January 25, 2008

BET

BET Networks Celebrates Black History Month

his February, BET Networks and BET J will feature a spectacular lineup of programming that highlights the amazing accomplishments of modern-day history makers, chronicles the influence and contributions of African-American music, and showcases African-American theatre and cinema in honor of Black History Month.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NEW09223012008-1.htm

BET to Debut Film ‘BLACKOUT’

A massive power outage sets off a chain reaction of frustration, violence and despair in an inner city neighborhood when BET world premieres BLACKOUT, a riveting new drama inspired by actual events.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NEF05625012008-1.htm

Making a bad BET?

McDonald's Corp.'s connection with buns is getting the hamburger chain no love among some black female consumers. The women are objecting to the Oak Brook-based company's advertisements that appear alongside images of nearly naked women on an Internet site designed by Black Entertainment Television. The site was created to add a marketing dimension to advertisers' appeal to people of color.

http://www.suntimes.com/business/750466,CST-FIN-bet21.article

FOX

MySpace Promotes Berman to Executive VP of Marketing, Content

The social-networking website MySpace, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, has promoted Jeff Berman to the newly created role of executive VP of marketing and content.

http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=myspace012408.htm

Myspace Signs Deal to Screen BBC Shows

SOCIAL networking website MySpace has signed a landmark deal with the BBC in a move that will bring it into direct competition with YouTube. BBC Worldwide has launched a video channel on MySpace TV that features short clips from selected shows including Doctor Who, The Catherine Tate Show and Parkinson.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23101438-5014239,00.html

MTV

Arnold's Think.MTV Work Is Chilling, Brilliant

To its credit, Think.MTV.com, MTV's online community, is running two 30-second public service announcements via Arnold, Boston, that tackle this difficult subject in a brilliant way. Without being judgmental or preachy, the spots take an individual "you are there" approach that will no doubt jolt their target audience into awareness; they are done with exquisite knowledge and insight by Emmy Award-winning director Michael Franzini.

http://www.adweek.com/aw/creative/ad_of_the_day/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003701674

MTV Networks to Launch Gay Video Blogs

Logo, MTV Networks' gay-themed cable network, is rolling out a slate of 15 video blogs. Included among the new Web shows are Gay Girls Who Game, hosted by a pair of lesbian video game enthusiasts. The video blogs aim to "create a powerful new generation of voices online."

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003701653

UNIVISION

Univision Kicks-Off Third Phase of Civic Engagement Campaign to Encourage Voter Participation in Upcoming Presidential Primaries

Univision Communications Inc., the nation's leading Spanish-language media company, today announced that it has launched "Ve y Vota en las Primarias" (Get Out and Vote in the Primaries), the third phase of a massive non-partisan campaign to educate and engage the country's Hispanic population in the national electoral process.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/media/article/univision-kicksoff-phase-civic-engagement-campaign-encourage-voter_426864_15.html

Univision Names Talan VP/Corporate Communications

Talan reports to Chief Marketing Officer Maryam Banikaram, who said, "I am pleased to welcome Monica to the Univision family. She has a proven track record of implementing and executing communications programs for both English- and Spanish-language communities.

http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=140770&pt=todaysnews

VIACOM

Viacom Hires New VP and Controller

Media company Viacom Inc. said Friday it hired James Barge from Times Warner to become its vice president and controller.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/01/18/ap4550250.html

AFRICA

Bush to visit five African countries next month

President George W. Bush will travel to five African nations next month -- Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Liberia -- on a trip expected to address issues including economic development and AIDS, the White House announced Friday

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g_7-fOys0pHIWCIcp1lIkhJCtkFA

Sierra Leone: Religious Leader Says HIV/Aids is Preventable

The first religious leader in Africa to have revealed he was HIV-positive Monday said the disease is preventable and manageable if people's faith is translated into actions.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200801241158.html

South Africa: HIV And Aids Activists Climb Kilimanjaro

Through an initiative dubbed the Kili Project, 40 volunteers from all over Africa will climb Mount Kilimanjaro in an effort to raise funds for HIV and AIDS programmes.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200801240276.html

MOBILE MEDIA

YouTube Coming to More Mobile Phones

Google's YouTube is extending its service from a handful of phones to a broader range of devices used by 100 million consumers worldwide that rely on high-speed links to stream videos to mobile screens. "It's basically the YouTube experience you get on the desktop -- on the phone."

http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2316792220080124

Vidal Goes Mobile for Sprint

The mobile video component is at the center of a wide-ranging multimedia campaign created by the Vidal Partnership, New York, that includes national advertising spots on TV and online, in-store promotions in several major Hispanic markets and a national sweepstakes, Mizrahi said.

http://www.adweek.com/aw/magazine/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003695831

OTHER HIV/AIDS NEWS

Dell, Microsoft looking for some Red ink

The two companies planned to announce on Friday that they were teaming up to offer three (Product) Red PCs, supporting the charitable effort that benefits women and children affected by HIV and AIDS in Africa.

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9855643-7.html?tag=nefd.blgs

Sir Elton John and David Furnish to Host 16th Annual Party Celebrating The Academy Awards(R) Benefiting the Elton John Aids Foundation

The 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) Academy Awards(R) Viewing Party hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish will be held Sunday, February 24, 2008 at the Pacific Design Center and will be co-sponsored by Chopard and VH1.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/sir-elton-john-and-david-furnish-to-host-16th-annual,262482.shtml

Twice the funding for AIDS

President Bush will propose doubling the funding to combat HIV/AIDS overseas in his last State of the Union address Monday, one of several new initiatives he says will demonstrate his intention to "sprint to the finish" of his time in office.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-01-24-bushinside_N.htm

OTHER MEDIA NEWS

'Greg Brady' Launches Social Network

Actor Barry Williams, who played Greg Brady on the '70s sitcom "The Brady Bunch," is reinventing himself online via a new social network for fans called The Greg Brady Project. The network is powered by MyLifeBrand, a platform that integrates profiles from other networks like Facebook.

http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2008/01/24/a-very-brady-social-network

Newspapers See Growth in Online Users

U.S. newspapers' online audiences grew about 6% last year, according to according to data from the Newspaper Association of America and compiled by Nielsen Online. However, due to the growth in the total online audience, the online reach of newspapers grew somewhat less.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080124/ap_on_hi_te/newspapers_online

Yahoo Eyed as Takeover Target by Big Media

Private-equity firms are said to be reaching out to Yahoo since the Internet company's stock started trading below $24. One of the strategic buyers that has kicked the tires on the company in the past -- a list that includes AOL, CBS, Viacom and News Corp. -- might make a move.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01242008/business/sharks_circle_yahoo__978070.htm