The rise of ad exchanges and audience-based buying strategies has led widget provider Clearspring to morph into an audience data company. Clearspring distributes the AddThis sharing tool deployed by publishers that reaches 1 billion people. AddThis -- which facilitates content sharing across social networks -- is collecting reams of data on user interests, preferences and media consumption patterns. Now the company hopes to turn that into a new-style advertising play, only without actually showing ads. Clearspring is opening up its data set to advertisers in an audience platform the company has tested since January. Agencies can use the anonymous information …

Sezmi, the personalized television service that combines live TV, on-demand movies, Internet video and DVR capabilities, today announced its Sezmi Select service package is immediately available in 36 markets across the United States for $4.99 per month. With the expansion of its entry-level Sezmi Select offering in 36 major markets across 23 different states, Sezmi says it is responding to the strong consumer demand shown in its initial launch market of Los Angeles and the trend of consumers "turning to a combination of local broadcast television viewing combined with Internet or over the top alternatives to get the …

After a two-year break from running "American Idol," Nigel Lythgoe is officially returning to the talent show that he helped make a hit. Lythgoe, who also is a judge and executive producer on "So You Think You Can Dance," will run the show with executive producer Ken Warwick. Lythgoe has criticized Fox's decision to let Paula Abdul leave the show and said publicly that he would revamp the aging show by changing the judging panel. To that end, Ellen DeGeneres has announced she will not return and Kara DioGuardi has reportedly been fired. LAT sources say Jennifer Lopez and …

Could "Magazine Everywhere" be next? Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes hinted he wants to make tablet-computer subscriptions for the company's magazines available to people who already subscribe to the print versions of the company's titles, which include Time, People, Sports Illustrated, Real Simple. The key, he says, is to get subscribers to enjoy TW's products over all broadband devices, reports The Wall Street Journal. For magazines, this is a novel idea. A handful of print publications -- including The Wall Street Journal -- offer subscriptions to their iPad versions, but only as an option separate from subscriptions to …

Rosie O'Donnell will make her return to daytime television on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. From 1996 to 2002 was the host of the daytime talk show The Rosie O'Donnell Show. According to OWN CEO Christina Norman, O'Donnell will bring her humor and down-to-earth approach to a new daily talk show scheduled to premiere in 2011. Oprah Winfrey called her a "true original, who brings her authentic voice, dynamic energy and pure passion to everything she does." " The program, produced by O'Donnell, was brought to OWN by longtime Warner Bros. syndication veterans Dick Robertson and Scott Carlin, now …

The latest phase in NBC's attempt to spread content across its stations arrives Monday when WNBC/Ch. 4 launches the "Daily Connection." The show is largely produced by NBC News, using segments culled from NBC's various properties -- CNBC, MSNBC, LX.TV, "Access Hollywood" and more -- and given a local spin before hitting the airwaves. "It's leveraging all the platforms of NBC News and Entertainment," said Susan Sullivan, vice president of news at WNBC. "We have so much good content across the board. ... A lot of that doesn't get seen. It's wasteful not to use it." "Daily Connection," a …

Nexstar Broadcasting Group today reported financial results for the second quarter that included net revenue of $74.5 million, a 19.9% increase over the $62.1 it reported in the second quarter of 2009. Gross local revenue was $43.3 million, up 7.8% from $40.2 million and gross national revenue came in at $16.1 million, a 32.6% boost from last year's $12.1 million. Perry A. Sook, Nexstar chairman-president-CEO, stated: "The record second-quarter net revenue reflects the broad-based advertising recovery, an acceleration of the growth of national revenue, our success in garnering leading shares of political billings in our markets and growth …

ATAS has defended its decision to drop the reality-host category, citing how the Emmys will be particularly tight this time because the show will be replayed on the West Coast after its first live airing. It's also including a Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for the first time in six years. George Clooney will accept that award. Dropping the category has been confusing for some, since the genre is dominating the TV ratings this summer. The grumbling over the Emmy snub has prompted rumblings that some big faces from the reality biz may boycott the Aug. 29 Prime-time Emmys …

John Landgraf, president and general manager of FX, outlined his ongoing programming strategy at TCA, which includes two new series -- the boxing drama "Lights Out" and a private-eye dramedy "Terriers" -- and a deep expansion into comedy.Landgraf said FX, which only had one comedy last year, will have five by next year, including a renewal of the freshman sitcom "Louie" and the launch of "U.S.S. Alabama," a sci-fi comedy from the creators of "Reno 911." Though Landgraf touted "The Shield," "Nip/Tuck" and "Rescue Me" as trailblazers for the network's current lineup -- including the biker drama "Sons of …

Remember the days of Delilah and other call-in radio luminaries -- when you would put hand to phone and dedicate a song to your beloved? Well, now you can return to those times with a new Facebook app from Fuse TV called Tag Your Tune, reports Mashable. Tag Your Tune is basically akin to those call-in shows and music video request lines of your yourth. All you have to do is download the app on Facebook, choose a vid from a rotating list of 30 (the app re-ups on videos every week) and dedicate it to a Facebook …