May 15, 2008

BET

The 'Hottest Ticket on Television' Has Been Announced: The BET AWARDS '08

BET Networks, a unit of Viacom, today announced the nominees, performers and recipients of the Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian honors for the BET AWARDS '08. The BET AWARDS '08 is raising the stakes and promises to be the "hottest ticket on television" for the eighth year running

CBS

CBS To Acquire CNET For $1.8 Billion

The long proxy battle between CNET and hedge fund Jana Partners looks to be over, as The Wall Street Journal early Thursday reported that CBS Corp. has agreed to buy the online news network for $1.8 billion. The price represents a premium of 45% over Wednesday's closing and is higher than any price the stock has traded at in over two years. The news sent CNET's stock up 42% in premarket trading to $11.30. CBS fell 3% to $24.10.

'Lonelygirl15' Producer in Pact with CBS

CBS is entering a deal with EQAL, the production firm behind the Web sensation "Lonelygirl15," to supplement existing network programs with online extensions and possibly create new multiplatform programs. The deal aims to "create communities" out of CBS programming.

CW NETWORK

The CW to air Tyra Banks' new 'Stlyista' fashion reality series ...

The CW has announced Stylista, a new reality competition series for aspiring fashion magazine editors, will air Wednesdays at 9PM ET/PT as part of the network's Fall 2008 primetime programming lineup. Stylista is a collaboration by Project Runway developer Eli Holzman and executive producers Jane Cha and Desiree Gruber and America's Next Top Model creator Tyra Banks and executive producer Ken Mok.

FOX

Fox schedules sci-fi and reality
Sci-fi action dramas and hour-long reality shows populate Fox's schedule for next season, which includes new shows from top creative producers J.J. Abrams ("Lost") and Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"). Fox's lineup includes three new dramas, two comedies and an unscripted series. The network plans to once again launch its fall season earlier than most competitors.

What Is News Corp. and Why Does It Make So Much Money?

In December, News Corp. finalized a deal with Dow Jones and became owner of The Wall Street Journal and Barron's. Nothing new for the self-described “newspaper man,” Murdoch, who entered the media world in the 1950s when he inherited Australia's News Limited. In the ‘70s, he launched gossip rag Star newspaper, which was later sold and became Star magazine (which is now owned by American Media). Today, News Corp publishes more than 110 newspapers worldwide, including the tabloid New York Post, and its infamous Page Six gossip column.

MTV

MTV's Logo Features RuPaul In A New Reality Show

The big news for MTV and Logo is that they’ve got a new reality show, and it stars the most famous drag queen of our generation…RuPaul. Yup, he/she is still around, and apparently, still fabulous. Yahoo News reports that casting is still open, and that the “ hourlong, six-episode series is expected to debut on Logo's digital cable channel early next year.”

UNIVISION

'Gigantic' changes ahead on Univision

Univision's long-running variety series "Sábado Gigante" will get a face-lift next season, network officials revealed Wednesday. What they wouldn't say, though

Univision Pitches New Vision: We're Like NASCAR Before It Revved Up

Univision tried a new tactic Wednesday to persuade advertisers to spend more on Spanish-language TV--a metaphor. At its upfront, the network suggested that it is in the position that country music and NASCAR held before they took off as cultural touchstones--advancing the idea that advertisers should lead a trend, not lag it.

AFRICA

NASACA and the challenges of combating HIV/AIDS in Nasarawa State

In Nasarawa, a predominantly agrarian state with low level literacy, the prevalence rate for HIV/AIDS, according to statistic, is 6.7%. By this rate, the state ranked third in the country with high prevalence rate. Of course, this is a great challenge to not only to the state government and NASACA, but to all lovers of Nasarawa state specifically and to lovers of humanity in general.

ASIA

HIV/AIDS & Our Religious Conviction

This is recurring fact that every single country in the world has been affected by HIV/AIDS epidemic including Muslim countries as well as Pakistan. However, the intensity of this epidemic is not much severe in Muslim countries including Pakistan except some in African continent but this should be taken as granted before the situation can grow worse.

CARIBBEAN & LATIN AMERICA

CARICOM Donates $7 million for Haiti Assistance

The Government of the Republic of Haiti has expressed gratitude to the Caribbean Community for donating $7 million in response to that nation’s food crisis, it was revealed at the Eleventh Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) held in Antigua and Barbuda May 7-9, 2008.

CMEx connects the Caribbean

The Diaspora represents a multi-million dollar opportunity for the Caribbean, and maximizing the financial, intellectual and creative potential of this market will take center stage when Counterpart International's Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) opens at the Holiday Inn in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico on Thursday, May 15 under the theme "Embracing the Diaspora, Connecting Communities."

Spat escalates over anti-gay lyrics

Under pressure from gay rights groups and a sponsorship boycott of live dancehall shows by local beer giant Red Stripe, some Jamaican dancehall stars are offering free performances to events at which no Red Stripe products are sold or consumed.

The Bahamas signs on as destination sponsor of Real Men Cook

Held in 11 cities simultaneously on Father's Day, Real Men Cook features approximately 1,000 volunteer chefs preparing their favorite dishes. The event also provides a platform where "real men" from all walks of life are honored for demonstrating extraordinary commitment to their families and communities.

ADVERTISING NEWS

Ads on social networking sites don’t speak to consumers, survey says

87% of consumers who belong to online social networks say most of the ads they see on such sites as MySpace and Facebook don’t fit their interests. The survey was conducted by consumer brand marketing firm Prospectiv.

Mobile Banner Ads Have Same Brand Recall As TV Spots

On average, small banner ads on mobile devices produce the same level of brand recall as the typical 30-second TV spot, according to Stephanie Bauer Marshall, the mobile advertising leader for Verizon Wireless, who shared some of the telecom giant's data at the Mobile Advertising Degree conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

HIV/AIDS AND SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS

CDC representative to speak at summit to address STD’s and Black teen girls

The CDC analyzed data on 838 female adolescents who participated in the 2003-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The researchers found that Black teens had far greater rates of common STDs, including human papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia, herpes simplex virus and trichomoniasis.

MOBILE NEWS

Boost Mobile names Matt Carter Senior Vice President and General Manager

Boost Mobile, a youth lifestyle brand and division of Sprint Corporation, today named Matt Carter as senior vice president and general manager. Carter, whose leadership and telecom experience spans more than 20 years with such well-known companies as Bristol Myers, Coca-Cola, Leap Wireless and BellSouth, will now lead Boost's operations, including the Marketing, Sales and Distribution, Product Development, Finance and Customer Service departments...

Knight Winners See News Future on Mobiles

The Knight Foundation is announcing the winners of its second annual Knight News Challenge, awarding $5.5 million to fund ideas that will help transform news through digital technology. One clear thread among the 16 projects selected: A focus on mobile phones.

SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS

Brin: Social Network Revenue 'Improving'
Google co-founder Sergey Brin said that advertising on social networks like MySpace and Facebook is getting better. "In general, it's been improving but we still have a long way to go," Brin told reporters at a conference in Jerusalem marking Israel's 60th anniversary. "Things have been going well this year...it's hard to predict where social networking will come out." Brin said it would take time to develop the right formula for advertising on social networks. "People are expecting overnight to wake up to a miracle... but these things take time," he said.

Comcast to Buy Plaxo for Social Networking

Comcast will acquire social-networking company Plaxo to power upcoming community features on its TV, broadband data and phone services. The Mountain View, Calif., startup will help Comcast build social-networking capabilities accessible by the U.S. cable giant's subscribers.

Oakley Continues Social Media Push, Taps Brickfish For UGC Campaign

Oakley has tapped Brickfish to launch "Create Your Own Oakley Diorama," a user-generated content (UGC) campaign that lets action sports fans craft a visual homage to themselves in the midst of surfing, skating or ripping it up motocross-style

The Top 10 Social Networking Annoyances

It's great to keep in touch with your friends and colleagues, but does the price have to be spam, zombie bites, and friend invitations from people you've never heard of?

Twitter: A New Powerhouse in Social Media

Twitter, the fledgling microblogging service, is evolving into a social media powerhouse to rival giants like Facebook. The San Francisco-based Twitter, which appears to be aiming for a new round of funding, is starting an "experimental" advertising program on its site in Japan.

OTHER NEWS

Broadcasters May Struggle in Upfront Sales

A decline in upfront adverting sales is probable, "given ratings declines, the disruption in the development cycle due to the writers' strike and economic woes," says Merrill Lynch analyst Jessica Reif Cohen. Broadcast networks could see spending drop 14% from 2007 to $7.73 billion.

Bush Holds First-Ever Web Video Interview

President Bush is the first U.S. president to conduct a video interview for an online audience. In the interview with Politico.com political correspondent Mike Allen, Bush warns that a fast withdrawal of troops from Iraq could "eventually lead to another attack on the United States."

Fashion Magazines Vie for Slot on 'Runway'

As the Bravo hit "Project Runway" prepares to move to Lifetime, five magazines -- Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, and In Style -- are said to be courting producers in a bid to replace Elle as a partner. Hearst, a co-owner of Lifetime, owns three of the titles.

Google Overtakes Yahoo as No. 1 Web Site

Google, long dominant in the Internet search market, is surpassing rival Yahoo for the first time as the most popular Web destination in the United States, according to research firm comScore. Google's U.S. audience is up to 141.1 million; Yahoo's comes in at 140.6 million.

New Content Delivery Positioned For Growth, But Hurdles High

According to findings of the Accenture 2008 Global Media Content Survey among more than 100 senior leaders and decision-makers in the media and entertainment industry, 70% of respondents indicated they derive some revenue today from new alternate forms of media such as downloading or watching TV programs "on demand," digital advertising, or user-generated content.

Time Warner Cable Challenges Network TV

The annual "upfront" week is reserved for the broadcast networks to sell their ad time. But this year Time Warner's Turner cable channels are positioning their upfront ad sales in the middle of the action. Ratings for TNT's "The Closer" often beat out the broadcast networks.

United Way to Target Health, Education and Income
The United Way of America, alarmed at the nation's fraying safety net, will announce today that it will direct its giving toward ambitious 10-year goals that would cut in half the high school dropout rate and the number of working families struggling financially.

Washington Post Top Journos Take Buyouts

Some of the Washington Post's biggest names are accepting employee buyout offers. David Broder, the so-called dean of the D.C. press corps, is leaving the staff, as is prominent sportswriter Tony Kornheiser. Executive editor Len Downie may take the buyout as well.