Mobile phones? Almost everyone uses one. Mobile video usage? Not so much. For all the promise of mobile video as a new media platform, in the second quarter, there were about 15.3 million active mobile video users, according to a recent Nielsen Mobile Video Report. This represents just 7% of all those who have mobile phones -- roughly 220 million people in the U.S. The silver lining, of sorts, is that this number is up 70% versus 2008's 10-million subscriber mobile video mark. Better news comes from cheaper "all you can eat" data packages that include video. Average mobile data packages that include video are priced around $5.73 a month, down about one-third from $8.32 a year ago. Nielsen says total mobile video subscriptions came to $308 million in the second quarter, up 11% compared to the prior quarter. Now the bad news: Half of U.S. mobile subscribers -- 52% -- still carry phones that aren't even capable of viewing video, and that's just a bit better than the 62% number a year ago. Consumer satisfaction? Iffy. It declined to 65% in the second quarter of this year from 74% in second-quarter 2008. More troubling: Almost all current mobile video users -- 78% -- are first-year users. As such, Nielsen says they are "testing" the service, then getting rid of it after a year. Nielsen says part of these results come from a weak economy; consumers are looking for better video value. The findings come from Nielsen's 2Q 2009 Mobile Video Report. Writing about it, Nic Covey, director of insights at The Nielsen Company, said: "Mobile video is a transformational technology that will require real changes or additions to the consumer media diet. As such, it may have a long way to go before making a dramatic impact on our media economy."
MTV is launching a new short-form supernatural mystery series called "Valemont," which will combine TV, online and mobile story-telling. The collaboration with Electric Farm Entertainment, set to premiere today, features prominent brand integrations for Verizon Wireless, further highlighted by Verizon's role in the mobile distribution of the content. The protagonist of "Valemont," Sophie (Kristen Hager) is determined to discover the fate of her brother Eric (Eric Balfour), who went missing while attending Valemont University, an elite East Coast school with Ivy League overtones. To do this, Sophie must infiltrate Valemont, where she makes a series of discoveries about the school, its student body and her own family's past. For the first six weeks of the series, a succession of 2.5-minute segments will appear in place of ads in the commercial pods before MTV's show "The Hills" and after "The City," book-ending MTV's 10 p.m.-11 p.m. programming block. The concluding 23 episodes will be posted on MTV.com, as well as on Verizon's V Cast Video. Verizon phones are featured in the story line. Each episode begins with a video clip or text message from Eric's mobile device. The phones will provide clues to characters in the show. Verizon will also get five-second billboards opening and closing each TV episode, promoting additional content available on V Cast. At the dedicated Web site, ValemontU.com, visitors can interact with the story in various ways, finding clues, performing tasks, decoding messages and drawing connections between maps, photos and fictive blogs maintained by various characters. John Shea, executive vice president of integrated marketing, MTV Networks, said in a statement: "What's great about this integration with Verizon Wireless is how the mystery of "Valemont" unfolds for its characters across platforms, mirroring the way the audience receives information and interacts with the show."
Looking to gain a foothold in perhaps the fastest-growing sports market, the NFL is using pop culture as an entry point in China and launching a reality series with a youth band. Tabbed "NFL China Blitz," viewers will watch the band members of "May Day" get introduced to American football through NFL-themed events. The 30-minute show will run 16 episodes, with cameras following the band in the U.S. It debuts Oct. 29 and runs through February. Financial terms were not disclosed. The series is part of a multifaceted deal the NFL has with Chinese broadcaster CCTV (China Central Television). It also includes production of a weekly highlights show and rights to offer this season's Super Bowl. The weekly highlights show will have Chinese sportscasters delivering an NFL-prepared script. U.S. sports-marketing firm IMG was involved in the negotiations as part of its 20-year joint venture with CCTV to develop various sports ventures in China, including in Hong Kong and Macau. Both CCTV IMG Sports and the NFL can sell sponsorships for the programming and syndication rights. American-style football has had difficulty gaining popularity in Europe and elsewhere. Yet no sports league can ignore the lure of the Chinese market. (The NBA seems to have made the most inroads.) And the NFL's top media executive Steve Bornstein said the league remains "committed to growing our sport around the world, including China." IMG CEO Ted Forstmann said the programming will be available to up to 800 million people.
Monty Python, the irreverent, iconoclastic comic troupe, is happily celebrating its upcoming 40th anniversary with a six-part documentary on the IFC channel. "Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)" airs Oct. 18 and charts the history of the comedy phenomenon. Other Python-esque events include a new play in Los Angeles, based on its classic TV sketches, a book describing its live performances, and a rare reunion of the group for a Q&A session in New York on Oct. 15 at the Ziegfeld Theater. The October event will honor the British comedians with a special award, given by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Co-hosted by IFC, the event promises John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin in attendance. (Graham Chapman died in 1989.) A new theatrical version of the IFC documentary will be screened at that time. This six-part series, airing one hour per night in October, features interviews with all surviving "Python" members, plus archival representation for Chapman. Various comedians weigh in on the "Python" legacy, including Jimmy Fallon, Eddie Izzard, Dan Aykroyd and Seth Green. Jennifer Caserta, executive vice president and general manager of IFC, said the network was showcasing "the definitive documentary tribute to one of comedy's greatest legends. Everyone has their favorite Python moments, and they continue to inspire new generations of comedians." In addition to the documentary, IFC will also air the company's feature films: "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," "Monty Python's Life of Brian" and "Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl." "Monty Python's Flying Circus" -- as it was initially known -- produced 45 shows on British television from 1969 to 1974. Zany and intellectual, it developed a cult following in England and the U.S. Skit fans can view the original series online, as "Python" has its own YouTube channel.
Wieden+Kennedy's Amsterdam office has inked a deal with MediaBank to use its workflow system for managing production and accounting operations. Chicago-based MediaBank, which offers various automated services for media and creative agencies, operates in a dozen foreign markets. The company offers six primary systems. Wieden's European hub will employ its Web-based F|P Suite that can streamline the matching of business operations with creative and trafficking processes. MediaBank said the system runs in multiple languages and currencies, in line with business Wieden handles in Europe. "A great deal of creative passes through our Amsterdam office on behalf of our global clients," said Craig Huseby, Wieden+Kennedy's global IT director. MediaBank has been a rival with Donovan Data Systems with its media-buying software.
Recruiters don't find candidates jobs, they find candidates for jobs -- a distinction that's often misunderstood. In other words, the recruiter's client is the hiring organization, not the job seeker. Headhunters (the vernacular term) should be part of your job search, but don't make the mistake of only relying on them. On average, recruiters only fill about 10% of all jobs. The following is some basic information that should be useful in understanding the recruiter's role. Multiple Business Models There are two basic categories of recruiters: retained and contingency. •Retained search firms work exclusively, and the client pays them a guaranteed fee for their services. •Contingency recruiters are only paid if they find a candidate that is hired by the client. Some contingency recruiters may work exclusively, but it's not unusual for clients to work with multiple recruiters for the same job. That's why you may get several calls for an opportunity. How They Find You>b> Recruiters are in the business of knowing where to look for qualified candidates, regardless of whether those candidates are actively seeking new jobs. •Candidate sources range from referrals to mining databases to cold calling someone in the same job at a different company. Professional social networks have become an increasingly popular sourcing tool. If the recruiter doesn't tell how they found you, ask. •Ways in which recruiters will reach out to candidates include their business phone, email, and social networks, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. How You Find Them The same tools headhunters use to find you can be used to find them. And when you compile your headhunter list, take some time to do basic research. Keep in mind search firms generally specialize by category(ies) as well as by job level and/or salary level. Be strategic about your outreach and expectations. •Research the individual recruiter's name and/or their company name. Take a look at their bios and client list if it's published on their site. Look for them on LinkedIn. Any legitimate recruiter should have ample information easily available online. •Not all recruiters will agree to see you if they aren't working on a search that matches your background. If they won't meet you, try to at least get a phone appointment for a few minutes or, at minimum, e-mail your resume for inclusion in their database. What Recruiters Do/Don't Do •Don't expect a recruiter to write or rewrite your resume. Most are willing to make suggestions or point you in the direction of resume writers or information resources on resume writing. •Headhunters will sometimes offer you career advice or job search tips. However, if you're looking for help in figuring out what you want to do next, try a career counselor and expect to pay for their time. Some recruiting firms do offer counseling services, but again at a price. Beware of Promises The growing unemployment rate has spawned a category of unscrupulous "so-called" recruiters. They take a fee from the candidate, promise resume help, career guidance, and a job. Major newspapers have run articles on job seekers that have written checks to these firms but haven't gotten results. I recently heard from a reader who made this mistake. It's a rough job market; it's hard for even the most well-connected to help their colleagues, friends or relatives get a job. Be suspicious of a stranger promising to do the same!