Clear Channel Unveils Spectacolor HD Billboard — with Free WiFi, Ad Ops Galore

CNN is joining the ranks of Reuters, breaking ground with a giant Times Square-based digital display.

This isn't just any billboard. CNN, now the content provider for Clear Channel's new Spectacolor HD billboard, will not only boast the highest quality of any digital billboard in the US; it's also packed with outdoor advertising options galore.

Going up on the corner of 47th and Broadway, the billboard will run multiple ad spots in conjunction with streaming news, weather forecasts and HD broadcasts from CNN.

Advertisers can buy Bluetooth downloads that allow visitors to bring "a piece of the billboard with them home," as well as interactive content via short code that will turn people's phones into a remote controls.

Finally, the board will serve as Time Square's first free public Wi-Fi spot.

Nokia signs video deals with CNN, Sony and others

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The world's top cellphone maker Nokia ( has signed partnership deals with seven companies including CNN and Sony Pictures to bring video content to its top-of-the-range multimedia phones.

"Consumer desire to watch Internet videos on mobile devices is growing all the time and we want to help users discover and access the best content in the simplest way possible," Harri Mannisto, director at Nokia's multimedia unit, said on Tuesday.

Nokia said it would also bring video content from India's IBN news channel and videos from Jamba, RooftopComedy, ROK and Versaly Entertainment to its N95 models.

It has previously signed similar deals with Google's YouTube and Reuters.

Nokia to acquire Enpocket to create a global mobile advertising leader

Enpocket to provide Nokia with a platform to accelerate scaling of its mobile advertising businessEspoo, Finland - Nokia and Enpocket today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Nokia to acquire Enpocket (www.enpocket.com). Enpocket is a global leader in mobile advertising; providing technology and services that allow brands to plan, create, execute, measure and optimize mobile advertising campaigns around the world. By acquiring Enpocket, Nokia will accelerate the scaling of its mobile advertising business, leveraging Enpocket's platform and strong partnerships with advertisers, publishers and operators. In addition to key assets, through this transaction Nokia is gaining a team with strong expertise in global mobile advertising across disciplines.

"Nokia has already announced its intention to be a leading company in consumer Internet services and we believe that mobile advertising will be an important element in monetizing those services for our customers and partners. Enpocket's mature leading edge platform and people expertise are a strong fit with Nokia existing capabilities in the mobile advertising market," said Tero Ojanperä, Chief Technology Officer, Nokia. "This acquisition is a game changing move to bring the reach and depth of Nokia to organize the market across the world, and make it easier for an ecosystem to develop."

Enpocket is a privately-owned company, established in 2001 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The innovative technology that drives the Enpocket platform is a mobile advertising campaign management and delivery system distinguished by advanced consumer insight, targeting, and measurement. The platform can deliver mobile advertising across multiple formats including SMS, MMS, mobile Internet advertising, and video. Enpocket is powering mobile advertising for leading mobile operators and publishers across the globe and has an ad sales force that is working with large brands.

"Effective interactive advertising on the mobile device can create tremendous value for the mobile industry while bringing new Internet services to people around the world," said Enpocket President and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Baker. "Enpocket and Nokia are combining to provide the leadership needed to define, build and standardize globally the business of mobile advertising so that brands can easily and efficiently engage consumers on their personal devices."

The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Internet Ad Spending Set to Overtake Newspapers

Financial Times reports online advertising will overtake U.S. newspaper advertising in terms of size by 2011, according to a new forecast from Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Consumers are shifting to digital alternatives and migrating away from newspapers, broadcast television and other media.

Disney, Sprint Ink Deal for Entertainment, Kids’, News Content

Sprint customers will be able access full episodes of news and entertainment programming from ABC Entertainment, ABC News and Disney Channel on their mobile phones, either on demand or via streaming channels, via a new deal announced today.

The Disney-ABC Television Group and Sprint deal will see the content being delivered on demand and via three mobile channels, streaming continuous scheduled programming throughout the day. The deal includes on-demand, full-length episodes of ABC’s Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Lost and Ugly Betty, as well as a linear channel with content from Disney Channel.

Sprint is also the first carrier to provide ABC Mobile, a newly created linear mobile channel. ABC Mobile features a variety of full-length and short-form news and entertainment content, including full-length episodes of Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Lost and Ugly Betty.

Video-on-demand shows will be available the day after their television premiere. In general, customers will be able to access the four most recently televised episodes of each series. Beginning this fall, selected entertainment and news on-demand content and linear programming will include advertising.

The content is available via Sprint TV on Sprint's Power Vision devices. All of the content will be included in the Sprint Power Vision TV Pack, which costs an additional $20 per month. Alternatively, content from Disney Channel only, including the on-demand programs and linear channel, will be available as part of the Power Vision Access Pack, which costs an additional $15 per month.

WorldScreen has more.

Mobile Phone Manufacturers as media content providers

With Nokia rolling out new mobile advertising products and services such as The Advertising Connector and Nokia Ad Service they are essentially becoming media content providers.

Nokia Ad Service is a mobile ad network formed by a group of mobile publishers – is a fully managed service for advertisers to conduct targeted advertising on mobile services and applications. It was launched in Europe on 6 March and will be available commercially by the end of the year.

While Nokia Advertising Connector, enables delivery of targeted ads to mobile devices. The platform offers access to third parties and enables their ad sales teams to sell for the mobile channel. The technology is able to select between text, visual, audio and video ads – depending on the user’s context – and then feeds the ad to the device.

Nokia Advertising Connector will run several pilots during the coming months and is planned to become commercially available by the end of 2007.

The technology will help drive the sales of the networks as mobile phone operators will need to increase the capasity of their networks to enhance user experience while the end users will opt to turn in their handsets for the latest models in order to take advantage of the latest technology.

This allow incredible business opportunities for third party software developers, content providers, media owners and for advertisers taking advantage of ROI based solutions towards end users.