Walt Disney has agreed to pay veteran film maker George Lucas $4.05bn (£2.5bn) to acquire the company behind the Star Wars franchise and make a seventh film in the series.
“Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its
founder, George Lucas,” Robert Iger, Disney’s chairman and chief executive said.
“This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star
Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with
Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity.”
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Social TV and second-screen viewing
What does research from Nielsen, Google, Deloitte, Thinkbox, BSkyB and others tell us?
Somewhere between 75% and 85% of TV viewers use other devices while watching, although a lot of these people are doing unrelated tasks – it's startling how many surveys come up with around 60% for the percentage of people who are emailing.
Of these multi-screeners, how many are actually using their second device to look for something relating to the show they're watching? Somewhere between 37% and 52%, while between 27% and 44% are browsing for products spotted in a show or ad, depending which survey you believe.
It's looking like more than a fifth of TV viewers are chatting on Facebook or Twitter about the shows they're watching.
Somewhere between 75% and 85% of TV viewers use other devices while watching, although a lot of these people are doing unrelated tasks – it's startling how many surveys come up with around 60% for the percentage of people who are emailing.
Of these multi-screeners, how many are actually using their second device to look for something relating to the show they're watching? Somewhere between 37% and 52%, while between 27% and 44% are browsing for products spotted in a show or ad, depending which survey you believe.
It's looking like more than a fifth of TV viewers are chatting on Facebook or Twitter about the shows they're watching.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Baumgartner and brands’ race to the bottom
Financial Times Business Blog - Andrew Hill
As Felix Baumgartner struggled to correct his spin at the start of his 128,100 ft descent to earth on Sunday, I couldn’t help thinking of the consequences of failure for Red Bull, his sponsor.
Mr Baumgartner’s feat was obviously extraordinary and compelling. It was a new frontier for him, and for YouTube (where 8m people watched the dive live), but despite strenuous efforts to identify some great scientific benefit of the stunt, it is a far greater leap for brand-marketers – and I worry where they will go next.
The Austrian’s sponsor is an introverted company with an extrovert energy drink brand and it has blasted out a niche in extreme sports, from Formula One to air races. Plenty of people pointed out on Twitter on Sunday that if Mr Baumgartner died, so would Red Bull’s slogan “Red Bull gives you wings”.
But Red Bull is not alone. Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson, who has racked up some high-risk airborne accomplishments himself, promised in the FT on Monday to go deeper as well as higher, with a Virgin Oceanic submarine.
Commercial success – combining high-adventure feats with a youthful online audience – will surely encourage other companies to contemplate backing even riskier exploits, testing the all-publicity-is-good-publicity maxim to the limit. Eventually, someone will perish – either taking part in such an adventure or, worse, imitating better-prepared brand ambassadors like Mr Baumgartner. For brands, this is, literally, a race to the bottom.
Mr Baumgartner’s feat was obviously extraordinary and compelling. It was a new frontier for him, and for YouTube (where 8m people watched the dive live), but despite strenuous efforts to identify some great scientific benefit of the stunt, it is a far greater leap for brand-marketers – and I worry where they will go next.
The Austrian’s sponsor is an introverted company with an extrovert energy drink brand and it has blasted out a niche in extreme sports, from Formula One to air races. Plenty of people pointed out on Twitter on Sunday that if Mr Baumgartner died, so would Red Bull’s slogan “Red Bull gives you wings”.
But Red Bull is not alone. Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson, who has racked up some high-risk airborne accomplishments himself, promised in the FT on Monday to go deeper as well as higher, with a Virgin Oceanic submarine.
Commercial success – combining high-adventure feats with a youthful online audience – will surely encourage other companies to contemplate backing even riskier exploits, testing the all-publicity-is-good-publicity maxim to the limit. Eventually, someone will perish – either taking part in such an adventure or, worse, imitating better-prepared brand ambassadors like Mr Baumgartner. For brands, this is, literally, a race to the bottom.
Tablets 'media machines' with games the most popular
Analytics firm Flurry claims 67% of time spent using tablets is gaming
"At a high level, consumers spend more time using tablets for media and entertainment, including Games (67%), Entertainment (9%) and News (2%) categories which account for nearly four-fifths of consumption on tablets," blogs Flurry's Peter Farago, who notes that communication and task-oriented activities have a higher profile on smartphones.
"At a high level, consumers spend more time using tablets for media and entertainment, including Games (67%), Entertainment (9%) and News (2%) categories which account for nearly four-fifths of consumption on tablets," blogs Flurry's Peter Farago, who notes that communication and task-oriented activities have a higher profile on smartphones.
Building your brand with content marketing
The changing digital landscape is forcing organisations to re-evaluate their media strategy, says Robert Raiola
With the lines between paid, earned, and owned media becoming blurred, it's crucial for marketers to find more cost-effective and coherent means of engaging with consumers.
As a result, content marketing has quickly become a key part of any organisation's marketing mix, and, according to recent research, is being used by nine out of 10 marketers. So what exactly is it, and what is the opportunity for strengthening your media strategy?
With the lines between paid, earned, and owned media becoming blurred, it's crucial for marketers to find more cost-effective and coherent means of engaging with consumers.
As a result, content marketing has quickly become a key part of any organisation's marketing mix, and, according to recent research, is being used by nine out of 10 marketers. So what exactly is it, and what is the opportunity for strengthening your media strategy?
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The secrets of our supermarkets
Brain scans, eyeball cams, crowd-modelling software: big stores use it all to get our cash. As an Asda executive reveals the tricks of a billion-pound industry, Simon Usborne takes an educational trip down the aisles
Simeon Scamell-Katz is the de facto master of this science. A leading global consumer analyst and the author of The Art of Shopping: How We Shop and Why We Buy, he says the challenge for supermarkets is to break habits. “Shopping is so ritualised that we walk around like zombies,” he says. “We’re incredibly patterned in what we do.”
Simeon Scamell-Katz is the de facto master of this science. A leading global consumer analyst and the author of The Art of Shopping: How We Shop and Why We Buy, he says the challenge for supermarkets is to break habits. “Shopping is so ritualised that we walk around like zombies,” he says. “We’re incredibly patterned in what we do.”
How to write books and influence people
The trick of writing a memorable and durable business classic has proved hard to repeat
The number of business books published in the US, the world’s biggest market for such books, tops 10,000 annually. One reason why the Financial Times set up the Business Book of the Year Award in 2005, backed by Goldman Sachs, was to filter that wave of print. The official mission of the judges, who will decide the 2012 winner on Thursday in New York, is to identify the book that provides the “most compelling and enjoyable insight into modern business issues, including management, finance and economics”
The number of business books published in the US, the world’s biggest market for such books, tops 10,000 annually. One reason why the Financial Times set up the Business Book of the Year Award in 2005, backed by Goldman Sachs, was to filter that wave of print. The official mission of the judges, who will decide the 2012 winner on Thursday in New York, is to identify the book that provides the “most compelling and enjoyable insight into modern business issues, including management, finance and economics”
Friday, October 26, 2012
Obama vs Romney - The Air War
Vast sums have been spent on TV advertising, mostly cancelling each other out
Mr Obama has also spread his ads more widely, with a bigger share appearing on cable channels. That allows more careful targeting of specific groups of voters with tailored messages: housewives via daytime soaps and cooking shows, for example, or Hispanics via Spanish-language channels. Mr Romney’s campaign has followed a more conventional model, with more ads aired during news programmes, and less variation in their scripting
Mr Obama has also spread his ads more widely, with a bigger share appearing on cable channels. That allows more careful targeting of specific groups of voters with tailored messages: housewives via daytime soaps and cooking shows, for example, or Hispanics via Spanish-language channels. Mr Romney’s campaign has followed a more conventional model, with more ads aired during news programmes, and less variation in their scripting
Online Shopping - The rise of no-name designers
A new breed offers luxury on the cheap
While scorning the hoopla of traditional brands, the upstarts are racing to build brands of their own. Everlane, which is barely a year old, has signed up 350,000 “members”. After 2½ years of trading Made has 80 employees and is breaking even. Mr Li is plotting a push into Europe. Sales of Naked wines will jump 55% this year to £60m and the company will turn its first operating profit
While scorning the hoopla of traditional brands, the upstarts are racing to build brands of their own. Everlane, which is barely a year old, has signed up 350,000 “members”. After 2½ years of trading Made has 80 employees and is breaking even. Mr Li is plotting a push into Europe. Sales of Naked wines will jump 55% this year to £60m and the company will turn its first operating profit
The woes of Netflix
From game-changer to game over?
Netflix has been a victim of its own success. For
about $8 a month, the company woos subscribers with programmes and films that
normally require a pricey pay-TV subscription. Consumers love it: the average
Netflix subscriber watches more than five TV shows and nearly three and a half
films per week, according to a report from GfK Media, a market-research firm.
But this threatens the producers of the programmes that Netflix rents out.
Broadcast and cable networks earn a great deal more from licensing deals with
pay-TV companies than they do with outfits such as Netflix—some $41 billion in
2012 with the former, against $3.5 billion with the latter. So any sign that
Netflix is hurting a broadcast or cable network’s bottom line quickly leads to
higher licensing fees or curbed content sales.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The data behind Gangnam Style
The rise and rise of PSY
Since his infamous video was posted online in July, it has steadily grown and currently boasts a jaw-dropping 532m YouTube views. At roughly four minutes of video, that amounts to 36m hours of phantom horseback-riding dance moves, which equates to 4,100 continuous years
Since his infamous video was posted online in July, it has steadily grown and currently boasts a jaw-dropping 532m YouTube views. At roughly four minutes of video, that amounts to 36m hours of phantom horseback-riding dance moves, which equates to 4,100 continuous years
YouTube named students' 'most loved' brand
YouTube has topped a list of brands students 'love' which also includes Jagermeister, Greggs and Durex.
The Youth 100 survey found the online video-sharing site was a favourite among 18 to 24 year-olds, beating a number of other highly-regarded technology brands such as Wikipedia, Google, Facebook and Apple, which only managed 24th place on the list.
The Youth 100 survey found the online video-sharing site was a favourite among 18 to 24 year-olds, beating a number of other highly-regarded technology brands such as Wikipedia, Google, Facebook and Apple, which only managed 24th place on the list.
The world's strangest club... Anzhi Makhachkala
Liverpool's opponents tonight are bankrolled by a secretive billionaire, pay their collection of star names up to £350K a week – but have to travel 1,200 miles for a home game
Anzhi Makhachkala might fairly claim to be the strangest football club in the world. Their players live 1,200 miles from where they play; they visit the city their team is supposed to promote only on match days and under suffocating security. They compete for the championship of a country that a large section of Dagestan's population want to leave. They are among the highest-paid sportsmen on the planet.
Anzhi Makhachkala might fairly claim to be the strangest football club in the world. Their players live 1,200 miles from where they play; they visit the city their team is supposed to promote only on match days and under suffocating security. They compete for the championship of a country that a large section of Dagestan's population want to leave. They are among the highest-paid sportsmen on the planet.
The driverless road ahead
Carmakers are starting to take autonomous vehicles seriously. Other businesses should too
When people are no longer in control of their cars they will not need driver insurance—so goodbye to motor insurers and brokers. Traffic accidents now cause about 2m hospital visits a year in America alone, so autonomous vehicles will mean much less work for emergency rooms and orthopaedic wards. Roads will need fewer signs, signals, guard rails and other features designed for the human driver; their makers will lose business too. When commuters can work, rest or play while the car steers itself, longer commutes will become more bearable, the suburbs will spread even farther and house prices in the sticks will rise. When self-driving cars can ferry children to and from school, more mothers may be freed to re-enter the workforce. The popularity of the country pub, which has been undermined by strict drink-driving laws, may be revived. And so on.
When people are no longer in control of their cars they will not need driver insurance—so goodbye to motor insurers and brokers. Traffic accidents now cause about 2m hospital visits a year in America alone, so autonomous vehicles will mean much less work for emergency rooms and orthopaedic wards. Roads will need fewer signs, signals, guard rails and other features designed for the human driver; their makers will lose business too. When commuters can work, rest or play while the car steers itself, longer commutes will become more bearable, the suburbs will spread even farther and house prices in the sticks will rise. When self-driving cars can ferry children to and from school, more mothers may be freed to re-enter the workforce. The popularity of the country pub, which has been undermined by strict drink-driving laws, may be revived. And so on.
Banned Ads - Christian Dior & Natalie Portman
Rival L'Oreal lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority that the ad "misleadingly exaggerated the likely effects of the product".
The company admitted Portman had not worn false eyelashes in the photoshoot, but it had added the appearance through digital enhancement using Photoshop.
The company admitted Portman had not worn false eyelashes in the photoshoot, but it had added the appearance through digital enhancement using Photoshop.
Banned Ads - M&S Lingerie
A Marks and Spencer lingerie advert which appeared on the side of buses has been banned for being ''overtly sexual'' and unsuitable for children
''We considered that the image was of an overtly sexual nature and was therefore unsuitable for untargeted outdoor display, as it was likely to be seen by children. We concluded that the ad was socially irresponsible.''
''We considered that the image was of an overtly sexual nature and was therefore unsuitable for untargeted outdoor display, as it was likely to be seen by children. We concluded that the ad was socially irresponsible.''
Banned Ads - YSL Opium
Complaints that the advertisement simulated drug use means the Advertising Standards Authority have banned the advert.
Opium, a component found in poppies, is processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. YSL Beauté say that the name Belle d'Opium "suggests the addictive qualities of women who wear the fragrance, rather than the addictive effects of narcotics."
Opium, a component found in poppies, is processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. YSL Beauté say that the name Belle d'Opium "suggests the addictive qualities of women who wear the fragrance, rather than the addictive effects of narcotics."
Monday, October 22, 2012
The 8 Keys to Successful Branding
If you follow Don Draper and the rest of the Mad Men on Madison Avenue, you might be forgiven for thinking the inspiration behind a memorable slogan or advertising campaign comes from a bottle of whisky and a packet of cigarettes
Of course life is never that simple. Take, for example, Apple’s false start with its corporate identity. The company’s first logo, designed in 1976, showed Isaac Newton sitting under a tree with an apple dangling above his head, waiting for gravity to happen. And the strapline that accompanied it was ”Newton… A Mind Forever Voyaging Through Strange Seas of Thought … Alone.” Would they really have become one of the most successful businesses on the planet if Steve Jobs hadn’t decided on a bit of a creative re-think?
Of course life is never that simple. Take, for example, Apple’s false start with its corporate identity. The company’s first logo, designed in 1976, showed Isaac Newton sitting under a tree with an apple dangling above his head, waiting for gravity to happen. And the strapline that accompanied it was ”Newton… A Mind Forever Voyaging Through Strange Seas of Thought … Alone.” Would they really have become one of the most successful businesses on the planet if Steve Jobs hadn’t decided on a bit of a creative re-think?
Sunday, October 21, 2012
A week inside India’s media boom
From luxury magazines to hard-hitting TV news channels, the country’s media have never had it so good. But are they missing the real story?
Nor is there any doubt about the scale of Condé Nast’s ambitions in India: to develop and support a cosmopolitan elite. Out of a population of 1.24bn, Kuruvilla reckons this elite – that is, people who make more than $100,000 a year – numbers about 3m. He says that 300,000 of these people currently read one or more of his magazines. “We put a lot of investment in to get it right. We might go to New York for a shoot, or fly cosmetics in from New York. Our [advertising] rate card is firm. We don’t discount.”
Nor is there any doubt about the scale of Condé Nast’s ambitions in India: to develop and support a cosmopolitan elite. Out of a population of 1.24bn, Kuruvilla reckons this elite – that is, people who make more than $100,000 a year – numbers about 3m. He says that 300,000 of these people currently read one or more of his magazines. “We put a lot of investment in to get it right. We might go to New York for a shoot, or fly cosmetics in from New York. Our [advertising] rate card is firm. We don’t discount.”
Just a perfect day: for a woman, anyway!
Some 900 women revealed their dream daily routine, and the priorities may surprise a few men
As well as eight hours of uninterrupted slumber, the ideal day includes at least 56 minutes of shopping, 82 minutes relaxing and a further 46 minutes napping, a bare 36 minutes working and 33 commuting, not to mention the 50 minutes spent preparing food and 75 actually eating it. Most time – 106 minutes – would be spent on what researchers euphemistically call "intimate relations".
As well as eight hours of uninterrupted slumber, the ideal day includes at least 56 minutes of shopping, 82 minutes relaxing and a further 46 minutes napping, a bare 36 minutes working and 33 commuting, not to mention the 50 minutes spent preparing food and 75 actually eating it. Most time – 106 minutes – would be spent on what researchers euphemistically call "intimate relations".
Friday, October 19, 2012
James Bond - Media Analysis
The various Bonds are more different than you think
James Bond films are
almost always the same: Bond is sent to an exotic location, meets and seduces a
woman, gets caught by the villain, escapes, kills the villain and gets the girl.
Known for martinis, Bond girls, apocalyptic antagonists and heavy innuendo, Bond
has schmoozed, boozed and bruised his way through women and villains alike. Or
not alike. Data compiled by The Economist show that of the six Bonds,
Pierce Brosnan was the most bloodthirsty, bumping off an average of 19 baddies
per film. The short-lived George Lazenby, it turns out, was the Bond for the
babes, whereas Daniel Craig, the latest, is notably less successful. Maybe
that’s because he drinks the most martinis. Still, all that risks being
shortlived. In the new Bond film, “Skyfall” (reviewed here),
Heineken has paid to ensure the hero only drinks beer. Neither shaken nor
stirred, presumably.
Mistake costs Google £13.7bn in minutes
It may be one of the world’s great hi-tech companies but Google saw its shares plunge after a “fat finger” computer mistake saw hugely disappointing results for the company released prematurely
The company, which earlier this month surpassed Microsoft in terms of value, saw its third-quarter profits slide because of spiralling costs and a decline in advertising prices.
“The big fear has always been, what if people decide just to go straight to Amazon and do their searches? And potentially that’s what could be happening.”
The company, which earlier this month surpassed Microsoft in terms of value, saw its third-quarter profits slide because of spiralling costs and a decline in advertising prices.
“The big fear has always been, what if people decide just to go straight to Amazon and do their searches? And potentially that’s what could be happening.”
Radio Liberty's Fate Unclear
Radio Svoboda is ending its AM radio programming in compliance with a law coming into effect on Nov. 10 that forbids foreign control of broadcast licenses
Danila Galperovich, who was among the Radio Svoboda reporters laid off last month, said competition in the media market for urban intellectuals is extremely tough.
He named online television channel Dozhd, websites Snob.ru and Slon.ru, Kommersant FM and Bolshoi Gorod as strong competitors.
Danila Galperovich, who was among the Radio Svoboda reporters laid off last month, said competition in the media market for urban intellectuals is extremely tough.
He named online television channel Dozhd, websites Snob.ru and Slon.ru, Kommersant FM and Bolshoi Gorod as strong competitors.
News Corporation - Fazed & Refused
Shareholders get a chance to vote their feelings about the media conglomerate’s corporate governance
Some shareholders have been placated for the time
being by News Corp’s climbing value. Its share price has risen by around 50% in
the past year, thanks to a $10 billion share buy-back and its decision to split
itself in two, siphoning off its newspaper business from its buoyant
entertainment business. Those not won over by dividends can “take [their]
profits and sell”, Mr Murdoch announced defiantly on Twitter before the meeting.
One shareholder says his rudeness is just another grievance to add to a long
list.
Newsweek’s future - Goodbye Ink
After some months of speculation, it was confirmed today that Newsweek, the American weekly, would not live to see its 80th birthday in its current form. The last print edition will be published on December 31st. In 2013 Newsweek will be rebranded Newsweek Global, run exclusively online and on tablet devices and charge for content. A few articles will be available for free on the Daily Beast, a website which merged with Newsweek in 2010 and does not have a paywall.
But why stop printing so soon? This is where Newsweek’s owners come in. In 2010 the Washington Post sold Newsweek to Sidney Harman, a 92-year-old billionaire, for $1 and $47m in assumed liabilities. He died last year, and this summer his family announced they would no longer invest in the magazine and the website. Barry Diller, a savvy media investor who runs IAC/InterActiveCorp and the other owner of Newsweek, probably did not want to stomach the magazine’s losses alone. It will reportedly lose as much as $22m this year. The costs of running a digital publication are much less. Some jobs will also be axed.
But why stop printing so soon? This is where Newsweek’s owners come in. In 2010 the Washington Post sold Newsweek to Sidney Harman, a 92-year-old billionaire, for $1 and $47m in assumed liabilities. He died last year, and this summer his family announced they would no longer invest in the magazine and the website. Barry Diller, a savvy media investor who runs IAC/InterActiveCorp and the other owner of Newsweek, probably did not want to stomach the magazine’s losses alone. It will reportedly lose as much as $22m this year. The costs of running a digital publication are much less. Some jobs will also be axed.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Newsweek to axe print edition
News magazine to go digital-only from 2013 after 79 years and will publish single worldwide edition
The new digital-only publication, which will be called Newsweek Global, will be a "single worldwide edition targeted for a highly mobile, opinion-leading audience who want to learn about world events in a sophisticated context".
The new digital-only publication, which will be called Newsweek Global, will be a "single worldwide edition targeted for a highly mobile, opinion-leading audience who want to learn about world events in a sophisticated context".
Dubious Tourist Slogans...
A plan to promote Edinburgh under the slogan “Incrediburgh” has been fiercely criticised by local politicians – forcing marketing officials to rethink.
The Scotland on Sunday newspaper has reported that other slogans were being considered, including “Welfedinburgh” and “Painthetownedinburgh”.
The Scotland on Sunday newspaper has reported that other slogans were being considered, including “Welfedinburgh” and “Painthetownedinburgh”.
Ukraine Media Feel Squeeze Ahead of Election
Telekrytika, a Ukrainian Web-based media watchdog, said that as much as $80,000 will change hands for a leading politician to ensure a guest appearance on a popular TV show, while a 20-second TV sound bite in a news bulletin may cost just $200.
Early last month, Yanukovych endured an embarrassing moment when a dozen Ukrainian journalists stood up and raised anti-censorship banners as he hailed Ukraine's march to greater media freedom at a World Newspaper Congress in Kiev.
Even as he spoke, his security guards ripped banners saying "stop censorship" from protesters' hands.
Early last month, Yanukovych endured an embarrassing moment when a dozen Ukrainian journalists stood up and raised anti-censorship banners as he hailed Ukraine's march to greater media freedom at a World Newspaper Congress in Kiev.
Even as he spoke, his security guards ripped banners saying "stop censorship" from protesters' hands.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
MasterCard mines data for marketers
MasterCard is analysing transaction data to help marketers direct targeted advertising at consumers, after launching a controversial initiative to make money from its vast database of retail purchases.
According to an online sales pitch titled “Leveraging MasterCard Data Insights to Reach Holiday Shoppers”, MasterCard analyses billions of transactions – noting, for example, which consumers are more likely to purchase consumer electronics or luxury goods. “The foundation of all of our solutions is transaction data,” Susan Grossman, MasterCard’s senior vice-president of media solutions, said during the pitch, which has been viewed by the Financial Times.
According to an online sales pitch titled “Leveraging MasterCard Data Insights to Reach Holiday Shoppers”, MasterCard analyses billions of transactions – noting, for example, which consumers are more likely to purchase consumer electronics or luxury goods. “The foundation of all of our solutions is transaction data,” Susan Grossman, MasterCard’s senior vice-president of media solutions, said during the pitch, which has been viewed by the Financial Times.
London Evening Standard goes into profit
After one year as a free, the loss was £16.9m. In the second year, from October 2010 to September 2011, the loss had been reduced to £7m.
Though the £1m profit figure for the 12 months up to September this year is still subject to auditing, Mullins and the owner, Evgeny Lebedev, are confident of the paper's change in fortune.
"It has been tough work," says Mullins, "and it remains tough because the advertising outlook remains bleak. But we are confident of returning a modest profit in the coming year too."
Though the £1m profit figure for the 12 months up to September this year is still subject to auditing, Mullins and the owner, Evgeny Lebedev, are confident of the paper's change in fortune.
"It has been tough work," says Mullins, "and it remains tough because the advertising outlook remains bleak. But we are confident of returning a modest profit in the coming year too."
Monday, October 15, 2012
Felix Baumgartner jump: record 8m watch live on YouTube
Video website attracts biggest audience for livestream to date – but more viewers watch Downton Abbey on TV in UK
With a global peak of more than 8 million, YouTube has some way to go before it will even match the UK audiences for shows such as ITV1's Downton Abbey, but Baumgartner's audience is a significant pointer to the way audiences will increasingly watch live global events such as this in the future.
With a global peak of more than 8 million, YouTube has some way to go before it will even match the UK audiences for shows such as ITV1's Downton Abbey, but Baumgartner's audience is a significant pointer to the way audiences will increasingly watch live global events such as this in the future.
The name’s Wilson, Michael Wilson
007 is a family business for the legendary Bond producer. In this rare interview, he explains why photography is also his passion
Film piracy is an enormous problem for them, with only the US and parts of Europe as relatively safe territories. “It starts almost immediately, when you release the film; sometimes before,” he said. “To give you an idea: I would see within the EU as the last point [in Europe] when we earn something, then all the way to Japan, then all the Southern hemisphere except for Australia, and all of Africa, Asia, Asia Minor, India, China, Russia, all – except for some TV income maybe – we get zero. All that’s pirated.
Film piracy is an enormous problem for them, with only the US and parts of Europe as relatively safe territories. “It starts almost immediately, when you release the film; sometimes before,” he said. “To give you an idea: I would see within the EU as the last point [in Europe] when we earn something, then all the way to Japan, then all the Southern hemisphere except for Australia, and all of Africa, Asia, Asia Minor, India, China, Russia, all – except for some TV income maybe – we get zero. All that’s pirated.
Social media adverts turf war heats up
As competition grows, a once-collaborative energy among the top social networks is fizzling out as they each compete to maintain their own slice of the internet landscape.
“It's more expensive to get followers on Twitter than it is to get likes on Facebook,” says Simon Mansell, chief executive of TBG Digital, a social media agency, adding that the cost-per-click on Twitter also tends to be higher.
Yet at an estimated $288m this year, according to eMarketer, Twitter’s advertising revenue is far smaller than Facebook's projected $4.23bn. Under pressure to narrow that gap, observers say Twitter is closing more and more doors in its previously wide-open system.
“It's more expensive to get followers on Twitter than it is to get likes on Facebook,” says Simon Mansell, chief executive of TBG Digital, a social media agency, adding that the cost-per-click on Twitter also tends to be higher.
Yet at an estimated $288m this year, according to eMarketer, Twitter’s advertising revenue is far smaller than Facebook's projected $4.23bn. Under pressure to narrow that gap, observers say Twitter is closing more and more doors in its previously wide-open system.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
YouTube takes on TV with launch of 60 new channels
The Google-owned video website has linked up with media companies including Hat Trick, All3Media and ITN for the UK channels, which include the Jamie Oliver Food Channel, BBC Worldwide's On Earth and Mixmag TV.
YouTube claimed last month that 20 of those channels now generate more than 1m views each week; the most popular by some way is currently music channel The Warner Sound, which generated more than 9m views last week.
YouTube claimed last month that 20 of those channels now generate more than 1m views each week; the most popular by some way is currently music channel The Warner Sound, which generated more than 9m views last week.
Looper's unprecedented Chinese box office down to accounting error
Thriller lauded as first film to take more on debut in China than the US. In fact, analysts mixed up dollars and yuan
It was supposed to be the moment the Chinese box office raised its head above the parapet and began its climb towards replacing the US as the world's largest cinemagoing audience. In reality, it appears to have been a basic accounting mistake: the Rian Johnson science fiction film Looper did not, after all, post a higher figure in China than in north America when it debuted in multiplexes at the weekend.
It was supposed to be the moment the Chinese box office raised its head above the parapet and began its climb towards replacing the US as the world's largest cinemagoing audience. In reality, it appears to have been a basic accounting mistake: the Rian Johnson science fiction film Looper did not, after all, post a higher figure in China than in north America when it debuted in multiplexes at the weekend.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
List of Global Brands Keeps Coke on Top
The report ranks what it deems the 100 most valuable brands on criteria that include financial performance, the role the brand plays in influencing the choices made by consumers and the brand’s ability to help its parent’s earnings.
“We remain very humble that we’re in that top spot,” said Joseph V. Tripodi, executive vice president and chief marketing and commercial officer at the Coca-Cola Company. Mr. Tripodi has spoken frequently about how increasing the effectiveness of ads will help the company increase its revenue to $200 billion in 2020, from $95 billion in 2008.
“We remain very humble that we’re in that top spot,” said Joseph V. Tripodi, executive vice president and chief marketing and commercial officer at the Coca-Cola Company. Mr. Tripodi has spoken frequently about how increasing the effectiveness of ads will help the company increase its revenue to $200 billion in 2020, from $95 billion in 2008.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Ikea under fire for airbrushing women out of Saudi catalogue
Swedish ministers criticise 'medieval' decision to alter images featuring women in annual booklet
The furniture retailer said it regretted removing the women from pictures in the annual booklet, which otherwise looks roughly the same in all its markets. The pictures included one of a woman in pyjamas in front of a bathroom mirror, and one of Ikea's female designers.
The furniture retailer said it regretted removing the women from pictures in the annual booklet, which otherwise looks roughly the same in all its markets. The pictures included one of a woman in pyjamas in front of a bathroom mirror, and one of Ikea's female designers.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Sci-fi blockbuster Looper achieves Chinese box office first
It's easy to sum up what sort of film goes down well in China, "Action, number one. Action, number two – and action, number three."
This weekend Looper became the first new Hollywood film to make more money in its opening weekend in China than the US.
With a potential 1.34 billion cinemagoers, China this year overtook Japan to become the biggest foreign market for Hollywood films. Twenty-five thousand screens are set to be installed in the country over the next five years, many with the latest 4k digital technology. China has also become the fastest growing IMAX market in the world, already home to 78 IMAX cinemas, six times as many as the number in the early 2010.
This weekend Looper became the first new Hollywood film to make more money in its opening weekend in China than the US.
With a potential 1.34 billion cinemagoers, China this year overtook Japan to become the biggest foreign market for Hollywood films. Twenty-five thousand screens are set to be installed in the country over the next five years, many with the latest 4k digital technology. China has also become the fastest growing IMAX market in the world, already home to 78 IMAX cinemas, six times as many as the number in the early 2010.
How Kate Middleton topless photos make fortune for porn sites
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Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg meets excited Russian prime minister
Tech-loving Dmitry Medvedev barely able to contain delight at meeting, which prompted anger from Russian bloggers
Zuckerberg was in Moscow to boost Facebook's presence in Russia, where it competes with local social networking sites. He was also due to attend a programming symposium in a bid to attract Russians to work for his firm.
Zuckerberg did not meet Vladimir Putin, Russia's powerful president, who claims he does not use the internet.
Zuckerberg was in Moscow to boost Facebook's presence in Russia, where it competes with local social networking sites. He was also due to attend a programming symposium in a bid to attract Russians to work for his firm.
Zuckerberg did not meet Vladimir Putin, Russia's powerful president, who claims he does not use the internet.
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