Nielsen reports US TV viewing at all time high in Q4 2008 – due to timeshifting; UK reports similar rise in viewing

As reported here in Variety, Nielsen is reporting record levels of TV viewing in the US for the fourth quarter of 2008. Apparently the average American over the age of 2 watched 151 hours of TV per month (that’s c.5 hours per day), up from 146 hours in same period 2007. The article notes
More watching [...]

New Report on Online Video in Asia

Mike Walsh, trendspotter, digital futurist and researcher, has just posted on his blog a summary and videos relating to a research project he’s just completed for CASBAA, the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia, on online video in Asia.  It makes fascinating reading (and watching). The emphasis is on the power of audiences; the [...]

13% Decline in TV Advertising Revenue in 2008 Contributes to CBS Loss of US$11.8 billion

Broadcasting and Cable’s Claire Atkinson reports today on CBS Corp’s announcement of $11.8 billion loss for 2008, and 52% fall in net income.
Not all of the loss is due to downturn in TV advertising revenue, although all ad-supported areas of the Corp’s business are down: outdoor by 75% and radio by 56% in the fourth [...]

Do you feel “gamed” by online advertising?

…..its getting harder and harder, now that the Internet is becoming almost a living, breathing thing that watches what we do, to know whether its genuine recommendation that’s coming through from someone, or whether it’s a testimonial from an agency hidden as a blogger recommendation.”
Laurel Papworth, social network strategist.
This transcript from the ABC’s Future Tense [...]

GFC Bites TV: Canadian regulator considers one-year licence renewals

Canadian sources are reporting that the Canadian broadcasting regulator CRTC is considering issuing short-term one-year licences (rather than usual 7 year terms) when network licences come up for renewal in April. This follows release of CRTC data showing major private sector TV broadcasters profits fell by 93% in 2008. Elsewhere the union that represents many [...]

governments strapped for cash could tax the internet

One of our scenario writers in December 08, imagined that the government would levy “everything that moves in cyberspace”.
The Rudd government saw the Free to Air Television stations were doomed and that it should control access to what it called The Right to Distribute. So it levied all audiovisual distribution companies, including every web based [...]