Is Social TV a Gimmick or a Must-Have? by Daisy Whitney

There's no question that social video, social media and social TV are hot. Nearly every network has some sort of social media tie-in for a show, be it USA Network's recent work with Viggle for "To Kill a Mockingbird," or Discovery integrating tweets into shows. Are social tie-ins like this a gimmick or do they last? ...Read the whole story

  • New Data Links TV, Video Data To Aid Cross-Platform Marketing by Laurie Sullivan

    TV advertising and measurement technologies have begun to better link television and video data, as online marketers begin to understand the importance and benefits of multichannel marketing. The report analyzes embracing TV audience data as a viable "audience intelligence source." ...Read the whole story

  • Turner Sees Cable Nets As 'Video Destinations,' Continues 'Cougar' by Steve McClellan

    Don't think of TBS and TNT as TV networks -- think of them as "video destinations." And for the first time, those destinations will provide original programming all year round, Turner Entertainment executives announced. Two new sitcoms, the workplace comedy "Men at Work" and the "Cheers"-like comedy "Sullivan & Son," will both have "Big Bang Theory" as a lead-in. ...Read the whole story

  • entertainment Schwinn Celebrates Lifetime Of Riding by Aaron Baar

    Two years after moving away from a broadcast-based marketing plan, Schwinn is looking to reach consumers through the Internet. Schwinn has struck deals with media outlets such as SocialVibe.com (where it has created a custom bike finder) and content sponsorship on USMagazine.com ("Ride into Summer") and Buzzfeed.com (including articles on topics such as the best biking cities in the U.S. and biking innovations) ...Read the whole story

  • Big Media Finds Online Vid Nothing To Laugh At, Turner Buys Into Funny Or Die by Ross Fadner

    Cable TV giant Turner Broadcasting Wednesday struck a strategic partnership with Funny or Die that links the online comedy site's content with Turner's TBS and Adult Swim TV properties, along with select Turner digital outlets. Under terms of the deal, Turner will take a 10% stake in Funny or Die, and Turner Digital Sales will also handle all ad sales exclusively for Funny or Die. ...Read the whole story

  • YouToo's Facebook App Uploads Video For TV Watchers by Gavin O'Malley

    Blurring the lines between old and new media, Youtoo just debuted a Facebook app that encourages users to upload videos for TV consumption. Formerly AmericanLife TV Network, Youtoo TV can now be seen in 177 domestic cable markets; social-media platform Youtoo.com has been around since late 2011. ...Read the whole story

  • Socialcam Beefs Up Privacy Features by Wendy Davis

    As with other social apps on Facebook, Socialcam spreads news about the videos people watch to their social networking friends. Socialcam revised its program so that it no longer automatically resumes sharing users' information with friends. Socialcam will keep sharing turned off until users affirmatively reactivate the feature. ...Read the whole story

  • Analyst: Too Early for Web Video to Affect TV by Ross Fadner

    Although some big brands have said they plan to move significant money into digital, Barclays Equity Research analyst Anthony DiClemente doesn't think their efforts will move the TV spending needle by very much-and he has the numbers to back it up. ...Read the whole story

Why You Should Invite The Digital Guys To Your Upfront by Eric Korsh

Many of the conversations about the digital content newfronts and the television upfronts have been framed as a zero-sum game: You're either focused on TV or you're focused on digital. Too little dialogue acknowledges the symbiotic relationship between the two. Even for TV's own digital properties, the upfront deals focus first on locking in broadcast assets, with digital assets designated to "player to be named later" status, often handled without thoughtful input from experts in that field. Brands wind up buying ad space on TV without locking in the valuable, complementary assets at the time, thus diminishing the future negotiating ...More