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Sony has acquired worldwide, exclusive distribution rights to Rocketboom in the hopes that the successful video blog will bring eyeballs to its web-based video entertainment network, Crackle.
Crackle, Sony’s self-described multi-platform video entertainment network and studio, pulled 3 million unique monthly visitors in June 2008, writes Ars Technica. Rocketboom producer Andrew Baron claimed in mid-2006 that the site had 400,000 daily viewers; BusinessWeek, however, disputed that claim.
Via the Rocketboom distribution deal - which will see the vlog integrated into the PS3, PSP, Sony BRAVIA televisions and mobile partners - Sony will handle ad sales for the video site.
Baron says he did the deal with Sony because it allows him to maintain control of the business. However, the deal could lead to a closer relationship or an outright sale if things go well, writes TechCrunch, which raises the question of whether web video startups can thrive as independent entities or whether they require the distribution muscle of a major media company.
Baron also liked Sony’s distribution strengths, and the reported seven-figure pricetag.
CBS Radio and Yahoo, two of the largest online radio providers, are combining their online radio stations, beginning early next year.
CBS Radio’s 150 stations and LaunchCast’s 150 online stations will be integrated into Yahoo’s music site, powered by CBS…
Cox Enterprises, Inc. announced today that the company is bringing together its three media units - Cox Newspapers, Cox Television and Cox Radio - under a new organization named Cox Media Group, Inc., effective January 2009. The subsidiary will be headquartered…
Target is one of the first brands to create an iPhone application. The Target “gift globe” allows iPhone users to shake their phones to launch a snow-fall effect.
When the snow clears, a gift idea from Target is revealed. Users…
ABC is set to launch a slew of new series in a midseason shuffle. Primetime: What Would You Do? returns Tuesday, Jan. 9, in the 10pm time slot. The show is a hidden camera experiment in which actors stage scenarios…
Only 28% of the audience of an average news program, website or magazine gets valuable information about products and services advertised there, making news venues less effective at conveying ad messages than all forms of media combined (see chart), according…
Effective immediately, any telemarketing call that delivers a prerecorded message must include a quick and easy way to opt-out of receiving future calls. The opt-out must work both for consumers who answer these calls in person and for those whose…
