Monday, March 31, 2008

March 31, 2008

BET

BET Host and Radio Personality Big Tigger Announces the Return to Washington DC for Big Tigger's 7th Annual Celebrity Classic

Big Tigger, BET veteran host and internationally syndicated radio personality, announces the highly anticipated return of Big Tigger's Annual Celebrity Classic to Washington, DC. As the 7th installment of this premier charity event benefiting HIV/AIDS, Big Tigger's celebrity weekend will bring together an unprecedented group of Hollywood celebrities, professional athletes and politicians. Big Tigger's 7th Annual Celebrity Classic will be held June 5-7, 2008 in the Washington DC area.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/03/prweb815024.htm

CBS

CBS Joins Joost in Online March Madness

Joost, the online television service, is using the March Madness U.S. college basketball games to test a live streaming technology that it hopes will reduce the financial and technical burdens of broadcasting popular events online. CBS is joining forces with Joost for the trial.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/59573a8a-fcf5-11dc-961e-000077b07658.html

FOX

MySpace, Bebo Face Censorship Orders

The Byron Review, an independent research report for the British government on the effects of violent media on children, recommends that social-networking sites be required to remove material deemed unsuitable for youngsters. Also: Bebo is launching Safesocialnetworking.com.

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3635685.ece

MySpace Partners with mBlox to Offer Text Message Alerts Across Major U.S. Wireless Service Providers

MySpace, the world’s most popular social network, and mBlox, the world’s largest mobile transaction network, today announced that MySpace’s text message alert program is now available to millions of users from the following wireless service providers: Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile USA, Alltel Wireless, U.S. Cellular, and Virgin Mobile USA. MySpace’s text message alerts provide users near real-time notification of new messages, friend requests, comments and other key activity within their MySpace profiles.

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080331005442&newsLang=en

News Corp Eyes TV in Georgia, Germany

News Corp. is fighting to stay in control of Imedi, a television station in the Eurasian country of Georgia. The closure of Imedi last autumn marks the first time a Murdoch TV station has been accused of fomenting a coup. Also: News Corp. is eyeing a controlling stake in German broadcaster Premiere.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/28/business/newscorp31.php

MTV

MTV Networks Free on mywaves Mobile

In this deal, mywaves has even worked out an ad deal with MTVN, as the two companies will be collaborating to serve ads on the mywaves platform. This should also help MTVN with its mobile advertising strategy, and gives the network some autonomy in its distribution through mywaves, which has spent the pst year or so garnering fruitful relationships with larger brands like Sports Illustrated and Nettwerk.

http://mashable.com/2008/03/31/mtv-networks-mywaves/

Wyclef Jean to Host the MTV Australia Awards 2008

MTV Networks New Zealand today announced Hip-Hop legend Wyclef Jean as the host of the ‘MTV Australia Awards 2008’ (MTVAA’S). He joins a growing list of unique and talented performers and presenters including 50 Cent, Juliette Lewis & Eve. The MTV Australia Awards 2008 will broadcast on MTV on Monday April 28 from 7pm.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0803/S00282.htm

UNIVISON

‘New’ Univision Opens Up

As this year’s upfront marketplace approaches, Univision, the once rigidly siloed Hispanic broadcast and radio company, has been restructured to resemble its counterparts in the English-language media—many of whom it is out-rating on certain nights in prime time among key younger demos.

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003782035

VIACOM

Casey Patterson Named Senior Vice President, Event Production and Talent Development, Spike TV and TV Land

Patterson, who most recently served as senior vice president of talent

development and casting for Spike TV, will immediately be responsible for the creation and execution of brand-defining event programming and other talent-driven content for TV Land and Spike TV as well as oversee talent development for these two popular consumer brands within the MTV Networks Entertainment Group.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-31-2008/0004783220&EDATE=

The Portal Sites Will Break Up

Giant portal sites like AOL and MSN will decline in importance over time, according to Mika Salmi, president of global digital media for Viacom's MTV Networks. Most Web surfers "are using search as their electronic program guide. That tends to bypass the portal model."

http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/03/28/internet-advertising-salmi-biz-media-cx_lh_0327mtv.html

HIV/AIDS AND SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS

AFRICA: Healthcare providers stigmatise HIV/AIDS patients

A new study released last week shows that 40 percent of health workers in public, private, faith based and non governmental health facilities exhibit stigma and discrimination tendencies against HIV Aids positive patients.

http://africasciencenews.org/asns/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=256&Itemid=1

CUBA: Women Talk to Women about HIV/AIDS Prevention

Prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, the AIDS virus, has become the centre of the lives of a small group of women in the province of Pinar del Río, in the west of Cuba. Coordinated by the Women’s Project in the Provincial Centre for Prevention of STIs and HIV/AIDS, they design educational strategies for villages and towns in the province, and advise the activists who promote responsible sexual behaviour among the local population.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41738

BAHAMAS: HIV/AIDS Awareness In Rawson Square

With HIV/AIDS on the increase among young persons in The Bahamas, one group felt it necessary to take the message of awareness and prevention to the streets. Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living (YAPL) took to Rawson Square on Friday to educate and inform young people about the overwhelming epidemic of HIV/AIDS within The Bahamas.

http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=16478

CHINA: Beijing to make condoms more accessible in hotels

Beijing is to make condoms more accessible in its hotels, nightclubs and construction sites, according to a meeting on the city's health work on Saturday. The move came amid the municipal government's tightened efforts to prevent sexually-transmitted diseases.

http://www.china.org.cn/travel/news/2008-03/31/content_13965710.htm

FRANCE: Fighting AIDS with Sidaction 2008

AIDS awareness and funding in France got a big boost on the first day of Sidaction 2008, a three-day campaign to raise funds in France for HIV/AIDS prevention and research. (The name of the French effort comes from SIDA, the French equivalent of AIDS.)

http://www.webinfrance.com/france-fights-aids-sidaction-2008-public-fund-raising-effort-hiv-aids-research-330.html

INDIA: 'Red Ribbon Express' spreads awareness about AIDS in the North East

The 'Red Ribbon Express', the world's largest social mobilisation campaign against HIV/AIDS, is currently on a nationwide trip to spread awareness about the disease.

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/229410.php/Red-Ribbon-Express-spreads-awareness-about-AIDS-in-the-North-East

INDIA: Postmen roped in for AIDs awareness campaign

Alarmed by the large number of HIV/AIDs cases in the state, the Himachal Pradesh Government has launched a comprehensive awareness drive as a preventive measure and has roped in postmen for the purpose.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/31/stories/2008033157281400.htm

JAMAICA: Women's Rights are human rights - The right to adequate health care

Many women and girls in Jamaica who are infected with HIV face discrimination. Some children living with HIV/AIDS report that they cannot trust caregivers for fear that their personal information will be revealed to others.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080331/flair/flair2.html

PHILLIPPINES: DepEd set to launch sex education in public schools

Despite persistent lobbying by the Catholic Church, the Department of Education is bent on teaching sex education in the public high schools. The DepEd is awaiting the go-ahead from the Presidential Council on Values Formation (PCVF) which is currently reviewing the secondary teachers’ “adolescent reproductive health manuals,” according to Education Secretary Jesli A. Lapus.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080331-127531/DepEd-set-to-launch-sex-education-in-public-schools

SOUTH AFRICA: Learnings about new media marketing

There were some excellent speakers present at last week's the IQPC New Media Marketing Conference in Johannesburg, and some golden bits of wisdom were dished out. Rudolf Muller from mybroadband.co.za spoke about the state of Internet connectivity in South Africa, with a focus on broadband penetration, and how we compare to other countries. The bad news is that, of course, we don't compare well at all: not in speed offered, costs charged or people connected. The good news is that we are fast improving, and are catching up with global trends.

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/11/23244.html

TRINIDAD: SOCIAL Development Minister Dr Amery Browne, has once again called for an end to discrimination against persons living with the dreaded HIV/AIDS virus saying there was still a lot of work to be done to address discriminatory practices in Trinidad and Tobago

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,76010.html

UGANDA: Bukenya roots for condom machines

THE Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has said that condom vending machines should be installed in public toilets so that sexually active, but shy young people can access them easily. “I have travelled in different parts of Europe and in most of their loos (sic) there are condom-vending machines. I think we should do the same as one way of fully enforcing the ABC strategy against HIV/AIDS,” Bukenya appealed.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/619195

UNITED STATES: Stigma Clings Stubbornly To Women Living With HIV/AIDS

HIV-positive women in the United States face strikingly high levels of stigma, according to survey results released today by amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. The results of the survey reveal pervasive negative views of HIV-positive women and a high level of discomfort in interacting with them.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331084115.htm

Use a Condom - You'll Live Longer

At the 2008 National STD Prevention Conference held in Chicago in early March, Dr. Sara Forhan released an alarming set of data referring to a study of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in female teenagers. The study showed that approximately one in four teens had one of the four most common STDs found in women—HPV (Human papillomavirus,) Chlamydia, HSV-2 (Herpes simplex virus type 2), or Trichomoniasis.

http://acedmagazine.com/content/view/1098/

MOBLE NEWS

AT&T Pushes Back Mobile TV Debut To May

A year after Verizon Wireless's similar launch, AT&T has set May 2008 as the date when it will debut mobile TV using Qualcomm's MediaFlo service. AT&T initially set January 2008 as the launch date for mobile TV but has continually postponed the release.

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=79527&Nid=40988&p=917272

VH1 Mobile to Launch Live Chat Mobile Application

VH1, a division of Viacom's NYSE: VIA NYSE: VIA.B, MTV Networks, is launching "VH1 Watch and Discuss Live Chat," a downloadable mobile application that will enable VH1 viewers to connect to the network's buzz-generating programming and other fans of pop culture. The mobile application will be available in May through various mobile carriers.

http://sev.prnewswire.com/multimedia-online-internet/20080331/NYM09431032008-1.html

MULTI CULTURAL NEWS

Marketing to Hispanics

The Hispanic online market is already huge and getting huger quickly; half of the 44 million Hispanics in the United States are online, and according to the most recent data available from Forrester Media, PC ownership among Hispanics shot up 45% from October 2005 to January 2007.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/small-business/article/marketing-hispanics_531148_33.html

Marketwire Launches North America Hispanic Newsline

Marketwire, a full-service newswire and communications workflow solutions provider, today announces an expanded news distribution circuit targeting the 160 million Hispanics living in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. At its core is NoticiasFinancieras, Latin America's largest, most prominent news distribution and syndication system, and now a Marketwire company gained from its recent acquisition of International Media Services (IMS) Companies in January 2008.

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=836355

OTHER MEDIA NEWS

Almost Two Thirds of Online Radio Listeners also Profiled on Social Sites

The annual "Infinite Dial 2008: Radio's Digital Platforms" by Arbitron and Edison Media Research, estimates that 33 million Americans age 12 or older listen to a radio station over the Internet during an average week, up from 29 million listeners one year ago. There is also a strong connection between online radio listening and social networking sites according to the study.

http://blogs.mediapost.com/research_brief/?p=1671

Blogger: Journalism, Blogging Are Colliding

Media is changing -- how it is produced and how it is consumed, writes Erick Schonfeld, who moved from Time Inc. to the blog TechCrunch six months ago. "Just as blogs are building up professional writing staffs, newspapers and magazines are requiring that their writers start blogging."

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/30/six-months-in-and-600-posts-later-the-worlds-of-blogging-and-journalism-collide-in-my-brain

Hearst: No Business Model for Journalism

No one knows a successful business model for journalism, says former San Francisco Chronicle editor Phil Bronstein, who has taken on a new role at owner Hearst that will involve finding ways to keep the news business thriving. Newspapers are "not viable in their current mode."

http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2008/03/29/bronstein-the-future-of-news-and-other-buzzwords

Microsoft In Video deal for Xbox Platform

Microsoft, aiming to position the Xbox as an all-round entertainment device rather than just a games console, is entering a content deal with Safran Digital Group to produce short-form video for downloading by Xbox Live users. Microsoft already has deals with Disney, NBC and others.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/5acb09d8-fea7-11dc-9e04-000077b07658.html

Newspapers Report Record Drop in Ads

U.S. newspapers are suffering their worst drop in print advertising sales since industry record-keeping began 57 years ago, hammered by competition from the Internet. Revenue plunged 9.4% to $42.2 billion, from $46.6 billion in 2006, says the Newspaper Association of America.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=abN6GoHxaz2E

Nielsen Switches Online Rankings to Streams From Unique Viewers

Nielsen Online has changed the way it ranks and measures online video destinations, a shift that essentially demotes all the popular viral video sites other than YouTube and favors big media destinations. Nielsen now measures online video by the top 20 online video brands as ranked by streams rather than by unique audience for video-sharing sites.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/03/nielsen_switches_online_rankin.php

People.com: Magazine Web Site of the Year

The Economist comes in at the No. 1 spot on AdweekMedia's annual "Hot List," honoring magazines and creative talents. Time Inc.'s People.com is the winner of the first-ever Magazine Web Site of the Year award, for boosting traffic despite intense rivalry from celebrity blogs.

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/spotlight/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003781986

Study: Print More Trusted Than Internet

Reinforcing print publishers' assertions of relationships with readers, new research by MediaVest suggests that readers trust print more than the Web in almost every area. People are seven times more likely to turn to print publications like Vogue for fashion and beauty content.

http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=126001

Study: Web Users Dislike Being Tracked, Even Anonymously

Web users these days know they are being watched--and they're not happy about it. That's according to Truste, a nonprofit privacy organization that released a new study Friday examining consumer attitudes toward behavioral targeting and privacy--topics that are increasingly drawing the attention of lawmakers and the media.

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=79534&Nid=40988&p=917272

Time Warner to Redirect Focus to Content

Time Warner's expected separation of its cable holdings is likely to force management to pay closer attention to the conglomerate's content assets. Also: Time Warner must share control its Superman copyright with the heirs of the comic hero's creator, a judge says.

http://blogs.mediapost.com/on_media/?p=134

Traditional Media Team With Niche Sites

Looking to snare a larger share of Internet advertising dollars, traditional media companies ranging from Forbes to Martha Stewart are launching "vertical ad networks." Media companies are expected to "continue to invest in this space" as they attempt to compete with Yahoo and Google.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2008-03-30-ad-networks-internet-martha-stewart_N.htm

Yahoo Launches Shine with Women's Mags

Yahoo is launching a new site for women between ages 25 and 54. Called Shine, the site is partnering with magazine publishers like Hearst and Rodale for exclusive content. Shine.yahoo.com will be presented in a blog form, with newest items on top and commentary from an editor.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080331/ap_on_hi_te/yahoo_women

Friday, March 28, 2008

March 28, 2008

CBS

John Nogawski to head CBS TV Distribution

John Nogawski has taken the reins of CBS Television Distribution.
Nogawski, who most recently shared the division's president and COO titles with Robert Madden, will fill the role held by Roger King, the syndication pioneer who died Dec. 8.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i93b11000fba320fcf6531666ce2d5c54

CW NETWORK

Struggling CW Network lays off staffers

The struggling CW Network, hit hard by the Hollywood writers strike and an underwhelming crop of new shows, laid off 25-30 employees Monday as part of a restructuring that included the elimination of its comedy department.

http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN0341904920080304

Warner Worried Over CW Miscues

Unhappy over the volume of red ink associated with the network, Warner Bros., sources said, is looking for ways to offset its losses by capitalizing on previous programming successes and the still-popular WB network brand.

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003729000

FOX

Fox reveals additional celebrities participating in 'Idol Gives Back'

Fox HAS announced American Idol third-season champ Fantasia Barrino, Idol fifth-season third-place finisher Elliott Yamin, Robin Williams, Celine Dion, Forest Whitaker, Billy Crystal, Dane Cook, Kiefer Sutherland, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Jennifer Connolly, and Amy Adams will all participate in Idol Gives Back when the concert and fund-raising event benefiting various U.S. and international charities airs Wednesday, April 9 at 7:30PM ET/PT.

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/fox-reveals-additional-celebrities-participating-in-idol-gives-back-6809.php

MySpace Mobile Launches on Verizon Wireless

MySpace, the world's most popular social network, and Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless service provider, today announced Verizon Wireless customers can now access MySpace Mobile on all Mobile Web 2.0

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/media/article/myspace-mobile-launches-verizon-wireless_538185_15.html

MTV

MTV Latin America Unveils New Talent Search Initiative

MTV Latin America has launched La Zona, a multiplatform initiative that includes a new talent search reality series

http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=MTV032808.htm

MTV to celebrate "Yo! MTV Raps" anniversary

On MTV, the show "Sucker Free" will transform into "Yo! MTV Raps," featuring classic videos amidst the current hip hop video countdown. At the end of the month, the cable network will air "Yo!" countdown shows, where the top moments from the iconic program will be revealed. (Countdown specials also will air on MTV Radio.)

http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSN2830481020080328

MTV Tr3s Comes Exclusively to V CAST Mobile TV from Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless, the builder and owner of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, and MTV today announced MTV's bilingual channel, MTV Tr3s, will be available tomorrow on V CAST Mobile TV.

http://sev.prnewswire.com/telecommunications/20080327/NYTH12127032008-1.html

MTV: We're Multiplatform Too

NBC Universal and CBS aren't the only media companies using this year's upfront to highlight company-wide sales opportunities. MTV Networks will host an upfront event May 8 in New York at the Nokia Theater in Times Square to focus on multiplatform opportunities across all of MTVN's on-air and online properties, including MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, TV Land, Spike and CMT.

http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=125973

VIACOM

Viacom Making the Right Moves

Viacom Inc (VIA) announced its Q4 results at the end of last month. If there were any fears of economic slowdown having hit the media industry, Viacom’s results surely wiped them out.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/70191-viacom-making-the-right-moves

Viacom's Paramount Pictures Getting Into Game Publishing

Paramount Pictures has formed a new division in its interactive department to fund the development of video games based on its films, Variety reports.

http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2008/03/28/viacom%2526%2523039%3Bs-paramount-pictures-getting-game-publishing

AFRICA

African communities boost HIV prevention efforts

The Regent’s College conference centre in Regent’s Park, London was the venue of the National African HIV conference held from the 27th to the 28th of March 2008. The large conference was aimed at providing a platform to explore the critical role and impact of gender HIV prevention efforts.

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=3777&cat=1

Namibia: HIV/Aids Bodies Brainstorm for Better Results, Planning

A two-day national conference of organizations involved in HIV/Aids education and prevention that has just ended, has recommended the enhancement of Aids network organizations' productivity in order to tackle the pandemic

http://allafrica.com/stories/200803280604.html

ASIA

China launches nationwide AIDS prevention program

The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) launched a three-year nationwide AIDS prevention and care program here on Friday, aiming to reduce vulnerability to HIV and its impact in the country.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-03/28/content_6574756.htm

CARIBBEAN

Symposium highlights the feminization of AIDS

About 50 per cent of people living with HIV/Aids are women. And as the numbers continue to grow, the Ministry of Social Development has planned a symposium to educate its staff on how to deal with infected people, as well as those seeking information on the virus.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161299719

UNESCO supports annual Caribbean Media and Communication Conference

UNESCO, in cooperation with regional media organisations, is organising the tenth annual Caribbean Media and Communication Conference (CMCC), from 1 to 3 May 2008 in Georgetown, Guyana. The three-day conference will coincide with World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) on 3 May

http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=26304&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

MOBLE NEWS

AT&T Plans to Launch Live Mobile TV Service

AT&T plans to launch a live mobile phone television service in May based on Qualcomm's MediaFlo technology and separate network. The largest U.S. mobile network operator says it will offer two exclusive channels in addition to a selection of regular broadcast channels.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/89a12962-fc69-11dc-9229-000077b07658.html

Verizon Wireless and MTV Networks Launch MTV, VH1, COMEDY CENTRAL, Nickelodeon, and CMT On Mobile Web 2.0

Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, and MTV Networks (MTVN), a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), today announced the launch of mobile Web sites for MTV, VH1, COMEDY CENTRAL, Nickelodeon, and CMT on Verizon Wireless' Mobile Web 2.0

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/telecom/article/verizon-wireless-mtv-networks-launch-mtv-vh1-comedy-central-nickelodeon-cmt_538220_13.html

OTHER MEDIA NEWS

HIV Ignored?
South Park and AIDS Foundation Think So

Looks like everyone is fair game on the Comedy Central show South Park–even Big Pharma. In one of the show’s funniest and most irreverent episodes to date, Eric Cartman (the potty-mouthed chubby kid with the poof-ball hat) becomes infected with HIV during a routine tonsillectomy. And it turns out nobody cares.

http://blog.pharmexec.com/2008/03/28/hiv-ignored-south-park-and-aids-foundation-think-so/

The Troubled News Media

This fifth edition of the annual report "The State of the News Media 2008,"tracing the revolution of news by the Project for Excellence in Journalism and Funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, can certainly not be summarized in a "Research Brief." However, the content is so encompassing, and the analysis so probing, that it begs excerpting to compel interested readers to pursue the complete study through the link provided.

http://blogs.mediapost.com/research_brief/?p=1670

Time Warner to 'Benefit' From Yahoo Battle

Time Warner's AOL wants to benefit from the takeover battle for Yahoo, says European division CEO Dana Dunne. Advertisers may prefer AOL as the struggle between Microsoft and Yahoo will tie up both companies. Microsoft's hostile bid offers a "unique chance to convey our message."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aUNKeSO3g8uE

Thursday, March 27, 2008

March 27, 2008

MTV

Body Shop and MTV in charity campaign

The Body Shop and MTV Networks International are launching a global campaign that aims to raise funds for the Staying Alive Foundation, an HIV and AIDS charity. The retailer has created a new limited edition Guarana Lip Butter, which will be sold in its stores in 55 countries. All proceeds will go directly to the charity, which MTV founded in January 2005.

http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=60140&d=258&h=262&f=3

MTV seeks Asian talent for IDs

MTV launched a campaign inviting young Asian artists to produce MTV idents (MIDs), representing an emblem of MTV identity and incorporating the MTV logo, to begin airing April 1, MTV said Wednesday.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/international/news/e3i7d4936f8e5dd3cf6479cae48128f7a7b

MTV orders Donald Trump's new 'Lady or a Tramp' reality series

MTV has ordered eight episodes of Lady or a Tramp, a new reality series that will take a group of girls out of their wild and crazy lifestyles and teaches them to become proper women, Daily Variety reported Tuesday. The series had originally been announced as under development by Fox last summer.

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/mtv-orders-donald-trump-new-lady-or-tramp-reality-series-6793.php

MTV to Launch Series on Multiple Platforms

MTV is launching a slate of shortform projects across multiple platforms, a strategy that includes debuting the Web-based comedy series "North Palm Wrestling" on the linear network. Also on the slate are three mobile series that will play on a combination of MTV-branded platforms.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3icc586a5d1a4f3c60eb06b89024aa4de6

On Air, On The Go & Online, MTV Is On Fire!

Sound the alarm ... MTV is officially on fire! Success wasn't limited to just programming as MTV properties ranging from video games to its network of online communities have also caught fire

http://sev.prnewswire.com/television/20080326/NYW12226032008-1.html

UNIVISION

Televisa takes on Univision

Top-rated Spanish-language television broadcaster Univision is in danger of losing the bulk of its primetime programming because of an ongoing fight with its largest content provider. Mexican media titan Televisa is attempting to sever its 16-year-old exclusive license agreement with the U.S. broadcaster in a dispute about royalty payments.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ifff588c2bae9eaffd6ea306dfaa5fa2f?imw=Y

VIACOM

Viacom's Nick Show Gets More Interactive

Just watching TV is so 20th century, especially for the young audience of Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards. This year's show will let kids vote for their favorites via Nick.com, the TurboNick broadband site, a cell-phone-friendly Web site, and in a special area of its virtual community.

http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117982954.html

MOBILE NEWS

CBS Mobile Aims to Simplify News Hunting

CBS Mobile is partnering with a firm called Aggregate Knowledge, which sifts through click-histories of every story on mobile Web sites and looks at users in aggregate to find patterns so that it can recommend relevant Web content. CBS Mobile will offer the news feature this week.

http://www.news.com/newsblog/8301-10784_3-9903217-7.html

Comcast, Time Warner in Wireless Talks

Comcast and Time Warner Cable are said to be in talks to fund a new wireless Internet venture that would be run by Sprint Nextel and Clearwire. The partnership would create a nationwide network with faster wireless Web connection speeds than mobile operators' networks.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120648766842863793.html

Google Proposes Mobile Use of TV Airwaves

Google is proposing a plan that may let wireless Internet devices use vacant television airwaves. In a letter to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, Google offers suggestions on how the "white spaces" could provide high-speed mobile access to consumers without disrupting TVs.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a4CLr1pIxzGY

OTHER NEWS

AOL Vets Launch Business on Facebook

Former AOL directors Laurence Hooper and Dan Goodman are launching a new venture on Facebook. Their startup, Loladex, is a local search engine that uses recommendations and ratings from online social networking platforms to return more specific results.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/03/24/daily32.html

Adify Widget Share Platform Lets Advertisers Distribute Content Across Sites

ADIFY HAS ROLLED OUT ADIFY Widget Share, a content syndication platform that lets advertisers and media outlets distribute content like Flash games, RSS feeds and video across sites within a given network.

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=79260&Nid=40828&p=917272

Alternative Media Spending to Hit $161 Billion in 2012

Spending on so-called alternative media, including social networks, digital out-of-home networks and mobile content, will increase 20.2% to $88 billion in 2008, according to a new study. In its first report focusing on alternative media, PQ Media Research further forecasts that the fast-growing sector will hit nearly $161 billion by 2012, accounting for 26.6% of the total U.S. advertising and marketing spending.

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=79247&Nid=40829&p=917272

Google Invests in Social-Networking Firm

Google is investing $1 million in Chinese online social-networking tech startup Comsenz. U.S. Internet firms are seeking a stronger foothold in the growing Chinese market. Also: Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page each took home their customary $1 annual salary in 2007.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/google-invests-chinese-social-networking-firm/story.aspx?guid=%7B060E4AAD%2D7748%2D48FE%2DB0BD%2D5A079F8EFDB4%7D

Hearst Magazines to Buy Answerology.com

Hearst Magazines plans to acquire Answerology.com, a site and technology that enables users to pose questions to a targeted community around relationship-related topics such as dating, family, career and marriage. Answerology's Q&A technology will be integrated into Hearst Web sites.

http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080326/0379559.html

Mercedes Launches Its Own Web TV Station

Carmaker Mercedes-Benz is launching its own music show on its own Internet-based television station. The new "Mixed Tape Music Magazine" is an online show featuring video clips by artists such as Jennifer Lopez. The marketing drive mirrors the migration of advertising to the Web.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120649040498764019.html

Microsoft Partners With Social Networks to Improve Data Portability

Adapting to an increasingly open and wall-less Web, Microsoft on Tuesday agreed to let users of its Windows Live platform share their contact lists with five of the top social networks: Facebook, Bebo, LinkedIn, Tagged and Hi5

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=79248&Nid=40828&p=917272

MySpace, Google, Yahoo to Form Foundation

Google, Yahoo and MySpace plan to form the OpenSocial Foundation to ensure the neutrality of OpenSocial as an open, community-governed specification for building social applications across the Web. The foundation will be an independent non-profit entity.

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7bADF07A1A-EDCC-456E-B3D4-667F43282A6F%7D

Time Warner's AOL Faces Ad Obstacles

Time Warner's AOL unit is aiming to transform from an Internet service provider into a full-service digital-advertising business. To that end, it has spent about $1 billion to buy seven ad-technology firms. AOL's future is seen to hinge on the success of knitting them all together.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120649623563164451.html

USA Network Rebrands Online Gaming Site

USA Network will play in the online gaming arena under the "Character Arcade" brand with 20 new games and a new pitch to advertisers. Formerly dubbed Character Game Lounge, USA's gaming site generates 30 million page views a month -- half of USA's usanetwork.com traffic.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6544899.html

Wealthy Consumers Using Social Networks Online

According to The Luxury Institute's latest WealthSurvey, the participation of wealthy online consumers in social networks dramatically increased to 60% in 2008, from 27% in 2007. Participation levels of online wealthy consumers in leading social networks are 16% for MySpace, 13% for LinkedIn, and 11% for Facebook.

http://blogs.mediapost.com/research_brief/?p=1668#comments

Wikipedia Awarded $3M Foundation Grant

The nonprofit group behind Wikipedia, the Internet encyclopedia built by volunteers, is getting its largest donation ever -- $3 million from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The award will help Wikimedia hire more staff as it seeks to improve the reach of its content.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080325/ap_on_hi_te/wikipedia_finances

Youth Bypassing News for Social Media

Interviews and surveys suggest that younger voters tend to be not just news consumers but conduits as well, e-mailing links and videos to friends and their social networks. In essence, they are replacing professional filters -- the Washington Post, CNN.com -- with a social one.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/us/politics/27voters.html

YouTube to Provide More Viewership Info

Google's YouTube is giving contributors more details about who's watching their video clips and when, offering advertisers additional insights to target their pitches. The free program also could help bands schedule their concerts and help anyone time the release of a new video.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080327/ap_on_hi_te/youtube_stats