Facebook's sponsored stories ads within the mobile news feed. Google Owns Nearly Half of Online Ad Market TheWrap When it comes to online advertising, there's Google and then there's not much else. That's the takeaway from a new survey from ZenithOptimedia. The search giant gobbled up 44.1% of the global Internet advertising market share in 2010, up from 41.9% the previous year. >> MORE MEDIA COMPANIES Disney Unveils Its Own Smartphone in Japan Japan Times Disney and DoCoMo have unveiled smartphones in Japan featuring Disney characters and services targeting families with small children. Users will be able to access special apps and games, including Disney cinema, which feature Disney movies for free. Viacom's Profit Drops 65% as TV Ads Fall Bloomberg Viacom's fiscal first-quarter profit declined 65% as advertisers spent less at the cable-TV unit that includes Nickelodeon and MTV. Nickelodeon's audience shrunk during the holidays; the network contributes about 15% of Viacom's cable-TV ad revenue annually. Sony New CEO Unlikely to Sell Media Assets New York Post Sony's change at the top has triggered sale rumors. But incoming CEO Kazuo Hirai is unlikely to start carving up the company any time soon. Hirai said he plans to "fully leverage" Sony's entertainment assets. CBS is among those to have eyed Sony's media holdings. News Corp Says Hacking Email Was Deleted Wall Street Journal Lawyers for News Corp. said that, during an IT upgrade in early 2011, the company deleted a key email from the inbox of top exec James Murdoch, in which counsel spelled out a plaintiff's claim that phone hacking was widespread at the News of the World tabloid. Comcast to Seek Global Expansion via NBC Philadelphia Inquirer After four decades of snapping up U.S. cable companies, then acquiring NBC Universal in 2011, Comcast is ready to take on the planet. CEO Brian Roberts said he sees "tremendous opportunities" for international expansion, mostly likely via a reenergized NBC Universal. McGraw-Hill Mulls Sale of Education Business Financial Times McGraw-Hill is said to be exploring the possibility of selling its $2.5 billion-plus education business, after its previously announced plan to split the division from its Standard & Poor's arm prompted interest from private equity. The group declines to comment. Sony Taps Hirai as CEO to Succeed Stringer Bloomberg Sony has named Kazuo Hirai as CEO, replacing Howard Stringer, effective April 1. Stringer will become chairman. Hirai, with backgrounds in the music and gaming industries, will head a company whose stock slid by more than half since Stringer took the helm in 2005. Disney Expands In India with UTV Takeover New York Times It's full steam ahead for Mickey Mouse in India. Disney has completed its takeover of Mumbai entertainment conglomerate UTV Software, in a deal valued at about $450 million. The purchase allows Disney to leapfrog into one of the world's most prized growth markets. News Corp: Murdoch Told Hacking Was 'Rife' Independent A key email casting doubt on James Murdoch's assertions that he was never told about the true extent of phone hacking at the News of the World was kept from public disclosure last year while the media heir faced a shareholder revolt over his leadership of BSkyB. Viacom: We're Open to Unbundling Channels Bloomberg Viacom, owner of the Nickelodeon and MTV cable networks, is receptive to unbundling channels and letting consumers choose the ones they want, according to CEO Philippe Dauman. The media conglomerate would offer its channels individually "if the economics were right." Time Warner, Redbox End Deal Over DVDs Bloomberg Coinstar, owner of the Redbox movie-rental kiosks, has ended its agreement to buy Warner Bros. titles directly from the Time Warner studio, rejecting a demand to delay access to DVD and Blu-ray discs for two months. Redbox will get discs from third-party suppliers. News Corp Names Chief of Staff for Murdoch New York Observer Natalie Ravitz, communications director for the New York City department of education, will leave her post to join News Corp. as chief of staff to CEO Rupert Murdoch. Last year, New York schools chancellor Joel Klein left to head up a new education division at the media giant. Big Media Poised to Grow Bigger, Analyst Says Deadline Diversified media remains healthy, even as infotainment power shifts to tech giants such as Google and Apple, said Wells Fargo Securities analyst Marci Ryvicker, in her inaugural report on the sector. "MUST-HAVE content WILL be monetized." Growth may be "significant." News Corp: Third Communications Exec Exits Bloomberg News Corp. said Teri Everett will depart next month, the third communications exec to leave the company since December. She said in a statement that she is "ready for something new," without elaborating. Everett will be replaced by West Coast-based Julie Henderson. Media Giants' TV Units to Show Their Worth Dow Jones Wall Street has forecast stronger results from most media companies after higher ad sales and fights over cable-licensing rights delivered more revenue in the fourth quarter. Content providers have worked hard to protect their margins through online distribution deals. Comcast's Bet on NBCU Begins to Pay Off Financial Times The Comcast-NBC Universal deal, which closed a year ago, has begun to show signs that Comcast has applied the same strategic acumen to its new content assets that helped make it a cable giant. According to NBCU CEO Steve Burke: "Distribution and content work better together." Viacom CEO's Pay Declines Almost by Half Broadcasting & Cable Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman made only $43.1 million in total compensation in 2011, according to new company filings. The previous year, Dauman was one of the nation's top paid executives, pulling in $84.5 million, including a stock award of $31.6 million. Time Warner, News Corp Eye Media in Turkey Reuters News Corp., Time Warner and TPG Capital are said to have placed bids of up to around $1 billion for the ATV-Sabah media unit of Turkey's Calik Holding. ATV-Sabah is one of Turkey's largest media groups. The sale process could be completed in February. News Corp Journos Arrested in Bribery Probe BBC News Four former and current journalists with Britain's Sun tabloid and a police officer arrested over alleged payments made to police by journalists have been released on bail. Sun owner News Corp. said it provided information to the police, in an effort to "drain the swamp." Murdoch's Twitter Use Hailed by Newspapers Australian / New York Times Rupert Murdoch passed his 100th tweet over the weekend, after opening his Twitter account on New Year's Eve. "And he's winning people over," according to his newspaper, the Australian. Also: "There's something refreshing about the directness," said the New York Times. News Corp's Murdoch Quits GlaxoSmithKline Board Reuters James Murdoch, facing scrutiny over his role in the phone hacking scandal at the News of the World, is stepping down from the board of GlaxoSmithKline. Murdoch took the decision to focus on his duties at BSkyB, following his decision to relocate to the United States. Time Warner Cable Profits Despite Cord Cutting MarketWatch Time Warner Cable reported a jump in fourth-quarter profit, offering evidence it can offset viewer "cord cutting" through gains in its broadband service. The company said it still sees robust consumer appetite for traditional cable TV. "Most people like linear networks." Comcast: Strong Demand for Media Technology CNBC Consumer demand for media technology is strong, and small- and medium-sized businesses will be a growth area, according to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. "It has been one of the most exciting times we have seen. Consumer appetite for new products is very high." Media Giants May 'Wither' Amid Tech Disruption Disruption Big Media must "fundamentally re-think" their business models in order to remain profitable and relevant, writes David Pakman, a partner at venture-capital firm Venrock. "Blustering their way out" of technology disruption with litigation or legislation "is a fool's errand." Time Warner's HBO Go 'Biggest Threat' to Netflix Next Web Netflix said it sees TV Everywhere and similar services as the biggest long-term threat to the company. The film and TV streaming service believes that HBO GO, the leading implementation of TV Everywhere to date, "will become a much more effective competitor." News Corp-Backed Startup Files for Bankruptcy Reuters Beyond Oblivion, a digital music startup backed by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and investment bank Allen & Co. director Stanley Shuman, has filed for bankruptcy protection after spending millions of dollars building a service that never saw the light of day. Time Warner to Open Media Lab in New York New York Times Time Warner is opening a media lab in its New York headquarters, complete with a faux living room and a movie theater, where researchers can analyze how viewers respond to shows and movies. It includes a mock grocery store checkout line for testing magazines. Report: Media Mergers to Rise Amid Tech Boom WorldScreen Mergers and acquisitions in media and entertainment will increase this year, according to PwC, spurred by such factors as the rise of social networks and online games. "The lines between media and technology are blurring as tech companies challenge business models." Viacom's 'Hugo' Tops 2012 Oscar Nominations Bloomberg "Hugo," Martin Scorsese's first 3-D movie, has been nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including best picture and best director, as Hollywood prepares to honor its top 2011 pictures. Best-picture nominations boost box-office and home-video sales for Oscar contenders. Disneys, Cuban Among Bidders for LA Dodgers Los Angeles Times The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team is said to have received "more than 10" opening bids by this week's deadline. Those involved in groups bidding for the Dodgers include the family of the late Roy Disney, Mark Cuban, Leo Hindery, Magic Johnson and Joe Torre. Time Warner Invests In Social TV Analytics Firm AllThingsD Bluefin Labs has raised $12 million in a new funding round led by Time Warner's investment arm and SoftBank Capital. Bluefin harvests comments TV viewers leave on Twitter and Facebook and then analyzes the data to see what viewers are saying and when. Media Execs 'Cautiously Optimistic' About 2012 BtoB Media execs are "cautiously optimistic" about this year, according to a survey by Jordan, Edmiston Group and Econsultancy. Just 65% anticipate organic growth as a key growth driver in their business. Large companies appear poised to be the most active in mergers and acquisitions. >> MORE |
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