As predicted, TV ad sales are down. And as predicted, TV networks are hoping they come back sometime in the next year, along with the economy. In the meantime, what do cheap TV ad prices do for Web video sales?
Last week, I noted that Internet ad spending had dropped five in the first three months of the year, and wondered when Web ads might rebound. Here’s a data point for optimists in the “soon, real soon” camp: Procter & Gamble, the world’s biggest marketer, is pouring more into Web ads than ever. Last quarter it increased its spending on Internet display ads by nearly 150 percent.
Anyone who makes money–or who is trying to make money–publishing on the Web is obsessed with getting more out of Google and its firehose of traffic. Here’s a novel approach from a coterie of big media brands, including the New York Times and Disney’s ESPN: Complain loudly that the search engine isn’t treating you fairly.
Lots of news emanating from Hulu today–but nothing ground-moving. That could still come in the near future: I keep hearing that the joint venture between NBC and Fox is getting close to a deal to bring ABC into the fold. But no confirmation yet. In the meantime, Hulu wants you to know that it’s the biggest video site that isn’t YouTube, and that it now boasts some social-network-like features.
Cognitive dissonance from the media world: Either media execs aren’t spending anything on food and travel anymore. Or they are. Maybe it’s just that they prefer eating in New York over flying to New Orleans.
From the small victories department: Cablevision says that its purchase of Newsday last summer wasn’t quite the disaster it had feared. That is, instead of taking a $450 million write-down on the $650 million purchase, the cable company is only writing off $402 million on the Long Island newspaper. Even better: The paper didn’t do that poorly in the last three months of 2008.
Peter Kafka has been covering media and technology since 1997, when he joined the staff of Forbes magazine. Most recently, he has been the managing editor of the tech and media Web site, Silicon Alley Insider. Read more »
Here is a statement of my ethics and coverage policies. It is more than most of you want to know, but, in the age of suspicion of the media, I am laying it all out.
D is unlike any other executive conference. Since its debut in 2003, D has brought to life the energy and excitement of the digital revolution in an unscripted, upfront and unparalleled way. Read more »
Don't miss a post! Sign up for our Daily Email and get AllThingsD.com delivered each day.
Get columns, blogs and video from D and All Things Digital on your iPhone. Download now »
