Category: media

The TV-on-demand site Hulu.com is airing fewer ads per segment and charging more for them; value-adding innovations include “‘thumbs up’ and ‘thumbs down’ ratings for commercials, choose-your-own-advertisement options before shows begin, [and] interactive games during advertising breaks.”

“‘Video and broadband are no more discretionary for most families than running water or electricity,’ said Berstein Research analyst Craig Moffett, in a note to investors. One indicator that Americans aren’t cutting cable service just yet: High-definition, flat-panel displays are still selling quite well, and are supposed to sell well through the holiday season.”

“Industry observers say the recent cluster of low-rated shows granted full-season orders might have something to do with network executives watching the plunging Dow rather than their shows’ falling Nielsens.”

But after next week it’ll all be gone. “Given all of the bailing that the government has been doing in the private sector, perhaps it is only fitting that politics has been a lifesaver for a media industry. It is one of the certainties of democracy that America will never run out of hot air.”

Election day has become an opportunity for pop culture artists looking to move a little product…

“In past downturns, Hollywood earned a reputation for being “recession-proof” as U.S. consumers’ movie spending kept growing steadily. This time, the industry is coming off three years of nearly flat spending, and there are cracks in its armor: Home video sales slipped this month as consumer confidence fell again amid rising unemployment and a crashing stock market.”

“A growing cultural rift over the perceived quality of German television has intensified as yet another TV literary critic blasted the country’s public broadcasters, forcing pubcaster ZDF to fire her and cancel her show.”

“As campaign managers for Sarah Palin plot last-minute tactics to get her elected, Hollywood bigwigs are convening strategy sessions of their own. Their goal: finding the ideal on-air vehicle for the vp candidate if and when she exits politics.”

“Virgin Radio Dubai fired a South African DJ for impersonating God on air, the show’s management said Wednesday. Revin John, host of Breakfast Xpress, was fired over a mock-telephone conversation with God that he performed on his show Monday.”

“Voters in Ohio have begun receiving mysterious Amber Alert-style text messages urging them to dial a recorded announcement about Barack Obama, and to forward the spam to everyone they know.” (It’s about William Ayers – again.)