Today’s Noon Reads
We comb the web every day, looking for great articles for the Social TV community. Click the link and see what we are sharing today! Let us know what you think on Twitter @socialtvdaily
Hiestand: NBC’s Olympic plans to go to ‘cutting edge’
Via USAToday
On the day Jim Bell was named executive producer of NBC’s Olympic coverage, the network indicated its willingness to experiment.
The idea, says Stephen Burke, CEO and president of NBC parent NBC Universal, is to have Bell “take all his time to keep (Olympic) coverage on the cutting edge. … We’re going to experiment.”
Bell assumes leadership of the 2014 Russia Olympics after being dropped as head producer of NBC’s Today show.
“What’s going to be interesting and exciting for people (in 2014) is Russia as the backdrop,” Bell told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. “What’s fascinating is the amount of work going on there, along the lines of Beijing (for the 2008 Games) as part of their 21st-century unveiling — an opportunity to show the new Russia.”
A year in, YouTube’s channels not must-see TV, yet
Via BusinessWeek
YouTube is now doubling down on its investment. It recently expanded into Europe with another 50-plus channels. And now, YouTube is reinvesting in 40 percent of the channels that have already launched. That means more than half of the channels have failed to catch on, yet is still a rate of success that any network programmer would kill for.
But for YouTube, success at this stage is measured less by view counts than by changing perception.
“What we’re trying to do is galvanize the creative and advertising community,” Robert Kyncl, YouTube’s global head of content and the leader of its channels initiative, said in an interview. “And we’re succeeding at that.”
Zeebox zeetags allow Australian TV viewers to interact with shows
Via Herald Sun (Australia)
An interactive Australian television app will allow viewers to buy Julie Rafter’s dress, Jamie Oliver’s frying pan or Ellen Degeneres’ sneakers with a simple swipe and tap.
Launched in Australia today after popular runs in America and the UK, Zeebox uses sound, video and text recognition to sync up with live free-to-air television, allowing users to interact with their favourite shows, chat with other viewers via Facebook and Twitter and access exclusive online content.
Online Video Ad Spending Rose 27% in 2012
Via ClickZ
A new research report from online video advertising company Adap.tv has found that online video ad spending has rose 27 percent in 2012. Adap.tv projects that online video ad spending will continue to grow by another 20 percent in 2013.
Adap.tv says the increase in online video ad spending came with a push to bring broadcast TV and online video advertising planning together. According to the firm’s study, 58 percent of those surveyed said that they plan to bring online video and TV ad planning closer together.
The Evolution of Social TV
Via Business2Community:
Luxury fashion retailer Neiman Marcus is leading the way in this profitable marketing opportunity. In partnership with Target, they created an entire campaign around the TV drama Revenge. The exclusive Target Neiman Marcus collection sponsored the Nov. 11 “midseason finale” episode.
This goes above and beyond the usual social media mention, product placement or thirty second advertisement. There was an actual storyline to follow – about ten total minutes of content – throughout the hour-long show. This kind of subplot is said to be a “whole new level of integration,” as well as a “moment in marketing history.”
Target and Neiman Marcus strategically inserted themselves into a television show that attracts their target customer. This will increase general product awareness along with social visibility. The campaign included the hashtag #GiftofRevenge on Tweets from all of the brand and company Twitter handles. A digital video is also available online.
A Simple Way to Get TV Viewers to Stop Skipping the Ads
Via Time.com
It may be wishful thinking, given the source, but a recent study of TV viewing habits offers some hope to networks and advertisers used to being on the losing end of any battle with new technology. It seems that there’s an unforeseen side effect when viewers watch TV while also using so-called “second screens” (i.e. smart phone, tablet or laptop): They’re less likely to fast-forward through commercials and more likely to respond to audio-centric ads.
Blue Jays And Marlins Blockbuster Deal Shows TV Driving Moneyball
Via Forbes
The deal underscores the evolution of moneyball: local television deals have replaced stadiums as the the single most important driver of the sport’s economics. The Marlins opened a new stadium last year and drew 2.2 million fans, 200,,000 more than the Blue Jays, who play in the antiquated Rogers Centre. The Marlins also raked in more than double the premium seat revenue than the Blue Jays last season.
Frank Peppiatt, TV producer and co-creator of ‘Hee Haw,’ dies at 85
Via WaPo
Frank Peppiatt, the co-creator of “Hee Haw,” a variety show mixing country music with “corny” humor that became one of TV’s longest-running hits, died Nov. 7 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., of bladder cancer, according to family spokeswoman Jenna Illies. He was 85.
In addition to co-creating, writing and producing “Hee Haw,” the Canadian-born Mr. Peppiatt, along with his writing and producing partner John Aylesworth, became one of TV’s top producers of variety shows in the 1960s and ’70s. They developed programs for several top stars, including Jackie Gleason, Andy Williams and Sonny and Cher.
BSkyB Develops Set-Top Box With Roku for Web TV Service
Via Bloomberg.com
British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc (BSY), the U.K.’s biggest pay-television provider, is working with Roku Inc. on a set-top box to distribute to subscribers of its new Web-television service, as it responds to increased competition from online rivals.
The hardware will connect TV sets to BSkyB’s Now TV, enabling customers to view movies, live sports and other videos available through the online service, Anthony Wood, chief executive officer for Roku, said in an interview in San Francisco.
MTV’s ‘Catfish’ TV Show Succeeds Where The Film Failed
Via Hollywood.com
A TV show based on a film, based on a Facebook experience. And it’s working.
