04 December, 2007
Facts Cast: Writers’ Strike
As promised, here's the audio of the show I did for WNXT last Monday morning. Chris Spangle (who was sitting in for his boss Abdul) is the host.
Prediction for Strike End-Date: January 8, 2008
Media Predict is an online game that is running a play-money strike duration prediction market. By registering, you receive a faux balance of $5,000 which you can use to participate in the game "When Will the Writers’ Strike End?". The market currently predicts a January 8 end to the strike. Costs per share at the time of this posting is $54.40 (down -$2.00).
Another on-line game is from InTrade, which uses real money. But at the time of this posting, nobody is participating in this hedge fund.
Tell Congress: Stop Big Media
Kevin Martin, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has been keeping a secret from the American people. He wants to push through plans to remove decades-old media ownership protections. And he's trying to do it without public scrutiny.
Senators Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) have introduced groundbreaking bipartisan legislation that would hold the FCC accountable and put the people ahead of Big Media.
Petitions from the public — millions of them — stopped media consolidation in 2003. Sign the petition and tell everyone you know: http://stopbigmedia.com
WSC Show #26 - Revisit with B. Mark Seabrooks
In today’s episode, we talk to B. Mark Seabrooks. The last time he came on the show was at the Labor Solidarity March and Rally that took place just before Thanksgiving. Today we discuss how important the writers' strike is to the American labor movement. Recorded Monday, 3 December 2007.
Just a note: in this discussion we touch upon the outsourcing of American jobs. This practice has affected such business sectors such as manufacturing, technical support, airline reservations and tax preparation. Most recently, even local city news reporting was been outsourced to two journalists in India. Last spring, John Macpherson of the on-line newspaper PasadenaNow.com posted a help wanted ad on Craigslist that said, “We seek a newspaper journalist based in India to report on the city government and political scene of Pasadena, California, USA.” The upshot was that he hired two Indian reporters, one a graduate of the journalism school at the University of California at Berkeley. For more information about this, click here.
03 December, 2007
WSC Show #25 - Revisit with Joe Medeiros
Last week I read in the blogosphere about the AMPTP’s proposed "New Economic Partnership" that was heralded as a groundbreaking new deal for the writers. However, the offer seemed pretty much rejected by the WGA across the board and the writers had to take a time out.
Tomorrow, both sides will return to the table to resume negotiations. To get an understanding of where the writers were at, I revisit strike captain Joe Medeiros, the head writer of the Jay Leno show down at NBC studios. Recorded Monday, 3 December 2007.
How Will The Writer's Strike Impact YouTube?
From EricQuick
Though I agree with some of this guy's points, he needs to expand his channel from just YouTube to like...the entire Internet. Here's just 50 of the top video websites now offering content.
What's Next Entertainment & Technology: WGA Strike - The Machine vs The People
From paxstereo
Here, the host talks touches on disruptive technologies. But he's also talkin' about Time Magazine's person of the year for 2006.
I'm a radio star!
Yes it's true! In about 5 minutes I'm gonna be a radio star.I know...video killed the radio star. And the Internet is killing TV...true that! Oh, oh!
Like I said: in 5 freaking minutes I'm joining Chris Spangle on Fox News radio (insert Scooby's "grooo?" sound here). More precisely, I'll be on WXNT (that's 1430 on the AM dial) in Indianapolis where I'll be talking about the writers strike, how it will effect some of America's favorite TV shows, explain WTF new media is all about, and whether this strike is a sign of things to come in American labor.
You can also stream it live at WXNT, or catch it on podcast later today here or on XNT’s website.
UPDATE: (December 3 @ 6:12 a.m.) OK...that went hella fast! I touched on some points as best I could, but the phone connection kept dropping out which was a little weird (not to mention stressful). Another thing that's funny: I was scheduled for the entire hour, but I think Chris and I only talked like about 24 minutes or something like that. Anyway, as soon as I get the audio for this I'll be posting it on the blog. As they say...stay tuned!
02 December, 2007
WSC Show #24 - Interview with Bennett Tramer
In today’s episode I talk to Bennett Tramer at the picket lines in front of Fox Studios. Recorded Thursday, 29 November 2007.
01 December, 2007
WSC Show #23 - Interview with Liz Friedman
In today's episode we speak to Liz Friedman in front of the picket lines at Fox Studios. Recorded Thursday, 29 November 2007.
30 November, 2007
Join me tonight! I'm a winner!
Hey there! Tonight is the Winnies! Come join me!
WHO: Online Video creators, producers, compressors and STARS
WHAT: The Winnies Awards Where The Winner is YOU
WHERE: Cinespace, 6356 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, California
WHEN: November 30, 2007 - 7pm
WHY: Because you want to party and you want a trophy!
For more info, visit YouAreTheWinner.org
Just in time for Christmas!
You striking writers and those affected, scrape together $150.00 because this little gizmo makes a great gift and it's something the ConGlom's don't want you to know about.
Presenting... TakeTV...taaa-daaa!
Sansa TakeTV
Works with Fanfare online video service
Presenting... TakeTV...taaa-daaa!
Sansa TakeTV
- - 4GB and 8GB sizes, $100 and $150 respectively
- - Supports DivX (including Home Theater profile), XVID, and MPEG-4
- - Up to 720 x 576 resolution
- - On sale immediately
- - Intended for use in downloading shows from one's computer to the TakeTV (which is then physically moved to the TV)
Works with Fanfare online video service
- - Launching with content from CBS, Jaman, Showtime, Smithsonian Networks, The Weather Channel and TV Guide Broadband, including shows such as CSI, Survivor China, Dexter, and Sleeper Cell
- - Video downloads will be both ad-supported (free) and paid (not sure how much yet), depending on the wishes of the content creators
- - Fanfare video will also be playable on Sansa portable media devices
- - Yes, it's DRMed, and yes, it's proprietary: TrustedFlash, developed by SanDisk
- - Available in beta today, officially launching in 2008
WSC Show #22 - Interview with Leonard Dick
In today’s episode we talk to Leonard Dick from the picket lines in front of FOX Studios. If you want to learn more about my bloggings about Hulu, click here. Recorded Thursday, 29 November 2007.
29 November, 2007
Hulu Hulu Hulu
Today I interviewed one of the only writers who's heard of Hulu. The podcast is forthcoming; I'm working on it now.
Hulu is an on-line joint venture with NBC Universal and and Fox News Corporation. It will focus on professional content and as opposed to the user generated content (a fancy term for "amateur") mostly seen on YouTube. I blogged about Hulu a couple of days ago, so if you're not up to speed check it here.
Hulu was supposed to launch the week of Halloween. But, no surprise, it still hasn't launched yet. Could it be -- gasp -- the timing of the launch conflicted with the start of strike and the ConGlom's saying there's no money to be made on the Internet?
Hmmm...
You might want to check out this article entitled "NBC pulls YouTube clips ahead of Hulu launch", posted on MSNBC's website dated October 27th.
It's interesting to note that the article has been pulled, so if the above referenced link is dead (perhaps you're using a different web browser than Safari?) then run a search in Google using the search terms "hulu" and "launch". Then click on "cache" to pull up the old cache because, like I said, the article has been pulled.
Here's a juicy quote: "The massive popularity on YouTube of Lazy Sunday, an NBC Saturday Night Live clip, was a watershed in revealing the new medium's ability to circulate video to millions of viewers on the internet."
Hmmm.......
It's also very interesting that the most recent Hulu blog posting dated November 22 doesn't mention their delayed launch at all. Instead the blog highlights that in addition to some great reality television programming, they've also added thirty new titles their content library, from classic action titles like Remington Steele, Burn Notice, The Starter Wife, and Ghost Hunters. But wait! There's a fuckton more: 15 cable channels including Bravo, E!, FX, SciFi, Sundance and USA.
Hmmm.....indeed. Hrmph!
What’s the future of media consumption?
A few weeks ago, NewTeeVee held a live panel about new media platforms. Speakers included folks from such companies as AOL, MobiTV and Joost. Here's a snippet:
"TV is still more popular than its ever been. It’s easily the world’s most popular application. Everyone watches TV."The transcripts reveal more about the future of new media. It's worth a read here.
WSC Show #21 - Interview with Brian Hartt
In today’s episode we talk with Brian Hartt at the picket lines in front of Warner Bros. Studios. Recorded Monday, 26 November 2007.
28 November, 2007
Podcast Update
Odeo.com, the website that provides the .mp3 players used in this blog is down for a scheduled maintenance. It should be back up sometime after midnight, PST.
This will affect the ability to hear the podcasts here on this blog. Also, our iTunes feed is temporarily affected as well.
We are working on a work around solution, so we appreciate your patience!
UPDATE 11/29/2007 - The problem has been resolved. As you were! :)
This will affect the ability to hear the podcasts here on this blog. Also, our iTunes feed is temporarily affected as well.
We are working on a work around solution, so we appreciate your patience!
UPDATE 11/29/2007 - The problem has been resolved. As you were! :)
Out of the strike: new models for film from Silicon Valley
From Netribution:
Read the article here.
And from Marc Andreeson's blog:
"Marc Andreesson, who founded Netscape amongst other ventures, is arguing that the film industry needs to rebuild itself on a model closer to that used by startups in Silicon Valley. Here venture capital companies will normally back talent with a good idea, and leave them running the company with a big share, perhaps over half, of the profits."
Read the article here.
And from Marc Andreeson's blog:
"The writers' strike, and the studios' response to the strike, may radically accelerate a structural shift in the media industry -- a shift of power from studios and conglomerates towards creators and talent."Read the entire post "Rebuilding Hollywood in Silicon Valley's image" on CNET here.
WSC Show #20 - Interview with Christian Romero
Today we talk to Christian Romero, a member of the Teamsters Local 399 at the picket lines in front of Warner Brothers Studios. Recorded Monday, 28 November 2007.
Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com
HuffPo reports on the WGA Rally in NYC, 11-27-07
From the Huffington Post: A video report on the rally for the Writers Guild in New York City, 11-27-07.
The Top Video Sharing Sites
If you've been listening to the Writers' Strike Chronicles podcast, you'll know that I keep asking peeps: "Do you consume new media? And if so, what are you downloading?"
The number one answer, time and again has been YouTube.
Now if you're a reader to this blog, you'll know I've made every effort to disabuse folks of the notion that YouTube is the only Intertube out there.
Now here's a compilation of the top 50 video sharing sites from Website Magazine.
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