February 25, 2008

CBS

Hard times hard on CBS

Advertising-dependent CBS is likely to suffer more than its peers in a recession, and Tuesday's earnings will only be the beginning. Given that the broader economy is slowing and possibly heading into recession, CBS (CBS, Fortune 500) isn't in a good position. "The outlook for CBS," says Merrill Lynch media analyst, Jessica Reif Cohen, "is challenging."

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/25/news/companies/cbs_walkup.fortune/?postversion=2008022516

MEDIA REPORT: CBS Looks To 'book 'em' Online With Classic Shows

"Generally speaking there are younger demographics online, and we have to hit them with everything we've got," said Quincy Smith, president of CBS Interactive, in an interview. "We are absolutely using this to go out and find new eyeballs who might not otherwise have seen this."

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200802241948DOWJONESDJONLINE000376_FORTUNE5.htm

FOX

MySpace Sued Over 2006 Teen Suicide

The family of a 15-year-old girl who committed suicide following a sexual relationship with a 27-year-old man she met online is suing MySpace for allegedly facilitating communication between the two.

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/02/myspace-sued-ov.html

News Corp May Dump Google from MySpace

News Corp.'s Fox Interactive Media is rumored to be in negotiations with Microsoft take Google's place as the advertising partner on MySpace. Google co-founder Sergey Brin's recent thinly veiled "buyer's remorse" reportedly angered execs at News Corp.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/fox-exploring-termination-of-google-advertising-deal

News Corp Slapped with Indecency Fine

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is imposing an indecency fine of $91,000 against News Corp.'s Fox Television over a 2003 episode of the reality show "Married by America," which aired scenes of nudity. The FCC says it would have fined News Corp. more had it been allowed.

http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20080222-000833-1634

MTV

MTV creates a made-for-TV movie for an older crowd

MTV asks successful producers and choreographer to team up to create a made-for-TV movie for an older crowd. The producers dusted off a 10-year-old script they had purchased, added some songs and tweaked the story to come up with "The American Mall."

http://www.sltrib.com/tv/ci_8355601

MTV rapped for overrunning ads

MTV has been criticised by Ofcom for flouting rules limiting advertising to 12 minutes per hour by running, in one case, eight extra minutes of TV ads. Ofcom found that MTV exceeded the 12-minute rule on 15 occasions over a two month period last year, after the regulator monitored channels including MTV, MTV2, MTV Dance, MTV Base, MTV Hits and VH-1.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/25/advertising.television?gusrc=rss&feed=media

Spanish-Language Stations Benefit From Focus on Hispanic Voters

The 2008 presidential campaign, which has fueled an unprecedented level of ad spending in the general media, now appears likely to do the same in the Spanish-language market as the Democratic candidates compete for the crucial Hispanic vote in Texas.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/02/spanishlanguage_stations_benef.php

VIACOM

Google, Viacom Lawsuit Deadline Extended

A deadline for Google to turn over documents in Viacom's $1 billion copyright lawsuit against the Web search leader is being extended by two months by a federal judge. Google's attorneys say they are wading through 4.5 million documents: "It's a daunting task."

http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2262726720080223

Viacom, Disney Win Big at Academy Awards

Viacom and Disney, which distributed best-picture winner "No Country for Old Men," won seven Oscars each at the 80th Academy Awards on Sunday night, the most of the major studios. Films from Universal won five, Time Warner won four and News Corp. won two. Sony Corp. took home one.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=aqF3X8LdElDY

AFRICA

Anyware Mobile Solutions Helps Geneva Global Fight HIV/AIDS In Africa

Geneva Global, the world's leading international philanthropic adviser, has deployed mobile technologies from Anyware Mobile Solutions to improve the collection of demographic and behavioral data in the effort to improve HIV/AIDS care and prevention in Ethiopia and Ivory Coast. The project is funded under the President's Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and as phase-one goals are achieved, Geneva Global will deploy mobile data collection in other African nations afflicted by HIV/AIDS.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98422.php

Botswana: HIV/Aids Stories Must Be Clear, Nkala Tells Reporters

Reporters across the SADC region have been advised to write simplified stories on HIV/AIDS for the people to clearly understand the message being conveyed to them. The two-week training workshop, which started in Gaborone on Friday, is aimed at equipping journalists with the necessary HIV and AIDS reporting skills.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200802251934.html

Egypt takes aim at ignorance about HIV/AIDS

UNAIDS reveals many Egyptians including medical students lack knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Eight Egyptian men who were arrested and forced to undergo HIV tests, and the subsequent torture of the two who tested HIV-positive, has unleashed a storm of controversy in a country where people still know very little about the virus.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=24504

CARIBBEAN

Gay Jamaican officer seeks asylum

A Jamaican police officer says he's living in fear after coming out as a gay man and hopes to come to Canada where he can safely speak up on behalf of other gay Jamaicans. Michael Hayden, who has been on the police force for four years, said other officers routinely attacked and abused him after becoming suspicious of his sexual orientation.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/306606

St. Maarten Cable TV, ECC staff enlightened about HIV/AIDS

St. Maarten Cable TV and East Caribbean Cellular (ECC) staff are now more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS after taking part in a workshop facilitated by the HIV/AIDS Programme Management Team (PMT) on Wednesday. St. Maarten Cable TV Station Manager Davey Woods told participants that it was imperative that they know the facts about HIV and AIDS instead of getting information on the road.

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/k236/hiv236.html

HIV/AIDS NEWS

Elton John Foundation's Activist Works Behind Scenes at Oscars

Campbell was instrumental in the foundation's funding of the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS, which uses newspapers and broadcasting to encourage people in that region to get AIDS tests. ``The purpose of it is to reduce the stigma of AIDS and to make people aware of the disease,'' Campbell said..

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a0fn8vpPGchM&refer=home

Elton John party raises $5.1M for charity

The 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party raised $5.1 million in Los Angeles Sunday night, the foundation announced Monday.
The Oscar night gala, which was held at the Pacific Design Center and co-sponsored by Chopard and VH1, was one of the evening's best attended parties, organizers said.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Entertainment/2008/02/25/elton_john_party_raises_51m_for_charity/8826/

Illinois Lottery Launches Game To Fund HIV/AIDS Awareness, Prevention

The Illinois Lottery on Friday launched a game that will raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention and education programs in the state, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The game, called Red Ribbon Cash, will sell two-dollar tickets and have four top prizes of $20,000.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98328.php

Microsoft pioneer gives $65 million for gay rights, HIV/AIDS groups

The Pride Foundation of Seattle, where Weiland served as a board member for several years, announced Sunday that the philanthropist's estate had established a fund at the organization that would give $46 million over the next eight years to 10 national gay rights and HIV/AIDS groups.

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/NEWS03/885883373

Public Health Dept. To Sponsor Contest

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is sponsoring an essay contest challenging Kentucky teenagers to learn more about HIV/AIDS and the impact the disease has on their generation. The goal of the essay contest is to educate and inspire Kentucky’s minority youth to take action and help stop the increasing spread of HIV/AIDS among young people in minority populations.

http://www.kypost.com/content/news/commonwealth/story.aspx?content_id=9c748f9d-7594-4562-be6d-fb5744fbf9a7

MOBILE NEWS

Flat-Rate Plans Could Spur Mobile Growth

The move toward flat-rate, unlimited calling plans by three of the major U.S. wireless carriers this week could help spur the growth of mobile media and advertising, say industry analysts and mobile marketing executives.

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=77010&Nid=39628&p=917272

Social Network LinkedIn Goes Mobile

The site's 19 million members can now search profiles with photos and bios, make introductions, and invite other professionals to join a network while on the go.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206801781

OTHER MEDIA NEWS

Apollo Bites The Dust
After years of pitches and millions of dollars in development, Arbitron and Nielsen this morning pulled the plug on an ambitious single-source measurement venture. The companies have been collaborating on the venture, dubbed "Project Apollo," since early 2005, and convinced some major marketers and media outlets to participate in the test, but failed to sign any long-term commitments for the highly expensive research.

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=77168&Nid=39678&p=917272

Britain Aims to Become Media World Leader

The United Kingdom is preparing a push to become a global leader in the arts, media and advertising through initiatives including the launch of a Davos-style world creative business conference. The government-backed move aims to make the U.K. economy "driven by creativity."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/22/mediabusiness.advertising

Clear Channel TV Faces 'Buyer's Remorse'

Clear Channel is said to be in talks with Providence Equity Partners about revising a deal to sell its 56 television stations. Clear Channel sued Providence Feb. 15 over the planned station buyout after Providence expressed "buyer's remorse" and began seeking a reduced price.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aW_QdyBXY9Yg

Facebook In Search for New Top Executive

Facebook is said to be mulling the appointment of a well-known exec to top management, as perhaps a second-in-charge to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The 23-year-old founder of the social networking phenom is seen to lack needed experience in marketing, advertising and operations.

http://kara.allthingsd.com/20080222/facebooks-next-management-moves-the-un-zuckerberg

Financial Times Opens Online Social Network

The Financial Times is launching a social network aimed at senior business people from the media and technology sectors. Members of the pay-based forum will be offered standard networking tools. Similar networks for the property and luxury goods sectors are in the pipeline.

http://www.nma.co.uk/Articles/36997/FT+opens+social+network+for+senior+execs.html

Former UPN Chief Launches Comedy.com

Veteran media exec Dean Valentine is unveiling Comedy.com, a new comedy Web site that promises to house the largest jokes database on the Internet, as well as a slate of original stand-up comedy performances. The site is being funded by the San Francisco-based Walden VC.

http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=UPN022208.htm

Nielsen Funds Most Ambitious Ethnographic Study Ever, Will Benchmark How People Actually Use Media
In what is likely the most ambitious ethnographic study ever observing how people actually consume media, Nielsen Media Research is funding a highly regarded academic research group with $3.5 million to follow hundreds of people around to see how they use both traditional and emerging video platforms inside and outside their homes

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=77167&Nid=39678&p=917272

Rolling Stone, Glamour Launch In India

Wenner Media's Rolling Stone and Conde Nast's Glamour are among the dozen-odd global players planning to launch editions in India. Indian media laws, which restrict foreign equity to 26% in the news segment, allow 100% foreign equity in non-news specialty magazines.

http://www.livemint.com/2008/02/25004542/Global-players-zero-in-on-Indi.html

TV/Net Show 'Big Shot' Gets Big Traction
"Big Shot Live," the Internet/local TV talent contest show, is only two weeks old--and clicking with viewers. With only 45 TV stations up and running, the five- to-seven-minute-long daily Internet/local TV show is averaging 350,000 users a week and 5 million page views. CBS TV has distributed the show to a total 197 TV stations.

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=77125&Nid=39678&p=917272

United Way Expands ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK

United Way of America announced today that young adult leadership has helped to multiply the effects of ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK (ASB) in 2008, bringing young adults from across the country to communities along the Gulf Coast and in Detroit, Michigan, and resulting in ongoing community involvement beyond the event.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0365856.htm

YouTube Blocked for Offensive Content

Pakistan is blocking access to YouTube because of content deemed offensive to Islam. Reports say the content included Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. Other countries that have temporarily blocked access to YouTube include Turkey and Thailand.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7261727.stm