In a new twist, a number of magazines will feature readers on their covers and inside pages. The pubs are positioning the move as striking a blow for "real people"--as well as specific groups that are under-represented on magazine covers, such as ethnic minorities and people over 50. By cultivating a sense of identity and community, these contests also serve to drive reader engagement. This year marks the fourth-annual cover-model contest for EastWest, which targets an upwardly mobile readership of Asian-American professionals, typically second- or third-generation children of immigrants who straddle cultures. In addition to showing pride in their heritage, founder and publisher Anita Malik says cover status "has also been good for previous winners" from a professional perspective. One woman who went on to a career in modeling. After reviewing submissions, EastWest editors will post 30 finalists on the Web, where readers can vote for their favorite beginning mid-April. The 2007 will appear on the upcoming December/January issue. Malik said the model contest is a big driver of circulation and Web site traffic for the niche pub, which has a circulation of about 50,000. At Muslim Girl magazine, another niche publication that targets acculturated immigrants and the children of immigrants, the cover-model contest is a full-time operation. Publisher Ausma Khan explains that the editors simply "asked girls to write in to us via the Web site if they would like to be on our cover. We are looking for girls who are proud to be American Muslims, who find their values empowering and who want to reach out to other girls." It doesn't hurt to have interesting life experiences or an impressive resume, as Muslim Girl is also "looking for a girl who has a great story." Niche magazines aren't the only ones spotlighting readers. On February 27, More announced the 10 finalists of its 2006 contest for 40+ models, co-sponsored by fashion emporium Wilhelmina, who appeared in a runway show in New York as part of Fashion Week. Likewise, Dove is sponsoring a national model search as part of its "Pro-Age" campaign, with finalists showcased in a 40-page outsert in More. Finally, Wired is taking a somewhat different approach. With its March 23 issue, Wired is highlighting advertiser Xerox by allowing consumers to personalize the cover of the magazine with their own photos. The first 5,000 subscribers to submit photos will receive the July issue of the magazine with their own face printed on the cover. The effort is to focus attention on PersonalEffect, a company recently purchased by Xerox, which specializes in digital production press and customization software.
Cablevision Systems Corp will need to rewind the tape. Its newfangled DVR-system, which would house movies, TV programming and other content at the cable system's head-end, has been stopped by a New York federal judge. The judge sided with the Cartoon Network, Twentieth Century Fox, Time Warner, Disney, CBS and NBC, saying the move would infringe on programmers' copyrights. Cablevision is backing this system because it eliminates digital set-top boxes in Cablevision--effectively placing the storage drive at the company. The cable operator started testing the new system, called "remote storage DVR" or RS-DVRs, over a year ago. For some time, Cablevision has offered home DVRs as part of its monthly cable service. Since last March, TV content providers have complained that Cablevision has been violating copyright laws by temporarily holding content. In effect, that Cablevision now owns content they didn't pay for and could, in theory, re-sell it for revenue gain. But Cablevision argued it wasn't in control of the digital copies--it was still in the hands of its customers. Cablevision says the technology allows it to send the show to consumers only when they requested it. The judge rejected such arguments. He said Cablevision was using many pieces of equipment to copy and store the content--rather than a single home DVR that its customers use. As such, it was in violation of copyright laws. In response, Cablevision says its decision to test and use the technology was consistent with copyright laws, and that it would only help lower the costs of digital recording to its subscribers. The cable giant may appeal.
Viacom may be trying to slash costs at MTV Networks, but it had no problem taking on a deficit Friday by enlisting President Clinton to headline an upfront event. MTVN sought the ex-President's help in drawing attention to its lower-profile TV Land network--in part because Clinton is a member of the channel's target Baby Boomers. TV Land wouldn't comment on how much it cost to persuade the former President to try to convince a roomful of agency executives to spend more on the network, which used to be focused on classic TV but is increasingly shifting into original programming. But a recent Washington Post report said Clinton has garnered some $40 million in speaking fees since departing the White House, and commands hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single appearance. At a time when cable networks are said to be looking to tone down traditionally glitzy upfront events--MTVN had enough stars last year to rival the Oscars--TV Land certainly took a different tack with a pricey speaker appearing on a decked-out Jazz at Lincoln Center stage in New York. Still, the network clearly was going for a soft sell, using Clinton's drawing power as an entrée to deliver some quick pitches to Madison Avenue, then trying to gain advertisers' affection by unleashing the speaker for hire. Officially, Clinton's appearance was billed as a natural link to TV Land's "Cause Change" effort dealing with Boomers' philanthropic tendencies. TV Land ad chief Jeff Lucas made only a brief appearance to tout the spending power of the 78 million Boomers and their 96% retention rate during commercials. Then, network president Larry Jones followed quickly with news that originals on tap include an up-close look at the life of George Foreman and sort of an "America's Next Top Model" for the over-35 set. Then, "America's first Baby Boomer president" took the stage for more than an hour, starting as a wonk and opining on such arcane topics as grain productivity in South America and overstocked fisheries, then finishing with some pop culture tidbits. In those lighter moments, he said he's been flipping over to TV Land after watching the NCAA hoops tournament and is a fan of "Grey's Anatomy," "24" ("even though apparently an uber-right wing guy writes it") and "Boston Legal" (he likes the "dynamic" between Spader and Shatner). As other networks--many within MTVN--zero in on the 18-to-49 and 18-to-34 demos, TV Land is unequivocally aiming older. "The days of targeting younger audiences, and hoping mature consumers will follow their lead, are now officially over," Jones said. TV Land's coming new originals include "Family Foreman," a look at the former boxing champ with five sons named "George" and a popular grill brand to his name, and "35 and Beyond Super Model Search," in which models older than 35 will compete for a contract. In October, the network will debut "Back to the Grind," where ex-sitcom stars such as Harry Anderson ("Night Court") will perform the real-life roles of their characters. Also on tap this summer is a month of programming with an "Elvis" theme and "High School Reunion," where more than a dozen alumni from a 1986 high school class are reunited. TV Land, which still airs "Mash" and "Sanford and Son" in prime time, will also begin to offer more contemporary off-net fare in comedies "Scrubs" and "Just Shoot Me."
XM has riled the music industry--again. The National Music Publishers' Association is suing XM over its XM+MP3 service, alleging the technology lets consumers engage in digital piracy. Its lawsuit asserts that royalties paid by XM for broadcasting songs don't compensate content owners for the recording of those songs by consumers. Thus, it resembles the suit brought against XM by the Recording Industry Association of America, which is still unresolved. The NMPA lawsuit, filed Thursday in a federal court in New York, centers on the XM+MP3 service's recording and playback capability. As long as they subscribe to XM, consumers can record songs. The earlier RIAA lawsuit, brought in May 2006, seeks $150,000 from XM for every song downloaded by subscribers using the Pioneer Inno, an electronic time-shifting device that can store up to a gigabyte of copyrighted music culled from radio airplay. Like the XM+MP3, it permits indefinite playback. In the lawsuit, the NMPA points out that XM is touting the service's recording and playback capability as an alternative to iPod and other MP3 players--which unlike Apple's iTunes, doesn't require listeners to pay for music. A spokesman for XM, Chance Patterson, was dismissive of the new suit, saying it had no legal basis and "simply represents a negotiating tactic to gain advantage in our ongoing business discussions." Indeed, Fred von Lohmann, a senior attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, based in San Francisco, said the RIAA lawsuit was unlikely to succeed in light of the protections provided by the Audio Home Recording Act, passed by Congress in 1997. Von Lohmann compared the MP3 recording technologies to earlier iterations of home-recording, including analog radios equipped with cassette recording capability.
After a long succession of year-over-year losses, Ziff Davis publishing appears to be turning a corner, posting solid fourth-quarter results late Friday. The company, which publishes PC Magazine, Baseline, CIO Insight and eWeek, saw revenue rise 70% to $14.3 million in the fourth quarter, largely on the strength of its expanding digital businesses. The company's bottom line also benefited from cost reductions, including the closing of some unprofitable publications. Overall, the company collected $56.7 million in consolidated revenues in the fourth quarter, a 6% increase over 2005. Within this figure, digital revenues rose 24%, while print revenues sank 8%--mirroring broader trends in the publishing business, including newspapers and consumer magazines. For the full 2006 year, earnings rose 57% to $27.1 million, while revenues grew 2% to $181 million. Within this figure, digital revenues rose 25% as print revenue fell 11%. Robert F. Callahan, chairman and CEO, remarked: "I'm pleased to announce strong Ziff Davis earnings for both the fourth quarter as well as full year 2006. Our investments, especially in digital media, have paid off and are yielding meaningful results."
Thursday night network newcomers are settling into their lower-ratings groove--but those results aren't all that bad. ABC's "October Road" results at 10 p.m. dropped 16% from its previous week premiere to a Nielsen preliminary 4.9 average rating. It had been at a 5.8. In addition, the show lost a big chunk of its viewers in its second half-hour--slipping to a 4.3/12 from its first half-hour, 5.5/15. Still, overall numbers are somewhat better than "Men in Trees"--the show that "October Road" replaced in the time period. Both shows have a hard time keeping close to its blockbuster "Grey's Anatomy"'s lead-in. Last night, "Grey's" earned an 8.7. At Fox, its high-flying "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" dipped again, to a less-learned series-low 3.6 at 8 p.m. That's down 20% from last week's 4.5, but it did win the time period. "Smarter" is now at about one-third of the ratings it got some weeks back, leading out of "American Idol." In that coveted slot, it shocked analysts with eye-opening 9+ ratings among 18-49 viewers. Hot competition from CBS' NCAA basketball tournament disturbed the typical Thursday night proceedings. For one, "Ugly Betty" sank to a series low 3.2 rating--two days after being picked up for a second season. The NCAA posted a 3.9 number for the night. NBC went to a mix of repeats with "My Name is Earl" earlier in the evening--and a newcomer at 10 p.m.--the Jeff Goldblum-cop show, "Raines." "Raines" got a modest 2.5 number, well off the 5+ ratings that "ER" has been earning so far this season. Like other shows on the night, the NCAA games--as well as time-period winner, "October Road"--took its toll on "Raines." Overall, ABC still came out ahead--a 5.6 rating/16 share--well ahead of CBS' 3.9/11. Even with lower "Smarter" numbers, Fox is doing a bit better on Thursdays--moving up to a 2.8/8 for the night. NBC was next, at 2.5/7. Then came the CW at 1.5/4.