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February, 2007
Posted: February 12th, 2007 under » Editorial.
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Haven’t had time to do a post re Media Summit NY yet – too many meetings- but it was an excellent few days. Good turnout of actual decision-makers, and unlike the usual round of say-nothing press release reading keynoters, uber A-Level keynotes from Barry Diller and Rupert Murdoch were interesting and entertaining. Attendees were a cut above as well. If you pick one digital event next year I’d make it this one.
Most interesting among Murdoch’s comments were his take on the decline of the newspaper as a familiy institution, one shared around the breakfast table (Page 3 girls and such I guess). Comments about succession? “I plan to live forever.” Most refereshing: his obvious relish announcing that Fox had closed with Sasha Baron Cohen on Borat II. I think KRM said he’d seen it three times. As… well, Murdochian as he can be, he’s a tough guy not to like. There’s a great quote in the William Shawcross book, I think, to that effect ? I’ll dig it out when I get home.
Posted: February 12th, 2007 under » Events.
Comments: none
Rex just told me. The first season of her show was funny. Sad about her kid. She was a real beauty in her time – remember those Guess ads? We’re all just passing through.
Watch her become the new Marilyn.
Posted: February 8th, 2007 under » Editorial.
Comments: none
Out today: NYT estimates:
- Sequoia XI: >$450,000,000
- Chad Hurley: >$345,000,000
- Steve Chen: >$326,000,000
- Jawed Karim: > $64,000,000. He’s the partner who left and went back to school.
Groovy.
Posted: February 8th, 2007 under » Finance.
Comments: none
On the heels of the iPhone hubbub, Steve Jobs unleashed another epistle today by insisting that if the four labels (the four Ugly Sisters, as the great Rupert Perry calls them) got rid of copy protection, Apple would happily follow suit. As disingenuous as this may be, it’s hard to argue that the labels have done anything but a disgraceful job at moving into the new world. The worst-served constituency of the existing music model is the artists and composers themselves, who can’t make a living doing 200,000 units due to the bloat and inefficiency of the existing music model, the modern analog of the US steel industry.
Things have to die for new things to be born.
Any world that I’m welcome to is better than the world that I come from.
- Becker & Fagen
Posted: February 7th, 2007 under » Editorial, » Media.
Comments: none
Comcast is annoucing a new show today which will be culled from UGC from Facebook users. Clips will be created by users of the Comcat-owned tool Ziddio, who have previously run contests with both HBO and Endemol. The show itself will be run by vet TV producer/director RJ Cutler of American High, Flip That House and the outstanding Clinton election doc The War Room, among others. Great idea, especially given that it’s likely to have a seasoned editiorial voice. Nice one Comcast.
Posted: February 7th, 2007 under » Media.
Comments: none
If you’ll be at the show ping me, we get in tomorrow night. Both Murdoch and Diller keynoting – way to go Victor! Looks like a great couple days…
Posted: February 5th, 2007 under » Events.
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As many of you know, I’ve been woking with my friend, Television Academy Governor (and #6 on the Hollywood Reporter’s Digital Top 50) Brian Hurst for some time. We have formalized this and I’m happy to announce that I’m now with Brian’s team as SVP of Cross Media Strategy. Broadcast and Cable has it here; C21 Media has it here. NAM clients will be supported as before but we’ll be looking to bring both teams to bear whenever appropriate, which should be often as the skill sets are complementary.
Posted: February 5th, 2007 under » Events.
Comments: none
One of the projects that’s been discussed for months in the Broadband TV space is the forthcoming Bud.TV destination site, which was been viewed as a potential harbinger of the intersection between brands and new content. Not surprsingly, the performace is underwhelming – just give the reg process a shot. As I’ve said before and will say till I’m blue, TV via web is a brand new medium and will require new thinking in UI, architecture, content, advertsing and CRM to hit its inevitable stride. But it really requires people who have some skin in the game. The Shield preview is a cute try but as much as I love Mr Chiklis’ game, it can’t possibly make much difference here.
Posted: February 5th, 2007 under » Editorial, » Media.
Comments: none