Quick Reading on TV Industry at Noon
Last week, at the Social TV Summit, some of you told us that you would like to see this news feature. We listen and today we launch Quick Reads at Noon. If you like it, or have comments, tweet us at @socialtvdaily:
How Link TV + KCET Plan to Give Context to Global, Raw Video
Source: http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2012/11/how-link-tv-kcet-plan-to-give-context-to-global-raw-video317.html
by Caty Borum Chattoo, November 12, 2012
Last month, Link TV and KCET, the country’s largest independent public television station in the country, announced a merger to create a new transmedia independent network. The planned KCETLink will be available in 33 million households via DIRECTV and DISH Network and 5.6 million households on KCET in Southern California, the nation’s second-largest television market. The merged organization will focus on developing new technology and programming for web and mobile, including an upcoming global news app for Google TV, along with continued and new global, cultural entertainment and world news.
From a programming perspective, the short-form video revolution started by YouTube in 2005 has already demonstrated a permanent shift in audiences’ willingness to be entertained by — and even demand — shorter bits of video content and storytelling. Consider the still-new presence of original short-form webisode YouTube program channels from Disney and other top commercial entertainment brands, as well as a big announcement just a few weeks ago about 60 original-content channels in Europe, including a few BBC channels.
Now Link TV is trying to bring context with a mix of raw and produced video. The big idea — to “reinvent world news and social action for the digital age” — became the newly launchedLinkTV World News app for iPad, which pulls in news and videos from mainstream, state-run and alternative news outlets — and the curated eyewitness raw videos — from more than 125 sources around the world, most of which are unavailable outside their originating countries.
And now that Link TV and KCET have joined forces, there will be an increased focus on focus on developing new technology and programming for web and mobile. But I’ll get back to the merger in a moment.
Why ‘Homeland,’ ‘Spartacus,’ and ‘Louie’ Explode TV Viewers’ Expectations
The challenges for modern television showrunners are many, but a central one is this: How can television shows stay one step ahead of their ravenous fan bases? Rabid interest in the medium has led to copious amounts of material written about it, which both helps and hurts those making television.
An increasing number of shows have answered this question in an altogether surprising and refreshing way. Rather than change the scripts themselves, showrunners have started to flip the script on when major events occur within their programs. That subtle shift has potential ramifications on not only how television is produced, but also consumed.
“I would not be surprised if networks adapted the cable model of 13 episodes,” he said. “It’s a lot more doable, and the quality is a hell of a lot higher.”
Google TV Comes to France, Germany and UK, via Tech Europe, Wall Street Journal blog, post by Nick Clayton
http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2012/11/12/google-tv-music-and-movies-comes-to-france-germany-and-u-k/
Play will be available on Google TV in Germany, France and the U.K. later this month, the company has announced. Google, however, has apologized for saying in an earlier blog entry that the service would be available in other countries including Spain and Italy.
TV Writer Behind Happy Days’ Jump the Shark Scene Dies
http://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/tv/tvguide/article/TV-Writer-Behind-Happy-Days-Jump-the-Shark-Scene-4028434.php
Bob Brunner, a writer and producer on Happy Days who both named Fonzie and also reportedly suggested that the character jump the shark, has died, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 78.
Brunner died of a heart attack on Oct. 28 near his home in Northridge, Calif., according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
TV now has web-like ad metrics–so why aren’t they being used?
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/gigaom/articles/2012_11_11_tv_now_has_web_like_ad_metrics_so_why_arent_they_being_used.html
So while the TV industry cocktail conversation continues to revolve around how video is migrating to the Web, there’s another important storyline that needs to be aired: that the ability to strengthen traditional TV buys is not only possible, but readily available now. Agencies must start managing media spends to develop specific sales forecasts for items or services that their clients are marketing, while ensuring that they deliver the target users at the most efficient price. The agency/media equation should not stop with the delivery of tonnage audiences. It needs to take the next step. And once they transition to using a scientific media buy, using the most recent tools available, the result will be a win-win for marketers and TV.
