May 7, 2008

BET

Kaitz Foundation expands diversity outreach at The Cable Show '08

The Walter Kaitz Foundation, the cable industry's foundation for diversity, announced plans today for its 9th Annual Supplier Diversity Connection Workshop in conjunction with The Cable Show '08. In addition, the Kaitz Foundation also released plans for a first-time program, to be produced in conjunction with BET Networks, which will introduce minority students and professionals to opportunities in the technical realm available in the cable industry.

P&G solicits advice from consumers on pulling ads from MTV, BET

One of the nation's largest advertisers, Procter & Gamble, is soliciting input from consumers whether it should continue advertising on MTV and BET. The packaged-goods company is taking calls at an 800 number. Once dialed, callers are advised they have two choice regarding advertising on the two cable networks: press one if they want P&G to make changes in its advertising, or press two to indicate support for continued advertising on the networks.

CBS

CBS Radio to Unveil Internet Radio Network

CBS Radio will launch an Internet radio network in June that will provide access to all 140 CBS stations, as well as the AOL Radio network, through a single media player. Later in the summer, CBS will introduce Play.it, an online portal allowing users to create their own radio stations.

FOX

MySpace Still Leads Online Social Networks

If MySpace were to lose its top spot among social networks, it would have a long way to fall. Though U.S. visits to the powerhouse are down 5% since last year, the News Corp. site still commands nearly 74% of the social networking market, according to Hitwise.

News Corp Expected to Report Sale Gains

News Corp. is expected to report higher third-quarter sales late Wednesday on increased advertising revenue from Fox's "American Idol" and February's Super Bowl. Analysts say they want to hear from chief Rupert Murdoch about the strategy behind the possible deal to acquire Newsday.

UNIVISION

GALAVISIÓN AND UFC® PARTNER TO PRESENT EL OCTÁGONO DEL UFC

Galavisión announced today it has partnered with Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization to present El Octágono del UFC™ (The UFC®'s Octagon™), a weekly program that features highlights of the best showcases the UFC's most compelling fighters, thrilling battles and over-the-top mixed martial arts action. El Octágono del UFC™ will launch Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 8pm ET/PT (7pm central) on Galavisión.

VIACOM

Google vows to keep fighting Viacom

Google Inc. is not considering settling out of court a US$1 billion copyright-infringement lawsuit filed by Viacom Inc., an executive with the U.S. Internet search engine said Wednesday.

MTV Networks launches video hub for gay community

Execs at MTV Networks say the best way to distribute media over the Web is to "go an inch wide but a mile deep." Instead of one central Web destination, MTV Networks, a Viacom company, is building hundreds of sites around its content. An example of that strategy can be found at Logo, the unit that serves to the gay and lesbian community. Logo launched a new video hub on Wednesday that Lisa Sherman, Logo's general manager, said will feature 3,000 ad-supported clips and be the largest central library of videos for the gay and lesbian audience.

AFRICA

5.6 million infected with HIV in SA

The Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA) estimates that 5.6 million South Africans are infected with HIV. In a statement, the society yesterday said its projections from the ASSA 2003 Aids and demographic model provided an estimate of HIV-positive South Africans in 2008.

DBSA HIV Figures Far Off the General Trend

The Department of Health has dismissed a report by the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) alleging that the prevalence of HIV in South Africa stood at 7.6 million.

ASIA

BHUTAN: Low condom use, high incidence of AIDS

In spite of rigorous campaigns, awareness workshops and street shows put up to coax condom use among the Bhutanese population, it is still low, say health ministry officials.
This shows in the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS, which has risen steadily from two in 1993 to 144 today, most of which were sexually transmitted.

INDIA: Campaign against HIV/AIDS showing results

A campaign against the deadly AIDS/HIV has encouraged more and more people to come forward to report cases in the Himalayan state where six fresh cases have been reported this year, taking the figure to 92.

INDIA: First ever summit on New Media

THE FIRST ever summit on New Media is being held in New Delhi on Thursday (May 8) at Hotel Intercontinental Eros. Organised by NDTV convergence, the summit aims to bring together the Internet and mobile domain under one roof to learn more about the intriguing and wonderful opportunity called New Media.

INDIA: YouTube to Launch Local Version

Google's video-sharing site YouTube is launching a version in India on Wednesday. Videos of relevance to Indian audiences will be given greater prominence. Local television channels are being signed up to distribute their content through the new site.

CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA

HIV Concerns for Many Latino Immigrants

Mississippi and other states in the south have seen a recent rise in the number of Latino immigrants. But there's concern that the lack access to healthcare makes these newcomers vulnerable to HIV. Tim Frasca, who works with the Latino Commission on AIDS Deep South, discusses why some Latino immigrants aren't getting adequate healthcare and prevention services, and what's being done to combat the problem.

Recording Artist Kat DeLuna Named International Ambassador for Latino Commission on AIDS

Dennis deLeon, president of the Latino Commission on AIDS, announced that Kat DeLuna is the 2008 International Ambassador to the Commission. Ms. DeLuna will accept the title passed down from Gael Garcia Bernal on May 13, 2008, at Cipriani Wall Street during Cielo Latino, the largest national fundraiser for the Latino community in its fight against AIDS.

ST.KITTS: Convenient Community HIV Testing Continues in Cayon

After a successful debut at the St. Paul’s Community Centre, the National AIDS Secretariat continues its convenient and confidential, community HIV Testing at the Cayon Primary School on Tuesday, May 13.

The sex lives of men - Exploring sexually transmitted viruses

Dr. Pauline Williams-Green, a family physician and president of the Caribbean College of Family Physicians gives a detailed breakdown of sexually transmitted infections

ADVERTISING NEWS

Cross-Platform Ad Strategies: The Good, The Bad And The Unmeasured

In the fragmented media landscape, cross-platform campaigns have become one of the go-to strategies in an advertiser's arsenal--particularly when it comes to reaching the 18-34 demographic. But as panelists at Digital Hollywood noted on Tuesday, those plans--including branded entertainment deals, in- and around-game ads, and mobile video promotions--still suffer from a lack of standardized performance metrics and clear return on investment.

Spot Runner Web Ad Firm Attracts $51M

SpotRunner.com, an Internet-based advertising network that puts local business pitches on television and radio, is reeling in another $51 million from investors including Grupo Televisa. Previous backers include CBS. The outfit may use the new financing to move into print.

HIV/AIDS AND SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS

AIDS.gov Goes 2.0: Government HIV/AIDS Website Now Features a Blog, Podcasts, and More

The HHS Office of HIV/AIDS Policy announced today that the Web site AIDS.gov, a gateway to all federal domestic HIV /AIDS information and resources, now has an innovative look and feel that incorporates a blog, podcasts, and other new media tools.

AIDS is a growing public health threat across rural Minnesota, says RAAN

Rural AIDS Action Network (RAAN), the nonprofit organization working to raise awareness and help prevent HIV/AIDS in Greater Minnesota, reports more women and minorities are contracting the HIV virus, fostered by misconceptions that persist 23 years after the HIV virus was first identified.

From Prevention to Policy: HIV/AIDS Panel on Friday

Rep. Barbara Lee will host a panel discussion titled “From Prevention to Policy: Responses to HIV/AIDS in the African- Americn Community”. Rep. Lee will discuss expanding the reach of HIV prevention services and programs, increasing opportunities for HIV diagnosis and treatment, developing new and effective interventions, and mobilizing the community to combat this epidemic in the 9th Congressional District.

Talking to your teen about sexual health is crucial

“Let’s talk…” might seem like two very simple words, but for many parents, they are not so simple when the rest of the sentence is “… about sex.” The talk may be uncomfortable at first, but, Wilford notes, research continues to show that children and teens want to receive their information about sexual health from their parents and caregivers.

Trojan Evolve Tour makes campus stop

The Trojan Corp, maker of America's best-selling brand of condoms, is funding a nationwide campaign to educate college students about safe sex. The campaign comes in the form of a Trojan bus, equipped with computers, educational TV programs, a display of Trojan products and a confessional booth designed to allow students "give a shout" about safe sex.

SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS

24 Hour Fitness Mixes Reality-TV and Social Media

24 Hour Fitness unveiled an ad campaign last night built around the reality of club members' lives that includes network TV ads and a dedicated Web site, 12millionlives.com.

Catholic Church to Launch Social Network

Pope Benedict will text message thousands of young Catholics on their mobile phones during World Youth Day in Sydney in July, hoping going digital will help him connect better with younger audiences. The church also will set up a social networking site akin to a "Catholic Facebook."

HarperCollins’ social networking site Authonomy in beta for aspiring authors

Authonomy aims to connect aspiring authors with “keen talent-spotting readers” by uploading a minimum of 10,000 words of their manuscript for the Authonomy community to discuss and feedback on. Users can leave comments on other member’s books, create a virtual bookshelf as well as upload their own manuscripts.

Keep Your Head in the (Tag) Clouds

Combining behavioral targeting with social networks isn't a new concept. Since online social platforms host profiles ripe with geographic, demographic, and user-interest data, it's only logical for marketers to target and build campaigns based on such self-identified interests and preferences.

OTHER MEDIA NEWS

New York Times: The Web 'Is Our Future'

NYTimes.com is growing at a much faster clip than the print newspaper, observes Susan Edgerley, assistant managing editor, in an online Q&A with readers. "Is it our future? You bet. ... Now we just have to figure out how NYTimes.com can bring in the revenue that the print paper always has."