November 2007: Men 18-34

websites to watch - men 18-34

MyBlueCollar.com
MyBluecollar.com is a partnership formed by comics Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, and Jeff Foxworthy. It is a site that allows you to share, vote, comment, and post your own funny videos wherever you are on the web. In addition, The Blue Crew will be creating exclusive new videos that will be added to the site each week.

Ripetv.com
Ripe TV is the leading provider of short-form television entertainment across the mobile, broadband and cable video-on-demand platforms.

Sportskool
Sportskool is the TV network that is dedicated to helping athletes take their game to the next level. Sportskool is available On Demand and online.

 
websites to watch - general

Petside.com
A dash of community websites like Facebook & Myspace mixed with web portals like AOL or Yahoo devoted to Pet Lovers is what you get at petside.com.

FreeRice.com
Free Rice is a multiple choice vocabulary game. For every word someone gets right, 10 grains of rice are donated to the UN to help in the fight against world hunger.

DanceJam
It's a site where people can upload videos of themselves dancing and see other dance videos as well. The site will host contests in various styles of dance, and there's a social network angle too. While still in beta testing, if you like to dance and like to watch others dance, this site will be the place to visit.

 
blog trends

RCRD LBL
RCRD LBL is an online only record label and blog. All the music on its site is free with revenue generated by sponsorships and ads. You can get branded widgets for photos, tour dates, and play lists that can be embedded on other websites.

SportsBlogs Nation
SportsBlogs Nation is a network of individual blog communities run by fans, for fans and united by a common devotion to their favorite team or sports. By empowering fans to have a voice in the sports world, SB Nation is the largest independent sports blog network.

Flickr/Places
Flickr, the online photo hosting website has added a new feature for its users. Essentially, it's a profile page for locations, letting you dig deep to see pictures taken by local photographers and around landmarks that have been matched up either by name or geotags. People add their photos and match it with geography (something that's done through Flickr's organizer tool). The most recent shots will appear on the page.

 
technology trends

Verizon Wireless Opens up Network
By the end of next year, Verizon Wireless will start opening its network to devices and software not offered by the company. This move will allow cell phones with compatible technology to run on the Verizon network and run any application. more info

Amazon Launches Wireless Book Reader "Kindle"
Amazon.com will begin selling an electronic book reader with wireless access in continued efforts to build consumer interest in portable reading devices. more info

New Software Infers Consumer Behavior and Serves Up Restaurant, Shopping and Activity Suggestions
New software will turn mobile phones into personal assistants by using artificial intelligence. Combining cues like time of day, geographic location, past behaviors, and even text messages, mobile phones will infer consumer interests to serve up personalized lists of restaurants, shops, events and more. more info

 
interesting articles - men 18-34

Ubisoft Gets its Game on With CC, Spike Ad Blitz
MTV Networks' Comedy Central and Spike have cut a multi-layered deal with videogame company Ubisoft for an all-out advertising assault during new episodes of South Park and The Ultimate Fighter this week, showcasing the marketer's much-anticipated title Assassin's Creed and blanketing those series' coveted male 18-34 year old fans. more info

Activision Taps Massive to Handle Ads in Key Game Franchises
Consumers aren't the only ones rushing to buy "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" and skate park title "Tony Hawk's Proving Ground." Advertisers also want a piece of Activision's longstanding franchises. Both recent video game releases were added to Massive's in-game advertising network to run dynamic ads. more info

IFC's Happy Hours: Double of Dewar's
Whisky Brand Blends with Film Net as Sponsor of Wednesday Movie Bill
IFC has signed up Dewar's Scotch whisky as the sponsor of its Wednesday night "Back to Basics" double-feature film program, and now the cable channel that boasts of being uncut, uncensored and commercial-free has a brand sponsor for its independent film showings every night of the week. more info

'Hitman': The Fine Art of Picking Games for Movies
While the release of video games based on movies tends to be a regular occurrence, movies based on games are far more infrequent, most likely because so few have been successful. more info

Ultimate Fight Championship Brings Mixed Martial Arts From Bloody Barnyard Brawls to the Big Time
Estranged boxing fans, wrestling aficionados and the morbidly curious are swarming to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. more info

Men Say TV is the Big Influencer
Marketers trying to reach a predominantly male audience should stick with television advertising. That is the indication from a recent study from Maxim Magazine and Hall & Partners researchers. more info

 
interesting articles - general

To Click or Not to Click: Web Site Features Influence Consumer Choice in Holiday Shopping Destinations
Differences Between Generations and Similarities Among Genders Create Opportunities and Challenges for E-tailers
It will take more than a basic e-commerce site to satisfy consumers this holiday season, concludes GSI Commerce Inc. based on the results of a recent survey of online U.S. adults. more info

Web Videos Stealing TV Viewers, and Marketers
Why are fewer viewers watching the new fall television series? Perhaps because they are too busy watching video online. more info

Verizon Wireless Marches into the Open
CNET
November 27, 2007

Verizon Wireless announced plans Tuesday to let any cell phone compatible with its technology run on its network, and to let owners of those devices run any application they desire, by the end of next year.

That would mean that any U.S. customer of Sprint's, which also uses the CDMA (code division multiple access) cellular networking technology, could use his or her phone on Verizon's data network. But the decision to open up the network to outside applications is a clear nod to the growing interest in mobile phones as an application development platform by companies like Google, and a dramatic departure from Verizon's usual practice of locking down its phones.

Even though it hasn't quite satisfied all of its critics on the subject, Verizon in the past few weeks has taken significant steps--including Tuesday's announcement--toward opening its network to devices and software not offered by the company.

As ZDNet's Larry Dignan points out, Verizon is responding to competitive forces such as the iPhone and Google's Open Handset Alliance. And, in fact, the company more than hinted it would be moving in this direction in October, when it filed to dismiss its appeals court petition arguing against Federal Communications Commission open-access rules for the upcoming auction of 700MHz wireless spectrum.

Consumer groups on Tuesday praised Verizon Wireless for the initiative, which will include technical testing and a full rollout in 2008, but noted that it is not fully fleshed out. ""This is surely a step in the right direction, but its shortcomings underscore the need for regulations to guarantee Americans the same rights on wireless networks that they have on landlines. Verizon's plan still doesn't guarantee access for all devices, and it is uncertain how much Verizon may charge customers for the right to use their own equipment," Harold Feld, senior vice president of the Media Access Project, said in a statement.

And Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of consumer group Public Knowledge, said in statement that while Verizon's announcement is cause for "cautious optimism," it also is "very limited. If other carriers don't follow the same model, then consumers will still find their phones tied to a specific technology or wireless company. Until they do, an iPhone will still be useless on any network but AT&T's. In order for an open network to become a reality, all carriers will have to participate."

Verizon has 63.8 million users on its network. That makes it the second-largest carrier in the U.S., behind AT&T and ahead of Sprint and T-Mobile.

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Amazon Launches Wireless Book Reader "Kindle"
CNBC.com
November 19, 2007

Amazon.com, the world's largest Web retailer, said on Monday it will begin selling an electronic book reader with wireless access, the latest attempt to build consumer interest in portable reading devices.

Although the market for e-books is limited, and competing devices have yet to catch on, one analyst said Amazon's book reader could eventually evolve into one that is able to capture all of the company's many offerings.

The battery-operated Amazon Kindle will sell for $399 and let users download books, newspapers and blogs over a wireless connection. It can carry about 200 books downloaded from Amazon.com at about $10 each for new releases.

Wireless access, based on the cellphone broadband technology EVDO, is built into the 10-ounce, thin white device. Downloading content does not require a computer and takes less than a minute for a full-length book, the company said.

"The question is, can you improve upon something as highly evolved and well-suited to its task as the book? And if so, how?," Amazon.com Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said at a press conference in New York.

The device's screen is not back-lit and uses electronic ink to mimic paper. The competing Sony Reader from Sony Corp uses similar technology but does not include wireless access.

In a note to customers on the company's Web site, http://www.amazon.com, Bezos wrote: "The book lover in me often has asked the nerd in me: 'Is there a way to get the emotions and experiences I love from books, but combined with the possibilities of advanced technology?"'

Seattle-based Amazon began as an online bookseller but has since grown into the world's largest Web retailer and second-most-popular e-commerce site behind eBay Inc, selling everything from scooters to diamonds to groceries.

In recent years it has beefed up its spending on technology; but pull-backs in spending in the past year and resulting improved profits have caused Amazon's share price to nearly double since January.

KINDLE THE TROJAN HORSE?

In a research note, Stifel Nicolaus analyst Scott Devitt said the device "has the capacity to recreate the e-book business, as well as several other long-term options."

"With time, we believe Amazon Kindle could be Amazon.com's Trojan Horse into a complete 'always on' connection to all Amazon offerings," Devitt wrote.

Amazon already allows consumers to download videos through its Amazon Unbox service, as well as music through its recently-launched Amazon MP3 store -- measures designed to ensure consumer loyalty and get a foothold into the nascent digital arena.

The Kindle service will also offer subscriptions to newspapers, magazines and blogs for a monthly fee. Subscriptions to newspapers such as the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal will range from $5.99 to $14.99. Magazine subscriptions will range from $1.25 to $3.49 per month.

Amazon will offer subscriptions to blogs at a cost of about 99 cents.

Amazon said it currently offers more than 90,000 books. Downloading and reading the first chapters of most books is free.

Amazon shares were up 0.7 percent, or 56 cents, to $79.16 in early afternoon trading on the Nasdaq.

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Smart Phone Suggests Things to Do
New Software Uses Artificial Intelligence to Infer your Behavior and Serve Up Appropriate Lists of Restaurants, Stores, and Events
Technology Review
November 17, 2007

The mobile phone has long ceased being a simple two-way communication device: today's handheld is a mini personal computer, complete with multimedia players, maps, and Web browsers. Now researchers at Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) want to push the phone farther. They have developed software that turns a phone into a thoughtful personal assistant, one that helps people find fun things to do. The software, called Magitti, uses a combination of cues--including the time of day, a person's location, her past behaviors, and even her text messages--to infer her interests. It then shows a helpful list of suggestions, including concerts, movies, bookstores, and restaurants.

When a person first opens a phone that has Magitti software, she will instantly see a list of recommendations. If it's noon, the software might suggest local restaurants. If it's 3 P.M., it might recommend a nearby boutique for shopping. If it's 9 P.M., a list of pubs might appear. Over time, these recommendations will change as Magitti learns more about the user's behaviors and preferences. The software employs artificial-intelligence algorithms that have traditionally been used in research to make tailored recommendations. If, for instance, a person prefers to eat inexpensive lunches and more-expensive dinners, Magitti will pick up on this (by comparing the GPS location of the restaurant with a database of establishments) and offer up corresponding recommendations.

There are products available today that take advantage of GPS for friend finding, such as Loopt, and location-based search is available through Web portals Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo. But Magitti aims to do something different. "What's unique is that we've tried to build awareness of different kinds of activities," says Victoria Bellotti, senior researcher at PARC. "We want to find what kind of mode [the user is in]: if they're hungry, if they're interested in being entertained ... And we're trying to make this a relaxing interactive experience rather than being bothersome with alerts or requiring you to do searches."

PARC's software, which was developed for the Japanese company Dai Nippon Printing, is an example of a burgeoning trend to add more intelligence to handheld devices. And in many cases, this intelligence gives gadgets the ability to learn more about the person who operates them. As phones become more powerful, and more acquire sensors such as accelerometers and GPS, researchers are looking to artificial-intelligence algorithms to make sense of the data. Microsoft, Intel, Nokia, and universities such as MIT have groups that are exploring the applications for this type of software. (See "The iPhone's Untapped Potential" and "Making Phones Polite.")

Kurt Partridge, a researcher at PARC, would not go into the technical details of Magitti, but he did explain that software on the server constructs models from these sets of data that predict where a user is likely to go and what she will likely want to do based on her past behavior. Magitti pulls GPS data from her phone, as well as text messages and information about events saved in the phone's calendar, and uploads it to a server, along with the user's search terms, Partridge says. Text messages are important bits of information, he notes, because they often include information about future plans. If, for instance, a person is using Magitti to find a restaurant for dinner, and she gets a text message from a friend suggesting sushi, the software will put recommendations for sushi and Japanese restaurants higher on the list.

The idea of storing personal information as specific as location raises privacy concerns. But Bellotti says that this is something PARC considered when developing its system. This is why text messages are only kept for a short amount of time. But ultimately, there's a trade-off between privacy and convenience, especially with this new breed of context-aware, location-based technologies. "I think people will initially accept these location-finding models when there is a big benefit to them," Bellotti says. "Once they realize that nothing bad is happening, then they may become even more comfortable with it." She likens the situation to the fact that people use credit cards for convenience even though their personal information is accessed each time they use one, and they are, in essence, leaving a digital trail behind them.

But there is still a question of how much benefit this software can actually provide. Partridge admits that the technical problems aren't completely solved yet, and there is still work to do to make the software more accurate. One of the problems, he says, is that some of the categories that people use for activities are somewhat ambiguous. For instance, "shopping" could mean going to a farmer's market, or it could mean going to Macy's. "Eating" could mean sitting down at a restaurant, grabbing a sandwich at a grocery store, or enjoying a meal at home. Partridge says that there is still work to be done to make the categories more clear, so that the recommendations will be more accurate.

Magitti raises a number of questions about how people interact with recommendation systems, says Mor Naaman, a research scientist at Yahoo. "We know people do well with recommendations from Netflix or Amazon," he says. "When you turn on a computer and it knows exactly what you're trying to do, and it gives you good information, that's the best thing in the world. It's almost like magic. But I think a lot of the trick will be in the user interface and how users perceive and interact with it. That remains to be seen in a wide deployment."

Magitti will go through public trials with young adults in Tokyo in the spring of 2008. Depending on the feedback, it might be released more broadly. The United States mobile market is another challenge entirely, says Partridge. Due to the splintered mobile market that includes various carriers and device makers, it's much more difficult to deploy a service such as Magitti here.

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Ubisoft Gets its Game on With CC, Spike Ad Blitz
Mediaweek
November 5, 2007

MTV Networks' Comedy Central and Spike have cut a multi-layered deal with videogame company Ubisoft for an all-out advertising assault during new episodes of South Park and The Ultimate Fighter this week, showcasing the marketer's much-anticipated title Assassin's Creed and blanketing those series' coveted male 18-34-year-old fans.

The deal also includes product integration in The Ultimate Fighter, a reality series revolving around would-be Ultimate Fighting Championship brawlers. UFC star Matt Serra will introduce the Assassin's Creed ad this week.

The deal is part of a $10 million marketing blitz for Assassin's Creed, which features spots on MTV's controversial new hit A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, partnerships with Comcast and Yahoo, short-film contests, parties with Hollywood young guns and retail promotions.

San Francisco-based Ubisoft, home of the multimillion-selling games Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon, on Nov. 7 will use popular Comedy Central and Spike series to air two-minute sneaks of Assassin's Creed. The game is the exclusive sponsor of South Park, which will sport three two-minute spots. A two-minute ad also airs during The Ultimate Fighter.

"We believe in TV as an important ad medium, but we try to be creative with it," said Tony Key, Ubisoft's vp, marketing. "The longer ads let people see the game in motion."

Ubisoft saw 30-second spots as insufficient for promoting the game's hyper-realistic graphics and interactivity. (Kastner & Partners in Los Angeles handled media buying.)

Increasingly, marketers like Ubisoft want to own the ad real estate in popular TV shows, especially those like South Park and TUF that are "a slam dunk in terms of hitting our core target," Key said.

MTV Networks created the deal to pump its value with advertisers, mirroring a trend across cable and broadcast in which nets experiment with new ideas to lure advertisers and keep them happy. Some recent twists include offering single-sponsor pods, long-form spots, brand integration and vignettes.

"Marketers are always looking for something unique, and we're always thinking about how to create a platform that appeals to them," said Jeff Lucas, executive vp, ad sales at MTV Networks Entertainment Group. Financials weren't disclosed, but a 30-second spot during Spike and Comedy Central's prime-time lineup usually costs in the low six-figures.

Aside from appealing to clients, networks benefit from original content that keeps audiences hanging around during show breaks. Spike has tracked a commercial ratings bump of 5 to 8 percent during Ultimate Fighter shows featuring movie trailers and DVD exclusives as opposed to traditional spots.

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Activision Taps Massive to Handle Ads in Key Game Franchises
ClickZ
November 14, 2007

Consumers aren't the only ones rushing to buy "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" and skate park title "Tony Hawk's Proving Ground." Advertisers also want a piece of Activision's longstanding franchises. Both recent video game releases were added to Massive's in-game advertising network to run dynamic ads.

The two titles, both released in the past few weeks, join Massive's network of between 50 and 60 game titles, which also includes Activision's "Transformers: The Game."

"Guitar Hero III" ad placements will be contextual to the settings, with ad units aiming to replicate each venue's existing ad units or style. When the game takes place in a concert hall like Madison Square Garden, any digital signage and billboards will be replicated and sold as inventory. Likewise, if a game session takes place in a baseball field or basketball arena, Massive will offer ad units resembling the banners that line the stadium, and a JumboTron may light up the atmosphere.

"We replicate as much as possible the venue of what's there, and use those elements to serve dynamic ads," Cory Van Arsdale, CEO of Massive, told ClickZ News.

In addition to dynamic placements, "Guitar Hero III" has a number of static product integrations coded into the game.

"Tony Hawk's Proving Ground" offers non-conventional opportunities. "'Tony Hawk's' is a great example," said Van Arsdale. "There is stuff painted on walls, billboards, park benches or bus stops [and ads in the] natural cityscape. Those are all dynamic advertising elements."

Massive declined to name initial advertisers, saying campaigns are still being rolled out. Van Arsdale believes approximately 300 advertisers are well suited to the core male 18- to 34-year-old gaming demographic, and claims Massive has worked with roughly 100 of those. Many continue with repeat buys. "If you look at the list of advertisers [on the Massive Web site], you can pretty much guarantee many of them buy across the network," he said.

While the saturation of ad placements is higher in some games, such as racing and sports titles, Massive typically keeps the mix at about five minutes of advertising for every 60 minutes of game play. "We look at around five minutes as a combination of a great immersive experience and great advertising exposure," said Van Arsdale.

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IFC's Happy Hours: Double of Dewar's
Whisky Brand Blends with Film Net as Sponsor of Wednesday Movie Bill
The Hollywood Reporter
October 31, 2007

IFC has signed up Dewar's Scotch whisky as the sponsor of its Wednesday night "Back to Basics" double-feature film program, and now the cable channel that boasts of being uncut, uncensored and commercial-free has a brand sponsor for its independent film showings every night of the week.

As part of the Dewar's sponsorship deal, IFC produced a customized and co-branded 45-second opening sequence for its Wednesday night back-to-back indie film series inspired by Dewar's latest advertising campaign of "Dewarisms."

Using a combination of specially created motion graphics, clips from that night's double feature and footage from the new Dewar's ad campaign, the opening sequence will take viewers into a fictional Dewar's-branded vaudeville art house theater. Once inside, the house emcee — a character taken from the Dewar's campaign — will introduce the films using a "Dewarism" like "Don't question your wife's judgment; look who she married," while connecting it to the theme of independent film.

IFC also has created 30- and 60-second promos that will have the same look and feel of the "gateway" sequence, including the Dewar's starring role, to drive viewership on Wednesday nights. Online promotion also is part of the Dewar's deal, with a specially created "Back to Basics" microsite and the IFC home page featuring the Dewar's film strand being presented each Wednesday. IFC said Dewar's was involved with every aspect of the production of its special content.

"As with all of our partners, we are working with Dewar's to strategically integrate their brand into entertaining content that will engage IFC's trendsetting and influential audience," said Alan Klein, senior vp partnerships and licensing at IFC. "With the creation of this new film strand, we are providing a unique sponsorship opportunity for Dewar's as well as an additional revenue stream for the uncut and uncensored network."

IFC insists that its nightly film strand sponsorship deals with Dewar's, Target, Yellow Tail, Salon, Heineken, Skyy Vodka and Acura — as well as the original programming it has produced and aired for such advertisers as Land Rover and Red Bull — do not alter its status as a commercial-free network.

"We have every night sponsored, and yet more people are watching our network than ever before. So we perfected a model that highlights the programming and allows our partners to rub up against it," said Evan Shapiro, GM at IFC, a division of Rainbow Media Holdings. "Our audience is intelligent enough to know (the brand-integrated opening sequences) are ads, but they're also intelligent enough to know they are relevant and entertaining. If we thought we were alienating our audience, we wouldn't do it."

Shapiro said that IFC is different from networks that were creating interstitials and other shortform content for advertisers because it doesn't interrupt the broadcast of its feature films with commercial time, nor does it cut or censor the movies.

"Our partners come to the table. They introduce a film in a relevant way, and then they leave the viewers alone for the rest of the film," he said. "Our viewers like to see their films uncut and uncensored."

Shapiro declined to say how much Dewar's sponsorship cost the brand but said, "Relative to the major campaigns out there, it's a very, very efficient buy."

Dewar's Wednesday night series will feature two independent film classics from IFC's film library with some sort of common theme, beginning with "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" and "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" next week. Other film pairings in the series, which runs through February, include "Garden State" and "House of D," "Mona Lisa" and "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead," and "Amelie" and "Chocolat."

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'Hitman': The Fine Art of Picking Games for Movies
The Hollywood Reporter
November 7, 2007

While the release of video games based on movies tends to be a regular occurrence, movies based on games are far more infrequent, most likely because so few have been successful.

One can practically count on the fingers of one hand the number of live-action movies-from-games that have gotten the thumbs up from audiences -- the "Resident Evil" and "Tomb Raider" series, "Mortal Kombat," "Silent Hill," and -- are we out of fingers yet?

But all that could change if Adrian Askarieh has his way.

Askarieh is the producer of "Hitman," the big-screen, big-budget adaptation of the four "Hitman" first-person shooters published by Eidos and developed by its Copenhagen-based Io Interactive studio. Poised to be released by 20th Century Fox on Nov. 21, "Hitman" stars Timothy Olyphant as Agent 47, possibly the world's only genetically engineered professional assassin with a barcode tattooed on the back of his head.

Askarieh has plenty more where that came from. While "Hitman" is his first movie-from-game, he has two others waiting in the wings, beginning with "Spy Hunter," which is in preproduction. Based on Bally Midway's classic 1983 arcade game, the movie is scheduled for a 2009 release with Paul W.S. Anderson ("Alien Vs. Predator") directing. Next up, also in 2009, will be "Kane & Lynch," based on the Io Interactive game "Kane & Lynch: Dead Men" which Eidos releases Nov. 13 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Lionsgate Films acquired the screen rights and Jieho Lee ("The Air I Breathe") is set to begin directing shortly.

Askarieh believes that video games can be unusually potent source material for films.

"I don't go after video games because they are video games," he explains. "I go after them because of their strong concepts, strong characters, and strong stories. The fact that they are video games -- and appeal to the video game demographic -- is just icing on the cake."

Askarieh admits to being a gamer, which is how he was introduced to the source material in the first place. "I was attracted to the 'Hitman' series, for instance, because I was fascinated by the idea of an assassin with a very unique look and a very unique history. His is a wild world that is absolutely cinematic, and that was the key factor for me."

A former entertainment attorney and now an independent producer and head of Los Angeles-based Prime Universe Prods., Askarieh believes that other movies-from-games have failed "because their creators were too conscious of the fact that they were making video game movies. If there's a secret to all this, it's to retain what attracted you to the video game property in the first place. Treat the game as legitimate source material, develop a great script, and then create the best movie you can. Don't keep telling yourself that you're only making a movie based on a video game; the minute you do that, you'll wind up with a throwaway film that feels like a video game."

The two biggest past mistakes, says Askarieh, is that movies-from-games were made by people who had no respect for the source material. "They would say, 'OK, the game sold 10 million copies worldwide in the last seven years' -- as 'Hitman' did -- 'so let's cash in and turn out the movie.' That's a recipe for failure right there. Secondly, they made movies that only appealed to video game fans. Why would you want to limit your audience that way?"

What is unique about Askarieh's technique is that he is a firm believer in going it alone without the assistance of the original game makers. That's an unusual philosophy given today's standard practice of movie and game makers working closely together. Take, for example, the two teams creating the movie and the video game "Beowulf" -- at Sony and Ubisoft, respectively -- who recently indicated that an important ingredient to their expected successes was their close working relationship.

But Askarieh doesn't see the advantage to involving the game makers: "Look," he says, "making a movie is making a movie and making a game is making a game. People who make games don't make movies and vice versa. So there was no need for them to be involved other than to send them the script and get their notes, which we did. And then we went off to make the movie. Nothing wrong with that."

At Io, Jans Peter Kurup -- who was one of the developers on all four "Hitman" games ("Hitman: Codename 47," "Hitman 2: Silent Assassin" "Hitman: Contracts," and "Hitman: Blood Money") -- doesn't disagree.

"I haven't seen the final film so I don't really know my reaction yet to what the movie makers did," he notes. "But it's one of those things where you have to let go. If you want to influence something, you'd better be 100% sure that you're good at it, and I'm not terribly sure that 'Hitman' would become a better movie if a bunch of game makers were running around with ideas."

Observers might point out that the movies-from-games that have suffered the most have been the ones that deviated considerably from their origins, witness "Super Mario Bros." and "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within." However, Askarieh believes that his new film captures the spirit of the games despite the lack of input from the game makers.

"We've got a brand new plot that is an amalgamation of many of the scenarios in the four 'Hitman' games," he says. "Does it capture the same look and feel as the game? My God, absolutely!"

Askarieh recognizes the fact that filmmakers have stayed away from video game-based source material because of the lack of success of such movies, but he believes that will soon change.

He may be right. Currently in production -- or preproduction -- are "Alone in the Dark II," "Castlevania," "Doom 2," "Driver," "Everquest," "Gears of War," "Max Payne," "Metal Gear Solid," "Postal," "Soul Calibur," "Splinter Cell," "Stranglehold," "Street Fighter," "The Sims," "Warcraft," "Tomb Raider III" and possibly "Halo" (depending on who you ask), among dozens of others.

"This is a brand-driven world right now," Askarieh comments. "If you want to stay competitive and if you want to make successful movies, you need to make movies based on big brands. Video games are right out there -- front and center -- and everyone's playing them. If you can get the best writers, the best directors, the best film makers ... and then remain true to the endeavor of making a good movie, irrespective of what the source material is, I don't think there's any question that movies based on these properties are the way to go."

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Ultimate Fight Championship Brings Mixed Martial Arts From Bloody Barnyard Brawls to the Big Time
St. Paul Pioneer Press
November 17, 2007

Estranged boxing fans, wrestling aficionados and the morbidly curious are swarming to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The circuit of mixed martial artists that Arizona Sen. John McCain smeared as "human cockfighting" 11 years ago has transformed into America's fastest-growing professional sport.

Tonight, UFC 78 in Newark, N.J., features the latest pay-per-view showcase of the world's premier fighters, and millions of mixed martial arts fans are expected to watch.

Now sanctioned in Minnesota and 30 other states and stretching across the world, mixed martial arts is filling the combat-sports void once dominated by boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, then Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler, and then even Mike Tyson, but now wants to give you Evander Holyfield.

Again.

"How horrible is boxing when you're promoting a guy seven days from his 45th birthday in the best fight of the year?" said mixed martial arts fan Steve Doherty of Fridley while watching UFC 77 last month.

Mixed martial arts combines boxing, wrestling, kick boxing, Muay Thai and jujitsu, and fighters in the five weight classes can win by knockout, submission or judges' decision. UFC, with 90 percent of the world's top fighters under contract and a turbocharged marketing machine, is steamrolling the competition and servicing post-baby-boom generations eager to invest in extreme entertainment.

Events featuring top UFC fighters earned $223 million in pay-per-view in 2006, more than World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling ($200 million) and boxing ($177 million). Showcase fights routinely dominate cable television ratings among young males.

Among men ages 18-49, advertising's golden-goose demographic, the June 23 Season 5 finale of "The Ultimate Fighter" outdrew Fox's baseball coverage of the New York Yankees vs. Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants, NASCAR on ESPN2 and an HBO boxing match.

UFC 75, broadcast Sept. 8 on Spike, was the most-watched UFC event as 4.7 million viewers tuned in. More men 18-49 watched the fights from London than any college football telecasts that day.

"As far as (television) ratings go, the only thing bigger than us is the NFL," boasts UFC President Dana White, the face of the sport and a former boxing promoter.

White and his bosses at Zuffa LLC of Las Vegas are going global after acquiring Asian rival Pride in March. UFC has planned about a half-dozen fights in Europe and Australia next year while promising to produce mega bouts between the world's top fighters. "It's what fans have been waiting for forever, the chance to see who is the best in the world in each weight class," White said.

Quite the buzz for a sport largely ignored by this country's major newspapers, network television, blue-chip corporations, even ESPN.

The UFC's underground popularity and grass-roots support reflect the violence of the sport and its evolution from unregulated barnyard brawls to government-sanctioned events that sell out hockey arenas.

Celebrities who occupied ringside seats in formalwear for Tyson-Holyfield are showing up at UFC fights in T-shirts and jeans.

Those caught on camera include actors Michael Duncan Clarke and Leonardo DiCaprio, tennis super couple Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, and porn star Jenna Jameson, who is dating fighter Tito Ortiz.

Judging by the TV ratings, pay-per-view revenue and sold-out arenas, and legislatures in two-thirds of the United States, the debate about whether mixed martial arts is too barbaric and should be outlawed is finished.

As the UFC eagerly points out, published medical evidence suggests mixed martial arts, with shorter bouts and the option for fighters to "tap out" during submission, is safer than other combat sports, including boxing.

The UFC is a torchbearer for the mixed martial arts phenomenon, and how it manages higher expectations and closer scrutiny could determine whether this new sport flourishes or settles into a popular niche.

ANYTHING-GOES CARNIVAL
Founded in 1993, UFC version 1.0 aimed to solve every barroom argument about who would win a bout between a wrestler and kick boxer, or a jujitsu artist and a boxer, if the combatants were tossed into a steel cage.

Marketed to bloodthirsty fans as an anything-goes carnival, the sport pitted sumo wrestlers against lightweight boxers. Overmatched martial artists became tomato cans for experienced pugilists. Biting and hair pulling were prevalent, with enough groin shots to make Homer Simpson blush.

McCain, an Arizona Republican and former boxer, attacked the UFC and tried to banish the sport. In towns the UFC toured, politicians swiftly ostracized the fledgling league, which continued to barnstorm under the radar.

By the end of the decade, the outrage reached the boardrooms of pay-per-view carriers who pulled the plug on founder Bob Meyrowitz.

With no television deal and its reputation in the gutter, the UFC needed new leadership. Meyrowitz sold the brand for $2 million to White and two friends, casino moguls Frank Fertitta III and his brother, Lorenzo.

In January 2001 the trio launched UFC 2.0 as a legitimate reincarnation of its badass self. Paramount to the makeover were sanctioning and safety precautions.

White solicited counsel from Larry Hazzard Sr., respected commissioner of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board. Weight classes were created along with the of Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, which state sanctioning bodies subsequently have adopted.

The structure weeded out street thugs and made the sport more about tactics.

One-dimensional fighters were forced to learn other disciplines to thrive. Technique and strategy matched brutality and brawn, although absorbing punishment remains vital to survival. Pay-per-view returned after a three-year blackout and introduced more stylized rumbling in the octagon ring to new fans.

McCain, busy on the presidential campaign trail, has backed off his earlier condemnation. He did not return calls to his Washington, D.C., office but a spokeswoman told the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post in June the senator was "very glad to see the changes" in the UFC.

"I felt the sport had a great deal of potential, with a little tweaking of the rules," said Hazzard, who has a mixed martial arts background. "That's when they really put their promotional machine to work."

'THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER'
Fans and analysts point to a handful of seminal fights marking UFC's ascension.

Pick one of the three light heavyweight classics between hall of famer Ken Shamrock and Ortiz. Couture and Chuck Liddell, the Ruth and Cobb of the sport, have clashed three times, with Liddell winning twice.

Yet nothing has done more to promote the UFC than its reality series, "The Ultimate Fighter," which debuted on Spike TV in January 2005. White calls the show his sport's "Trojan Horse" for its sneak attack on the public.

Now in its sixth season, "The Ultimate Fighter" houses 16 combatants from wide-ranging backgrounds in Las Vegas and puts them through a six-week boot camp and fighting regimen to earn a six-figure contract with the UFC.

Viewers became hooked on the tales of perseverance, hard knocks and ordinary lifestyles fighters shared on camera.

In April 2005, Spike became the first North American cable network to broadcast a live mixed martial arts fight. Light heavyweights Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonner pounded each other for three rounds before Griffin won a close decision.

UFC talent scouts were so impressed, they also awarded Bonner a contract as more than 2.6 million people watched the Season 1 finale.

"That fight was so phenomenal, it was being compared to Hagler-Hearns," said Kevin Iole, a Yahoo! Sports columnist who has covered mixed martial arts for seven years. "That fight got a lot of people interested and put UFC into the mainstream by attracting a lot of non-MMA fans."

Television ratings continued to set UFC records and break barriers this year among the coveted advertising demographic of men ages 18-34. A May cover story in Sports Illustrated was another conventional booster shot.

Still, White fiercely guards the business model of the UFC, a privately owned company SI valued at more than $100 million. Last month, he ended negotiations with HBO Sports because he did not want to cede the production control UFC has with Spike.

"Nobody can do it better than we can, I don't care how many Emmys they have," he said.

White's bluster notwithstanding, a deal with the premium cable giant is imperative to expanding the sport's market share. Madison Avenue remains on hold as the UFC seeks A-list sponsors who make automobiles, razors and light beer to underwrite the brand, instead of Mickey's Malt Liquor, Toyo Tires and Xyience energy drinks.

In recent months, the UFC vacated its comfort zone on the West Coast to host pay-per-view sellouts in Houston and Columbus, where gate receipts set records for each arena by grossing a combined total of more than $5.5 million.

New Jersey, which is playing host to UFC 78 tonight at the new Prudential Center in Newark, is on pace to sanction almost 40 MMA events this year, compared with just seven boxing matches, according to commissioner Hazzard.

Minnesota started sanctioning MMA in July, and the UFC is talking to Target Center officials about bringing a pay-per-view event to the Twin Cities. But the local gravy train is still stuck at the station.

Clashes between promoters and the resurrected boxing commission have made staging smaller fight cards at civic centers and amphitheaters challenging. That does not bode well for a small state agency that must be self-sufficient by next summer.

In September, a hastily organized promotion under the fledgling World Fighting Championship banner drew only 3,500 people to Target Center, which seats 19,000.

A shooting in the arena's lower bowl marred the event. No one was injured, although one fight was delayed about 25 minutes as police cordoned off a crime scene.

It was an ugly sight even in a room full of tough guys.

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Men Say TV is the Big Influencer
Biz Report
October 19, 2007

Marketers trying to reach a predominantly male audience should stick with television advertising. That is the indication from a recent study from Maxim Magazine and Hall & Partners researchers. The study, which surveyed the magazines male readers, found that men are most likely to be influenced by television advertising.

Roughly 71% of men (aged 18-34) in the Maxim study say they spend more time online than watching television, but an astounding 74% said they were more likely to be influenced by television ads. Still, there is a chance that online marketers can bring in that male demographic.

"If advertising is cool and relevant, this demo will give it the same amount of attention that they give to any other form of content, and they'll even send it to their friends," said Rob Gregory, group publishers of Maxim (via MediaPost).

The survey found that men in the 18-34 age group use social networking sites (30%) and forward online content to friends (26%). This makes men a great target for online marketers with a broad, inclusive online strategy. So according to the men, what grabs their attention?

The survey respondents said they were most drawn to ads that were focused on the product/product information (40%) and ads that were funny (35%). Also, 45% of respondents said they would include women in ads targeted to men.

Though men are very plugged in online, it appears from this Man Study that men should be targeted differently than other demographics. Including a mixture of television, magazines/print, radio and online ads are the best way to reach this valued demographic.

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To Click or Not to Click: Web Site Features Influence Consumer Choice in Holiday Shopping Destinations
Differences Between Generations and Similarities Among Genders Create Opportunities and Challenges for E-tailers
PR Newswire
November 19, 2007

It will take more than a basic e-commerce site to satisfy consumers this holiday season, concludes GSI Commerce Inc. based on the results of a recent survey of online U.S. adults(1,2). Understanding which Web site features influence customers' decisions about where to shop online can help retailers attract more customers to visit and buy from their Web stores.

Surveying more than 2,800 adults with Internet access, GSI discovered a generational gap exists between younger and older consumers (ages 18-34 versus ages 55+). When asked to comment on the importance of Web site features in influencing where they would shop online this holiday season:

• Younger adults were more likely than older adults to say that user reviews are important or very important (57% ages 18-34 versus 39% ages 55+).
• Younger adults considered alternative payment methods, such as Bill Me Later, Google Checkout or PayPal, to be more important than older adults did (42% ages 18-34 versus 29% ages 55+).
• Twenty-one percent of those ages 18-34 rated professional site design as very important compared to 8% of those 55 and over.

Overall, about two thirds (67%) of adults indicate a well-known site/brand is an important or very important feature in influencing their decision to shop at a specific Web store. Additionally, 40 percent of adults report that a convenient return policy is a very important feature.

Survey results also show that there are more similarities than differences between genders, including:

• Thirty-four percent of men and 34 percent of women consider a well-known site/brand to be very important.
• Forty-six percent of women versus 47 percent of men indicate a professional site design is an important or very important feature.
• However, more women than men find a convenient return policy to be a very important feature (46% of women versus 34% of men).

"The fact that consumers consider features such as customer reviews and site-design quality to help determine where they'll shop online this holiday season indicates they are looking for more than just a run-of-the-mill e- commerce storefront," said Fiona Dias, executive vice president of partner strategy & marketing for GSI. "With JupiterResearch predicting that 2007 online holiday shopping sales will increase by 20% over last year, retailers and brands have a great opportunity to attract customers by paying close attention to the features that influence consumer shopping decisions. To compete in a crowded online marketplace, companies need to embrace and deliver against growing customer expectations."

About the Study
This Online Holiday Shopping study was conducted online by Harris Interactive within the United States on behalf of GSI Commerce between October 19 and October 23, 2007 among 2,818 U.S. adults ages 18+. Results were weighted as needed for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, and household income.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the online U.S. adult population on the basis of Internet usage (hours per week) and connection type. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to be invited to participate in the Harris Interactive online research panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated

About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive(R) is the 13th largest and one of the fastest growing market research firms in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights, and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions, which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls, and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its North American, European, and Asian offices, and through a global network of independent market research firms. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com. To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at http://www.harrispollonline.com.

About GSI Commerce
GSI Commerce(R) is a leading provider of e-commerce solutions that enable retailers, branded manufacturers, entertainment companies and professional sports organizations to operate e-commerce businesses. We provide solutions for our partners through our integrated e-commerce platform, which is comprised of four components: technology, customer care, fulfillment and marketing services. We provide e-commerce solutions for approximately 80 partners.

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Web Videos Stealing TV Viewers, and Marketers
New York Times
November 16, 2007

Why are fewer viewers watching the new fall television series? Perhaps because they are too busy watching video online.

As broadband service becomes more available at home, the growing prevalence of video programming on the Internet is catching the attention of consumers — not to mention marketers and media companies.

"Video has been liberated" from the TV set, Beth Comstock, president for integrated media at NBC Universal, said last week at a panel at the Ad:Tech conference in New York.

"If you're in the video business," she added, referring to companies like her employer, the NBC Universal division of General Electric, "it's exciting to see where it's going."

One direction online video is going is toward the creation of scripted episodic shows that are made expressly for Web sites. Many online video programs, sometimes called Webisodes, emulate television in one respect in that they are released at the same time each day or week.

But there is a difference between online and on the air: the alphabet soup of names for TV networks (e.g., ABC, CBS, ESPN) is replaced on the Internet with madcap monikers intended to be more memorable: Blame Society, Blip.TV, Crackle, Funny or Die, Heavy, My Damn Channel and Viropop, among others.

Another difference is that shows made for the Internet are usually much briefer than their TV counterparts, on the theory that few computer users are willing to sit at their monitors for 30 or 60 minutes at a time.

"We know people's attention spans online are short," said Mark Karlan, media strategist at Lowe Worldwide in New York, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, who is seeking online video advertising opportunities for the milk mustache campaign sponsored by the Milk Processor Education Program.

"Video has become a much larger part of our online strategy in the past year or so," Mr. Karlan said, for reasons that include the chance to achieve "wide audience reach" with some programs while aiming others at audience segments like teenagers.

Examples of online video programming include "The Burg," about the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg, which can be watched at theburg.tv; "Meth Minute 39," a cartoon series, found on channelfrederator.com, a Web site that is part of Next New Networks; and "Roommates," the first original Web series on MySpace, which is owned by the News Corporation.

The popularity of online video is beginning to draw familiar names. For instance, the producers Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick of "Thirtysomething" fame are creating "Quarterlife," which can be watched on its own Web site (quarterlife.com) or on myspace.com. Tom Green, the former MTV personality, is now the host of "Tom Green Live" on ManiaTV.com and tomgreen.com.

And comic actors like Michael Cera and Bob Odenkirk are involved in video ventures like "Clark and Michael," found at clarkandmichael.com, and "Derek and Simon," available at superdeluxe.com respectively.

"The proliferation, even in the last six or eight months, is where we see our chance, where we see opportunity," said Craig Atkinson, digital director in Chicago of the OMD media agency, part of the Omnicom Group.

For one client, McDonald's, Mr. Atkinson and Michael Solomon, associate director for strategy at OMD Chicago, worked with an online video network in New York, Broadband Enterprises, on the sponsorship of a Web series, "The Fantastic Two."

The weekly episodes follow the hapless friends, Charly and Mitch, and their fantasy football league. There are guest appearances by William Perry, known as the Refrigerator when he played for the Chicago Bears in the 1980s. Here, he is called Fridgie Bear, a riff on the Huggy Bear character portrayed by Antonio Fargas in the '70s TV series "Starsky and Hutch."

There are also guest appearances on "The Fantastic Two" by McDonald's products like Dollar Menu items, which are integrated into plot lines in the manner that, say, Nissan cars are written into the plot lines of episodes of the NBC series "Heroes."

"This is unique for us in the level of integration," said Anja Carroll, director for United States media at the McDonald's Corporation in Oak Brook, Ill.

Besides the products in the episodes, there are humorous touches like animated characters overlaid on screen proclaiming, "Shameless product placement" when McDonald's food items appear.

"For this target audience, we're fine with" the tongue-in-cheek tone, Ms. Carroll said, referring to the men ages 18 to 24 who McDonald's hopes will watch "The Fantastic Two" on a network of more than 400 Web sites assembled by Broadband Enterprises. (The episodes can also be watched on thefantastictwo.com.)

Mr. Karlan at Lowe has arranged with Broadband Enterprises for the milk campaign to be integrated into episodes of "Hollywood Fast Track," a series in the vein of syndicated TV shows like "Access Hollywood."

No, the host of "Hollywood Fast Track," Shandi Finnessey, will not be sporting a mock milk mustache the way celebrities do in the print ads that Lowe creates. Rather, "a part of her sign-off might be suggesting that milk is a healthy alternative drink to have while you're watching movies or a DVD," Mr. Karlan said.

Broadband Enterprises is hardly alone in bringing branded entertainment to online video. The series "Roommates" on MySpace features the Ford Focus. And the Volvo C30 appears in episodes of an online series, "Mr. Robinson's Driving School," at drivingschool.msn.com.

The integration of products into plot lines "is critical to these deals," said Matthew Wasserlauf, chief executive at Broadband Enterprises.

Even so, he acknowledged, "there's certainly going to be a learning curve" as branded entertainment arrives online.

For instance, the tactic seems better suited for online video aimed at younger consumers, Mr. Wasserlauf said, because "that audience has become more savvy and recognizes that we're saying to them: ‘You know how this works. Let's have some fun.' "

There is speculation that the strike by the Writers Guild of America, which is affecting production of TV series, may further fuel the rise of online video.

However, Steve Sternberg, executive vice president for audience analysis at Magna Global in New York, a media agency that is part of Interpublic, predicted in a report this week that "viewers will still be in front of the set and ready to watch television programming when regular broadcast schedules resume."

There are, though, casualties of the strike. TV Guide magazine said it would cancel a ceremony and a broadcast of its first Online Video Awards. The winners will instead be announced — where else? — online, at tvguide.com, on Nov. 26.

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