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By Mike Bloxham
For a business that is all about building community and that has grown on its ability to facilitate communication between ever-larger numbers of people, Facebook continues to do a pretty poor job of communicating, itself. Apart from consistently over-claiming for its brave new commercial initiatives before proving that users will even accept them, much of the negative response Facebook generates every time it changes something or introduces a new protocol could be nullified if it actually behaved like a company that cared about its communications and the loyalty of its users.
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by Mike Bloxham
It’s in the nature of the media and communications industries that those employed in them spend inordinate amounts of time deeply immersed in its minutiae. The effort and intellectual capital that goes into such things on a daily basis is almost suggestive of obsession. While at its best – and such effort undoubtedly pays off to varying degrees – it is, in all cases, at odds with the amount of time and attention consumers give those efforts and the brands they intend to promote. Read the rest of this entry »
MediaPost Blogs: TV Board – http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=100161
by Mike Bloxham
A number of people outside the media industries have told me recently of the noticeable increase in the number of old friends from high school or college who have connected with them on Facebook and the like in recent times. These people are typically in the 40+ age group and — for the most part — are pleased to be enjoying the renewed contact with old acquaintances, even though many simultaneously express surprise at what they perceive to be a relatively sudden surge in new Friend requests.”Where have these people come from?” “Why are they contacting me now?” and “Are they new to Facebook?” — all these questions are typically part of the conversation. Read the rest of this entry »
MediaPost Blogs: TV Board – http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=99901
by Mike Bloxham
While it’s true to say we — along with the rest of the world — are in pretty dire economic straits right now (and likely will be for some time), I’m really not sure I want to live in a state of communal fear and depression until we come out of it. Read the rest of this entry »
Media Post- TV Board http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=98845
by Mike Bloxham
In last week’s column, I wrote about the possibility of President Obama’s enabling a genuinely participatory democracy that would positively impact news media consumption. I also pontificated on the inevitability of the Inauguration setting records for viewing, streaming, listening and readership.
Little did I know.
As I sit in my hotel room at 2 a.m., various sources have reported and more have yet to do so. By the time you read this, you will probably have read other reports of the viewing figures for all the major TV outlets covering the Inauguration. But more remarkable than the likes of CNN possibly achieving its highest TV ratings ever is that company’s staggering achievement in the number of live video streams it served during the day. Read the rest of this entry »
MediaPost TVBoard http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=98353
by Mike Bloxham
Looking back at the Presidential election and the levels of media consumption it generated, it’s a pretty safe bet that next week’s inauguration will set some records.Aside from the event’s historic significance, the Obama camp has thus far successfully engaged a wide variety of audiences — including some audiences historically less involved in the political process. The echo of that engagement will be seen next Tuesday in the ratings generated by the coverage of the ceremony, in sales of newspapers and magazines — and subsequently, in the volume of online viewing of clips, edits, mash-ups, commentary and (who knows?) maybe even a few related spoofs.
CNN set its own records on election night, and it may well do the same for the inauguration. Read the rest of this entry »
by Mike Bloxham
As a general rule, we like to think of ourselves as individuals who make our own choices and decisions. Sure, we’re informed by the factors around us, but, ultimately, we’re independent of them. Mavericks, if you will. The reality, of course, is far less simple. Many of our choices are heavily influenced – if not predetermined – by what we have been exposed to throughout our lives by family, friends and others around us. Leaving aside for now that, by definition, we can’t all be mavericks, just how maverick can we be? Read the rest of this entry »
by Mike Bloxham
As a general rule, we like to think of ourselves as individuals who make our own choices and decisions. Sure, we’re informed by the factors around us, but, ultimately, we’re independent of them. Mavericks, if you will. The reality, of course, is far less simple. Many of our choices are heavily influenced – if not predetermined – by what we have been exposed to throughout our lives by family, friends and others around us. Leaving aside for now that, by definition, we can’t all be mavericks, just how maverick can we be?
Read the rest of this entry »
MediaPost- TVBoard http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=97330
by Mike Bloxham
And with that in mind, I feel the overwhelming need to cast off all gloomy thoughts of recessions, bailouts and what’s happened to my net worth in the last few months and instead focus on the lighter and distinctly more trivial side of life.
No earnest discussion of TV measurement, emerging ad formats, digital transition and the collapsing ad economy here thank you. I want to focus on what — from the world of TV and online video — has made us all laugh over the last twelve months (sometimes despite ourselves) or just made us feel good.
I want to include them both, as where TV ends and online begins is largely a matter of distribution and the display device. The content jumps these barriers and increasingly feeds off each other, so let’s go with that fact for the purposes of this column. Read the rest of this entry »
MediaPost TVBoard http://www.mediapost.com/publications/index.cfm?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=96395
by Mike Bloxham
As we’ve moved ever-closer to the inevitable reality of marketing messages that are targeted at either the household or individual level across just about any communications platform, the issue of privacy has kept pace like a sheepdog attempting to herd a large and unruly flock of sheep. The relationship is inevitable, unpredictable and not entirely one of choice — but it’s here to stay.
From the origins of direct mail through to the present day with online behavioral targeting, email marketing and the seemingly imminent promise of addressable TV advertising, the issue of privacy has gained more attention. There are more advocacy groups established to represent the interests of consumers, taking pot-shots at those who allegedly play fast-and-loose with personal information for commercial gain). Periodically we see politicians weighing in on the topic as well. Read the rest of this entry »
