LIVE from MIPTV 09:: in rainy Cannes

Other than the Zillion hype and as expected, an attendance that seems to be down 20 or 30% (14% for the organizers), a few announcements or keynotes worth noticing:

** Interesting co-pro with Endemol, Gaumont, MySpace and a distribution partner and advertisers already joined in. From Reed Midem newly launched MIP Blog

** Sir Martin Sorrell from WPP on the ever-changing business model "Whether you want to call it disintermediation or not, the traditional notion of profitability is being challenged". Full summary at C21media.

** Disney also taking a stance for the 'freedom of online viewing' @ c21

** All the large media companies wondering what to do about online video while it soars and still hardly gets monetized: free? more ads? online HBO model? @ FT

** and in the meantime, change and weird rumors go on: lots of talks and noise on ZillionTV at MIP, Disney adding content on YT and rumored to be buying a stake in Hulu, Orange buying back-end from Kangaroo, and of course Google to buy (or not? or yes? or?)Twitter, to add micro search to mega search, geo search, e-mail search, desktop search, etc...

Trading analogue dollars for digital pennies

Good recap of NBCU's Zucker's interview at the McGrawHill media Summit. And a great catch phrase on the topic of changing business models... @ paidcontent

To advertise or not to advertise on social media sites

Social media still small in the digital ad spend portfolio but definitely growing.
Change takes time for the ad community. From AdTech

On Business Models

Great article on why we can't wait for business models to be perfect in a world where the marketplace changes faster than new business models arise. Full of good historical comparison and a great punch line:
"When a 14 year old kid can blow up your business in his spare time, not because he hates you but because he loves you, then you got a problem.
Yes, you do have a problem, if you're running that old business. But for the rest of the world, you don't have a problem. You have a revolution and a tremendous opportunity.
From Mike Masnick @ techdirt

Can't wait not to have to listen to my voicemail any more

Learn more about GrandCentral, the Google Voice soon to launch service. Not only does it transform voice mails in texts, allow you to keep one same number for life, but it's also apparently very very good. So good that people are buying 'free' accounts on ebay for $600.
From Techcrunch

Tough times

Just stumbled upon the layoff tracker from Techcrunch: Scary although the tech industry is not doing as bad as others: 308K lay-offs since August 08

On that 'economy downturn' topic, great POV from Spectatorbytes on how media companies are facing the digital age...

Twitter

- If you are not on Twitter, first you shld learn abt it in this article from NYT and if you want to get a feel for what's going on in the twittersphere. Check this Retweetradar for the top 'retweeted' people, links, learn about the PI Day (today) etc.
- On the value of Twitter traffic by Techcrunch
And see the latest traffic growth charts on this 'Twitter Facts Blog'
- One of my favorite Twitter stories about a guy finding out about a stranger in his house while and getting the live help of his twits as it was happening.
- Last: twitter song & twitter fans on YT.

For digital advertisers

Huge but looking interesting:: Digital Outlook report from Razorfish is in the can. Have just started the 177 pages reading but it sounds promising. Download here and enjoy!

Zillion starting to make noise

I met these guys... Am curious to see what happens with this product. If well executed, could be the next big thing. Check out this article on Zillion TV. From MCN A suivre...

Creativity video podcast

Just watched this week's issue and had to share. Every week: The top 5 of creative work with a mix of promos, ads, outdoors, websites in a short video piece. From very effective campaigns to very beautiful promo work. @ Creativity Online.

About Netbooks

Great article on the birth of netbooks and good example disruptive innovation. From WIRED magazine.
And a quite polemic (if you actually read the 21 excited comments) opinion piece on 'why apple should release a netbook' or not. From ComputerWorld

More on YT and music

But less collaborative this time. Where will the catfight end?

Kindle for iPhone: the best of both worlds

Loving this already. Check out this great review... Image ::courtesy of Heart Hi Tech::

Is there a right international digital strategy for media companies?

I guess we (including me) all struggle on this one. And MTV does too.
One way would be to focus your growth and target new niche and promising audiences, wherever you go (see bebo)
More on this later. I need to do a little research!

About twitter

A few people whom I know and I don't know now follow me on Twitter thanks to this blog...

I must say I don't always know what to say on Twitter; how it duplicates my FB status, my blog, and all my other multiple ways of self-expression. This is a great article on the 5 stages of "Twitter Acceptance". It did resonate with me... just to let you know, I'm between phase 3 and 4. Where are you at?

Music by and with your iPhone

Not only is the song great... but the fact that iPhones can replicate a whole band music instruments is amazing to me. Read the article and check out the video.
Reminds me of Birdie Nam Nam, (video here), without the turntables.

And to link this post with the last one, the best YouTube music mash-up ever, by an Israeli musician named Kutiman, article on Mediamamo. Again, switch on your speakers and watch the video.

Online music moves

A few moves on the music front on YouTube, with or without YouTube.

From teen created iTunes player layer based off music videos on YT called Muziic
to Youtube and Universal "talking"about creating a premium music service with another 4 letters name VEVO? Read more, on NYT or WSJ.

Bigger better ads

Google relaxing its 'quality' standards with expandable ad units. Is the world really coming to an end? :-)

Ad Budget Crunch Puts Pressure On Supply Line

Interesting perspective from MediaPost on the intricacies and multiple layers of the online ad spend

One more article on the Hulu vs YouTube saga

Wondering which one has the best business model, again...
Do the math with paidcontent

Expanding broadband to bail out economies

A good thing coming out from the world's crisis:
better and faster internet connections for everyone
From the IHT

New Nielsen Numbers Reveal Key Video Behaviors by Age Group

Video consumption is at an all time high with >150 hrs per month in the US {Side note: where do people find time to watch that much TV?: that's 5 hours per day!!!}.

For youngsters, non-television TV watching is already significant with 6.2% of video consumption happening on mobiles for 12-17 yrs old and 4.3% online for the 18-34.
Full downloadable Nielsen report and more details here:
New Nielsen Numbers Reveal Key Video Behaviors by Age Group

Recipe for a Successful Viral Video

Creative & marketing folks always want to make videos viral:: nothing new here but a quick overview of what not to miss from the WSJ.com

En Vrac, January 09 Favs list

Thanks to those of you who have shared some of these news with me. Sharing along...
- Kangaroo, UK's online VOD consortium with iTV, BBC and C4 gets killed...
- Coming up: a pool of standards for online video advertising, courtesy of Starcom, CBS, Discovery and Hulu?
- 10 websites that will matter in 2009 by PC world. Lots of videos sites.
- Great online video overview from the Economist, courtesy of Flypaper.
And for a bit of fun:
- If you haven't tried Hulu yet and want to watch again that e-trade babies Super Bowl ad:
- An ex-AETN Digital team member creates a great 'technology and gadget blog for beginners' which make me feel like I should read it everyday to look like I really know more about that stuff. Go Hillsy!