Fios unleashing the power of Internet TV?

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY: Verizon announced plans to roll out a series of interactive widgets for its FiOS TV service, laying down a gauntlet of sorts that should force the cable industry to accelerate its iTV efforts. The first “Widget Bazaar” apps, which have already begun rolling out in select markets, will provide TV access to some of the most popular applications on the web: an ESPN Fantasy Football widget will provide real-time fantasy updates; a Facebook widget will enable viewers to update their status as well as view photos and friend updates; and a Twitter widget will provide two-screen, real-time interaction with television programs. Later this month, customers who subscribe to Verizon’s Home Media DVR service will be able to search and view online videos from the popular online video portals blip.tv, Dailymotion and Veoh. A My Videos feature will also allow subscribers to access videos stored on their PCs. Even more exciting is a plan to open up the platform to third-party developers who will be able to offer apps to the public through the service’s Widget Bazaar outlet – Verizon’s own living room version of the app store. Full edition: CYN DIGITAL.

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ANNOUNCING: New Small Biz Resource

Due to their popularity the small business articles I’ve been posting over the last month are evolving. Originally (and still) posted on www.RABpromo.com, the series “Your Business Beyond Email: Basic Multimedia Marketing” is having it’s chapters broken out into individual articles and polished up their new home www.InovediaMarketing.com, a new marketing resource for advice, tips and discussion. Articles posted so far include: “How to” and Demonstrational Video Tips & Tricks, Using Customers as Spokespeople, Choosing a Videographer, Connecting With Customers: Marketing Tips and 6 Random Rules for Owning a Website. These and new articles will be hosted on InovediaMarketing.com. Where I hope you will help me create a new, more comprehensive “NEW MARKETING” resource for small businesses.

“My intent is to get you thinking about more creatively engaging your customers and perhaps remove some of the new media marketing mystique. My goal is to get you beyond advertising using conversational marketing. -Richard”

WHY NOW? In a time when the economy is tanking, friends and colleagues who build websites are busier than ever. Makes sense, I guess, as the web offers small businesses (all businesses really) cost effective ways to grow. Unfortunately, what many small business owners don’t see are the endless possibilities beyond the website and how they can use the web to start very profitable conversations. These conversations can build customer loyalty, deliver monetize-able research, entertain or otherwise gain attention (or trust) and even provide alternative revenue streams.

Please check it out, spread the word and send me your feedback on the new site to Richard @ RABpromo dot com.

SUCCESS = NEW AD TREND & AWFUL MOVIES

You can bet big advertisers will be watching this one closely, a product placement movie by MTV and Sears. If successful, surely we’ll see a flurry of big advertisers rushing to create similar projects and probably more than one flop on the big screen. The key for Sears success will be “invisible” product placement that’s ACTUALLY cool, not corporate “cool” and obvious. While MTV certainly brings the expertise necessary to pull off this type of product placement, let’s see if the Sear’s suits will refrain from pulling rank and screwing this up.

-Richard

MTV, Sears Team Up for Movie Musical
MTV and retailer Sears are teaming up on a movie musical from the producers of High School Musical. The movie, The American Mall, will premiere on MTV August 11, with the DVD and soundtrack hitting stores the next day. The movie’s pickup had been leaked last December, though the Sears partnership came later on, according to a network spokesperson. Sears brand integration will be present throughout the movie. Many of the movie’s scenes were filmed at Sears locations, and the characters will wear Sears fashions and products. Co-branded spots will appear during the movie. According to MTV, the decision to release the movie at the end of the summer was meant to lead into the back-to-school shopping season. The hope is that the Sears clothing featured in the movie could seed trends for the fall.

Summary from Marketing Ideanet email newsletter

Story reported by: Broadcasting & Cable

-Richard

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Farewell George Carlin, age 71

For a great look back at some of his amazing work, Hulu has posted 4 George Carlin videos at http://www.hulu.com/collections/88

George Carlin, the man behind the Seven Words You Can Never Say on TV comedy routine, died of heart failure yesterday at the age of 71, reports the AP