Influx Insights Tag Feed: television

the congnitive surplus

Influx Insights — 2008-04-28T04:03:46Z

Some great thinking from Clay Shirky on the real threat to established media content, the idea that people start doing something useful with their cognitive surplus.

"And television watching? Two hundred billion hours, in the U.S. alone, every year. Put another way, now that we have a unit, that's 2,000 Wikipedia projects a year spent watching television. Or put still another way, in the U.S., we spend 100 million hours every weekend, just watching the ads....

And this is the other thing about the size of the cognitive surplus we're talking about. It's so large that even a small change could have huge ramifications. Let's say that everything stays 99 percent the same, that people watch 99 percent as much television as they used to, but 1 percent of that is carved out for producing and for sharing. The Internet-connected population watches roughly a trillion hours of TV a year. That's about five times the size of the annual U.S. consumption. One per cent of that is 10,000 Wikipedia projects per year worth of participation.

I think that's going to be a big deal. Don't you? "

It's a great new way to think about the 2.0 world and consumer generated content, at last!

From a version of the talk Clay gave at Web 2.0 last week.

Posted by Ed Cotton

entertainment-driven brand creation

Influx Insights — 2008-03-07T18:13:17Z

A well-known British actor gets his dream assignment, the chance to make a program about the perfect pint of beer.

Nice work if you can get it, but there's even more upside because the show is all about creating beer that actually makes it into production.

Apparently, leading grocery chain Sainsbury's is interested in carrying the new brand.

The integration here is fantastic, no bolt-on or add on association, but a deep education in the form of programing that becomes a three hour ad for a new brand.

Although, it will be tough for this fledgling brand to compete against the established players, the rich level of content and the emotional journey that the programming will take viewers on, will be so much deeper than any ad campaign from one of the leading brewers.

The challenge will be building and maintaining the momentum after the initial wave of coverage and PR.

However, it does show an opportunity for a new way to think about branded content.

What if Bud was to develop a new brew with a programming idea like this, rather than simply attach its name as a show sponsor or have featured product placement?

Obviously Anthony Bourdain, is the one guy who could do this in the US- let's see what he does next after the success of No Reservations.

Posted by Ed Cotton

the lie-detector makes it to primetime

Influx Insights — 2008-01-13T00:21:31Z

Fox's new show "Moments of Truth" probably makes for compulsive viewing and shows us there are still boundaries to be broken in the world of reality-based entertainment.

Posted by Ed Cotton

google's interest in television doesn't end with youtube

Influx Insights — 2007-11-15T22:12:35Z

From The Observer.

"Internet giant Google is in secret talks with Simon Fuller, the British entrepreneur behind the Spice Girls, about a joint venture that could change the way TV is watched over the internet.

News of the collaboration will prompt speculation that Google's plans for the TV market include generating original content and competing with major broadcasters."

Google appears to be on the attack to transform businesses well beyond internet search as it makes giant leaps into the world of telecommunication and media.

It appears the big network agencies now need dedicated "Google watchers" to gain insight into the rapidly changing dynamics of the media and advertising market that are being caused by the actions of one company.

Via Podcasting News

Posted by Ed Cotton

boing boing does the unexpected and launches a television show

Influx Insights — 2007-10-03T04:25:50Z

Boing-Boing is the breakout blog, the one that most people have heard and perhaps even visited.

The wacky commentators that trawl the web daily for their weird, funny and compelling stuff are now breaking out of their blog home and moving onto and into a new format for them, one called television.

The team promise that this experiment will not be television as usual.

Here's the first taste of fun, so you can decide for yourself.

Posted by Ed Cotton

beyond the flat screen

Influx Insights — 2007-10-02T01:33:10Z

In December this year, Sony will launch a television set using an OLED screen like the one featured in this video. Just when we thought we had seen the flatest screens, someone found a way to go beyond.

Posted by Ed Cotton

a mash-up between flickr and tv

Influx Insights — 2007-09-29T15:04:17Z

This is an intersting mash-up between a Dutch cable network and Flickr. The cable channel is hosting a DJ set by Dave Clarke and using Flickr viewers can search for images to add visuals to the experience.

Interesting to see how conventional TV networks can bring more interactivity to their users and this case it's certainly going to be create a richer, more social experience because it's on TV versus a computer.

More info here - in Dutch

Posted by Ed Cotton

influx interview- david conover- creator of sunrise earth

Influx Insights — 2007-08-27T14:09:40Z

Sunrise Earth is an extraordinary piece of programming on Discovery HD Theater. Each show is 30 minutes of a filmed sunrise from an exotic locale somewhere around the world. It's the complete antithesis of regular TV, it's almost like meditation.

I wanted to learn more so I asked the series creator David Conover, a few questions.

1. How did you come up with the idea for Sunrise Earth?

I wanted to present the natural world in its own beauty at its own pace, more like the feeling of being a naturalist experiencing the event of sunrise while sitting on a log. These days, I call this experiential programming of the natural world.

2. It seems to represent the antithesis of typical television programming-do you think people are using television in a new way and will this continue?

Yes, I think that TV can -and is- being used in a new way. Very hard to change habits, however.

When new formats like HD come around, there is a distinct -yet brief- period of time when people actually are looking and interested in new content. After plunking down a lot of cash for a new HD set, people naturally ask "what can I see here that is different?" Experiential programming has been successful in showing something new.

Experiential programming is also working because people's lives -and the rest of the TV landscape- move so fast these days. Exposure to the natural world, even in mediated form, helps bring down the blood pressure.

I do feel that some people will continue to use TV in a different way...there will continue to be other new format and delivery forces at work to break up broad-casting into narrow-casting.

3.How did you "sell" the idea to Discovery?

It took a lot of time, repeated efforts to a range of people, and luck. Ultimately, they were ready to try some "out of the box thinking."

4.What other networks around the world have picked up the program?

It is now airing on ANIMAL PLANET. Also through SKY TV in the UK, as well as all others internationally where DISCOVERY HD THEATER exists (Germany and a country or two in Eastern Europe, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan... I think there are a few more but I do not know them off the top of my head).

5.. Do you have plans for another interesting HD experience?

We were early-in producers of HD several years ago, and haven't even looked back. I like the format because it is literally seeing the world in a new way! I think there is a lot more that can be done with variations of this kind of experiential programming and are working on those right now. We are also continuing to produce more "normally"
paced narrative factual programming in HD, and also feature doc that will use HD's abilities for "film out-" transferring to print for theatrical distribution.

6. Do you feel there's a short window while the "wow" of HD is sinking in to public consciousness to make these programs?

It is as short as people's connection to the natural world.

Posted by Ed Cotton

prosumers in television

Influx Insights — 2007-06-14T18:14:31Z

Everyone’s got a voice, thanks to the Internet. It’s arguably the one level playing field we’ve got left (despite the ongoing net neutrality debate).

Just google something seemingly random like, say, dethroned dot com CEOs of the 90s, and see how many personal accounts you get.

Consumers are now, more than ever, voicing their opinions. And it doesn’t stop with products. There’s been an uproar to stop the cancellation of CBS show Jericho and a more recent incident involving another show’s final episode.

It’s no trivial, forgettable number of people either. Jericho came back and the latter event crashed HBO’s website.

Will the Internet give consumers client-like ability to kill or keep content?
Will television ultimately become just another user-generated media?

It depends on whether the networks see it as a problem they need to address or a new era to be at the forefront of.

Studies by the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs show that the dissatisfied customer may tell as many as 11 people about his or her disappointment. Bring the Internet into such an equation and it’s hard not to picture the networks strategically considering the potential of controversy.

After all, a crashing website is a disaster from a technical standpoint.
But from a communications approach, there’s no such thing as too many hits.

Posted by katie facada

the american idolization of news?

Influx Insights — 2007-06-08T12:13:23Z

Grant McCracken has a good post about Katie Couric,news and CBS. He suggests that there's a big oppoortunity to fuse news and entertainment or to bring the best of TV idolization to the news format.

"Perhaps it's time to move away from the "journalism" model and start again. The anthropological approach says "audition" candidates until a new model merges. Glenn Close? Sarah Silverman? Paula Abdul? Tim Gunn? The possibilities are endless."

abbey road, the brand

Influx Insights — 2007-06-07T12:09:37Z

The Beatles are inescapable; Paul McCartney just released a new album almost to the day of the 40th Anniversary of the release of Sgt Pepper’s and in Las Vegas, Nevada, Cirque du Soleil’s “Love”; an interpretation of The Beatles music, has been playing to sell out crowds.

Now, Abbey Road, the studio responsible for creating The Beatles sound and inextricably linked to them, is embarking on a brand-building mission of its own.

Together with Freemantle Media it created “Live from Abbey Road”, a TV series being sold to networks around the world. The concept is simple- “capture great live musical performances and place musicians in the world’s most inspiring and creative environment in which to do so, Abbey Road."The show has attracted dozens of musicians and bands including; Norah Jones, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Kasbian and Paul Simon.

For those unqualified to make it onto the show, there’s still hope. Propellerhead, the makers of the famed music software package, Reason, have just created an Abbey Road keyboard module. This allows bedroom musicians everywhere to access the famed Abbey Road sound.

Here are photographs of the Abbey Road keyboards the software samples.

Here’s the microphone set-up for one of the pianos

For those looking to re-create the original Abbey Road, as used by The Beatles, there’s always the definitive 500-page guide “Recording The Beatles”. The book goes into painstaking detail on every piece of recording equipment and the production process for every track.

In an age when the average musician has recording on their laptop, Abbey Road is finding ways to remain relevant culturally relevant by extending its brand through technology and media.

nbc wants to disengage you from the cacophony exploding in your brain

Influx Insights — 2007-06-05T04:43:36Z

Last week, Ben Silverman was made co-chair of NBC Entertainment. In an interview with TV Week he was asked what kind of projects the "community should be bringing to the network.

This is his reponse.

"I want to be aspirational. I want to be positive. I think people are so busy and overwhelmed in their lives and have so much choice, but also a cacophony exploding in their brain, and they look to television to disengage from that. I want to create environments that are warm and places they want to be—whether funny places or happy places or aspirational places. I want to lighten up the air.

I also want to be pro-social and conscious and deliver through humor, character and narrative strong emotional connection. I want to find quality that has inherent touchpoints that could make it mass. I wouldn't make shows about Hollywood. There's just certain things I wouldn't do based on my knowledge of them being too coastal."

the first video game- 1969

Influx Insights — 2007-05-31T04:24:03Z

ad hijacking

Influx Insights — 2007-05-24T13:44:33Z

What happens when talent hijacks your spot and turns into something else entirely and then throws it up on YouTube?

This fake Nissan spot is one example.

Via Life Moves Pretty Fast

can you get money out of the long tail?

Influx Insights — 2007-05-21T03:42:23Z

Techcrunch has a post about a new online media company Next New Networks that plans create new “micro networks”. However, it appears that many of its channels appear to fall into fairly macro topic areas-

There’s an indy film channel that will find itself going head to head with Sundance and IFC

A couple of auto channels that will be up against, every newspaper in the country, Autoblog, The Speed Channel and Discovery

To quote Techcrunch-

“The content is niche targeted so it’s not going to appeal to everyone.”

That’s exactly the same proposition as all of Next New Networks competitors. The problem is although the “Long Tail” is all about lots of quality niche opportunities, advertisers and their agencies, can’t with the odd exception, get beyond the idea that quantity is the only thing that matters.

That’s the problem for all these new niche media opportunities; it’s easy to find the niches, monetizing them is the tricky part, so you end up ratcheting up the subject matter to get a broader audience and find yourself competing with “big media”.

This trend will continue until people can find a way to think differently about media value.

reality tv -10 years on

Influx Insights — 2007-05-18T03:01:58Z

The Guardian reports on three pilot concepts for reality shows being considered by the networks.

RealityLASIK - a show following models as they go through laser surgery to improve their eyesight;

Wedding SOS, featuring betrothed couples stressed out about their pending nuptials and in need of a wedding planner;

Anchorwoman, where an urbane east or west coast model (again) is sent to a hick southern town to present on a local TV channel.

Of course, there's always the reality shows that we are going to see this season. CBS's Lord of the Flies, or as they prefer to call it, Kid Nation.

youtv

Influx Insights — 2007-05-12T16:45:06Z

Mobile phones turned the mob into photojournalists, now its transforming them into broadcasters, thanks to Kyte TV.

the opportunity cost of watching advertising

Influx Insights — 2007-04-28T18:13:48Z

This letter appeared in the Financial Times newspaper today.

Dear Economist,

Having recently acquired a personal video recorder, I find myself using the time-shift facility when watching commercial TV.

ADVERTISEMENT ( a web advertisment appeared here!!)

I start watching a programme around 15 minutes after it has commenced broadcasting - by doing this, I am able to fast forward through the adverts. Am I breaking my "contract" with the broadcaster by not watching its adverts, and do I miss out on some products that might be of value to me?

Paul, Dorset

Dear Paul,

If everybody did as you do, advertisers would give up, and broadcasters would have to find a new source of income. That need not concern you, however. If you time-shift and others do not, no harm is done. And if they all time-shift, you'd be a fool to do otherwise, wouldn't you?

The more pertinent question is whether these adverts are worth your time. If you earn �40,000 a year, then you make �5 in the time it takes you to watch 15 minutes of advertising. This is a rough guide to the opportunity cost of your time.

If the adverts are enjoyable or informative, perhaps that is a price worth paying, but it seems unlikely. While an advertisement in the Financial Times might alert you to a sophisticated product, mainstream television adverts are more likely to remind you that actors can be paid to hold fizzy drinks, or that when a car is filmed from a helicopter and driven by a stuntman along a remote mountain road, it looks rather cool.

I recommend, then, that you watch a few advertising breaks while keeping a running tally: the cost of time spent watching adverts versus your estimate of the benefits thus derived. I suspect you will find that time shifted is time saved.

social television- joost

Influx Insights — 2007-04-14T14:19:12Z

Janko Roettgers over at NewTeeVee has a great post about Joost and its killer app, metadata.

"Imagine a personalized TV channel that only serves you shows your friends are literally talking about. Or think about the way this could transform programming itself. What if the Lost folks didn’t do their next Alternative Reality Game on the web, but in Joost itself, allowing you to collaborate with your friends and collect clues while watching the show?"

It suggests the arrival of a very different television viewing experience with the integration of social networking and community through the TV and the ability to use that information in clever ways.

How could advertisers get involved in this?

How can they add value, rather than just have static billboards?

How can they engage the viewer in a social experience?

global torrent

Influx Insights — 2007-06-14T18:14:09Z

Observers of the media and entertainment scene understand the tremendous power of torrent sites to wreck domestic havoc for the networks.

It’s well known that 720p copies of Fox’s 24 find their way onto torrent sites 20 minutes after the show goes off the air.

However, most people tend to see the issue through a US lens, when it’s really a global issue.

Worldwide sales of TV shows contribute significant chunks of revenue to the networks, but it appears those sales are being undermined.

The Swedish Broadcast Statistics Institute just released their 2007 report, which included the following findings:

-   Swedish youngsters watch an average of 1 hour of pirated television a week
-   The most popular show is Prison Break- 35% of the past months viewers had seen the show via P2P networks
-   The main reasons given for watching shows via P2P were- control over viewing times and not having to wait for the shows to make across to the broadcast networks in Sweden

The last point is especially interesting; although movie studios are increasingly looking to global release dates for movies, TV show sales lag behind.

One interesting reverse example is the Discovery Channel’s Blue Planet, currently airing in the US, but the series first aired on the BBC last year. Many people here in the US have already seen the series, they downloaded it a year ago from torrent sites.

Three questions:

1.   Can the TV networks speed up their global sales process and sell their shows faster?
2.   As the networks increasingly look to offer content online through their own websites, will they “lock out” overseas viewers?
3.   Will the faster adoption of US shows lead an accelerated adoption of trends and ideas in overseas markets?

brand ecosystems on youtube-the "real" ps3 channel

Influx Insights — 2007-06-14T18:12:56Z

YouTube is a billion channel universe, but explore it by brand and you quickly notice that this ecosystem has different component parts.

Influx went through a hypothetical exercise; we tried imagining a “channel” for Sony’s PS3.

Exploring some of the 44k videos on the site and trying to organize them into themes, it breaks down into something like this:

1.   Instructional Information

Set-up videos have become alternative instructional manuals. Here’s how to set up and use your PSP with your PS3.

View count: 20k

Here’s a video on how to use the console’s web browser.

View count: 122k

2.   Hacking the System

How to run more on your PS3.

View count: 118k

3.   Brand destruction as entertainment and edutainment

Some people destroy the unit just for the hell of it.

View count: 3.5 million, this film with the most views of any PS3 film

Others, open it up, so you can learn what’s inside

4.   Community Conversation

Here’s a group of YouTubers debating why and why not PS3 is better than other consoles.

5.   Brand meets culture-news

Dozens of video showing launch chaos from around the world.

6.   Game and feature trailers

Here’s one for Sony’s new Second Life type environment for PS3 users.

7.   Advertising

Somewhere in all this, lies the advertising.

Obviously, all this might not be ideal content for an officially sanctioned PS3 channel from Sony, but there are clearly more areas they can play in.

-   Creating video-based instruction manuals

-   Highlighting new features

-   Game trailers and previews

-   Videos that explain the technology behind the system

In essence, brands could be doing more with YouTube by producing and distributing content, other than just advertising; material that could have broader reach and usage in this new ecosystem.

brands and online video- 7 new rules

Influx Insights — 2007-03-26T23:24:06Z

Here are 7 new rules for brands wanting to play in the new landscape of online video, it's a follow up to the previous post on big brands experimenting with online video.

1.    Creativity Rules- The bar has been raised to 11

In the past, when brands used to look at creativity, they were comparing themselves to each other, so the bar was pretty low, often anything that got people to laugh, was deemed a success.

Now, engagement has gotten so much harder. The competition is that much tougher and new modes of consumption place new pressures on content to be compelling. The switching cost is very low.

Brands are used to competing in a war that was often based on throwing lots of money going at the best talent and the best and most media. The playing field has changed. With such low barriers to entry- everyone with an imagination is now a potential competitor for your audience's attention.

2.    Brands Must Push Boundaries

Consumers are flocking to entertainment that pushes extremes.

a.    realness and rawness- reality tv
b.    violence and language- premium cable-like HBO
c.    speed and spontaneity- user generated

Brands have to be prepared to go there; otherwise their content will always be second-tier in comparison to the competition.

3.    Give Up Control of Content

Consumers want content distributed in the places they inhabit, they don’t want to be forced to consume it on your website. Content needs to be widely distributed and consumers should be allowed to place it in their own social media environments, like on My Space pages.

4.    Study the Landscape

Brands must have their pulse on this rapidly changing landscape. This isn’t about knowing who the next YouTube is, but learning how consumers consume this new media and understanding what forms of content appear to be working best.

5.    Partner

There’s a lot of merit in what Coke did, they went directly to the source with a proven track record of viral success and worked with them. Imagine if Budweiser, instead of trying to build it’s own network, had given some seed money to dozens of people who had already achieved viral success, the result of BudTV might have been different.

6.    Encourage the User to Engage

Brands are so used to the broadcast model, that they forget the internet offers countless opportunities for the audience to interact with the content. Whether this is just simply allowing them to comment on the content or remixing it, you have to let the user in.

7.    Simpler is Better

It’s easy to get carried away with the belief that your content is so compelling you can create multiple layers around it. Make it too complex and you will end up turning people away. Think video games, the best sports games have an instant play function, where you can just play, they also have layers and added complexity, if strategy is your bag.

Overall, brands face a radically transformed landscape and in order to play, they have to be prepared to experiment and be willing to learn from failure.