Media

At the two-month-old start-up IBeatYou, "celebrities and average consumers alike" can "roll up their sleeves, get dirty, and have fun competing," cofounder Cash Warren says. Users challenge each other to contests, from "Best 60 second rant" to "Best ‘While You Were Sleeping’ Photo," and vote for the winner based on the video, photo and text […]

Google wants to index all the world’s information, and that includes finding PowerPoint presentations and PDF files, weather, flight information and currency conversions. Kelsey and I visited the Googleplex in Mountainview, California last Tuesday for a number of meetings and demonstrations.  In our first segment, we speak with Maile Ohye, Developer Programs Tech Lead.

  PALO ALTO — It’s back to the future for the business of Web video: Advertiser-sponsored programming from the early days of television, when Texaco, Geritol and Lucky Strike paid to develop or sponsor new programming, is the most viable business model now for episodic content created for the Web, says Jigar Thakarar, Director, Web […]

PALO ALTO–With the closing earlier this month of the $8.1 billion acquisition of Navteq, Nokia is set to fully integrate maps into its new content sharing site Ovi. Ovi allows users to store and share multimedia content.  The mapping element will provide important context for users, says Kamar Shah, head of global head of industry […]

PALO ALTO — Wide distribution, or “deeplinking” to ABC online video programming is essential, says Albert Cheng, head of digital operations for Disney/ABC Television.  I interviewed him on Tuesday evening at Stanford after he opening night panel  of the AlwaysOn conference.

Television networks actually want their viewers to go online, according to Mary Kathleen Flynn, Senior Editor at Tech Confidential. Flynn, a veteran technology reporter who has covered the industry for CNN and MSNBC, describes describes how networks are using the Internet to deepen audience engagement.

PALO ALTO — Creative online video programming is getting funding and proliferating, but its financial success won’t rival television’s until it can reach a much larger audience, TelevisionWeek editor Greg Baumann says. A key breakthrough will come when consumers can watch online video easily in their living rooms.

While online news consumption is largely a destination activity akin to picking up a newspaper, Charles Tillinghast, president and publisher of msnbc.com, says that a highly distributed model is essential.

PALO ALTO–Two years ago, former Virgina Sen. George Allen lost his bid for reelection after a YouTube video of him calling a Democratic volunteer “macaca” became an instant hit. Today, political “gotchya videos” are surfacing on YouTube every few days, and candidates have never had to be more careful about what they say.

PALO ALTO — “There are no TV journalists anymore,” says Charles Tillinghast, president and publisher of msnbc.com in this interview with Beet.TV msnbc.com is a joint venture of NBC Universal and Microsoft. Nope, he didn’t mean that there’s any downsizing over at NBC News, he means that video news gathering is no longer television-centric but […]

It was great to meet up in with Kara Swisher, co-executive editor of All Things D, the Dow Jones-owned website/conference business she heads up with Walt Mossberg.  We chatted in Manhattan’s Madison Park a few days ago.

Blip.tv, the scrappy New York start-up known as a video publishing platform for episodic Web video, is a partner to global digital ad agency Digitas in the creation of Holiday Inn Express’ web series The Smart Show.  To get an overview on Blip.tv and the collaboration with Digtas, I spoke with Blip’s Director of Advertising […]

I read today’s New York Times Magazine cover story by, and about, David Carr, media columnist for the New York Times.  In addition to writing his media columns, he is the video blogger of The Carpetbagger, an annual series of blog posts and video segments leading up to the Oscars.

Kyte has substantially transformed from being a video camera phone sharing site, to a full-blown online video delivery tool for big brands.  It is much more akin these days to the Platform or BrightCove, than Flixwagon or Qik. Uploads from mobile phones are a small part of the content on the Kyte platform.  It’s really […]

Far beyond the limitations of the 30 second television spot, marketers now have the opportunity to connect with audiences through episodic, branded content.  Of course, marketers must connect with consumers who have migrated in mass numbers from television to online. 

Congrats to Henry Blodget and the crew down the block at the Silicon Alley Insider.  Henry announced that the new media/tech/finance blog has received funding.  Rafat Ali on paidContent reports that the amount is something under $ 1 million at a $6 million post money valuation, which actually is very close to the valuation of […]

JibJab today debuted its McCain/Obama comedy video. Just got a huge debut on the Today Show.  JibJab has created a business around comedy video and has gotten some serious funding from Polaris Ventures. Last month in Hollywood, I interviewed founder and CEO Gregg Spiridellis.  I’ve reposted the interview today tied the campaign video debut. — […]

Karin Gilford, who heads entertainment for Yahoo! is leaving for Comcast, TechCrunch reported yesterday.  This evening, paidContent’s Staci Kramer reports that Gilford’s duties will be assumed by James Pitaro, General Manager of Yahoo! Sports. In May, I visited Karin in her Santa Monica offices for a rundown on the success of Yahoo! entertainment, which has […]

MSNBC correspondent Courtney Hazlett, who has been reporting on the celebrity gossip scene in a series called “Scoop,” has just gotten her own branded destination with customized video player.  The site is up and looks pretty good.  This would be the second microsite over at msnsbc.com — the first was launched for Keith Olbermann.

When I first blogged about film distribution site Jaman, I noted that the company had carved out a niche for itself in a crowded market by focusing on independent and international films. Jaman’s deal with Paramount means the site will host mainstream content–and that it will now have to compete heavyweights like Apple, Wal-Mart, Netflix, […]