Friday’s Social TV Must-Reads

The social TV landscape is so much more than hashtags on the lower third of a TV screen and a Facebook Page. We believe professionals need a daily industry briefing and, so, that’s what we do every day here at noon.

Check out today’s report that includes ratings and sports highlights, two industry releases about automatic content recognition technology for  TV, as well as preview articles about CES and the TV Critics Association as well as highlights from the Latin TV market.

Top Stories

‘Hawaii Five-0′ to allow viewers to choose episode ending

Hawaii Five-0 fans can head direct to CBS.com or post the hashtags #theBoss, #theTA or #theStudent to vote. The episode could air a different climax on the East and West Coast, depending on the outcome of the vote in each region. “I’ve always felt the most fun aspect of watching a mystery is trying to figure out ‘whodunit’,” said exec producer Peter Lenkov.

Read the article, via Digital Spy http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a448467/hawaii-five-0-to-allow-viewers-to-choose-episode-ending.html

Rentrak Launches Mobile Broadcast TV Ratings

Rentrak on Friday said it will begin measuring mobile broadcast TV audiences of stations and networks in local markets to 12 major broadcast television groups that operate the Dyle mobile television service.

Read the article, via MediaPost http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/190374/rentrak-launches-mobile-broadcast-tv-ratings.html#axzz2H1XQ2jDl

TV Highlights

The NFL playoffs begin with the wildcard matchups on Saturday while on Sunday night, on PBS, Americans finally get to view the first show of the third season of Downton Abbey.

• How PBS Manages Downton — Shows the Problem with Social TV

No spoilers here.

Read The AP article, via Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/downton-abbey-season-3-spoilers_n_2405170.html

• Social media reactions to ‘Buckwild’ mostly negative

The Charleston (WVa.) Gazette checks the Twitter stream to judge reaction to the debute of MTV’s controversial Buckwild on Thursday.

Read the article, via WV Gazette http://wvgazette.com/News/201301030262

Ratings

NBC ended 2012 with a ratings victory as Sunday night football as more than 30 million viewers watched the Washington Redskins defeat the Dallas Cowboys  according to Nielsen Co. figures released Tuesday. The NFL contest drew the biggest audience in 16 years for a regular-season prime-time game, second to a 1996 Packers-Cowboy contest, NBC said.

 Read the article, via Yahoo http://news.yahoo.com/nbc-wins-final-2012-weekly-ratings-crown-213048112.html

Ahead of CES

CES 2013: HDTV users get smarter, use more 3D says CEA

The US Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) says that TV users are driving increasing value from their products, in particular in smart TV and even 3D.

Read the article, via Rapid TV News http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2013010425674/ces-2013-hdtv-users-get-smarter-use-more-3d-says-cea.html

The TV Business

Outlook cloudy for TV

In advance of the TV Critics Association gatherings in southern California, a look at the cloud and other issues the industry faces.

Read the article, via Canada.com http://o.canada.com/2013/01/03/outlook-cloudy-for-tv-business/

Releases

• ConnecTV Launches National and Local Ad Network That Synchronizes with Television Ads

ConnecTV said on Friday it is launching its fully synchronized advertising network that offers marketing triggered by TV ads as well as TV words across more than 400 national and local channels.

Read the release, via BusinessWire http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130104005135/en

• Zeebox Selects Gracenote to Power Content Recognition on the Second Screen

Zeebox said today it will integrate Gracenote Entourage Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) into its mobile apps, enabling it to automatically identify TV shows and deliver a synchronized second-screen experience across live or time-shifted TV.

Read the release, via SacBee http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/03/5090169/zeebox-selects-gracenote-to-power.html

Social Media

Library of Congress won’t launch its Twitter archive anytime soon

Budget constraints and unwieldy software leave the federal agency looking for answers.

Read the article, via The Verge http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/4/3835352/library-of-congress-explains-twitter-archive-delay

Advertising

• Danica Patrick fans can get social with superstar during GoDaddy.com Bowl

GoDaddy spotlights spokesperson NASCAR driver Danica Patrick on social media on Sunday as part of its sponsorship of the GoDaddy college football bowl game on Sunday night via ESPN.

Read the article, via Examiner http://www.examiner.com/article/danica-patrick-fans-can-get-social-with-superstar-during-godaddy-com-bowl

• ESPN sees life in Display Advertising

Advertising innovation: Paid Content follows Adweek story.

Read the article, http://paidcontent.org/2013/01/04/dont-say-display-ads-are-dead-espn-shows-theres-life-in-an-old-format/

Sports

• NFL Wildcard

Previews

Via Palm Beach Post, http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/football/nfl-wild-card-weekend-capsule-previews-for-each-ga/nTmcH/

• Ravens Fans Paint The Town Purple Ahead Of Playoff Game

The Ravens and the Washington Redskins compete in home playoff games on the same day for the first time in history.

Read the article, via CBS Baltimore http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/01/03/ravens-fans-paint-the-town-purple-ahead-of-playoff-game/

• Photo of Stressed Canadian TV Reporter Covering NHL Lockout Goes Viral

TSN hockey analyst Darren Dreger became an Internet meme on Thursday when a fellow reporter tweeted a picture of him, glowering at the camera. Now, he glowers across the interwebs.

Read the article, via THR http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/photo-stressed-canadian-tv-reporter-408049

• NFLPA hosts Collegiate Bowl, makes social media training priority for potential rookies

College postseason showcase game, in its second season on Jan. 19 in Los Angeles, offers program of education to potential NFL players, including digital training and social media.

Read the article, via OutSports http://outsports.com/jocktalkblog/2013/01/03/nflpa-hosts-collegiate-bowl-makes-social-media-training-priority-for-potential-rookies/

• Havard Rugland “Kickalicious” Uses YouTube Video to Get Tryout with NY Jets

Norwegian athlete uses social media to showcase his skills, gets tryout.

Read the article, via Opposing Views http://www.opposingviews.com/i/technology/kickalicious-uses-youtube-video-get-tryout-ny-jets

Latin Market

• Univision to Revive Quinceañera

Univision’s tlnovelas network is set to air Quinceañera (Sweet Fifteen), a successful Televisa novela that was first broadcast more than two decades ago.

Read the article, via World Screen http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/2013-1-3-univision-tlnovelas-network-quinceanera-televisa

• Telemundo Has Opening Weekend of the Mexican League (soccer)

Deportes Telemundo is starting 2013 with two season openers of the Liga MX on “Fútbol Estelar” on Saturday, Jan. 5.

Read the article, via Broadway World http://tv.broadwayworld.com/article/FTBOL-ESTELAR-Returns-to-Telemundo-with-Opening-Weekend-of-the-Mexican-League-15-20130103