Articles of the Day
Gaming Surpasses Video, Social Nets In Online Popularity: Study - Over a third of U.S. adult Internet users play online games weekly, according to Parks Associates–with games trumping social networking and online video as the most popular Web-based entertainment activity.
MTVN Makes 2-Year $500 Million Gaming Commitment - MTV Networks on Thursday pledged to spend more than $500 million on gaming properties worldwide over the next two years. That includes the $100 million Nickelodeon committed last month to the development, distribution and creation of casual gaming titles, sites and platforms.
AOL’s Truveo Sets Out To Conquer Video Search Space - To separate itself from the pack, the new Truveo is selling its ability to effectively retrieve much of the professionally produced content now being stricken from video sites like YouTube–by going directly to the content producers’ own Web sites.
Now, a Word from Your Sports Sponsor - While online and mobile channels are emerging as increasingly viable ways to deliver sports content, information and advertising to sports fans, traditional media make up the core of the sports marketing economy and will continue to grow through 2011. Using data from the IEG Sponsorship Report as a benchmark, eMarketer estimates that sports sponsorship spending in North America will rise to $13.24 billion by 2011, up from $8.94 billion in 2006.
Proof That Ads Are Content On Web - Given that we live in such an advertising-overloaded society, wouldn’t it be weird for a company like Didja.com, a collection of ads presented as content, to become a success? Didja is (or rather, will be) a collection of ads presented as content. Of course, the ads-as-entertainment concept is nothing new–marketers have created Web sites, games and other content devoted to various forms of advertising for years. But the idea of a video bank containing nothing but ads is slightly different: Marketers did not create the site, which effectively makes it a celebration of advertising.
Program Reveals Where Wikipedia Entrees Come From - A new tracing program that reveals where Wikipedia entries come from is stirring up controversy. People using FBI and CIA computers edited entries on such topics as the “Iraq war” and the prison at “Guantanamo Bay,” presenting a conflict of interest for the nonprofit online encyclopedia, according to a company spokesperson.
Microsoft Lobbies To Stop GoogleClick - Microsoft is so bent on keeping Google’s DoubleClick acquisition from being approved, the software giant has hired lobbying firm Patton Boggs LLC in Washington. Now that the House and Senate are looking into the matter, the lobbying frenzy can begin. So far, Microsoft has put $40K behind the effort. Three Patton Boggs associates have been working on the issue since May 15, according to the Associated Press.
Triton Pacific Capital Partners has acquired a majority interest in Vayan Marketing Group LLC - Triton Pacific Capital Partners has acquired a majority interest in Vayan Marketing Group LLC, a Boca Raton, Fla.-based provider of online lead generation, email marketing, offline marketing, list management and affiliate marketing services located. No financial terms were disclosed. KPMG Corporate Finance advised Vayan on the deal.
CBS Buys 50 Percent Stake In Online Talent Search Show - CBS Television Distribution, part of CBS Corp (NYSE: CBS) has taken a 50 percent ownership stake in BigShot, the online talent search show from Madison Road Entertainment and Maverick Television, reports Variety…the show will widely distributed via the websites of CBS’ local stations that broadcast the company’s tabloid show “Entertainment Tonight.” It also will put the program on the about-to-launch CBS Audience Network, with carriage on sites such as AOL.
Web TV Network Jack9 Buys Social Net CommunityX - Web TV network Jack9 Entertainment has acquired video-enabled social net CommunityX.net. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Jack9 said that combination will help both sites grow, as it claims to receive 3 million unique visitors a month, while CommunityX claims over 400,000 members. Huntington Beach, CA.-based Jack9 has also added some new programming, including the poker-focused Player’s Lounge, which will feature weekly episodes on the world of gaming, and rap competition Street Bangaz.
MTVN’s Logo To Buy Gay Social Network - Cable channel’s purchase of Downelink.com is part of MTV Network’s niche programming strategy to better serve up targeted audiences to advertisers. The social network has 400,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members.
