TiVo Executive Talks Tablets, TRA And Tebow by David Goetzl

TiVo has a slew of initiatives in play looking to take advantage of changing consumer behavior and move beyond its early image as an ad-skipping facilitator. It's launched functionality allowing users to watch live, on-demand and recorded content on tablets throughout the home. It recently purchased TRA, an ad measurement business. And, last year, brought Tim Tebow on as an endorser. Tara Maitra joined TiVo in late 2005 and has helped it evolve. The senior vice president of content spoke with MediaPost about how 2013 is shaping up and other matters. ...Read the whole story

  • Discovery Launches TestTube.com, Ups Digital Video Involvement by Wayne Friedman

    Discovery Communications is looking to get into digital video platforms in a big way -- launching a new online science network targeting young men, called TestTube.com. The new ad-supported network will start up with 15 short-form original series, launching with an expected 10 million video views monthly. ...Read the whole story

  • Worldwide Pay TV On The Rise, Big Growth In Asia by Wayne Friedman

    North American pay TV subscribers may continue to show little or no growth for the first quarter, but worldwide pay-TV business continues to climb, especially in emerging markets. Worldwide pay TV subscribers -- business from cable, satellite and telco businesses -- grew by 8% in 2012 to 800 million. ...Read the whole story

  • Aereo Is Not Just For Cord-Cutters by David Goetzl

    Are cord-cutters most likely to subscribe to Aereo? Not necessarily, according to early returns. CEO Chet Kanojia told investors Thursday that 50% of its customers have a pay-TV subscription. He spoke at a Barclays conference, and his comments came via a report from analyst Anthony DiClemente. ...Read the whole story

  • automotive Ford Launches European Campaign by Karl Greenberg

    The effort talks about specific Ford technology, while furthering the brand position evinced by its "Go Further" tag. Central to the effort are 15-, 20- and 30-second TV ads for the Euro market that will air during the final between FC Bayern Munich and BV Borussia Dortmund. ...Read the whole story

  • Networks Tie For Last Month of the 2012-2013 Season, NBC Gains Ground by Wayne Friedman

    The four major networks were in a virtual tie for the last month of the 2012-2013 TV season. CBS, Fox, and ABC all finished with a Nielsen live plus same day 1.8 rating/5 share among 18-49 viewers with NBC just a tick behind, at a 1.7/5. ...Read the whole story

  • Cars.com Drops Flag On NASCAR.com Sponsorship by David Goetzl

    Cars.com has a need for speed. The site has a deal with Turner to sponsor a series of videos on NASCAR.com that continues a campaign it launched with a Super Bowl spot. The custom-produced shorts tabbed "Track Drama" feature NASCAR rivalries, intensity on Pit Road and energy as the checkered flag drops. ...Read the whole story

  • beverages Fat Tire 'Pairs Well With People' by Tanya Irwin

    New Belgium Brewing, the nation's third-largest craft brewer, is launching a campaign including the company's second-ever TV effort, and the first in eight years. Its new tagline, "Pairs well with people," refers both to the employee-owned, environmentally proactive brewer and to its flagship brew, Fat Tire Ale. ...Read the whole story

Media Execs Re. $1 Bil NewFront Estimates: What Are They Smoking? by Wayne Friedman

Wild upfront digital video estimates postured that many platforms/sites could get $1 billion in upfront money of the expected $4 billion in digital advertising dollars in 2013. But an OMMA Video panel of media executives for Internet Week said no way, with some saying it related to executives "smoking something." Big TV dollars can make one's head spin -- even without lighting up. ...More

  • Will Broadcast Avoid Its Annual Summer Slump? Not For Lack Of Trying by Ed Martin

    The traditional broadcast television season is an outdated concept -- right up there with quarterly sweeps periods and upfront week -- but it continues nevertheless, formally marking the beginning in September and the end in May of a nine-month period when most network programming is supposed to be new. Typically, broadcast goes dead after that final day in May (this year the 22nd). ...More