Well It Sure Beats Being the Pepsi Generation

A new generation is upon us. Not like any seen before. This a generation that does not exclude based on age, and is for anyone with any creative inklings. This is Generation Content. It is this generation that is responsible for the increasing numbers of blogs, podcasts and Internet television programming.

Trendwatching.com attributes two reasons for the emergence of this new generation: "(1) The creative urges each consumer undeniably possesses. We're all artists, but until now we neither had the guts nor the means to go all out. (2) The manufacturers of content-creating tools, who relentlessly push us to unleash that creativity, using -- of course -- their ever cheaper, ever more powerful gadgets and gizmos. Instead of asking consumers to watch, to listen, to play, to passively consume, the race is on to get them to create, to produce, and to participate."

With the increasing availability and ease of consumers to create content it is not suprising that the numbers are continuing to increase. And with the continuing influx of consumer created content it has led to many users getting paid. Such content creaters are reaching niche audiences and reaping the rewards. Creating new types of original content that would not be noticed nor produced by mainstream media outlets. So people are paying for content created by the average joe.

Such a market of user created content has implications on all aspects of the mass media. It means that people can get involved. In a previous post the idea of current TV was discussed. It is this type of content that could potentially drive the mass media. It could also mean that slivercasting will become more important as viewers demand more specific content.

Generation C has come to exist because of the interaction of four other trends: Creativty, Casual Collapse, Control and Celebrtity. First, creativity is important, because "let's face it, we're all creatives, if not artists!". Though most people will not be shy about telling others that they aren't creative, deep down the desire to be creative exists and such creativity is the catalyst for the creation of content.

Next, Casual Collapse simply put is "the ongoing demise of many beliefs, rituals, formal requirements and laws modern societies have held dear, which continue to 'collapse' without causing the apocalyptic aftermath..." (These are trendwatching.com's words not mine). Such a change, however, has implications for society as a whole, because "a society in which the creative ethos is increasingly dominant," allowing a "...new generation of parents is slowly abandoning its obsession with children becoming doctors, lawyers or business executives, they are realizing that creative careers are not necessarily a dead-end road to poverty and family scandal." As people begin to shy away from such beliefs, the value of creativity will begin to flourish.

Control is probably the most important ingredient in the emergence of Generation C. The ability to control content, whether it be where, when, what or how it's shown has always been on the forefront of media consumer's minds. These individuals no longer want to be spoon fed content, rather they want to have some sort of stake in it.

Finally, there lies most people's desire to be a celebrity. With the improvement of communications technology from cell phones, to digital cable, to the Internet, individuals are able to disseminate information at their convience. Such an ability is allowing more and more people to become overnight sensations.

As consumers gain greater ability to produce and distribute their own content it has the potential to change the media landscape. With the emergence of the four C's, and their continued presence it seems that Generation C will be less of a generation and more of a media revolution.

Article:
Generation C

Narrowcasting Might Have Just Gotten a Little Smaller

Cable TV has almost always been the ideal mass media. It reaches large audiences, while at the same time offering specialized channels to reach targeted audiences. Still most people buzz right by all the programming options, because "nothing is on." As consumers begin to spend more time on the Internet and broadband connections continue to improve, a solution to this problem just might be found. The development of Internet TV has led many content providers to seek out niche audiences, thus creating the concept of slivercasting.

Slivercasting is essentially an off shoot of narrowcasting. Its purpose is to provide either streaming or downloadable content to tiny niche audiences. What ties the audience together is a common desire to watch programs about topics like sailing or news from the Congo, which also make these niche audiences very loyal to the programs. Though many of these audiences are not served by satellite or cable providers, because such programs audiences too small to warrant the cost, let alone turn a profit.

The low cost of producing content for Internet TV is what makes it attractive to slivercasters. According to Andy Steward, the founder of Sail.tv a sailing channel, "we didn't have any idea how big the audience would be," (which by the way had over 70,000 viewers in the first month) so he wanted to keep his expenses as low as possible. That is why he turned to the Internet, because “Internet television is an investment we can grow into.” This means for a small start up cost, independent programmers are now able to reach as many members of their audience that have Internet access.

Though a majority of the content available is produced by independents, the potential of slivecasting has begun to attract large cable networks. For instance, after the failure of Bravo’s Trio network due to, among other things, its attempt to reach too diverse of a market. Therefore, it decided to move its network to the Internet and split it into three distinct channels that will reach three entirely different audiences. Bravo’s extension to the Internet could just be the beginning, as other networks are likely to follow. Since broadcasting content over the Internet allows programmers to offer even more programs. As consumers are demanding more specialized content when they want it offering such extensive and specific content over the Internet would allow for attract larger audiences.

Currently, most sites are offering very small and limited clips that range from two to ten minutes, but as broadband technology becomes faster it will be possible to see half hour and hour shows. Most Internet TV networks charge on average $9.95 a month to access the content. Some sites though offer the programs for free, but have begun to sell advertising space.

It seems that slivercasting is following in the footsteps of blogging and podcasting. Like its predecessors, Internet TV is offering both independent programmers and large media companies the ability to aim their content at specific audiences. Such targeting presents the opportunity to bring together these largely fragmented niche audiences, which would never have been reached by traditional media vehicles.

Article:
As Internet TV Aims at Niche Audiences, the Slivercast Is Born

A Quote to Ponder

"It is difficult, indeed dangerous, to underestimate the huge changes this [media] revolution will bring or the power of developing technologies to build and destroy -- not just companies but whole countries."
- Rupert Murdoch, March 14, 2006

Read More:
Internet Means End of Media Barons, Says Murdoch

¿Tu hablas español?

Spanish language television has been an offering by most cable and satellite providers for sometime. The networks are best known for their wacky game shows and sultry Spanish soap operas, or telenovelas. These shows have even been known to stop even the non-Spanish speaking channel surfer. It is this programming formula that has driven the Univision to prominence, but as the reigning number one Spanish-language network is preparing to be sold its new owner might have to revaluate the network's offerings to meet the needs of a changing audience.

With an audience of over 40 million, Univision has become a giant among the Spanish networks. Its shows account for all ten of the top ten Spanish-language shows. Ratings wise in some markets with large Latino populations, Univision has begun to beat some of the large broadcast networks. Though Univision has based its successes on such a large and faithful audience, the network's future owner will have to deal with the shifting demographic make up of the Hispanic population.

The Hispanic population is consistently growing. It is projected that by 2010 that the percentage of Hispanics born in the U.S. is likely to exceed 75 percent. This means as the composition of the Hispanic population shifts so are the demographics. American-born Hispanics tend to primarily speak English as opposed to Spanish, be better educated and have higher incomes. For Univision these demographic changes pose a bigger problem as the larger networks could potentially begin to poach their audience. Yet, Univision is sticking to the formula it knows best. The network has remained exclusively Spanish and still buys most of its programming from Mexico.

With the shifting landscape of Spanish-language TV's audience, the sale of Univision is refreshing to marketers trying to target the Hispanic population. Marketers view Univision as a lumbering giant, whose resistance to change is shutting them off to reach those who fit within this changing demographic. As marketers try to reach bilingual Hispanics, the potential for Univision to change and the emergence of other Hispanic-targeted networks will provide such outlets

But in the pursuit of trying to reach these shifting demographics, whether it be through programming or advertising, it must not forget that as whole the Hispanic population is diverse. Therefore, it is more about preserving the culture and not what language the programming is broadcast. According to Cynthia Hudson-Fernandez, executive vice president and chief creative officer of Spanish Broadcasting System, "These are a new generation of people who have a very broad perspective," she said. "They don't have to prove that they're one thing or another to be comfortable as Americans. If it's quality programming, they don't care if it's English or Spanish."

Article:
Changing U.S. Audience Poses Test for a Giant of Spanish TV

A New Breed of Celebrity

Have you ever wondered why the saber-toothed tiger from Ice Age looks an awfully lot like Dennis Leary? Or why numerous other animated characters often resemble the actors who voice them? These resemblances aren't coincidences. With the increased usage of computer generated (CG) content in movies making a cartoon character resemble a real actor is simple. Hollywood, however, is trying to take this a step further and create true virtual actors.

Currently, many prominent celebrities have already been digitally copied. To do so an actor and their movements are scanned by laser into a computer. Digital animators then transform the scans into digital files. These copies then are used primarily for stunts, which an actor is unable to perform due to contractual stipulations or if it is too dangerous for a human to perform.

Though digital clones of real actors have been used in such short scenes, it has become quite common to have full parts played by CG characters. Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequels or the more substantal role of Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy are two prime examples. The only difference is that most of these digitally created characters are based on the imaginations of their creators, where anything goes.

That is where Hollywood has fallen short in its quest to create a truly virtual actor. When creating a fictional character, whether it be an alien or monster or some other fictitious creature, it is easy for the audience to believe that is how such a character would move or how its facial expressions would look. Yet, when creating a virtual human it has been nearly impossible to create movements and expressions that are identical to the real world. To create such life like animation it takes almost 90 people an entire day to create approximately three seconds of animation. Therefore, to make the average two hour movie it would take 2,400 days or close to 8 years. According to Shuzo Shiota, head of Polygon Pictures the leading digital-animation studio in Japan says, ""The amount of information that the human expression, skin, and body … require is just too huge for CG animators."

George Lucas, one of the fathers of the digital effects revolution, has vehemently attacked the idea of digital actors saying that "Acting is a human endeavor and the amount of talent and craft that goes into it is massive - and can a composite reproduce that?" Lucas may have a valid point. By creating digital actors it defeats the purpose of going to the movies. When seeing a human act it adds depth and emotion. A digital actor on the otherhand may provide similar emotion, but it would be merely an illusion. An illusion that once revealed might ruin the experience and equate to nothing more than watching a cartoon. However, it is difficult to foresee the potential of creating digital actors since we lack the technology create such an illusion.

Article:
Can You Clone a Movie Star?
Lucas Attacks 'Digital Actors' Idea

Reality TV Might Have Gone Too Far This Time

The once black Sparks family

Reality TV was supposed to be one of those trends that fizzled out just as fast as it appeared. Unfortunately, it hasn't. The longer it stays the more ridiculous the shows become. FX's new show Black.White. (Wednesdays 10 PM E.T.) takes realtiy TV's eccentricities a step further by trying to examine the differences between races.

The program's premises is a novel one. Find two families: one black, one white. Hire Hollywood's best make up artists. Transform said families into the opposite race. Let families loose in an upscale California neighborhood. At the end of the day have the families live in the same house. And voila reality TV at its finest.

Yet, Black.White. (by the way those periods are actually part of the title) seems to fall short of its lofty intentions. First, is the issue of the families that were recruited to participate in this artificial environment. FX's official website describes the Wurgels as a white liberal family from California and the Sparks (the black family) as a middle class family from Georgia. These mundane descriptions are spot on with just how boring the participants truly are. The closest thing to a real character is the Wurgel's patriarch, Bruno. Having the aura of a closest racist, Bruno is wholly aloof of the whole concept of racism and is almost dissapointed when no blatant acts of racism are committed against him. By the end it is apparent that Brunco can almost believe that racism doesn't even exist. This bullheadedness combined with his ignorance are only slightly entertaining.

The second problem with the show is that it is a poor measurement of the racial inequalities that exist within America. Though race is an important topic in the discussion of American culture, its portrayal on Black.White. does not even remotely touch on the most important issues. For instance, in one episode the Wurgels traverse swanky Los Angeles suburbs looking for jobs at high end retailers (which they are denied). This is about as far as the show goes to examine racism as most of the other episodes follow the same idea of the families trying to buy products or receive commonplace services and examining the results. Racism in America roots itself deeper than not receiving preferential treatment in a store or the ability to work for a trendy retailer. It involves more important things such as getting a college education, getting a mortgage, escaping poverty, getting adequate medical treatment, etc, etc. To trivialize such an important issue by only focusing solely on the participants consumption of goods and services is ludicrous, especially when much more complex problems could (and should) have been confronted.

Overall, as a show Black.White. lacks the characters and situations that make reality TV entertaining. Since the show is based on such an ambitious idea, it should have taken the issue of racism and examined it in greater depth. Examining racism in greater depth would have provided an eye opening experience for viewers. But, even though Black.White. lacks any true substance or morally redeeming social value, it's at the least an attempt to deviate from traditional reality TV.

Articles:
Color Commentary - FX's Creepy New Race-Swap Show
Black.White.-Television Review
Black.White. Official Site

Can You Digg It?

With so many blogs, news sites and e-mail newsletters inundating Internet users on a daily basis there has to be a simpler way to sift through it all. Digg.com is attempting to provide a site that does just that.

About a year ago websites all over the Internet began to offer their users the ability to "tag" pages. Taggining requires users mark their pages using descriptive words and phrases. Users then who use similar or like words and phrases are linked together, creating a natural network. This network makes it easier to connect users who share similar interest. Yet, it still requires users to sift through pages and pages of content to find something worthwhile.

Digg, however, is changing this. According to Digg.com "Digg is a technology news website that combines social bookmarking, blogging, RSS, and non-hierarchical editorial control. With digg, users submit stories for review, but rather than allow an editor to decide which stories go on the homepage, the users do." A digg is simply a user giving a story the OK. Such a system is empowering the sites visitors to choose which stories are worth reading. The more "diggs" a story gets the higher it ranks on the site.

Digg.com is also looking to replace the more dated Internet ranking systems. Digg simplifies rating something by eliminating the ambiguity of starred or numbered systems. Honestly, what is the difference between 3 and 4 stars or a 2 or 3 rating. Giving users the ability to simplify how they rate stories, while at the same time making it simpler to sort through all the articles that aren't worth reading.

Currently Digg only accepts stories that are technolgy related, but they are planning to expand into other popular categories like celebrity gossip, politics and news.

Since Internet users are faced with information overload from all aspects of the media, making it simpler when it comes to finding relevant and interesting news stories is a solid idea. Digg.com allows a substantial amount of interactivity, which will help in enticing users to visit the site. Because users are able to control the content, it will be easier with similar interests to navigate the Internet.

Article:
Digging
Dig.com
Tagging

Blogging: A True Profession

From the dot com bubble on people have made substantial sums of money using the Internet. The latest craze for Internet entreprenuers has been the blog. Blogs started as a chance for wannabe journalists to spread their opinion. Now, as blogs are being used to develop business plans and credible sources of news, will professionalization turn blogging into media-as-usual? Or will the idiosyncratic voice of the lone blogger prevail?

When blogging began it was a cheap way to self publish all the pent up thoughts most Internet users had. For little or no cost, bloggers established their sites, began posting and soon found themselves with offers from advertisers willing to pay for space on their sites. Soon those established sites began to turn a profit. Yet, many bloggers will never see a dime.

Blogs have begun to be classified like celebrities. The most read: A-List. Middle of the road: B-List. And the least visited or unread (like yours truly) C-List. Those blogs that fall under the A-List category have seen profits that range into the seven figures from advertising dollars.

The reason such A-List blogs can demand such high advertising rates is for of two reasons. First, most A-List blogs have readerships that surpass many local newspapers. Second, advertisers are attracted to these blogs because of the niche markets they reach.

With so many blogs not being read by anyone (like yours truly) and big advertisers offering to pay large sums to the most visited blogs, it seems that professionalization of the blog is not far off. “Blogging is increasingly becoming a survival of the fittest—and that all boils down to who has the best content. The blogs that are going to stand out are the ones who break news and have credibility.” For blogs looking to make a profit then they must continuously provide new, relevant and well written posts for their readers. And that my friends, sounds like a full time job to me.

Article:
Blogs to Riches

I'd Like to Thank the Academy

The 78^th annual Academy Awards have come and gone. The stars have graced the red carpet, what they wore is ready to make front page news (by the way Keira Knightley looked stunning) and some lucky individuals got to take home a small statue of a naked bald man. But more than anything this years Oscars made a statement about the current direction of Hollywood. The best picture category is probably the most accurate gauge. This year it was populated with small budget, intelligent, character driven dramas: Capote, Crash, Brokeback Mountain, Good Night and Good Luck and the lone exception Munich.

And the winner was…Crash.

Crash was not only the biggest upset, but of all the movies that were nominated it had the smallest budget. Yet it was bestowed the industries highest honor. Though the majority of films nominated for best picture this year were mostly niche films with small target audiences, it is becoming apparent that moviegoers as a whole are becoming hungry for quality films. So how will Hollywood respond? In the past studio executives have always underestimated their audiences. Now theyare developing independent brands like Focus and Fox Searchlight to develop these heavily targeted products.

This is not surprising as Hollywood has been struggling to make successful blockbuster movies that are A) worth $9.50 and B) worth two hours of your life. These films usually lack big stars and spectacular special effects, the two ingredients that usually put audiences in theater seats, but they more than make up for it with the compelling stories and equally believable acting. These nominations show the emerging desires of what moviegoers want.

Yet, Hollywood can't completely ignore the blockbuster idea as it is has helped to shape the film industry since the release of movies like Star Wars and Jaws. Therefore a middle ground must be found. As the blockbuster begins to lose its way, and higher quality films are being demanded, studios must look to develop that can appeal to a mass audience while simultaneously being creative and engaging. This new breed of film cannot solely rely on special effects and star power, but must foster creative directors creative visions. I think George Clooney said it best during his acceptance speech: "Maybe Hollywood is out of touch with mainstream America. And maybe that's a good thing"

Article:
Hollywood’s Crowd Control Problem

The Next Generation Cell Phone

It’s no longer a question with of where you will lose service, but rather what services your cell phone is missing. As more American cell phone caries begin to release third generation (3G) enabled phones and services the amount of content becoming available to consumers is astounding, but is it really necessary?

Most 3G phones that are being released allow users to download music, video and pictures, send e-mail, take photos, play games, search the Internet and even make an old fashioned phone call. Though the novelty of the multitude of features available to cell phone users is apparent, certain problems currently exist with the success of 3G technology.

As with new technology the cost is rather high for the breadth of services offered. On average to add the full capabilities of 3G technology costs and extra $60 a month on top of the regular monthly service fee. This increase cost has cell phone providers concerned and they are anticipating a surge of consumers opting to use 3G services. In order to entice consumers to purchase the 3G plans, many providers have used promotions to cut the cost of the phones. For instance, Verizon Wireless's LG 8100, which lets customers watch television clips, play games and listen to music, costs $150 after rebates.

Just keeping the price of the technology low does not increase the number of subscribers to the network, however. As most other countries, that had released 3G technology, learned that it takes an extended period of time and low cost plans to get consumers to use the services.

Ultimately the largest obstacle that these new cell phone services will face "… is not pricing or technology, but consumer behavior. Most people still look at these things as phones."

Article:
It Rings, Sings, Downloads, Uploads. But Can You Stand It?

Books With Street Cred

Relentless Aaron, according to his website, is a bestselling author, publisher and visionary. He is the self proclaimed “Father of Urban Fiction”. He is also an ex-con.

During his seven year sentence, Relentless Aaron completed numerous manuscripts just to pass the time. Upon his release, Aaron self published his manuscripts and hit the streets to sell them. This “relentless” drive, comined with tactical guerilla marketing techniques, soon landed him a four book publishing contract with St. Martin’s Press.

This is more than just a mere success story of an ex-con turning his life around. Aaron’s story highlights large publishers’ growing interest in street lit. With titles like Rappers ‘R in Danger, Sugar Daddy and To Live & Die in Harlem, the books are filled with excessive sex, drugs and violence. Often set in prison or on the streets, the prose is marked with slang and the rough personality of cell block walls.

These explicit tales that play themselves out in Relentless Aaron’s novels are not just jailhouse scribblings, but according to St. Martin’s Press, show craftily weaved narratives with strong stylistic potential. Coupled with the street credibility that Relentless Aaron brings to his prose, it makes him an ideal street lit author.

This combination has worked well for rappers, but will it work for serious authors? As hip-hop continues to increase its presence in mainstream culture, it seems that street lit is an ideal off shoot. With stories that are a combination of a Sue Grafton novel and a 50 Cent music video, the growth of street lit is inevitable.

Article:
Street Lit With Publishing Cred: From Prison to a Four-Book Deal
RelentlessAaron.com

Finally, a Portable Super Model

Maria Sharapova, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 2006

Men can never get enough of women in bikins and the annual release of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is no exception. With the release of this year's edition on February 14, Sports Illustrated estimated newstand sales to exceed 1.5 million, in addition to the magazine's 3.3 million subscribers. From this paid readership Mark Ford, the president and publisher of Sports Illustrated, estimates that an additional 60 million readers see the magazine. With one of the largest single issue readerships, it is apparent why Sports Illustrated is pairing the magazine's release with multimedia options.

For this years Swimsuit Edition, not only will it be available at newstands (for the premium price of $5.99), and on sportsillustrated.com, but 8 exclusive videos have been produced to be sold through iTunes ($1.99 each). Content also has been developed for cellphones and other hand held devices through a partnership with American Greetings Interactive. The rationale behind this interactive approach according to Mr. Ford "[The Swimsuit Edition" is the mother ship of what we do. We want to leverage the power of that franchise," said Mr. Ford, "Sports Illustrated is a multimedia brand. It's a magazine, it's online, it's mobile, it's an event."

Today, many magazines have tried to immitate the Swimsuit Edition's formula. Therefore, the iconic magazine can no longer solely exist in one media. It must create a synergy between different media. In creating this synergy, the magazine must direct readers to access this content that is available. For instance Sport's Illustrated has included a unique number in each issue, which can be used on iTunes to download one free Swimsuit Edition video. The release is also expected to drive increased traffic to the website, which is where visitors can download content for their cellphones. By offering content on a variety of portable media, it allows for Sports Illustrated to keep the "wow" factor that is associated with the Swimsuit Edition. As long as there is reason to go.

Article Links:
So Many Models In Bikins, So Many Ways to See Them (Requires Registration to read)
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 2006

Al Gore created a TV network?

Al Gore, the father of the Internet, has made another foray in the mass media. About six months ago he established the San Francisco based television network, Current. In developing this network, it is Gore’s intention to make the youth TV news addicts. Rightfully so, Current is being billed as a “national cable and satellite channel dedicated to bringing your voice to television.”

As a network, Current sounds like a novel approach to get youth involved with the news. First, it eliminates the classic cable news format, no more extended torso view of some news anchor reciting the news. Instead, Current focuses it’s programming around “pods” consisting of segments ranging from thirty seconds to ten minutes. Next, the network operates around VC2, viewer-created content, which makes up about one third of the networks programming. This allows viewers who are tired of channel surfing and who want to be more involved to get out there and make their own programming. They then post it on the Current website, and hype it up to get people to vote for the segment. And if enough people vote, presto, they might just see their clip on TV.

Will this idea limit content to those fortunate to have the equipment and knowledge to produce programming as Current begins to use more viewer created content? Or will it cause a TV revolution? Such active participation has worked well in the past for many advertisers. For instance, Converse challenged its users to create short films, not advertisements, of their sneakers. The Internet also thrives on user created content. From blogs to podcasts to fan sites, Internet users spend countless hours creating content. So, why shouldn’t this formula be able to work for a television network, especially the youth oriented Current?

Link:
Current TV

Net Neutrality

Should Internet users have unrestricted access to all “legal” websites? Or should internet service providers be given the opportunity to restrict access to certain sites?

In the Senate this week Google battled it out with broadband providers over the possibility of future net neutrality legislation. Net neutrality legislation, simply put, would allow users unrestricted access to all websites.

It appears that Web based companies, like Google, whose mission it is to provide users with information or services, favor unrestricted access to the contents of the Internet. These companies feel that because broadband carriers provide consumer’s with the connection to the Internet, it would be possible to deny users access to websites in direct competition.

Broadband providers, however, feel that such legislation is currently unnecessary. These companies believe that the Internet, as a marketplace, should dictate the necessity of such legislation. Broadband providers explained that such legislation will stifle the growth of Internet services.

The current situation shows that both sides believe two different things. According to the argument raised by the broadband providers it seems as if they believe that the Internet is currently unrestricted, and that their services do not prohibit users from accessing competitor’s websites. However, John Thorpe, a Senior Vice President at Verizon Wireless commented that many free Web based services use extensive bandwidth and attract consumers for long periods of time. He feels that the "free lunch" broadband providers give to Web based information and services has an impact on their businesses. Thus, it seems that broadband providers would like to begin to limit Internet access to specific Websites. These restricted websites would most likely fall into one distinct category: those websites that are in direct compeition with the broadband provider's interests. By limiting customers access to these services, it will eliminate the consumer's right to choose. Also, such policies will diminish the Internet’s purpose, which is to provide individuals with access to unlimited information.

Article link:
Google, Telecoms Clash Over 'Net Neutrality'