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.

Nielsen Chief: Media Landscape is Changing

Conventional wisdom these days has it that television is dying. Like most conventional wisdom, it's dead wrong.

By almost any measure, television is alive and well. The number of TV households keeps growing - particularly among Latino, African American and Asian Pacific American audiences. Household viewing remains near an all-time high of more than eight hours a day. And television consumption continues to eclipse any other medium by a wide margin; with 90 percent of it still done at home where, on average, there now are more TV sets than people to watch them.

People will continue to watch more television in the future, not less, writes Nielsen Media Research chief Susan Whiting. "But they will do it in new and different ways." Still, "the opportunity to target specific audiences and truly engage them will be unprecedented."

SFGate has the story.

Microsoft Plans to Become a Media Company

Within the next four to 10 years, says Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer, as much as 25% of the software giant's revenues are likely to come from advertising. Microsoft can already deliver advertising to new platforms such as in-game promotions and mobile-phone campaigns.

Business Week has more.

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.

ESPN STAR Sports to Air Special Olympic World Summer Games

SINGAPORE, October 1: ESPN Star Sports will broadcast the 2007 Special Olympic World Summer Games in Shanghai, China, across the Asian region, beginning tomorrow.

It will be the first time the summer games will be held in Asia, and only the second time outside the U.S., and more than 30,000 athletes and officials from 175 countries are expected to take part.

ESPN STAR Sports will feature highlights of the Games on its ESPN and STAR Sports channels throughout Asia, including a ‘live’ broadcast of the Opening Ceremony on October 2 on STAR Sports. Daily highlights of personal triumphs will be shown every weekday on SportsCenter Asia news bulletins at 10 p.m. HKT on ESPN and a one-hour post-Games highlight special will air on October 18 on STAR Sports. ESPN, in the U.S. will provide coverage of the 2007 Special Olympic World Summer Games across various platforms, including its television channel, ESPN360.com and ESPN.com.

Special Olympics is the international non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics athletes of all ability levels will compete in 25 different Olympic-type and demonstration sports. Since 2006, ESPN STAR Sports has been closely involved with Special Olympics as part of its “Engage with ESPN STAR Sports” corporate social responsibility efforts. Over the last year, ESPN STAR Sports has organized various initiatives such the production and broadcast of the first Special Olympics International Cricket Cup in Mumbai last year, in which 272 athletes and more than 600 volunteers, coaches and officials from nine countries participated. In addition, ESPN STAR Sports staff has been working actively with Special Olympics athletes through volunteer coaching programs, fundraising activities and family days. The network has also run public service announcements to increase awareness of people with intellectual disabilities.

Manu Sawhney, the managing director of ESPN STAR Sports, said: “ESPN STAR Sports has shared a unique relationship with Special Olympics and we are pleased to continue our support and commitment to this cause. The dedication and commitment of Special Olympics teams and athletes is a story that needs to be told. With 17 networks across 24 countries, ESPN STAR Sports is well-positioned to deliver the Special Olympics’ message of acceptance and inclusion of its athletes and bring greater awareness across markets in Asia."

Murdoch: Internet Is Bigger Than News Corp

Despite its vast media holdings, News Corp. is dwarfed by the enormity of the Internet, says chief Rupert Murdoch. "We don't dominate anywhere," says the media mogul. News Corp. remains "a tiny fraction" of the media universe, with the public well able to find differing opinions elsewhere.

Marketwatch has the story.

A Sign of Things to Come?

São Paulo's Billboard Ban Made History. Now Other Markets Could Be Next


RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AdAge.com) -- São Paulo made history by banning ads on billboards, neon signs and electronic panels, and now Rio de Janeiro is considering a similar measure. Outdoor giant JCDecaux has been garnering street-furniture contracts in markets such as Paris by cleaning up billboards in exchange for bicycles, and made headlines with a similar offer in Moscow. In the U.S., Vermont, Maine, Hawaii and Alaska all have long-standing policies forbidding outdoor ads, and legislators in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco have explored similar bans. The backlash comes despite (or maybe because of) the growth of outdoor advertising.

Read the full article on Adage.com