Cynopsis MEDIA TECH UPDATE

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, September 3, 2019 and this is your first Media Tech Update. Join us every Monday morning!

Ad tech companies are hiring TV network salespeople to help get a piece of ad budgets moving from TV to streaming video, reports Business Insider. Why are companies including The Trade Desk, TripleLift, Innovid, and ZypMedia tapping talent from the likes of Fox and Viacom? “They know the lingo and how to sell,” Kyle Benn, VP of mid-market at SpotX, told BI. “The TV folks can pick up the baton and start holding conversations and translating OTT to the TV side a lot faster.”

Apple is expected to unveil new models of its iPhones at a media event September 10. Reportedly on the way are three versions of the iPhone 11, with improved camera and video recording features.

In a blog post outlining improvements in Siri’s privacy protections, Apple said the company will no longer retain audio recordings of Siri interactions, but continue to use computer-generated transcripts to help Siri improve. Second, users will be able to opt in to help Siri improve by learning from the audio samples of their requests. Those who choose to participate will be able to opt out at any time. Third, when customers opt in, only Apple employees will be allowed to listen to audio samples of the Siri interactions, and the team will work to delete any recording determined to be an inadvertent trigger of Siri. “Apple is committed to putting the customer at the center of everything we do, which includes protecting their privacy,” said the post. “We created Siri to help them get things done, faster and easier, without compromising their right to privacy. We are grateful to our users for their passion for Siri, and for pushing us to constantly improve.”

Spotify announced a new way musicians can share music with fans: When they share a track to Facebook Stories, viewers will hear a 15-second preview before tapping to listen. “Taking advantage of our sharing features helps to get your tunes to more people’s ears,” said a Spotify for Artists post. “It will also encourage your fans to interact with you and your music and help spread the love through their own Facebook Stories.”

YouTube launched a web site for kid-friendly content, youtubekids.com. Like the current YouTube Kids mobile app, parents will be able to track content and direct children to appropriate content. It’s one of the changes the company has made ahead of the announcement of an FTC settlement for violating U.S. children’s privacy laws, reported to be $150-$200 million. YouTube has also added age groupings for kids, and expanded child policies to remove misleading family content.

Facebook is getting stricter about requirements for groups buying political ads. With the 2020 elections approaching, the social network will require advertisers to submit more information about their organization. “Now, with one tap, people will not only see information about the ad, but they’ll be able to see the information Facebook confirmed, such as whether an advertiser used an EIN or FEC identification number,” said Facebook in a blog post. “This will allow people to confidently gauge the legitimacy of an organization and quickly raise questions or concerns if they find anything out of the ordinary.”

In more Facebook news, the company is developing a new messaging app, reports The Verge. Threads, designed as a companion app to Instagram, allows users to share private messages with their closest Instagram friends, inviting them to automatically share location, speed, and battery life as well as text, photo, and video messages. The app is being tested internally, according to the report.

Comcast is introducing a TV remote app for its X1 video business customers. Employees can manage up to 16 TVs at once using the Xfinity TV Remote App, which also supports voice controls.

Chinese search engine Baidu surpassed Google as the second largest smart speaker vendor. According to research firm Canalys, Baidu now owns 17.3% of the global market, while making 4.5 million shipments in the second quarter of 2019. That represents a year-on-year growth of 3.700%. Amazon, however, still tops the smart speaker market.

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ADVERTISING

Cross-media local advertising company Viamedia announced a multi-year agreement with WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone to continue selling advertising on the MVPD’s behalf in 10 markets nationwide. Viamedia has represented WOW! in multiple markets across the country since the company’s inception.

Mercedes-Benz is staging some AR action off the courts at the US Open. An official sponsor of the event, Mercedes is running its largest tech activation and first-ever AR experience, featuring 2017 US Open Champion and brand ambassador Sloane Stephens offering enthusiasts some tips on the game with the help of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience voice assistant (MBUX). Cynopsis got a tour of the site and chatted with Nicholas Emma, supervisor of brand experience marketing at Mercedes-Benz USA, who said aside from marketing, the big “gets” from the activation are potential buyers’ email and ZIP code. Those who want to participate in the experience are asked two questions: Whether they are looking to purchase a new car, and what their purchase window is. If they answer positively to those prompts, their information is shared with a local dealer. If not… “There’s a very strong privacy policy,” Emma said. “If you don’t go to those questions and answer them, then the information doesn’t go to the dealer.” The brand will take the tech on the road directly after the tennis event, opening a site September 15 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the Falcons’ first season game in an activation featuring quarterback Matt Ryan. Emma said the additional sporting events are on the horizon for the AR tech, as are activations at pop-up retail shops, which the company launched a few years ago.

Up to $65,000 of every $100,000 spent on location advertising is outside of the targeted area or is based on signals of insufficient quality to deliver target requirements, according to a report from location intelligence company Location Sciences. On the plus side, 40% of suppliers showed nearly 100% accuracy in location, and 35% showed nearly 100% accuracy in signal quality

Lotame announced 1,200% year-over-year growth in second-party data adoption from April 2018 to April 2019 based on usage of Lotame’s 2nd-Party Data Marketplace. “With our 2nd-Party Data Marketplace, we have built the pipeline to a new era of data connectivity in the digital ecosystem,” said Evgeny Popov, Head of Global Data Solutions. “We are making it possible for parties -whether you're a marketer or a publisher - to connect to transparent datasets directly from the source at global scale.” Lotame’s 2nd-Party Data Marketplace provides a secure peer-to-peer exchange for data owners and buyers to connect, discover and size target audiences.

Ad tech company Amobee announced it was in The Forrester New Wave: Cross-Channel Video Advertising Platforms, Q3 2019 report, cited as a Leader in cross-channel video advertising. “The last year has been transformative for Amobee, and we believe Forrester’s independent research analysis validates our strategy and investments as we expand our offerings to include advanced TV and digital video solutions, with sophisticated data-driven linear TV planning tools and premium inventory opportunities for advertisers and agencies worldwide,” said Kim Perell, Chief Executive Officer at Amobee.

Also included in the report was 4C, which Forrester said “leads the pack with extensive linear and OTT/CTV inventory” and “is the best fit for companies that need a pure self-service tool.” Pluses identified by Forrester for the Scope by 4C platform include “a strong identity graph, sophisticated data science, and additional TV data from Inscape, Nielsen, and others.”

Hudson MX, a cloud-based software company, and Comscore formed a partnership that will enable buyers of local TV to buy inventory against IHS Markit (formerly Polk) automotive audiences at scale. Comscore’s IHS Markit automotive data will be seamlessly integrated into Hudson MX’s flagship product, BuyerAssist.

STREAMING

Roku is on pace to reach 80 million active accounts by 2025, up from 30 million now, estimates William Blair analyst Ralph Schackart. That sets it on a faster growth trajectory than Netflix. “Looking at Roku’s most recent nine quarters against those of Netflix in the beginning stages of Phase II, Roku, on average, achieved 9% quarter-over-quarter growth, compared with Netflix’s average of 8%,” said Schackart.

Streaming media company Plex will for the first time offer ad-supported content on its services, via a new agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. “Plex has always been about solving new media challenges, and our mission is to tame the growing chaos in the media landscape,” said Keith Valory, CEO of Plex, in a statement about the launch. “Licensing these movies from Warner Bros. enables us to offer more types of third-party content than any other platform and bring it all together in one beautiful solution. Premium ad-supported movies and shows deserve first-class treatment alongside other content that consumers enjoy daily, as opposed to being orphaned in yet another stand-alone app.”

Gaming industry veterans Jamie Ottilie and Brian Waddle are rebooting Telltale Games, the studio behind the Walking Dead video game and Netflix’s Minecraft: Storymode Adventure series. The duo is hoping to monetize Telltale’s catalog and create new titles that follow its model of story-based episodic gaming.

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Job of the day

DIRECTOR, STUDIO & TECHNICAL OPERATIONS
NBCUniversal
NYC
Seeking top candidate who can maximize all operations of Net News, Sports, Enter, and Corp Events. Must have 7+ yrs in live TV oper environ. A capacity to manage multiple projects, plus a proficiency in MS Office 365 tools such as Teams, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, etc. Full info HERE

DIR, BRAND STRATEGY, DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER >>

NBCUniversal/NYC: Looking for world-class brand strategist responsible for supporting the overarching DTC communications strategy. Must be big picture thinker with 8 yrs brand planning/marketing strategy exp (TV/DTC) from ent industry, adv agency or consumer products co. Full info HERE (9/13)

AUDIO TECHNICIAN >>

Newsmax TV/NYC: Operate/execute complete audio mixing/creation for several live & taped broadcasts, in the context of originally produced programs & public service announcements of audiences. 2+yrs successful exp in executing graphic and character generation in TV news, creative services, etc. Full info HERE (9/17)

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR >>

Newsmax TV/NYC: Directs, co-develops & delivers locally produced programs and public service announcements for national and international audiences. 3+yrs of successful exp in directing Live TV news, studio-based programming or similarly related professional media prod & media presentation exp. Full info HERE (9/17)

VIDEO EDITOR >>

Newsmax TV/NYC: Produce and deliver completed projects using Adobe Creative Suite. Collaborate with production team, producers, and talent to create and deliver broadcast ready elements and assets. 5+yrs professional editing exp. Full info HERE (9/17)

VIDEO GRAPHICS EDITOR >>

Newsmax TV/NYC: Create graphics template for on-air Guests. Create animation graphics template for telephone guests. 2+ more years of successful exp in the field or in a related area required. Full info HERE (9/17)

SR MANAGER, PUBLIC RELATIONS >>

Newsmax TV/NYC: Manage, oversee and/or execute multiple communications and program publicity campaigns. A strong understanding of television publicity, key press outlets/journalists and experience in launching and sustaining press coverage on TV series is essential. Full info HERE (9/17)

MUSIC SUPERVISOR>>

NYC: Reality tv production company is seeking a music supervisor. This person will be responsible for overseeing the placement of all music tracks in our programs, & ensuring all music is properly cleared prior to delivery. Full info HERE (9/12)

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT>>

NYC: Reality tv production company seeks an experienced executive assistant to the President, CCO & SVP of Development. General duties include answering phones, heavy scheduling, booking travel, expenses, & contract management. Full info HERE (9/12)

DIRECT RESPONSE, VICE PRESIDENT >>
ION/NYC: Oversee and manage all aspects of the DR. Proactively develop business plans to drive account growth and development to achieve revenue goals. 15+ yrs DR selling exp in media or a related field. 3+ yrs of exp managing people or leading a sales team. Full info HERE (9/12)

SALES RESEARCH, DIRECTOR >>
ION/NYC: Oversee the Sales Research team and arm the Sales group with network performance metrics, competitive advantages, and thoughtful research stories. 7-10 years of Sales Research exp within the media industry. Strong leadership skills, analytical comm & presentation skills. Full info HERE (9/12)

NETWORK SALES, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE >>
ION/NYC: Focus on developing new and growing business among major agencies via strong relationships and superior client service. 5+ yrs of sales exp w/national cable, broadcast ad sales or media buying background required. Full info HERE (9/12)

DIRECTOR, STUDIO & TECHNICAL OPERATIONS>>

NBCUniversal/NYC: Seeking top candidate who can maximize all operations of Net News, Sports, Enter, and Corp Events. Must have 7+ yrs in live TV oper environ. A capacity to manage multiple projects, plus a proficiency in MS Office 365 tools such as Teams, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, etc. Full info HERE (9/11)

AD SALES PLANNER, DIRECT RESPONSE>>

TVONE/NYC: Seeking strong candidate with emphasis on client services to supports the Direct Response team. Must be familiar with relevant research tools (MRI, Nielsen, Simmons). 2 yrs of adv/media and 1 yr dir response exp required. 1 yr of dir response TV sls planning and agency buying/planning exp preferred. Full info HERE (9/11)

DIGITAL ACCOUNT LEAD>>
NBC TELEMUNDO BAY AREA: Be a critical part of the sales team, responsible for supervision of all digital solutions including online platforms, creating content, project timelines and more. Work with management to support strategies and meet the needs of our company. Full info HERE (9/10)

SENIOR ANALYST, AD SALES RESEARCH>>
Discovery/NYC: Analytical thinker to leverage variety of rsrch to provide data-driven intel in support of ad sales initiatives for lifestyle brands. Utilize data systems & translate info into insights. 3-5 yrs rel exp req. Full info HERE (9/10)

VP, AD SALES RESEARCH & STRATEGY>>
Discovery/NYC: Strategic leader to oversee compelling research analysis & consumer insights across ntwrks & platfrms to help meet revenue goals & priorities. Work w/partners to develop/execute clear, actionable ad sales plans. 12-15+ yrs rel exp req. Full info HERE (9/10)

FINANCIAL ANALYST>>
A+E/NY: Manage quarterly profit participation reporting to producers, talent and business partners in tv, theatrical and new media motion pictures across the A+E Networks portfolio. BA/BS in Finance or Acctg. Entertainment Royalty payment exp, strong Excel skills, ability to interpret contractual terms, detailed oriented with strong communication skills. Apply HERE (9/6)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER>>
NEWSMAX TV/NY: Work w/show hosts, preparing the rundown of new stories, identifying and integrating guests, overseeing and executing the production of key video and graphic elements. 3+ yrs executive producing exp or overseeing newscast prod. Full info HERE (9/6)

NEWS PRODUCER>>
NEWSMAX TV/NY: Resp for prod of live newscasts, news shows & recorded video segments for television, and digital platforms. Generate new story ideas. Strong writing/organizational skills req’d; ability to prod content under heavy deadline pressure. Full info HERE (9/6)

ONLINE EDITOR>>
NEWSMAX TV/NY: News editor with hands-on, real-time oversight of Newsmax.com to focus on politics and national news with health, financial and world news coverage. 3+yrs exp in editing online or other publication. 5+yr exp in journalism. Full info HERE (9/6)

SOCIAL MEDIA MGR>>
NEWSMAX TV/NY: Enhancing our brand & building strong online community resp for developing/administering social media content that is designed to engage users and create an interactive relationship between consumers & company. 3+yrs exp in social media mngmnt. Full info HERE (9/6)

TV BOOKER>>
NEWSMAX TV/NY: Resp for supporting developing relationships w/officials, experts, publicists, agents & talent. Work closely w/ news, programming & talent in prod. At least 5+yrs exp media industry in either TV, online, or print publications. Strong relationships w/TV analysts, experts & publicists. Full info HERE (9/6)

VP AD SALES, TV>>
NEWSMAX TV/NY: Responsible for planning and implementing cable TV sales and product development programs, both short and long range, targeted toward existing and new markets. Develops, hires, trains and manages advertising sales team.Experience in national TV or cable network sales. Full info HERE (9/6)

NEWS DIRECTOR, VP>>
NEWSMAX TV/NY: Oversee/manage television news dept and staff to ensure the accurate, timely delivery of news. Oversee the daily operations of the TV news operations. Strong understanding of Newsmax brand and talent. Leadership and team building skills. Full info HERE (9/6)

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR & SOCIAL MEDIA CHAMPIONSHIPS & ALLIANCES>>
NCAA/Indianapolis IN: Collaboratively dvlp/implement/mng NCAA Championships social media strategies. Min 6yrs, social media and/or content prod exp or related field. Excellent written/oral presentation skills. Full info HERE (9/6)

ANALYST, VIDEO SUBSCRIPTION & MEMBERSHIP>>
First Look Media/NY: Resp for maintaining, understanding, and leveraging the organization’s quantitative/qualitative data in support of its premium video streaming offer. Min 2yrs exp w/video content analytics w/ a focus on subscriber acquisition & retention, pref within TV, film, ent, music or video envir. Full info HERE (9/6)

SR MGR, ADVANCED SOLUTIONS>>
A + E Networks/NYC: Leading large Projects/Initiatives, maintaining & optimizing A+E Ad Technology stack, & helping diversify A+E Network’s Ad Product line up. Full Info/Apply HERE (9/6)

RESEARCH ANALYST>>
Crown Media Family Networks/NY: Entry level, provides support to the NY Research Team. BA/BS req; strong MS Office Skills prior exp. Nielsen systems helpful. Apply HERE (9/6)

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT >>
The CW Network/NYC: The CW Network seeks an Executive Assistant for their Media Sales & Planning department. Must have 2+ years of professional administrative experience, preferably in advertising or entertainment. Full info and how to apply HERE (9/4)