Author: John Ayers

The 10 best film websites.

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

I am currently working on a new interactive campaign for an upcoming film when this great resource list came across my desk.  Some of these sites, I visit daily, but I have to admit there are a couple  (UK based) sites I was not even aware of. As all the information ever known to mankind becomes available to us on-line, it is increasingly more difficult to sift through it all and get to the core info you are looking for. There are many other film related sites out there, but Mike Peake of the Times Online compiled a nice top 10 list. Enjoy!

From 

The Sunday Times

September 6, 2009

The 10 best film websites

Movies remain the inspiration for some of the slickest, busiest and most entertaining websites around on the internet

Mike Peake

Film fans were active on the internet even before the emergence of the worldwide web ? IMDb.com has been going for nearly 20 years and has its roots in the long-gone world of text-only newsgroups. Today, film remains the inspiration for some of the slickest, busiest and most entertaining sites around, and rising broadband speeds mean they?re able to offer increasingly high-quality clips and trailers without your having to sit through five minutes of ads first. Purist home cinema buffs can, of course, download that evocative signature tune fromwww.pearlanddean.com for the authentic experience.

1 IMDb.com

The Internet Movie Database is the web?s best film resource, with extensive and trustworthy credits for tens of thousands of titles. It?s also good at collating film journalism: click on the ?External reviews? button to bring up links to hundreds of online reviews from magazines and newspapers.

2 RottenTomatoes.com

Want a quick idea of the merit of a new release? Rotten Tomatoes gives films a percentage score aggregated from dozens of professional reviewers, with links to the source material. Great for the big titles but patchy on non-Hollywood releases.

3 EmpireOnline.com

The site of the UK?s biggest-selling movie magazine has a good contacts book (Steven Spielberg guest-edited a recent edition of Empire). The many quizzes, news stories and blogs are imbued with some refreshingly spiky British humour.

4 BoxOfficeMojo.com

This statto?s dream collates the box-office takings of the 75 highest-grossing films in the USA into a huge, searchable database. Whether you want to discover the biggest single-day opening (The Dark Knight; $67m) or the worst per-theatre average weekly take (Proud American, $128), this is the place.

5 AintItCool.com

No prizes for its design, but Ain?t It Cool is the best site for sneak previews and fan criticism. Avoid the messageboards, which are like roomfuls of screaming teenagers.

6 Hollywood.com

A huge American site that features movie news, top 10 lists, film clips, interviews and more. Particularly useful for its links to hundreds of fan sites.

7 SimplyScripts.com

Download the screenplays of hundreds of well-known films, as well as early drafts and sometimes even scans of the original scripts complete with handwritten amendments made during shooting.

8 ScreenDaily.com

The website of Screen International, the British film trade magazine, makes a welcome change from the Hollywood emphasis of most movie sites. Particularly strong on international box-office takings, reviews of art-house titles and festival news.

9 Apple.com/trailers

The best selection of film trailers and teasers online, many in high definition. You will need to download the latest version of Apple?s QuickTime software to play them.

10 Flixster.com

Flixster combines social networking with film geekiness. Registered users can post reviews and chat about films; the site also has numerous quizzes, news, trailers and more.

Got a subject you?d like to see covered? Send it to us attopten@sunday-times.co.uk

FUTURE FOX – On the #FRINGE. Or #GLEE with success?

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment
FOX has been playing with their network shows (FRINGE, GLEE) and how fans can interact with them via re-runs and tweets.  The idea was/is to interact with the talent behind the show(s). I am a HUGE fan of the general concept.  However, the method of which they did so, is poor at best.

This is what I call a real SOCIAL (media) EXPERIMENT. Just not sure they did much research before they released it to the public. Some may call it a marketing train-wreck.  

I love the “pushing the envelop” side of it, but it just doesn’t work. Doesn’t make sense to me – not with these shows.  There is a time and a place. The time to watch entertainment most (if not all) believe should be separated from the interaction with those that produce it. In fact, I would even argue that viewers who are really into a show, enjoy the “escapism” of the characters and the story-lines. By it’s definition, that is what entertainment is?  I do see a great opportunity for cast, crew, creators to all become evangelists to help market the content.

As a marketer of entertainment content for over 15 years, I strongly urge creators to learn how best to use their personal brand in an effective manner, and one that is also closely coordination with the overall arcing campaign of the show, film, etc. I actually wrote a blog about this http://johnayers.posterous.com/co-branding-entertainment   I believe what FOX was trying to do is correct, the execution was not. A high profile actor or director has a great opportunity to market their entertainment brand, but there must be marketing strategy behind it.

I think it’s time I offer social media training for content creators (actors, directors, writers, producers) so as to assist them on best practices in entertainment social media marketing. This is one of the topics that we discuss at the #entsm weekly tweetchat. Join in the discussion every Tuesday, 8PM PDT on Twitter using the hashtag #entsm.

In the long run, this may be a case of even bad press may be better than no press at all. A lot of people are talking about @GLEE because of this experiment.  Anyway, enough of my thoughts… lets see what the fans said.

Read below to see what the fans told FOX.

You can follow FOX on Twitter http://twitter.com/foxbroadcasting

« Behind-The-Scenes with Nadya Suleman in Octomom: The Incredible Unseen Footage

Tweet-peat Update

Thank you to everyone who participated in last night’s FRINGE Tweet- peat special event!  We’ve read through all the fan feedback.  While many people were thrilled with the opportunity to interact with the FRINGE cast and producers, others felt the on-screen graphics made it difficult to follow the broadcast.  We’ve listened and have used these comments and suggestions to help us make a few adjustments to tonight’s GLEE Tweet-peat special.

Don’t forget that Tweet-peats are unique events for repeat episodes only.

Tonight’s GLEE Tweet-peat will air at 9 PM ET/PT.  During this encore airing of the GLEE pilot, both east and west coast broadcasts will feature LIVE tweeting by the cast.

Thank you.

Tags: , , 

This entry was posted on Friday, September 4th, 2009 at 4:06 pm and is filed under Fringe, Glee. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

40 Responses to “Tweet-peat Update”

  1. Roberta Pitkin Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    Distracting, You can either watch the show or read the twitter, should be optional for those who do not care to see

  2. Dick Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    the tweet were distracting and non enhancing to the show. If you want that kid if childish interation please keep is on another area and let the programing be seen for what it was intended!!!

  3. Lakaya M. Peeples Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    did not like the tweet peat….there should be an option to disable them. I use closed captioning and the tweets and the captions and the picture on the screen….was like watching a 3 way tag team with no winner. it was irritating enough to make me want to change the channel altogether. the only reason i didn’t is it was the one episode I missed.

    Please dont let this become a pattern. did you know that a closed caption tv has 3 levels minimum and most have advanced levels. cc1 and cc2 are usually for captions, you can put the tweets on txt 1 or cc2 as cc1 is used most often…that gives the viewer the choice of watching it on screen or not. esspecally since they can watch it on twitter live at the same time.

    think about it huh?

  4. judy rushing Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    i did not like it even for the reruns. i had not seen that one and was looking forward to it and you ruined it for me. right i cannot go anywhere because for right now i can not drive. thank you

  5. shari duff Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    I absolutely, positively love this show and am so glad it was renewed for another season. Looked up String Theory and am still totally confused, but I can relate to other dimensions, realities, or whatever you call them. Hope the cow is in for some awesome adventures. Yes, the Tweet graphics were a distraction, but since it was a repeat, who cares?…..it was interesting to get a glimpse of the path that this show “may” take. I can hardly wait for the first new show of the season. I am waiting for you guys to rock my world !!!!!!!!!

  6. Ken Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    Though I enjoyed watching and sending messages, my wife (a Twitter non-user) found the episode unwatchable with the tweets. I wonder how it affected the ratings.

  7. Fox’s Fringe “Twitter on TV” Experiment Irks Fans Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they’ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight’s Glee […]

  8. johnathan bailey Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    I did not like seeing the retarded comments about so and so coming over to watch the show. i wanted to watch the show not see tweeting

  9. Fox’s Fringe “Twitter on TV” Experiment Irks Fans | Techdare Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they’ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight’s Glee […]

  10. Fox’s Fringe “Twitter on TV” Experiment Irks Fans Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they’ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight’s Glee […]

  11. Social Media News & Web tips – Fox’s Fringe “Twitter on TV” Experiment Irks Fans Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they’ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight’s Glee […]

  12. Alonzo Golden Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    Very cool!

  13. Mysty Johnson Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    I love the Fringe !!!!!! Concepts and ideas. Radical and can’t wait for more episodes. These shows are like the dreams I have. Weird and complicated. Absolutely freaky how some ideas mimic episodes I have experienced. Flipping between dimensions… seeing things not really there. All the stuff good fiction is made of. Cannot express enough how much I love this series.

  14. Ashok Patel Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    Get teh Tweet-peats off the programs. Really stupid idea and I will not tune in to any show that his it.

    Thanks,

    Ashok

  15. Rob Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    I’m TRYING to watch TV, but now you’ve ruined a couple shows by having Tweets (morons following morons) covering part of the screen. If I want to read, I’ll open a book, or magazine. I can’t believe more than one person actually thought this was a good idea.

    I’ll be switching to another station now.

  16. Fox’s Fringe “Twitter on TV” Experiment Irks Fans | World News Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they’ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight’s Glee […]

  17. Mike Carey Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:46 pm

    This is so damn annoying! Stop this fucking twit-tering damn twits!

  18. Brooke Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    End this maddness
    stupid comments
    nothing but distraction
    Fringe is special show
    don’t mess it up

  19. TumbleTech » Fox’s Fringe “Twitter on TV” Experiment Irks Fans Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they’ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight’s Glee […]

  20. Fox’s Fringe “Twitter on TV” Experiment Irks Fans | TechDozer.Com Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they’ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight’s Glee […]

  21. Susan D Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    Way to catch onto a trend and beat it to death. Let Twitter be.

  22. Fox’s Fringe “Twitter on TV” Experiment Irks Fans | Increase Targeted Web Site Traffic Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they’ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight’s Glee […]

  23. Vin Sugent Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

    The tweet-peat makes me want to stick a fork in my eye. Please stop. I turned off Glee.

  24. Elaine Douglas Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    I am a big fan of Fringe but if you do this twitter thing again I will never ever watch the show again. It was very annoying to have the bottom third of the screen obliterating the scene with stupid comments. It was distracting and adolescent.
    Fringe is amusing and clever. There was nothing amusing and clever about Twitter.
    If you do this on any o

Posted via email from johnayers’s posterous

FUTURE FOX – On the #FRINGE. Or #GLEE with success?

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment
FOX has been playing with their network shows (FRINGE, GLEE) and how fans can interact with them via re-runs and tweets.  The idea was/is to interact with the talent behind the show(s). I am a HUGE fan of the general concept.  However, the method of which they did so, is poor at best.

This is what I call a real SOCIAL (media) EXPERIMENT. Just not sure they did much research before they released it to the public. Some may call it a marketing train-wreck.  

I love the “pushing the envelop” side of it, but it just doesn’t work. Doesn’t make sense to me – not with these shows.  There is a time and a place. The time to watch entertainment most (if not all) believe should be separated from the interaction with those that produce it. In fact, I would even argue that viewers who are really into a show, enjoy the “escapism” of the characters and the story-lines. By it’s definition, that is what entertainment is?  I do see a great opportunity for cast, crew, creators to all become evangelists to help market the content.

As a marketer of entertainment content for over 15 years, I strongly urge creators to learn how best to use their personal brand in an effective manner, and one that is also closely coordination with the overall arcing campaign of the show, film, etc. I actually wrote a blog about this http://johnayers.posterous.com/co-branding-entertainment   I believe what FOX was trying to do is correct, the execution was not. A high profile actor or director has a great opportunity to market their entertainment brand, but there must be marketing strategy behind it.

I think it’s time I offer social media training for content creators (actors, directors, writers, producers) so as to assist them on best practices in entertainment social media marketing. This is one of the topics that we discuss at the #entsm weekly tweetchat. Join in the discussion every Tuesday, 8PM PDT on Twitter using the hashtag #entsm.

In the long run, this may be a case of even bad press may be better than no press at all. A lot of people are talking about @GLEE because of this experiment.  Anyway, enough of my thoughts… lets see what the fans said.

Read below to see what the fans told FOX.

You can follow FOX on Twitter http://twitter.com/foxbroadcasting

? Behind-The-Scenes with Nadya Suleman in Octomom: The Incredible Unseen Footage

Tweet-peat Update

Thank you to everyone who participated in last night?s FRINGE Tweet- peat special event!  We?ve read through all the fan feedback.  While many people were thrilled with the opportunity to interact with the FRINGE cast and producers, others felt the on-screen graphics made it difficult to follow the broadcast.  We?ve listened and have used these comments and suggestions to help us make a few adjustments to tonight?s GLEE Tweet-peat special.


Don?t forget that Tweet-peats are unique events for repeat episodes only.

Tonight?s GLEE Tweet-peat will air at 9 PM ET/PT.  During this encore airing of the GLEE pilot, both east and west coast broadcasts will feature LIVE tweeting by the cast.

Thank you.

Tags: , , 

This entry was posted on Friday, September 4th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
and is filed under Fringe, Glee. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

40 Responses to ?Tweet-peat Update?

  1. C85774a1d59651949edc0fa63ad073

    Roberta Pitkin Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    Distracting, You can either watch the show or read the twitter, should be optional for those who do not care to see

  2. 5ef5dfe29ded2ed231288dd36820b0

    Dick Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    the tweet were distracting and non enhancing to the show. If you want that kid if childish interation please keep is on another area and let the programing be seen for what it was intended!!!

  3. 843338b3a5b99d0dbcf686e7d0fe0b

    Lakaya M. Peeples Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    did not like the tweet peat?.there should be an option to disable them. I use closed captioning and the tweets and the captions and the picture on the screen?.was like watching a 3 way tag team with no winner. it was irritating enough to make me want to change the channel altogether. the only reason i didn?t is it was the one episode I missed.

    Please dont let this become a pattern. did you know that a closed caption tv has 3 levels minimum and most have advanced levels. cc1 and cc2 are usually for captions, you can put the tweets on txt 1 or cc2 as cc1 is used most often?that gives the viewer the choice of watching it on screen or not. esspecally since they can watch it on twitter live at the same time.

    think about it huh?

  4. 977638460f1029538c3e75e017b8e5

    judy rushing Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    i did not like it even for the reruns. i had not seen that one and was looking forward to it and you ruined it for me. right i cannot go anywhere because for right now i can not drive. thank you

  5. 808b9b041fb2cd6938ee872054651d

    shari duff Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    I absolutely, positively love this show and am so glad it was renewed for another season. Looked up String Theory and am still totally confused, but I can relate to other dimensions, realities, or whatever you call them. Hope the cow is in for some awesome adventures. Yes, the Tweet graphics were a distraction, but since it was a repeat, who cares??..it was interesting to get a glimpse of the path that this show ?may? take. I can hardly wait for the first new show of the season. I am waiting for you guys to rock my world !!!!!!!!!

  6. 163864c367d30cbce6ff2c00acdcc6

    Ken Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    Though I enjoyed watching and sending messages, my wife (a Twitter non-user) found the episode unwatchable with the tweets. I wonder how it affected the ratings.

  7. Fox?s Fringe ?Twitter on TV? Experiment Irks Fans Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they?ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight?s Glee […]

  8. Ea05e80290491242d0ad440dc6c662

    johnathan bailey Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    I did not like seeing the retarded comments about so and so coming over to watch the show. i wanted to watch the show not see tweeting

  9. Fox?s Fringe ?Twitter on TV? Experiment Irks Fans | Techdare Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they?ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight?s Glee […]

  10. Fox?s Fringe ?Twitter on TV? Experiment Irks Fans Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they?ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight?s Glee […]

  11. Social Media News & Web tips – Fox?s Fringe ?Twitter on TV? Experiment Irks Fans Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they?ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight?s Glee […]

  12. 3b292c9717cb893b95a39869b17e98

    Alonzo Golden Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    Very cool!

  13. Aac555f07005a07a49c26f22bf8db1

    Mysty Johnson Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    I love the Fringe !!!!!! Concepts and ideas. Radical and can?t wait for more episodes. These shows are like the dreams I have. Weird and complicated. Absolutely freaky how some ideas mimic episodes I have experienced. Flipping between dimensions? seeing things not really there. All the stuff good fiction is made of. Cannot express enough how much I love this series.

  14. 2daa9e4c24a5a4b0b8ab8075af36dc

    Ashok Patel Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    Get teh Tweet-peats off the programs. Really stupid idea and I will not tune in to any show that his it.

    Thanks,

    Ashok

  15. Ab96a097f677f903c6e421eb88a105

    Rob Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    I?m TRYING to watch TV, but now you?ve ruined a couple shows by having Tweets (morons following morons) covering part of the screen. If I want to read, I?ll open a book, or magazine. I can?t believe more than one person actually thought this was a good idea.

    I?ll be switching to another station now.

  16. Fox?s Fringe ?Twitter on TV? Experiment Irks Fans | World News Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they?ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight?s Glee […]

  17. Af3226d04287bbca799e92321d1373

    Mike Carey Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:46 pm

    This is so damn annoying! Stop this fucking twit-tering damn twits!

  18. C553e3af97d7af778c3dc2f8eaa45d

    Brooke Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    End this maddness
    stupid comments
    nothing but distraction
    Fringe is special show
    don?t mess it up

  19. TumbleTech ? Fox?s Fringe ?Twitter on TV? Experiment Irks Fans Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they?ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight?s Glee […]

  20. Fox?s Fringe ?Twitter on TV? Experiment Irks Fans | TechDozer.Com Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they?ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight?s Glee […]

  21. Fd6ec00d923ee282adaf3f09bbca07

    Susan D Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    Way to catch onto a trend and beat it to death. Let Twitter be.

  22. Fox?s Fringe ?Twitter on TV? Experiment Irks Fans | Increase Targeted Web Site Traffic Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    […] Fox appears to be listening to the feedback from the Tweet-peat trial run. In a blog post today they indicated they?ve made some interface adjustments in time for tonight?s Glee […]

  23. 3a8038542310878f4b454b44247723

    Vin Sugent Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

    The tweet-peat makes me want to stick a fork in my eye. Please stop. I turned off Glee.

  24. 0f614e386590a40860dfae7f34fa51

    Elaine Douglas Says: 
    September 4th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    I am a big fan of Fringe but if you do this twitter thing again I will never ever watch the show again. It was very annoying to have the bottom third of the screen obliterating the scene with stupid comments. It was distracting and adolescent.
    Fringe is amusing and clever. There was nothing amusing and clever about Twitter.
    If you do this on any o

Hulu beats out Time Warner Cable with more viewers in July

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

When will people watch more entertainment on line than the do on their TV.

In some respects it may already be the case.

However you slice it… it is not a matter of ‘IF’ – but a matter of ‘WHEN’.

In fact, I just posted (http://tinyurl.com/lkzt3w) a recent article that spoke about the consumer wanting Web/TV at the same time.
I think this is the tip of the ice-berg.

Hulu had more viewers in July than Time Warner Cable

Sep 3, 2009 3:58 PM

In July, roughly 38 million people watched a video on Hulu, which was more than the 34 million subscribers to Time Warner Cable, one of the nation’s largest MSOs, in that same month.

The statistics were reported by comScore, an Internet market research firm, which pointed out that cable companies such as Time Warner and Comcast still generate much more revenue than Hulu and are still much more important to the TV networks whose shows appear on both platforms.

(To calculate cable viewers, comScore multiplied the companies’ end-of-June video subscribers by 2.59, the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent stat for average persons per household.)

The report does not include figures on how long viewers watched a particular video on Hulu, but the numbers do indicate that Internet-based video sites like Hulu and YouTube are gaining traction with consumers of video content.

One of the turning points in television’s transition to the Internet began with the establishment of Hulu, which launched publicly March 12, 2008. It carries the programs of several networks and cable channels. An estimated one in four Internet viewers now watches the Hulu service, which uses Adobe’s Flash technology. Hulu is jointly owned by News Corp (FOX), NBC Universal and Disney (ABC).

http://broadcastengineering.com/news/hulu-had-more-viewers-in-july-than-time-warner-090709/

Posted via email from johnayers’s posterous

Hulu beats out Time Warner Cable with more viewers in July

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

When will people watch more entertainment on line than the do on their TV.

In some respects it may already be the case.

However you slice it… it is not a matter of ‘IF’ – but a matter of ‘WHEN’.

In fact, I just posted (http://tinyurl.com/lkzt3w) a recent article that spoke about the consumer wanting Web/TV at the same time.
I think this is the tip of the ice-berg.

Hulu had more viewers in July than Time Warner Cable

Sep 3, 2009 3:58 PM

In July, roughly 38 million people watched a video on Hulu, which was more than the 34 million subscribers to Time Warner Cable, one of the nation?s largest MSOs, in that same month.

The statistics were reported by comScore, an Internet market research firm, which pointed out that cable companies such as Time Warner and Comcast still generate much more revenue than Hulu and are still much more important to the TV networks whose shows appear on both platforms.

(To calculate cable viewers, comScore multiplied the companies? end-of-June video subscribers by 2.59, the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent stat for average persons per household.)

The report does not include figures on how long viewers watched a particular video on Hulu, but the numbers do indicate that Internet-based video sites like Hulu and YouTube are gaining traction with consumers of video content.

One of the turning points in television?s transition to the Internet began with the establishment of Hulu, which launched publicly March 12, 2008. It carries the programs of several networks and cable channels. An estimated one in four Internet viewers now watches the Hulu service, which uses Adobe?s Flash technology. Hulu is jointly owned by News Corp (FOX), NBC Universal and Disney (ABC).

http://broadcastengineering.com/news/hulu-had-more-viewers-in-july-than-time-warner-090709/

I LOVE THIS! How 20 of the top websites looked at launch; Google, Facebook, Yahoo, MySpace, Youtube, Apple and more

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

I LOVE THIS!

I think you will too!

How 20 popular websites looked when they launched

From Google to youtube, from craigslist to flickr – how some of today’s biggest sites looked back in the early days of their existence.

Published: 5:04PM BST 02 Sep 2009
Remember the days when the word Google was not interchangeable with internet? Or when every site seemed to have a Netscape icon on it? Or when Flash was still something you cleaned your floor with? Then you were clearly using the web in the mid to late 1990s when pages were rudimentary affairs containing lists of links and information.
Thanks to the waybackmachine internet archive, we’re still able to see some of the Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 pioneers looked in their earliest incarnations.
1. google.com – launched in 1996

2. facebook.com – launched in 2004

3. myspace.com – launched in 2003

4. yahoo.com – launched in 1994

5. youtube.com – launched in 2005

6. wikipedia.org – launched in 2001

7. msn.com – launched in 1995

8. apple.com – launched in 1987 (screenshot from 1996)

9. drudgereport.com – launched in 1997

10. amazon.com – launched in 1995

11. twitter.com – launched in 2006

12. whitehouse.gov – launched in 1994

13. craigslist.org – launched in 1995

14. nytimes.com – launched in 1995

15. news.bbc.co.uk – launched in 1997

16. dell.com – launched in 1996

17. friendsreunited.com – launched in 2000

18. telegraph.co.uk – launched in 1994

19. blogger.com – launched in 1999

20. flickr.com – launched in 2004

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I LOVE THIS! How 20 of the top websites looked at launch; Google, Facebook, Yahoo, MySpace, Youtube, Apple and more

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

I LOVE THIS!

I think you will too!

How 20 popular websites looked when they launched

From Google to youtube, from craigslist to flickr – how some of today’s biggest sites looked back in the early days of their existence.

Published: 5:04PM BST 02 Sep 2009

Remember the days when the word Google was not interchangeable with internet? Or when every site seemed to have a Netscape icon on it? Or when Flash was still something you cleaned your floor with? Then you were clearly using the web in the mid to late 1990s when pages were rudimentary affairs containing lists of links and information.
Thanks to the waybackmachine internet archive, we’re still able to see some of the Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 pioneers looked in their earliest incarnations.
1. google.com – launched in 1996
Google_1473879a

2. facebook.com – launched in 2004
Facebook_1473443a

3. myspace.com – launched in 2003
Myspace_1473488a

4. yahoo.com – launched in 1994
Yahoo_1473490a

5. youtube.com – launched in 2005
Youtube_1473492a

6. wikipedia.org – launched in 2001
Wikipedia_1473629a

7. msn.com – launched in 1995
Msn_1473498a

8. apple.com – launched in 1987 (screenshot from 1996)
Apple_1473503a

9. drudgereport.com – launched in 1997
Drudgereport_1473507a

10. amazon.com – launched in 1995
Amazon_1473510a

11. twitter.com – launched in 2006
Twitter_1473517a

12. whitehouse.gov – launched in 1994
Whitehouse_1473523a

13. craigslist.org – launched in 1995
Craigslist_1473542a

14. nytimes.com – launched in 1995
Nytimes_1473550a

15. news.bbc.co.uk – launched in 1997
Bbcnews_1473555a

16. dell.com – launched in 1996
Dell_1473602a

17. friendsreunited.com – launched in 2000
Friendsreunited_1473603a

18. telegraph.co.uk – launched in 1994
Telegraph_1473607a

19. blogger.com – launched in 1999
Blogger_1473614a

20. flickr.com – launched in 2004
Flickr_1473621a

Nielsen Study: Can TV and the Internet both survive?

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

Admit it! You have had music playing, with the TV on, as you are surfing the web, responding to an email, while writing a blog, and sending out one more tweet, as you pick up your cell phone… right?  OK, so maybe not THAT extreme, but the digital age has put us in a unique position to multi-task the globe’s information from your desk-top.

The entertainment pie use to be split up into just a few newspapers, magazines, a local silent movie and a maybe radio show. Several decades later, a dozen TV channels were added, splitting up the pie into smaller pieces. Eventually those dozen channels became hundreds. The gaming industry exploded; the internet grew momentum, mobile devices, social media, and the list goes on. Now it is all meshed together into a consumer’s dream. 

What the consumer wants, when they want, where they want, how they want. The consumer is in control and the content producers are trying to figure out how to best reach them, how to monetize the entertainment and how to survive.

Does the consumer of entertainment go to TV or the Web more? Or both? Survey Says!
We discuss topics precisely as this one at the weekly #entsm tweetchat – http://pitch.pe/21628 

This recent study takes a look at this very issue.
Thanks Nielson, thanks Alex Dobuzinskis.

Viewers hunger for Web and TV at same time: study

Wed Sep 2, 2009 7:19pm EDT

By Alex Dobuzinskis

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – U.S. television viewers are increasingly turning on the Web, tuning into television and not missing a beat on either, as simultaneous TV and Internet use continues to rise, research firm Nielsen said on Wednesday.

Nielsen said in a report that 57 percent of TV viewers in the U.S. who have Internet access use both mediums at the same time at least once a month. That translates to more than 128 million U.S. consumers.

As the heightened importance of the Web changes the way Americans watch TV, industry executives and marketers are considering ways to adjust their broadcast shows and play into viewers’ simultaneous use of the Internet.

“What we’re finding is that there’s a connection between the two media, and that innovative marketers can take advantage of that,” said Gary Holmes, a spokesman for Nielsen.

“One medium can be used to reinforce the other,” he said.

Broadcasters can expect some viewers will turn to the Web to learn more about their shows, but they have to be wary of losing the attention of their viewers.

The Nielsen study found the average TV viewer who uses the Internet simultaneously does that for 2 hours and 40 minutes a month, and that 28 percent of the time they are on the Web at home, they are also watching television.

The percentage of time U.S. consumers watch TV and use the Internet simultaneously is about the same as a similar Nielsen study from last year, but the total number of individuals doing that rose because more of them have the Web, Holmes said.

The report also found TV consumption in the United States continues to increase, with the average viewer watching 141 hours per month, a 1.5 percent rise from a year ago.

Holmes said even as viewership of videos on the Internet and on mobile phones increases, Americans still prefer to watch video on their television, as shown by how many more hours they spend in front of the tube.

“The possibility of watching (video) anyplace has really increased dramatically, but really the rule of thumb is that you watch it on the best screen,” he said.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved

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