May 8, 2008

CBS

Cablevision To Buy Sundance for $496 Million
Cablevision announced Wednesday it will buy the Sundance Channel from CBS Corp., NBC Universal and actor-director Robert Redford for $496 million. The purchase gives Cablevision's Rainbow Media another movie channel to complement its Independent Film Channel, AMC and Women's Entertainment networks.

FOX

Murdoch Sees Economy Hurting Advertising

Stress in the U.S. economy is squeezing advertising budgets, says chief Rupert Murdoch, adding that News Corp.'s Fox Interactive Media will miss its $1 billion annual revenue goal by 10%. News Corp. is nonetheless seeing strong ad sales at the Fox TV network and Fox News Channel.

MTV

MTV Plans to Increase Its Blending of Ads and Shows

Every year at this time, networks pitch advertisers on their programs for the coming year in previews called the upfronts. On Thursday, MTV Networks will sell not only the appeal of its programs but of its commercials as well.

UNIVISION

Univision and the Vidal Partnership Present "El Juego Supremo", the Soccer Reality Series

Univision and The Vidal Partnership have jointly announced the launch of a soccer entertainment property, “El Juego Supremo” (The Ultimate Match), a reality soccer competition series. This is the first original branded soccer entertainment property of Univision Network, with Nissan North America and Sprint (News - Alert) being its exclusive network sponsors.

VIACOM

Viacom, Google Draw Lines In YouTube Suit

A Google settlement with Viacom over the media giant's copyright infringement lawsuit against YouTube is not in the cards. "We're going all the way to the Supreme Court," says David Eun, VP in charge of content partnerships at Google. "We're very clear about it."

AFRICA

Major shift in HIV prevention priorities needed

According to a new policy analysis led by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the University of California, Berkeley, the most common HIV prevention strategies—condom promotion, HIV testing, treatment of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), vaccine and microbicide research, and abstinence—are having a limited impact on the predominantly heterosexual epidemics found in Africa.

South Africa: Cape Town Commits to Beefing Up Social Development

About 136 social development organisations in the Cape Town Metropolitan are to benefit from a R2.3 million allocation to improve grants-in-aid. Making the announcement on Wednesday Mayoral Committee Member for Economic, Social Development and Tourism Councillor Simon Grindrod said the city's Department of Social Development had followed a vigorous process when selecting the beneficiaries.

ASIA

Afghanistan to promote condom usage

Millions of condoms will be distributed across Afghanistan in 2008 in a new drive to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, reduce maternal mortality and improve family planning, aid agencies and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said.

ASEAN countries address HIV/AIDS issues

Officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Laos, discussing ways to combat the rising incidence of HIV/AIDS in the region, including facilitating greater involvement and empowerment of people living with HIV,

INDIA: MTV launches ‘The State Of Cool’ - A hitchhiker’s guide to planet youth

An average of rupees 9 billion is spent as pocket money by young people in India everyday ,14 million photos are uploaded onto Facebook daily and a 100 new applications are added on everyday! If these fact nuggets sound interesting, get ready for some serious dessert. MTV Insight Studio brings to you THE STATE OF COOL, a compilation of insights and trends about Igen - Young India, whose biggest obsession is ‘I, ME, and MYSELF’.

INDIA: New media to integrate culture and commerce

With phones getting smarter and high-speed Internet penetration getting deeper, we are only at the tip of the new media iceberg. In India (2007), 70% of computer users have used the Internet, showing a healthy sign for Internet in India.

Teens, sex and Aids: Time to face up to today's realities

According to the Durex Global Sex Survey Report, the mean age at which Singaporeans lose their virginity is 18.4 years old. Teens have been registering single digits in annual HIV statistics. It may not look significant, but each year, the numbers creep up quietly. This is in tandem with the rising trend

CARIBBEAN & LATIN AMERICA

7 000 free condoms for women

HIV/AIDS advisor for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Carmeta Douglin told a two-day workshop at Amaryllis Hotel yesterday that the organisation would provide 7 000 second generation female condoms, which would be distributed free of cost to the target populations.

Prevention of the HIV-AIDS in Nuevitas

The specialists of the Municipal Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Nuevitas incite the young population to assume a responsible sexual behaviour for the prevention of infections of sexual transmission, such as the HIV-AIDS.

Women told take protection lead

HIV/AIDS advisor with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Carmeta Douglin, told the DAILY NATION on Tuesday that they were empowering women to take responsibility for their reproductive and sexual health with the female condom.

EUROPE

International HIV/AIDS Alliance presents evidence to House of Lords Committee

Inter-governmental organisations play important normative and coordination roles in the fight against infectious diseases, but should leave implementation to governments and civil society who can and do deliver programmes at scale in more cost effective and sustainable ways. This was the message from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance at a UK House of Lords Committee on Intergovernmental Organisations that took place on 31 March 2008.

Official says Russia 'not ready' for tough HIV steps

Russia is "not ready" to adopt measures that could prevent thousands of people from getting infected with the virus that causes AIDS, the country's chief public health officer said Monday.

Sexual health organisation offers new text and email service

The Wiltshire and Swindon Men's Sexual Health organisation is offering people between the ages of 16 and 24 a free testing kit for chlamydia. The test, which comes in a luminous orange box, is designed to be 100 per cent confidential, the kit and postage are free and results can be posted or even texted back to you.

Students Given Inventors Award for Underwear With Condom Pockets

Sweden: Three high school students from Helsingborg have been awarded the national Young Enterprise award for designing men's underwear with condom pockets built in.

Ukraine losing HIV/AIDS fight

Ukraine’s HIV/AIDS epidemic is a threat to Europe, according to UNAIDS, while international experts said the Ukrainian government is failing to curb the disease’s growth rate, which is the highest in Europe.

HIV/AIDS AND SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS

HIV/AIDS forum allows locals to share stories

The global AIDS pandemic was brought close to home by local residents who spoke out about the stigma of being a person living with HIV/AIDS in Vermont. “We felt like we needed to do more work in Rutland to mitigate the stigma of HIV/AIDS,” said Serena Hollmeyer, an anti-stigma program specialist at Vermont CARES.

Function introduces Night Life sexual health drink

Function: Night Life helps promote sexual health with a proprietary, all-natural formula. The plant extracts macuna pruriens and cnidium help support proper circulation while the amino acid tyrosine helps support healthy levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with desire and reward.

Teens Receive HIV/AIDS Education

AIDS activist Marvelyn Brown said she has no one to blame for contracting the HIV virus at 19, but herself. Now, 23, Brown spends $3,400 a month on medication. “I’ve heard a lot of blame, but at the end of the day, sex is a choice,” Brown told a group of teens at the Temple of Praise Church in Southeast Friday night.

Teen Sexually Transmitted Infections On The Rise

Venereal disease, "the clap," STDs. Over the years, there have been many names for them, but these days they're called sexually transmitted infections or STI's and new statistics show more and more teens are developing them.

Think Again: The Costs of Enforced Sexual Ignorance

The current Texas Monthly features an extensive investigation by Katy Vine into the success of the state’s sex-education program. Some of its key findings include startling revelations

USAID and British Work to Improve Sexual Health

A new program aimed at reducing the rate of new HIV infections and child mortality and improving reproductive and sexual health for Cambodians begins May 6 thanks to the joint efforts of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the British Department for International Development (DFID).

SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS

Companies to spend billions on social networking:

The market for social networking software nearly tripled last year, and an IDC analyst says when implemented properly, these tools can improve internal communication.

Everyone Is Talking About Mobile Social Networking

eMarketer forecasts that mobile social networking will grow from 82 million users in 2007 to over 800 million worldwide by 2012.

Forbes to Launch Online Social Network

Forbes.com is announcing the launch of AnswerNetwork, a social network for business execs. The network, which Forbes is developing with Cisco Systems, allows business professionals to set up profiles and exchange data on industry topics and business issues.

New Book Forecasts Future of Online Networking

The recently-released book Seven Days to Online Networking teaches readers how to make online connections quickly to advance their careers and build their networks.

New Social Networking Site a Facebook for Lawyers

A&O wasn't against all aspects of Facebook. "We saw both lawyers and staff using the site to build professional networks," Rivlin says. Firm management saw the opportunity for lawyers to exchange resumes, make client contacts and circulate best practices memos about everything from writing a contract to structuring a deal.

New social networking site targets Scottish talent and fans

Ooizit.com, a new online social networking site purely dedicated to exposing and supporting unsigned local music talent, is scouting for the very best new music, artists and fans that Scotland has to offer.

Social Networking Goes Mobile, Nielsen Finds

A growing number of mobile-phone subscribers worldwide are taking online social networking to the streets, according to Nielsen. The findings, released Thursday by Nielsen Mobile, show that the United Kingdom leads Europe in mobile social networking on a percentage basis -- with the United States boasting comparable numbers.

OTHER NEWS

161 Newspapers Sliced, Diced, and Rated

Scarborough Research, released its annual Scarborough Newspaper Audience Ratings Report, a comprehensive compendium of the weekly print, weekly website and Integrated Newspaper Audience (combined print and online) ratings for 161 newspapers in 81 Top-Tier markets.

Google May Run Display Ads With Searches

Google is considering running display advertisements alongside the results of Web queries for pictures, moving beyond text-based ads. "There's lot of potential for advertising revenue there," says VP Marissa Mayer. Google is seeking new revenue sources as its growth slows.

Media Journos to Discuss Industry's Future

I Want Media is holding its first-ever discussion forum, "The Future of Media," on June 4. A panel of leading media journalists will exchange ideas and opinions on how newspapers, magazines and television are being shaken up by blogs, social-networking sites and online video.

Microsoft Mulls Acquisition of Facebook

Microsoft is said to have informally approached Facebook to gauge its interest in selling itself. Microsoft contacted the social-networking site as the software giant looked likely to back away from buying Yahoo. Discussions between the two are not believed to be active.

New York Times to Cut 15 Newsroom Jobs

The New York Times is laying off 15 journalists after the company acknowledges it fell short of its goal of getting 100 people to take voluntary buyout packages. Executive editor Bill Keller says he hopes this will be the end of the newsroom cuts. "There are, of course, no guarantees."

NBC Plans 24-hour Local News Channel

NBC Universal plans to establish a 24-hour local news channel in New York. NBC's flagship station, WNBC, will transform its 30 Rockefeller Center facility into a multimillion dollar multiplatform "content center." The channel will compete with Time Warner's New York One.

NBC Universal to Launch Women@NBCU

Lauren Zalaznick is being named president of the new NBC Universal Women and Lifestyle Networks, adding oversight of iVillage.com to her duties leading Bravo and Oxygen. Zalaznick is launching Women@NBCU, a marketing initiative to align advertisers with NBC's female demo.

Perez Hilton Expands Brand Into Clothing Line

Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton is set to release a clothing line through U.S. retailer Hot Topic. The line will include T-shirts, hoodies and shoes. The self-proclaimed "Queen of all Media" says: "2008 is all about expanding the Perez brand."

Warners axes Picturehouse, WIP

"With New Line now a key part of Warner Bros., we're able to handle films across the entire spectrum of genres and budgets without overlapping production, marketing and distribution infrastructures," announced Warner Bros. president and COO Alan Horn.

YouTube In HD Coming to Living Rooms

HP is announcing that it working with YouTube to allow consumers to watch and share full-screen videos from the site on their HDTVs and to create multiple playlists from anywhere they watch TV. YouTube is creating specially curated channels for the new service.

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."

May 6, 2008

BET

Multi-Platinum Rapper and Actor T.I. Speaks to Toure about His Trouble With the Law in a BET News National Exclusive

In his first televised interview since a plea bargain on weapon charges, multi-platinum recording artist and actor T.I., a.k.a. Clifford Harris, Jr., speaks exclusively to BET News in the half-hour special T.I. SPEAKS

CBS

CBS Pitching Sticky Videos to Advertisers

When selling marketers on digital deals at this year's upfront advertising market, CBS plans to claim that it engages audiences better than its competitors. The network is preparing research on how many video streams it serves and how audiences use streaming of its TV shows.

New Play.It Media Player Offers Personalization, Contextual Ads

Creating a personalized radio station with CBS Radio Station unveils the Player.Play.It media player, which will offer a group stations together. The player will also feature large space for contextual ads that displays marketers' slides. It will also feature new internet-only stations, such as archives from New York City classic rock station WNEW.

CW NETWORK

Now, In Daytime, CW Targets Older Women Viewers

The CW Television Network is teaming up with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to create a daily two-hour afternoon 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. programming block — a new one-hour TV court show, “Judge Jeanine Pirro,” as well as two half-hour off-net comedies, “The Wayans Bros” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.”

FOX

Fox Interactive Media to Prep Auto Ad Service

Fox Interactive Media is developing a service for creating video and display advertisements targeted to small, local advertisers. The offering, dubbed FIM AdStore, will be accessible via local Fox TV station Web sites and allow advertisers to create ads without working with a salesperson.

Fox to Reinforce That TV Is Still King

While rivals NBC and CBS are approaching the upfront marketplace with sales presentations that include hefty pitches for their digital platforms, Fox is concentrating its efforts on selling television. Compared to online and print, TV advertising "proved the most effective."

MySpace adds Karaoke

Nearly two years after Fox Interactive purchased the karaoke site kSolo.com, its feature-set has finally been integrated into MySpace. “The combination of MySpace and kSolo allows users to upload audio recordings of them singing everything from R. Kelly to Richie Valens to their profile page”

News Corp Could Lose Trial Over Murdoch

If Rupert Murdoch doesn't testify in a lawsuit that accuses one of his companies of corporate espionage, it could cost News Corp. hundreds of millions of dollars, says the federal judge in the trial. News Corp. unit NDS is accused of hacking into EchoStar/DISH Network's security code.

MTV

MTV Adapts to Ratings System for Commercials

Once a skeptic, MTV Networks has become a convert to commercial ratings. In the first quarter of 2008, MTV recorded an 83.8 percent “retention rate,” meaning that nearly one in five of its viewers didn’t watch the commercials. VH1 ­ which, like MTV, is a unit of Viacom ­ fared almost as poorly, with a retention rate of 84.5 percent.

MTV Movie Award Nominations Show Some McLovin To 'Superbad,' 'Juno,' 'Transformers' And More

From affectionate spoofs to gushing tributes, for 16 years the MTV Movie Awards have been about celebrating the best in film and recognizing Hollywood's biggest stars. This year, finally, the show is getting a little McLovin back.

MTV's new 'Legally Blonde The Musical' reality series to debut June 2

MTV has announced Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods, a new Grease: You're the One that I Want-like reality series that will aim to find an actress to take over the lead in Broadway's Legally Blonde production, will premiere Monday, June 2 at 10PM ET/PT.

MTV's 'True Life' opens up secret lives of teens

MTV presents three brand new episodes from the award winning documentary series “True Life” starting on Thursday, May 15th at 10pm ET/PT with “I Have Embarrassing Parents 2,” Thursday, May 22nd at 10pm ET/PT with “I Have Schizophrenia,” and Thursday, May 29th at 10pm ET/PT with “I Live Another Life on the Web.”

UNIVISON

New Ad-Funded Soccer Reality Series for Univision

Univision and The Vidal Partnership have teamed up for the soccer-based entertainment property El Juego Supremo (The Ultimate Match), with Nissan North America and Sprint as the exclusive network sponsors.

VIACOM

Redstone: No 'Battle' Between Viacom, CBS

Sumner Redstone is downplaying speculation of a "battle" between his Viacom and CBS, saying such talk "has been manufactured" by the media. Redstone also says: "We cannot tolerate piracy by anyone, including YouTube." Plus: "I will not object" to the return of Tom Cruise.

VH1 Hits a High Note With 'Blog Parties'

Viacom's VH1, launched in 1985 as MTV's lite-leaning sister, is seen as a "television success story" and "a blueprint for other networks looking to reinvigorate their brand." Among other online initiatives, the network hosts "blog parties" in tandem with some of its hit shows.

Viacom Chairman: Won't Tolerate Piracy By Video Sharing Web Sites

Sumner Redstone, executive chairman of Viacom Inc. (VIA, VIAB) and CBS Corp. (CBS), Tuesday called on Internet operators to step up protection of content providers' copyrights and reiterated that he won't tolerate piracy by video sharing Web sites such as YouTube.

Viacom 'Marvels' at Summer Film Prospects

The summer is looking super for Viacom following a $100 million opening weekend at the U.S. box office for "Iron Man," from its Paramount Pictures unit. Up next is "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which could be among the biggest hits of the summer.

Viacom to Invest $100M in New Channel

Viacom plans to invest up to $100 million in the premium channel it is launching with two other movie studios, and the venture is talking to other potential partners about the new pay-TV network. Viacom is speaking "freely to potential distributors across many, many platforms."

AFRICA

BONELA calls for HIV law

The Botswana Network on Ethics Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) has called on government to protect the rights of workers by passing a law on HIV at the work place.

Cameroon: Centre - Youths Revise Strategies to Combat HIV

A two-day national youths symposium to review the recommendations and findings of the Cameroon Report Card on the prevention of HIV among young girls and young women ended last Saturday in Yaounde.

Grannies Help Grannies Cope with Aids

In the last of a three-part series interviews with AllAfrica, Stephen Lewis, formerly special envoy for HIV/Aids in Africa for United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, tells Cindy Shiner of the resilience of Africans fighting Aids and of the work of his foundation.

Rwanda: New Children's Booklet On HIV/Aids Launched

A new booklet sensitizing children on relevant and accurate information about sexuality and dangers of HIV/Aids has been launched.

SOUTH AFRICA: Government urged to raise treatment standards

HIV/AIDS treatment guidelines for South Africa's public health sector are out of sync not only with those of many other countries in the region, but also with the latest research on how to most effectively treat people living with HIV.

South Africa: Media's Critical Role in Fighting HIV/Aids

Various speakers and panellists, including Nelson Mandela's wife Graca Machel, who addressed delegates at the 2008 International Public Television (Input) Conference in Johannesburg, have launched a persuasive call to the media worldwide to play a critical role in combating HIV/Aids, which continues to wipe entire communities. "It is clear that with the digital developments the media can help spread a powerful message out there to make a difference," Dali Mpofu, SABC CEO and chairperson of Global Media Aids Initiative (GMAI), said.

ASIA

CHINA: MTV granted Games exclusive

MTV Networks China has received exclusive landing rights into the Beijing Olympic Village at the Beijing Olympics 2008. Approved by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), MTV China will be the only music television channel to broadcast over the private Olympic CATV network to all of the Olympic related competition venues and hotels from June 24, 2008.

INDIA: Viacom 18 to launch entertainment channel in July

Viacom 18, a 50:50 joint venture of Viacom and TV 18, is planning to launch a general entertainment channel 'Colors' in July.

"The launch of 'Colors' would make Viacom 18 one of the strongest entertainment Networks in India.

UN launches workplace HIV initiative to protect staff

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched on Tuesday UN Cares, a new workplace program on HIV, to provide such services as training, counseling and testing for UN staff and their families.

CARIBBEAN & LATIN AMERICA

The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels and the Business of Aids

In Haiti a few months ago, I sat in on an Oxfam-organised HIV-awareness workshop with a dozen teenagers in one of the Port-au-Prince slums. All the girls had children, some more than one. They all believed that you could best avoid Aids - or “homosexuals' diarrhoea” as the disease is commonly known in Haiti - by having sex only when in the sea.

Two Jamaicans make bold move in tackling HIV/AIDS

Two persons have taken a bold move to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Jamaica through volunteering to participate in the country's vaccine programme, which seeks to fine a cure for this deadly disease.

HIV/AIDS AND SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS

Condom brand LifeStyles offers Make-Out Booth

Say cheese. Condom brand LifeStyles has come up with an updated version of the old drugstore photo booth with a suggestive twist. Its so-called Make-Out Booth dispenses free black-and-white photos of the person (or couple) in the booth — along with condoms.

Deadly consequences of ignorance

Gabrielle Martineau flew into a rage when a blood test confirmed she had unknowingly infected her baby daughter with the virus that causes AIDS. Trusting that she was in a monogamous relationship, Martineau didn't practise safe sex. She was planning to have a baby. But her partner hadn't revealed a crucial health factor: his HIV positive status.

U.S. Urgently Needs AIDS Prevention Program, Expert Says

Faced with an alarming incidence of HIV/AIDS among African Americans and Latinos, the nation urgently needs to begin a domestic program to curb the spread of the disease, according to a nationally recognized AIDS policy expert.

MOBLE NEWS

AP to Launch News Service Geared for iPhone

The Associated Press and 107 of its member newspapers are launching a service that will make news stories available on Apple's iPhone and other mobile devices. The service, delivering local news organized by ZIP code, will share advertising revenues with the news providers.

OTHER MEDIA NEWS

Alternative Media Forecast to See Growth

By 2012, alternative media will comprise 26.6% of all U.S. advertising spending, according to a forecast by PQ Media, led by Internet forums and blogs. New technologies are creating "a generation of elusive consumers" that appears to be bypassing traditional media.

Hearst in Partnership With Internet Radio

Hearst's Seventeen magazine is joining with Internet radio startup Jango to launch a series of co-branded music widgets on Seventeen.com, enabling users to listen to the favorite music of celebrities like Ashlee Simpson and put those widgets on their own sites.

IAB Introduces Online Video Ad Guidelines

The Interactive Advertising Bureau is introducing a set of guidelines aimed at bringing more standards to online video advertising -- and ultimately to make the still burgeoning medium easier for advertisers to buy. "This is a historic day," proclaims IAB CEO Randall Rothenberg.

IDG Moves Its Magazines Beyond Print

IDG, the world's largest publisher of tech publications like PC World, appears to have made a profitable migration to the Internet, with revenue from online ads now surpassing print revenue. "There is a better life after print," says founder Patrick J. McGovern.

LinkedIn Social Network Raises More Funding

LinkedIn, the social-networking site for business professionals, is said to be raising a new round of funding. LinkedIn previously raised $27.5 million from venture firms Sequoia Capital, Greylock and Bessemer Venture Partners. The new round reportedly values the company at $1 billion.

Mediaweek.com Relaunches With Video

Following Nielsen Business Media's recent redesign of The Hollywood Reporter's Web site, sister trade publication Mediaweek is unveiling a new look online, with more video, webcasts and podcasts. "We have to change in order to survive," says Jim Cooper, executive editor.

Microsoft's Zune to Offer TV Download Service

Microsoft is going after the TV download market with its Zune device. The company is adding 800 episodes from NBC Universal, MTV Networks and others. While the offerings pale next to the selection at Apple's iTunes Store, Zune aims to "launch with what we've got" and build from there.

NBC News Launches Video Site for Kids

NBC News is launching an education site that features video from its archives. Aimed at kids 13 years and older, the free iCue.com lets students stockpile video clips, annotate them and share them with friends. The site works on the premise that "video will replace the textbook."

NBC Uses YouTube to Drive Traffic to Hulu

NBC's return to YouTube with an official channel represents an acknowledgment of the power of Google's community. NBC's new Hulu channel on YouTube features brief clips from popular shows, along with the statement: "At Hulu.com, you can watch videos like this one, for free."

Newspapers Likely to Be Free in the Future

Newspapers seeking to compete with the Internet are likely to become free and place greater emphasis on comment and opinion in the future, according to a survey of the world's editors for the World Editors Forum and Reuters. Also, newspaper editors say they are still "optimistic."

NY Times Digital-Age Woes Set for Documentary

Gay Talese, author of the 1969 "The Kingdom and the Power," about the New York Times, is working with fellow Times alum Arthur Gelb on a documentary about the newspaper's struggles in the digital age. "It's about the difficulty of convincing young people to read it," he says.

Sports Illustrated Takes Game to Facebook

Sports Illustrated is entering an agreement with Citizen Sports develop a fantasy-football game that will be played on Facebook. The move is seen as an admission by the iconic Time Inc. sports brand that it needs to do more than draw traffic to its own Web site.

Some Media Sectors Remain Hot, Experts Say

Social networking and advertising networks are attractive sectors for investors in new media, according to panelists speaking at the Digital Hollywood conference in Hollywood. Also, investors should not look for any meaningful returns "for about five years."

Yahoo: We're Still Open to Microsoft Takeover

Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang says he would be open to another bid from Microsoft or other companies at a price he considers appropriate. While the Internet firm isn't officially for sale, it would listen, "should somebody else come back someday and want to buy the company."

May 2, 2008

BET

BET J reviews St Lucia Jazz 2008

The 17th Annual St Lucia Jazz festival, one of the Caribbean's premier musical attractions, set for May 2 to 11, has already started its countdown on top cable networks BET and BET J. The 2008 St. Lucia Jazz Preview Show is currently spotlighted on BET J's popular "Island Lime"

FOX

MySpace, NBC Prove 'America's Got Talent'

MySpace, NBC and FremantleMedia are expected to announce a partnership that will allow MySpace users to upload audition video clips for the third season of the NBC reality show "America’s Got Talent." One episode of the show will be devoted to auditions of MySpace users.

MySpace to Recruit Backup Singer for Keys

R&B star Alicia Keys is inviting female singers who are 21 to 30 years old to "audition" to be one of her backup singers via MySpace. Hopefuls have until May 5 to submit a video clip of themselves singing a capella to Keys' page on the News Corp. social-networking site.

MTV

MTV's Search For The New Elle Woods

Just moments ago, MTV made the official announcement that Haylie Duff is set to host the "Seach For The New Elle Woods" which will air this spring.

VIACOM

Viacom is Recession-Resistant, Analysts Say

Viacom says its quarterly net profit rose 33%, beating Wall Street forecasts, on strong sales of the "Rock Band" video game and higher advertising revenue at MTV Networks. Also: Some analysts say Viacom's mix of media businesses makes the company "recession-resistant."

AFRICA

Commercial sex industry booming along Uganda, Sudan border; teachers increasingly joining trade, study says

The commercial sex industry is booming along the border between Uganda and Sudan following a recent increase in jobs and commercial trucking, according to a recently released study about HIV/AIDS in the region, Uganda's Monitor reports.

Ghana: Efforts to Establish HIV/Aids Clubs in Schools Underway

A two-day capacity workshop, organized by the Social Change Advocacy Network (SCAN), with support from Ibis Ghana, has ended in Tamale. The objective of the workshop was to provide justification, for joint action and support to the establishment of HIV/AIDS clubs in basic schools, and to increase awareness on how HIV/AIDS impacts on education.

ASIA

Last Year Brought More Cases of HIV Infections in Singapore

The number of HIV cases in Singapore hit a record in 2007 with 422 new infections recorded, the highest number in a single year since records started in 1985, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

CARIBBEAN & LATIN AMERICA

Antigua, Barbuda Government, UNFPA Hold Training Workshop For Groups To Promote Condom Use

The AIDS Secretariat and the Directorate of Gender Affairs of the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, with support from UNFPA, earlier this week hosted a two-day workshop to train representatives from government ministries, and community and social groups to promote condom use. The workshop, titled "Behavioral Change Communication Condom Programming," emphasized use of the female condom.

Innovative HIV/AIDS initiative launched in St Lucia

Respect Initiative Social Health Education -- RISE (St Lucia) Inc. -- in partnership with Mystic Elements, Sound City Crew, the National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program, prepares to celebrate the closing of Youth month, April 2008, with the holding of Ride with Protection - a bicycle race with a difference.

USVI First Lady launches mental health awareness campaign

In recognition of Mental Health Month, which is observed each May, US Virgin Islands First Lady Cecile deJongh is launching a month-long media campaign to raise awareness of the reality of mental illness.

EUROPE

Largest Ever Regional AIDS Conference to Review Epidemic Status and Changing Challenges in the Response

Starting tomorrow, the second Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference (EECAAC II), the largest AIDS-focused event to date in the region, will bring together a wide range of private and public groups at a critical time in the fight against AIDS

HIV/AIDS AND SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS

'Magic' Johnson seeks to raise AIDS awareness

The former Los Angeles Lakers point guard spoke at Howard University on Wednesday as part of a campaign to help minority communities become more educated about the disease.

MOBLE NEWS

AT&T to launch Mobile TV service in 58 markets

AT&T's new Mobile TV service builds on its television offerings from Emeryville-based MobiTV Inc. MobiTV offers mobile television and radio programming through several carriers including AT&T, and also a broadband TV service with AT&T.

OTHER MEDIA NEWS

Facebook Beats Out MySpace in User Trust

Facebook and MySpace, the two largest U.S. social networks, have different cultures that influence the actions some members take to ensure privacy. Nearly all of Facebook's 70 million members use their real names, while less than half of MySpace's 110 million members use theirs.

Is the future of TV on the Web?

The future of television is changing before our eyes, as media giants scramble to stake their claims in the wilderness of Internet video. Major studios, including Fox, NBC Universal, and Warner Bros. are moving quickly to establish Web sites for their premium video titles, in hopes of grabbing a growing audience of online video viewers.

LA Times to Launch HollywoodBacklot.com

Tribune's LATimes.com is preparing to launch a behind-the-scenes film Web site called HollywoodBacklot.com. The advertising-supported site will feature sharable photos from the sets of movies and television shows. LATimes.com is set to bring in $25 million in ad revenue this year.

Nielsen Issues DTV Transition Plan

Nielsen Media Research has issued to its clients a nine-page letter spelling out its plan for the transition to digital-only television broadcasting that goes into effect on Feb. 17, 2009, assuring that "most homes" in its audience ratings sample with TV sets not capable of receiving digital signals will take steps to ensure that they continue to receive TV signals after that date.

Telemundo Partners With IAG, Nielsen

Telemundo has become the first Spanish-language TV network client of IAG Research, which began measuring viewer response to all prime-time Spanish-language ads and programs on the major Hispanic TV nets since August 2007.