Monday, February 11, 2008

UCLA 405.23 Class #5, 6 Feb 2008

NEWS DISCUSSIONS
Alana bought to our attention an article claiming that 1//3 of the TV audience have changed their media consumption habits because of the writers strike. Benefiting from the change has been gaming and DVD watching. I suspect that there is also more Internet video usage. It was also mentioned that the last writers strike might have caused a permanent decrease in TV consumption. Might this facilitate a further decline in Network audience share?

Several people including Joyce and Stefan discussed the possible purchase of Yahoo by Microsoft for $44.6 billion, and what it might mean for the industry and if it would be considered monopolistic. At this price even mighty MSFT would have to go into debt to finance the deal. Would Microsoft destroy the uniqueness of Yahoo? Interestingly it was reported that Google has offered to help Yahoo stay independent. (Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch plays down speculation that he is interested in launching a rival bid for Yahoo.
<>)

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Sun-Times News Group, of which it is a part, was up for sale, citing declining revenues attributed to Internet competition. They have slashed costs to make themselves a more attractive target. This is consistent with a general trend of declining print ad sales, both classified and display. How can you beat Craig’s List and Google Ad Words?

USA Today ran two articles last week on “Social” ad-supported Music. 27 year old Dalton Caldwell founded Imeem in 2003. USA Today reported it now has 20 million users and attracts about 65,000 new people per day (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/music/2008-02-05-social-networking-imeem_N.htm). In another article USA Today discussed recent ad supported music ventures including Qtrax, which was launched last week at MIDEM and just as quickly lost its alleged support from the majors ( http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/music/2008-02-05-tech-social-music_N.htm ).

Sylvia brought to our attention another “Web” series being brought to TV called Sanctuary from Sci-Fi Network. This is similar to the situation with Quarterlife, which was an Internet MySpace TV exclusive and has been picked up for broadcast by NBC. Is this a trend?

LECTURE
I covered more trends including worldwide increasing Internet usage, always-on/wireless broadband, and exponential improvements in computing power, storage, and ultra-miniaturization. We then moved on to Internet Video and Youtube, paying particular attention to the new advertising methods being experimented with. According to ALEXA, Youtube is the 4th most visited URL in the world, an amazing meteoric success that has made Internet delivered video commonplace. Dozens of new ventures are experimenting with competing business models in both distribution and original content delivered online in competition with more traditional TV formats and delivery platforms. The opportunity now exists to create successful niche “channels” such as www.airshowbuzz.com and www.macexperience.com . Sphere: Related Content

2 comments:

Unknown said...

1/3 of the Television audience has changed since the writers strike? That seems like a lot considering the strike has been ongoing for a little over three months. I think that internet via You tube, and My Space TV is definitely becoming somewhat of a trend a futuristic way of watching television at the click of a button seems so much more convenient to adamant television viewers. I am currently working for The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to try and get the word out that for the first time ever, The Academy is giving Primetime Emmy consideration to Broadband Distributed Content, such Quarterlife and Sanctuary. I highly recommend checking out the website for more info at http://www.emmys.com ! What do you think about giving these shows the opportunity to win an Emmy? I think its awesome, and could revolutionize the way of television as we see it today.

Stuart W. Volkow said...

I think it is inevitable that Internet delivered content be given the same consideration as that delivered any other way, DBS, MSO, or OTA from the Networks or from an individual. The quality is becoming competitive and the audience potential is larger over IP than any other medium. There are already Emmy's given for interactive "New" media through the Advanced Committee at
www.advancedmediacommittee.com