• All In The Algorithm
    Somewhere between artistry and automation lies the algorithm, the always mysterious and sometimes magical algorithm. Like the alchemist's dream of turning base metal into gold, a good video search and discovery (S&D) algorithm spins raw data into RPM (revenue per thousand) treasure.
  • Advertising & Publishing: More A Tragedy Or A Comedy?
    In an ideal world, publishing and advertising executives would realize that without the other, they don't have a prayer. That's "ideally speaking." Realistically, each party thinks it's the main event. event.
  • What The Video Industry Can Learn From Spotify's Integrated Advertising
    When you tune in to the ad-supported version of Spotify, the advertising seems more integrated into your experience than most digital ads. I was recently listening to music when a Gillette advertisement featuring Andr 3000 invited me to listen to "Andr 3000's Style Soundtrack," which includes his commentary about "songs that talk about style," in hopes of inspiring you to dance, dress, and (the catch) shave stylishly. What's clever is that the ads are specific to the publisher and extremely contextual, but they didn't require Gillette to produce much. The payoff? Gillette was able to reach a listener who was …
  • Predictions: What's in Store for Digital Video Advertising Next Year
    s we approach the end of 2012, I like to think about 2013 and what it holds for the video ad category. However, before I do, I enjoy the intellectually honest process of reflecting on my 2012 predictions to see how well I fared.
  • RTB's Effect On Video Sellers
    From the first discussions of real-time bidding (RTB) and its effect on digital advertising, concerns grew about the type of inventory that would be available and how it would be valued. The industry has recently addressed these fundamental concerns and has even predicted increased spend through RTB, particularly in video. With this new trend, and a world increasingly reliant on automated buying, there's been some questioning about the role of the sales team.
  • Lighting Up TV Screens For 48 Years: A Brief History Of Rudolph
    It's been 48 years since the holiday stop-motion perennial "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" first hit TV screens on Dec. 6, 1964. This year, things were looking down for Rudolph, when Deadline.com headlined that the CBS broadcast was off 28% in ratings from last year. One commenter said the special was timeworn and remake-worthy, others said that their own kids were watching on other platforms (iPad, DVD, etc.). Is Rudolph headed for the Island of Poorly Rated Specials? Still, it's been a good run. A few years ago, we interviewed the program's co-producer, Arthur Rankin, Jr., who filled us in on …
  • The Other Reason Why Music Startups Have Crappy Business Models
    Last.fm is going pay-only. Spotify loses more money the more it scales. Pandora is a hot mess. The overriding reason, of course, is that digital music startups face horrible economics -- and no matter how much money investors are willing to throw at them (and how many blogs they write), that won't change. In fact, when consumers are spending less money buying (remember that?) your albums, do ya really think that the record labels will cut you some slack with royalty payments? The other reason, perhaps, is that YouTube is eating away at their business at the consumer end.
  • Will LTE Improve Video Experiences For Wireless Users?
    As LTE networks roll out across the United States, carriers and users are excited about its many benefits. LTE opens the door for an enhanced user experience, enriched video communication solutions and amazing new apps. But with all of these benefits and increased traffic also comes an amplified strain on the broadband network, resulting in video stalling and slower data speeds. Will LTE solve this ongoing network connection problem or make it worse?
  • Video And Display Ads Have Nothing In Common: So Why Are They Sold The Same Way?
    The print ad industry played an important role in shaping what we know today as display advertising. Now it is TV's turn to set the tone for online video. Much has been said about the technical differences between video and display, but few have addressed video and display consumption experiences, or explored what makes online display advertising so different from online video.
  • Long Live The Video
    It was about three years ago when I was on a panel discussing if publishers could survive in the future without building a video business. Why were we excited about online video? I don't know if it was for the opportunity to tell a story using a new and exciting medium -- or more because we thought that video revenue could help the declining banner business, and the non-monetized mobile traffic that kept growing and growing
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