November 21, 2008
DVDs, Hollywood’s Profit Source, Are Sagging
DVDs propel profits these days, and there is a creeping dread in the movie capital that buyer interest is plummeting as the global economic crisis worsens. The New York Times reports.
So far, total DVD sales are down by about 4 percent for the year, with most of that weakness coming in October, according to data compiled by Warner Brothers, the largest distributor of DVDs.
The independent tracking service Nielsen VideoScan paints a bleaker picture, reporting a 9 percent drop in overall DVD sales during the third quarter alone and a 22 percent decline in sales of higher-priced new titles, although its data does not include results at Wal-Mart.
Read full article.
Bush snubbed at G20 Summit
CNN's Rick Sanchez Reports on Bush being ignored at G20 Summit."It's almost sad." [via boingboing]
19-year-old Commits Suicide on Justin.tv
In a striking display of the power of live video, a 19-year-old boy committed suicide on Wednesday while broadcasting himself on video site Justin.tv . NewTeeVee reports.
Abraham K. Biggs overdosed on pills while on camera and appeared to be breathing for hours until watchers realized he might be serious, at which point they alerted the police.
New project aims to unite science and Hollywood
The US National Academy of Sciences is sponsoring a program called The Science and Entertainment Exchange to improve scientific accuracy in the entertainment industry.
... Aside from serving as a point of contact for members of the entertainment industry seeking advice on scientific accuracy, people involved in the Exchange hope that it will help create new partnerships between scientists and entertainers to promote scientific literacy and inspire the next generation of scientists.
High-definition videos sneaking onto YouTube
YouTube is experimenting with high-definition videos on its site, and you can access the capability using a handy URL trick. If YouTube manages to score enough movie and TV content from its owners, then it might eventually give Hulu some competition.
[via ars technica]
November 20, 2008
Is the Web Hurting Guilty Pleasure TV Shows?
Complaints by Lipstick Jungle’s creators that its cancellation threats are unfair because much of its audience isn’t measured may not be just whinning, according to Liz Gannes on NewTeeVee.
Read full article.
11% of Young Adults Watch TV Online Weekly
18-to-34s who watch TV online at least once a week spend an extra hour with media every day, compared to their same-age counterparts, says new Knowledge Networks data, reports Market Watch.
Big 3 come begging in high style
MSNBC's Shuster and Congress nail it on their heads. Big 3 Car Corp. CEO's arrive in their respective corporate jets to beg for more money. That's like showing up to the welfare office in your 2009 Mercedes.
November 19, 2008
BBC One and BBC Two will be streamed on the web
UK television fans who love programmes such as Merlin, Strictly Come Dancing and Top Gear will be able to watch them live on the internet from next week, according to Mail Online.
November 17, 2008
Michelle and Barack Obama on 60 Minutes
An estimated 24 million viewers watched Steve Kroft’s one-hour interview with Barack and Michelle Obama on “60 Minutes” on CBS Sunday night, according to preliminary, overnight ratings from the nation’s biggest television markets collected by Nielsen Media Research.
[via The New York Times]
Online video chips away at TV
More evidence that online video is cannibalizing television consumption is due Monday, courtesy of an IBM study. Plus, online viewers don't mind the commercials too much. The Hollywod Reporter reports.
GM Turns to Online Video to Plead Case
Beleaguered auto manufacturer General Motors has posted a video on YouTube and on its own site, GM Facts and Fiction, to explain to the public what happens if the domestic auto industry collapses.
[via Online Video Watch]
Brooke Shields: Lipstick Jungle Isn't Canceled
Good news, Liptick Jungle is NOT cancelled, according to Brook Shield, reports US Magazine.
... Shields said fans have already sent in tubes of lipstick to Jeff Zucker, president & CEO of NBC Universal, to show their support.
"It's been insane," she went on. "I think that the public outcry has been crazy, and it's kind of wonderful."
[via [ TV tattle ]]
ITV shows to go 'on demand'
ITV viewers will soon be able to watch shows like Coronation Street and I'm A Celebrity whenever they want, under a deal with BT's digital television arm. The BBC reports.
ITV's catch-up service will be available on BT's digital television platform, Vision TV, from next month.
Viewers will be able to access replays of shows within minutes of broadcast up to eight days after their first airing.
Read full article.
Rival forecast to catch YouTube
YouTube is in danger of being upstaged commercially by a smaller upstart backed by News Corporation and NBC Universal as the video-sharing site struggles to make its massive global audience appeal to advertisers. FT reports via Techmeme.
The feat suggests traditional media companies can make money online without having to cede control to Google, as the music industry did to Apple, whose iTunes music store dominates the digital music market.
Read full article.
TiVo, Domino's team up to make us all fat
Thanks to a new agreement with pizza giant Domino's, owners of TiVo set-top boxes can now order food from the chain directly through their televisions, and even track delivery time so they know just when the pizza guy will be showing up to bring them a nice, tasty treat. Oh, boy.
[via News.com]
November 16, 2008
YouTube pulls Columbine videos
BBC's Six O'clock News has discovered that nine years on from America's worst high school shooting there is a thriving online community obsessed with teenage gunmen Harris and Klebold. The BBC reports.
The BBC's investigation found it is not only American teenagers who are fascinated with the Columbine killers.
YouTube, which is owned by Google, said it was grateful to the BBC for bringing the videos to its attention.
Research finds mobile TV as unseductive as ever, though VOD seems interesting
Recent reserach has found that mobile TV adoption sits at just 1% now, and interest in all types of mobile TV is just over 50% of what it was in 2006. engadget:mobile reports.
15% of those surveyed on the topic would actually enjoy watching recorded TV shows later on their phone.
Unhappy people watch TV, happy people read/socialize, says study
A new study by sociologists at the University of Maryland concludes that unhappy people watch more TV, while people who describe themselves as very happy spend more time reading and socializing. The study appears in the December issue of the journal Social Indicators Research.Physorg.com reports.
Read full article.
Internet Video in Korea Eclipses the DVD
Warner Brothers will now start renting moves over the Internet two weeks before they are released on DVDs, making South Korea the first market in the world where movies will appear online before they hit the store shelves.
[via Bits]
November 15, 2008
Your Weekly Address from the President-Elect
President-elect Obama talks about the economy in this week's first Democratic video address. For more information, visit change.gov.
Related: - Obama Taking Weekly Radio Address to YouTube
Introducing Jack Donaghy toilet paper
Spotted on adfreak via TV Squad, promotional toilet paper from the Netherlands featuring 30 Rock's Jack Donaghy - or someone who looks just like Alec Baldwin.
30 Rock airs on Comedy Central in the Netherlands, and this is a special (flattering?) promotion for the show. File under lost in translation.
Save Lipstick Jungle
Lipstick Jungle fans are being encouragee to send Maybelline lipsticks (or any other lipstick brand) to Jeff Zucker, President & CEO of NBC Universal, in order to change his mind about cancelling the show.
Fans of Jericho protested last year when the show was taken off the air, and their campaign - firing e-mails (effectively shutting down inboxes at CBS), signing petitions and sending bags of nuts to CBS headquarters in protest - brought the show back, at least for a while.
Here's what's taking place. Copied and pasted from Sidereel via imdb:
Post by lipstickjungleemployee 12 hours ago (Fri Nov 14 2008 13:05:42)
First off, thank you so so much for your continued support and love of the show! It's because of you guys and gals that we do what we do! Now, we know that everyone here has heard some not so great news about the show this week. We aren't cancelled, but it's not looking good. The show is in need of a miracle, and we here at the show think that we've come up with it:
First Off: WATCH. THE. SHOW!!!! The most important thing that you all can do is watch the show this and every Friday. Watch it live! Watch it with friends! Talk about the show with friends! We need eyes on the show!!!
Secondly: We've heard that the powers that be at NBC want and need to see the support of our amazing fans! So we've come up with a really effective and cool idea for all of you!
SEND LIPSTICK TO JEFF ZUCKER AT NBC!!!
Here's Jeff's address:
Jeff Zucker
30 Rockerfeller Plaza
Suite 2502-E
New York, NY 10112tel 212-664-4444
Send as many tubes of lipstick as you can! And even better, send Maybelline brand (since Maybelline is a HUGE supporter of our show and it would show them as well that LJ is a show they should continue to support!)
Need an easy way to order online? Here's a link to Amazon:
Send as many as you can! Tell all of your friends! The show is in DESPERATE need of your support! Now is not the time to sit back and hope for the best!
SEND LIPSTICK. WATCH THE SHOW!!!
Your Friends, The Lipstick Jungle Team :-)
November 14, 2008
Obama Taking Weekly Radio Address to The Web
Barack Obama, who made effective use of the Internet in his campaign via videos and e-mail updates and political social networking, is taking the Democrats traditional weekly radio address to the Web.
The President-elect will record the address Friday on video as well as audio and post it on www.change.gov beginning Saturday.
[via Broadcasting & Cable]
NBC cancels 'Enemy' and 'Lipstick'
NBC has pulled the plug on freshman tentpole drama "My Own Worst Enemy" and returning sophomore series "Lipstick Jungle," reports The Live Feed.
I don't know about "Enemy" because I haven't seen it, but "Lipstick Jungle" is one of my favorite shows, what a disappointment. The three main women characters have the most elegant wardrobe ever seen on TV, with none of the fashion-victim touch that afflicted at times "Sex and the City". On the show's website, you could purchase the clothes by episode or by character - but in truth, what was offered was not what they really wore. That is the only disappointment of this show. Something the networks could have capitalized on... And the story line is great.
Virgin Mobile USA Debuts Homeless Youth TV
"Youth homelessness is not something that runs for a season and then goes off the air. Virgin Mobile USA is committed to getting people to pay attention to this important issue."
Viewers can go to www.homelessyouthTV.com and "sponsor" their favorite program on the network for $1, the proceeds of which will be donated to various Virgin Mobile USA charity partners supporting homeless youth, such as Green Chimneys and StandUp For Kids. Viewers who sponsor a show will have their names listed in the show's "credits" and have the opportunity to promote the program to friends. Virgin Mobile USA will match the first $10,000 in total donations.
... The video project, examining the world of homeless youth, will debut at www.VirginMobileUSA.com/regeneration in 2009.
Full press release.
Queen Rania of Jordan recipient of YouTube Visionary Award
YouTube has announced that Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan will be the premier recipient of the YouTube Visionary Award. Her Majesty will accept this honor in recognition of her efforts -- via a YouTube channel -- to rid the world of the stereotypes and misconceptions associated with Arab and Muslim communities.
[via Marketwatch]
November 13, 2008
YouTube to Sell Ads on Search Pages
Google announced on Wednesday that it would begin selling space on YouTube search-results pages to advertisers, part of its effort to turn its expensive acquisition into a major revenue producer. The New York Times reports.
The promoted videos are featured on the right-hand side of the YouTube search-results page with a small image and some text.
November 12, 2008
Dexter Inspired Deadly Dinnerware - for sale
The limited edition line stems from a Showtime stunt in a Gramercy Park town house. Items available for purchase include dismembered flatware, "Dexter" chairs, fingerprint glasses and bloodied plates.
[via TV Tattle]
Related: - Blood-red splatter for a "Dexter"-inspired dining room