The new 3D TV network, 3net, from Sony, Discovery and IMAX, has launched a mostly 2D media platform extension -- 3net.com. The network, which airs on DirecTV, says the network will "mirror the brand's core 3D offerings in a 2D environment." Two-person marketing staff oversaw the project, with Rod Riegel ,vp of 3net, serving as online creative director, and 3net's marketing manager Renee Mansfield serving as online executive producer. The 3net team worked with Santa Monica, Calif.-digital agency, Blitz, to build the site.   Tom Cosgrove, president and CEO of 3net, said in a release:  "We now have a …

UM has been awarded the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company's Digital Agency of Record business. The business will be based in the UM San Francisco office and led by Matt Nessier, UM seniror vice president Emerging Media. "We were very impressed with the strategy and insights presented by UM," stated Mona Maher, Vice President of Marketing for Ghirardelli. "Digital and social media are important tools in our marketing mix. As we continue to grow and invest in our premium brand, we see UM as the perfect partner to help us achieve our goals." Jacki Kelley, Global CEO UM, stated, "We look forward …

George Bodenheimer will step down as president of ESPN and ABC Sports and Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks, effective Jan. 1, and will become executive chairman of ESPN. John Skipper, executive vice president-content at ESPN, will succeed him. The company said the moves are part of a long-term succession plan.

In a surprising show of solidarity, the management of the Association of National Advertisers, representing CRIDO (Coalition for Responsible Internet Domain Oversight) is citing an adult entertainment publisher's lawsuit to block the overall of the new .XXX top-level domain address as validation of the concerns the ad industry has been raising about potential problems stemming from changes in top level Internet domain governance.

Barcode technology company Scanbuy Monday announced releasing the latest version of its ScanLife app as the holiday shopping season gets under way. New features include faster scanning rates, access to more product reviews via Best Buy, Buy.com and other sources, and the ability to share deals and product information through Facebook and Twitter. The updated app also includes a live feed of products being scanned worldwide.  In connection with the new app, Scanbuy is launching a promotion giving shoppers who scan any UPC code with the app to instantly win gift cards worth thousands of dollars. On the ScanLife Facebook …

CTIA-The Wireless Association said Monday it plans to announce a mobile application rating system with the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). on Tuesday, Nov. 29.  The CTIA in March unveiled plans to develop a ratings system for mobile apps by year’s end based on its existing Guidelines for App Content Classification and Ratings, but won’t provide further details until next week. It’s likely the system will mirror the ESRB’s ratings for video games, which use a letter-based scheme to classify titles according to seven age-specific categories from early childhood (EC) through teen (T) to Adults Only (AO). The aim is …

More original TV from Netflix? The streaming video/DVD mail-order service now says it has plans to revive 20th Century Fox Television's comedy "Arrested Development" -- the TV critic favorite show that was cancelled in 2006. Plans are to bring back the show -- with the reruns of older episodes -- in 2013. Previously, Netflix says it struck a deal to start up new dramatic series -- based on the BBC series -- called "House of Cards."

Sarah Kramer has been promoted to President, Client Services, at MediaVest USA, effective immediately. She will continue to report to Bill Tucker, CEO, MediaVest. In her new role, Kramer will oversee the agency's Client Services capability focusing on best practices and approaches for client business management. Kramer remains based in New York. Kramer was previously Executive Vice President, Global Managing Director, for Starcom MediaVest Group's global Procter & Gamble account. She will continue to serve in that capacity in addition to the responsibilities of her new role. A 17-year veteran of SMG, Kramer joined MediaVest a decade ago as a …

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A new teardown analysis by IHS finds that, like the $79 Kindle e-reader, Amazon is selling the Kindle Fire at a loss. The research firm estimates the Amazon tablet, which retails for $199,  costs $201.70 to manufacture. “Amazon makes its money not on Kindle hardware, but on the paid content and other products it plans to sell the consumer through the Kindle,” said Andrew Rassweiler, senior director teardown services for IHS, in a release today. Indeed, the Kindle devices serve as distribution platforms for Amazon’s growing selection of digital content including books, magazines and newspapers, music, movies and TV …