By JULIE BICK
Published: November 25, 2007
HOWARD AND LIZZIE SHERMAN, ages 15 and 9, know that they need to complete all their homework and chores in order to receive their weekly allowance. The amount may be a little less than usual if they’ve misbehaved, or a bit larger if they have done some extra work around the house.
When the children want to use their allowance, though, they don’t go to the mall. They turn on the family’s computer or television because there’s a parallel economy in place at the Sherman home, with a currency most often known as “screen time.”
Screen time can be spent playing computer games, watching TV or movies or, for older children, visiting social networking sites like MySpace or instant messaging with friends. This new currency, used in a growing number of households, works as an allowance because screen time is highly valued by children and teenagers, and usually restricted by parents.
They may feel that their children’s time would be better spent reading a book, playing outside or talking directly to another person, according to Richard N. Bromfield, a psychologist on the staff of Harvard Medical School. But for the most part, screen time is seen as acceptable in moderation.
Families dole out the commodity in a variety of ways. Some have their children keep a log book of time used, or have them “spend” it from a stack of 30-minute allotted “tickets.”
For parents who don’t want to keep track themselves, there are devices that will turn off the television or computer automatically when the user has reached a time limit — (although some of today’s children may be more likely to know how to reset the device than their parents do). Some families grant extra screen time based on how much a child reads or practices piano, for example, or the number of days that they’ve avoided fighting with a sibling.
Kathleen Dayton of Seattle lets her twin 10-year-olds, and their little brother, age 7, earn extra screen time for minutes spent on extra math drills. “We reinforce things they’re learning in school,” she said, “and screen time is a really a strong motivator — it makes math happen in my house.”
Household chores stay out of the equation, though. Setting the table, unloading the dishwasher and putting away groceries, come with being a family member, Mrs. Dayton says: “They’re not negotiable.”
And while she sees the value in doling out screen time, she doesn’t want to overdo it. “Screen time isn’t evil — it’s fine in small doses,” she said, “but I feel pretty mixed about giving them much extra.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours of screen time a day, and many parents feel that less is better.
Screen time can be a useful currency for teenagers who might be earning their own money through baby-sitting or other jobs, leaving parents looking for a new form of incentive or punishment.
Karen Vekasy of Stow, Ohio, said that as her son Mike Bailey “grew out of being sent to his room” at about the age of 11, she found that “electricity” — the family’s name for screen time — was his most valued commodity. “It’s entertainment to him and it’s social because he meets his friends online,” she said.
Mike, now 15, earns additional time by assisting his mother with office projects including PowerPoint presentations and video editing, or helping his grandfather with grocery shopping and other household maintenance. “I like the system,” Mike said, adding that it made him more likely to do extra work and less likely to break household rules.
Ms. Vekasy also used a reward of extra electricity to encourage Mike to start volunteering at a hospice. “These days he enjoys going, but without the incentive I don’t think I could have convinced him to try it out,” she said.
Sarah Chana Radcliffe, author of “Raise Your Kids Without Raising Your Voice,” (BPS Books), views screen-time allowances as a great motivator for children. She takes a long-term view of it. “Which adjectives do you want your child described as when they are 20?” she asks. “Do you want them, for example, to be known as responsible, respectful, generous and determined? Then start rewarding them for those behaviors from a young age and slowly phase out the rewards as the actions become more automatic.”
She tells parents to find a currency that their children care about, like screen time.
Mrs. Dayton sympathizes with her son’s desire to check sports scores on the Web and spend time on a Wii game console. “I read the news online; I do my e-mail,” she said. “I like my screen time, too.”
A household’s screen-time allowance system may morph over time. A few years ago, the Shermans, who live in Basking Ridge, N.J., established the rule that all homework, chores and instrument practice had to be completed before their children were allowed to turn on the television or play a video game. “It made sense in theory, but it turned out the kids would just rush through their work in a slapdash way, to get to the electronics,” their mother, Amy Sherman, said. “So we got rid of the weeknight time entirely.”
The Sherman children have learned to abide by the system. Howard knows he needs to keep his grades up or he won’t be allowed to join his friends at the local Friday night video game hangout place. His little sister Lizzie takes care of her real pet dogs before she feeds and pampers her Webkinz, penguins or other online pets. Mrs. Sherman says her children’s screen-time allowance has taught them about prioritization and how putting in extra effort can yield more of what they want out of life.
Dr. Bromfield, the author of “How to Unspoil Your Child Fast,” (Basil Books), cautions parents not to overuse household currency systems. Children are motivated both externally by pleasing their parents or by getting a reward, he said, as well as intrinsically, where they want to do the right thing, or high-quality work, because it feels good inside to do so.
REWARDING all a child’s good behaviors with toys, points, money or screen time can override the child’s burgeoning sense of self-motivation. “When used too much, rewards can quash a child’s internal desire to do well and do right,” Dr. Bromfield said. “Then a child’s attitude may turn to: ‘What’s in it for me?’”
As long as screen time or another reward system is part of a larger arsenal of flexible parenting strategies, Dr. Bromfield said, it can be very effective.
And parents can aim to use it to their best advantage. Or, as Mrs. Sherman says: “My son doesn’t ask for more computer time. He asks if he can do the dishes this week.”
Permalink
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
TV Tied To Blood Pressure In Obese Kids
Doctors Recommend Limiting Television To 2 Hours A Day And Forbidding TV While Eating
(WebMD) A new childhood obesity study links watching lots of TV to high blood pressure in obese children.
The researchers advise parents to heed recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about limiting kids' TV time.
The AAP doesn't recommend TV for children aged 2 or younger. The AAP recommends no more than one to two hours per day of educational, nonviolent programs for older children.
Other tips include removing TVs from children's bedrooms and forbidding TV watching while eating, note the new study's authors, who included Perrie Pardee and Jeffrey Schwimmer, M.D., of the pediatrics department at the University of California, San Diego.
Television and Obese Children
Pardee, Schwimmer, and colleagues studied 546 obese kids and teens (average age: almost 12).
The children sought obesity treatment between 2003 and 2005 in San Diego, San Francisco, or Dayton, Ohio.
The kids had an average BMI (body mass index, which relates height to
weight) of 35.5, putting them in the top 5 percent of BMI for their age and sex.
The kids' parents reported how much TV their child watched on a typical day.
Children aged 8 and older helped their parents report TV time.
More than three-quarters of the kids -- 78 percent -- reported watching at least two hours of TV per day.
The children got their blood pressure recorded once for the study. Nearly half of the children -- 43 percent -- had a blood pressure reading that was in the hypertension range.
The heaviest children were the most likely to have a high blood pressure reading -- and to watch lots of TV.
Children who watched 2-4 hours of TV per day were 2.5 times as likely as kids who watch no more than two hours of daily TV to have high blood pressure.
Cause and Effect Unclear
The study, which is due to appear in December's edition of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, has some limits.
As an observational study, it doesn't prove cause and effect. That is, the findings don't prove that watching TV raised the kids' blood pressure; other factors may have been involved.
An editorial published with the study raises these questions for further research:
# Why is obesity increasing while TV viewing isn't increasing?
# Why does obesity increase in adolescence, when TV viewing decreases?
# Why do boys, who watch more TV than girls, show less obesity and more physical activity?
"Focusing on just one set of behaviors may not be enough," writes editorialist Stuart Biddle, Ph.D.
For instance, Biddle points out that turning off the TV doesn't make for a more active child if that child just starts playing computer games.
Biddle works at the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Loughborough University in Leicestershire, England.
By Miranda Hitti
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/30/health/webmd/main3432331.shtml
(WebMD) A new childhood obesity study links watching lots of TV to high blood pressure in obese children.
The researchers advise parents to heed recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about limiting kids' TV time.
The AAP doesn't recommend TV for children aged 2 or younger. The AAP recommends no more than one to two hours per day of educational, nonviolent programs for older children.
Other tips include removing TVs from children's bedrooms and forbidding TV watching while eating, note the new study's authors, who included Perrie Pardee and Jeffrey Schwimmer, M.D., of the pediatrics department at the University of California, San Diego.
Television and Obese Children
Pardee, Schwimmer, and colleagues studied 546 obese kids and teens (average age: almost 12).
The children sought obesity treatment between 2003 and 2005 in San Diego, San Francisco, or Dayton, Ohio.
The kids had an average BMI (body mass index, which relates height to
weight) of 35.5, putting them in the top 5 percent of BMI for their age and sex.
The kids' parents reported how much TV their child watched on a typical day.
Children aged 8 and older helped their parents report TV time.
More than three-quarters of the kids -- 78 percent -- reported watching at least two hours of TV per day.
The children got their blood pressure recorded once for the study. Nearly half of the children -- 43 percent -- had a blood pressure reading that was in the hypertension range.
The heaviest children were the most likely to have a high blood pressure reading -- and to watch lots of TV.
Children who watched 2-4 hours of TV per day were 2.5 times as likely as kids who watch no more than two hours of daily TV to have high blood pressure.
Cause and Effect Unclear
The study, which is due to appear in December's edition of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, has some limits.
As an observational study, it doesn't prove cause and effect. That is, the findings don't prove that watching TV raised the kids' blood pressure; other factors may have been involved.
An editorial published with the study raises these questions for further research:
# Why is obesity increasing while TV viewing isn't increasing?
# Why does obesity increase in adolescence, when TV viewing decreases?
# Why do boys, who watch more TV than girls, show less obesity and more physical activity?
"Focusing on just one set of behaviors may not be enough," writes editorialist Stuart Biddle, Ph.D.
For instance, Biddle points out that turning off the TV doesn't make for a more active child if that child just starts playing computer games.
Biddle works at the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Loughborough University in Leicestershire, England.
By Miranda Hitti
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/30/health/webmd/main3432331.shtml
Parents limiting kids' TV time; education a concern
November 1, 2007
BY STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON -- Parents are taking a more active role in raising their children than they did a decade ago, setting greater restrictions on television watching and reading more to youngsters, the Census Bureau reported Wednesday.
The findings suggest that adults are reacting to a more dangerous world, while both parents and students are dealing with increased competition to get into good colleges, experts said.
"Whether it's a realistic panic or not, things like school shootings or child abductions or pedophile predators, that has a certain group of American parents pretty worried," said Angela Hattery, a sociology professor at Wake Forest University.
The report is from the Census Bureau's 2004 survey of income and program participation, which had a sample of 46,500 households. The results were compared with answers from the same survey questions in 1994.
In 2004, about 47% of teenagers had multiple television restrictions, including limits on program types, the time of day they could watch and how much they could see. That compares with 40% in 1994.
Nearly 71% of children age 6 to 11 had such limits in 2004, compared with 60% a decade earlier.
"All you have to do is own a TV," said Hattery, a parent. "I'm shocked at what you can see at 8 o'clock."
Parents also are feeling peer pressure to spend more time with their kids, and guilt when they don't, said Elizabeth Cooksey, a sociology professor at Ohio Sate University.
"We've really moved into this cultural expectation that this is what good parents do," Cooksey said. "It's more a cultural consensus, that if we are going to be parents, we are going to have to put time into it."
More parents read to their children in 2004 than a decade earlier. Wealthier, better-educated parents were more likely to do so than parents with lower incomes and less education.
Overall, 51% of parents with children age 3 to 5 said they had read to them at least seven times a week in 2004, compared with about 47% in 1994.
Students also are feeling pressure at school, with increased testing at all grade levels and tougher requirements to get into college.
It is no wonder: About 85% of parents said in 2004 that they expected their children to graduate from college.
To help, there were significant increases in students taking classes outside the regular school day, including lessons in music, dance, languages, computers and religion. About 29% of teenagers took such classes in 2004, compared with 19% in 1994.
The share of teens who played sports dropped during the decade, from 42% to 39%.
In addition to improving a college application, extracurricular activities help students feel accepted among their peers, said Ellen deLara, an assistant professor of social work at Syracuse University who works with adolescents.
"The notion of being activities that are worthy, whether it is community service or the band, that is extremely important to them," deLara said. "Adolescents who don't have the opportunity for that may feel alienated at school or in society in general."
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071101/NEWS07/711010353/1009
BY STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON -- Parents are taking a more active role in raising their children than they did a decade ago, setting greater restrictions on television watching and reading more to youngsters, the Census Bureau reported Wednesday.
The findings suggest that adults are reacting to a more dangerous world, while both parents and students are dealing with increased competition to get into good colleges, experts said.
"Whether it's a realistic panic or not, things like school shootings or child abductions or pedophile predators, that has a certain group of American parents pretty worried," said Angela Hattery, a sociology professor at Wake Forest University.
The report is from the Census Bureau's 2004 survey of income and program participation, which had a sample of 46,500 households. The results were compared with answers from the same survey questions in 1994.
In 2004, about 47% of teenagers had multiple television restrictions, including limits on program types, the time of day they could watch and how much they could see. That compares with 40% in 1994.
Nearly 71% of children age 6 to 11 had such limits in 2004, compared with 60% a decade earlier.
"All you have to do is own a TV," said Hattery, a parent. "I'm shocked at what you can see at 8 o'clock."
Parents also are feeling peer pressure to spend more time with their kids, and guilt when they don't, said Elizabeth Cooksey, a sociology professor at Ohio Sate University.
"We've really moved into this cultural expectation that this is what good parents do," Cooksey said. "It's more a cultural consensus, that if we are going to be parents, we are going to have to put time into it."
More parents read to their children in 2004 than a decade earlier. Wealthier, better-educated parents were more likely to do so than parents with lower incomes and less education.
Overall, 51% of parents with children age 3 to 5 said they had read to them at least seven times a week in 2004, compared with about 47% in 1994.
Students also are feeling pressure at school, with increased testing at all grade levels and tougher requirements to get into college.
It is no wonder: About 85% of parents said in 2004 that they expected their children to graduate from college.
To help, there were significant increases in students taking classes outside the regular school day, including lessons in music, dance, languages, computers and religion. About 29% of teenagers took such classes in 2004, compared with 19% in 1994.
The share of teens who played sports dropped during the decade, from 42% to 39%.
In addition to improving a college application, extracurricular activities help students feel accepted among their peers, said Ellen deLara, an assistant professor of social work at Syracuse University who works with adolescents.
"The notion of being activities that are worthy, whether it is community service or the band, that is extremely important to them," deLara said. "Adolescents who don't have the opportunity for that may feel alienated at school or in society in general."
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071101/NEWS07/711010353/1009
Friday, October 19, 2007
Parent Groups to Promote 'Good' TV Shows for Kids
Alliance Launches Positive Push Instead of Slamming 'Bad' Programming
By Ira Teinowitz
Published: October 16, 2007
WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) -- Publicizing good shows rather than ripping bad ones is the best way to improve TV for children. That's the verdict of a coalition of groups including the National PTA and the National Education Association, which are unveiling a Smart Television Alliance to tout better programming to parents, caregivers and advertisers.
"Much of children's television stinks," Susan Scanlan, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations, said at a press conference today. "We don't need a poll to learn that children have all-too-easy access to violent, indecent, inappropriate or just plain stupid TV programming."
She said aim is to increase ratings and advertiser support for better shows. The urging will come in a twice-a-month newsletter and a website that members of the groups can access. The website, smarttelevisionalliance.org, won't rate shows itself but will list shows recommended by child experts. Ms. Scanlan said the alliance, which is being formed with funding from TiVo, may meet with networks, advertisers and program providers.
"Rather than sit back and wait and wait for something to change, [the alliance] is going to change children's television ourselves," Ms. Scanlan said.
Not enough
National PTA CEO Warlene Gary said the media industry hasn't done enough on its own. "Those in the television industry have had years to provide parents and families with the tools they require and deserve," she said. "Unfortunately these efforts have fallen far short of even basic needs. The PTA was intimately involved with the negotiations that created the television rating system. We had high hopes for it, but those hopes have not been realized."
NEA President Reg Weaver said teachers, too, have been eyeing children's TV. "We have long been concerned about the impact of television, particularly violent television on children," he said. "Studies show that average child spends about 900 hours in the classroom during the course of a school year but 1,023 hours in front of a TV. Think about the level of violence to which they are frequently exposed. Thousands of studies have been conducted on children, television and violence, and according to a majority, kids who watch violent programming are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior."
Other groups in the alliance include the Afterschool Alliance, the Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies, the Coalition for Quality Children's Media, Kids First, Common Sense Media, the Parents' Choice Foundation and the YWCA.
An alliance official said one reason for the positive focus was a fear that bashing programs could be counterproductive, potentially making "bad" programs more appealing to kids.
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=121203
By Ira Teinowitz
Published: October 16, 2007
WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) -- Publicizing good shows rather than ripping bad ones is the best way to improve TV for children. That's the verdict of a coalition of groups including the National PTA and the National Education Association, which are unveiling a Smart Television Alliance to tout better programming to parents, caregivers and advertisers.
"Much of children's television stinks," Susan Scanlan, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations, said at a press conference today. "We don't need a poll to learn that children have all-too-easy access to violent, indecent, inappropriate or just plain stupid TV programming."
She said aim is to increase ratings and advertiser support for better shows. The urging will come in a twice-a-month newsletter and a website that members of the groups can access. The website, smarttelevisionalliance.org, won't rate shows itself but will list shows recommended by child experts. Ms. Scanlan said the alliance, which is being formed with funding from TiVo, may meet with networks, advertisers and program providers.
"Rather than sit back and wait and wait for something to change, [the alliance] is going to change children's television ourselves," Ms. Scanlan said.
Not enough
National PTA CEO Warlene Gary said the media industry hasn't done enough on its own. "Those in the television industry have had years to provide parents and families with the tools they require and deserve," she said. "Unfortunately these efforts have fallen far short of even basic needs. The PTA was intimately involved with the negotiations that created the television rating system. We had high hopes for it, but those hopes have not been realized."
NEA President Reg Weaver said teachers, too, have been eyeing children's TV. "We have long been concerned about the impact of television, particularly violent television on children," he said. "Studies show that average child spends about 900 hours in the classroom during the course of a school year but 1,023 hours in front of a TV. Think about the level of violence to which they are frequently exposed. Thousands of studies have been conducted on children, television and violence, and according to a majority, kids who watch violent programming are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior."
Other groups in the alliance include the Afterschool Alliance, the Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies, the Coalition for Quality Children's Media, Kids First, Common Sense Media, the Parents' Choice Foundation and the YWCA.
An alliance official said one reason for the positive focus was a fear that bashing programs could be counterproductive, potentially making "bad" programs more appealing to kids.
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=121203
Friday, October 12, 2007
Ad dollars flood Web, but will they go far enough?
By Paul Thomasch Fri Oct 12, 12:42 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Companies will spend a record $31 billion this year to advertise everything from toothpaste to home loans on the Internet, supporting countless news sites, social networks, video exchanges and blogs.
But some media veterans worry that expectations for online advertising may be getting out-sized.
Increasingly, they say, too much media depends on advertising as the only source of revenue. With new players from software makers to cable operators also trying to cash in, the dollars simply may not stretch far enough.
"I'm getting to the point where I feel like every answer to every business development pitch is 'We're going to be advertiser supported'," said Beth Comstock, president of Integrated Media at NBC Universal, which this year set up a fund to invest in media and digital companies.
"It's just not going to be possible," she said at a recent advertising conference. "There are not going to be enough advertising dollars in the marketplace. No matter how clever we are, no matter what the format is."
NBC Universal's television networks, cable channels and Web sites compete for advertising dollars with everything from niche blogs to big media peers like Time Warner Inc (TWX.N) and Walt Disney Co (DIS.N). In addition fast-growing Internet companies like Google Inc (GOOG.O) are snatching up advertising budgets.
But new rivals are entering the market. Comcast Corp. (CMCSA.O), the largest U.S. cable operator, expects at least $1 billion in online advertising in the next five to six years.
Verizon Communications (VZ.N) and AT&T (T.N) are looking at advertising opportunities on their video and wireless services, while startups like social network Facebook are seen as a new frontier for Web marketing.
Even Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) has made a bold move into advertising with its purchase of Web marketing firm aQuantive.
THE MONEY FLOW
Until recently, the focus was squarely on how much money is moving into online advertising, rather than whether too many companies are making a grab for it.
There is little doubt today that a hefty portion of advertising dollars will shift to the Internet from TV, radio, print and elsewhere in the coming years. ZenithOptimedia forecasts that online ads worldwide will rise 28 percent in 2007, while the rest of the market grows at 3.7 percent.
Next year, ZenithOptimedia forecasts it to rise by 21 percent, and climb another 13 percent to $43 billion in 2009.
At that point, Web advertising would represent almost 10 percent of the $495 billion spent on advertising worldwide -- yet would trail spending on newspapers, magazines, and TV.
"There are billion of dollars that can still move," said Craig Lambert, Chief Digital Director of Colangelo, an integrated marketing agency based in Darien, Connecticut.
"Is there enough money flowing to support the businesses out there? I'd guess there is, just because there's so much money that has always been spent on TV and print," he added.
BIG SITES GET BIG DOLLARS
Others also take the position that there should be sufficient advertising money to spread around.
Jeff Brooks, Chief Executive of digital and direct marketing agency Euro RSCG 4D, sees a "huge gap" between the amount of time people spend on digital media and the amount of advertising money it attracts.
"The thrust of ad spending online, while dramatic in its growth quarter over quarter, still represents a disproportionately small percentage of total advertising dollars," he said.
The catch, according to some, is that much of the money flowing toward the Internet is concentrated on a few dozen of the most popular sites. That has left smaller, less well-known sites at a severe disadvantage when it comes to attracting advertising money and surviving.
In the United States, the top 50 Web sites accounted for more than 90 percent of the revenue from online ads in the first half of 2007, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The top 10 sites accounted for 70 percent of the revenue.
All the while, the number of Web sites continues to grow, creating more competition for audiences -- and advertisers -- who can also choose among video games, movies, TV, portable music and every other type of media entertainment.
"It's not like the old days, when it was 'if you build it, they will come,"' said Jonathan Sackett, Chief Digital Officer at Arnold Worldwide, a Boston-based advertising agency. "Now if you build it, they probably won't."
One alternative for Web sites would be to bank on subscriptions rather than advertising revenue, but few existing outlets have been successful with that model.
The reason is that unless the site offers extraordinary content, people simply refuse to pay for it, said Mark Miller, president of RMG Connect, an advertising and marketing agency.
"If Warren Buffett wanted to put out his own subscription newsletter online, well, I'm sure he'd get a bucketful of people to subscribe to it," Miller said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071012/tc_nm/advertising_web_dc_1
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Article: Movie downloads: Digital will generate valuable incremental revenue for the movie business
London 4th September 2007: The latest report from Screen Digest (www.screendigest.com) released today examines how the individual Hollywood Studios are adapting their businesses to online movie distribution. Notably, the report finds that a viable business will emerge in the US and W Europe for movie downloading, but warns that the Studios are following a fragmented path to digital distribution, with each major following a different strategy. This is likely to hamper the development of movie downloads and ultimately confuse and fragment the consumer market. The research provides detailed analysis and forecasts of the movie distribution business in the US and W Europe, and reveals that the overall winners in this market will not only be the Studios who own the content, but major device manufacturers such as Microsoft, Apple and Sony. Unique to the report entitled 'Online Movie Strategies: Competitive Review and Market Outlook' are trade level revenues and forecasts of the market for movie downloads, both rental and retail. Screen Digest predicts the market will be worth $1.3bn in 2011 in the US and W Europe combined. Of this, $720m will be generated in the US and $572m in W Europe. The majority of the revenue in 2011 will be taken by the Studios and content owners, at $530m in the US and $405m in W Europe, leaving service and solutions providers to scramble for the remaining share.
For some hardware manufacturers, selling digital movies will be used as a marketing tool to sell devices. In this highly competitive climate, the Studios are able to cash in and command high margins: Screen Digest's analysis reveals that the Studio wholesale price on movie downloads to service providers ranges from 70% to 105% of consumer price on the latest new film releases. As such, for service providers, movie downloads will become a low-margin and potentially loss-making endeavour, and only those service providers who have a strong hardware proposition and are able to absorb the cost, such as Apple, Microsoft or Sony, are likely to succeed.
According to Screen Digest, the online digital movies segment will constitute 3 per cent of all movie home entertainment revenues in the US and W Europe by 2011. This may be smaller than some observers were expecting, but is still a significant market and will bring much needed incremental revenue to the movie business as DVD growth falls away. Arash Amel, Senior Analyst and author of the report says "At Screen Digest we have re-evaluated our 2006 forecasts of the digital movie market value in response to consumer reaction to existing services. It is becoming increasingly apparent that people want to watch films they've downloaded on their large screen TVs and home entertainment systems. To do that, they need a new device, such as an Apple TV, an Xbox, a PS3 or a plain old media extender, which can link their broadband connection to the TV set. At present, there simply isn't adequate penetration of these devices – and the idea that people will en masse watch a two or three-hour movie on the PC just isn't realistic. It will take time to reach a wider market penetration with these new devices, and we believe that this will start to become more main stream beyond 2011.
In the competitive analysis section of the report, the different strategies and tactics employed by the Studios for exploiting digital movie content are compared. Unlike the introduction of the DVD, where the Studios agreed a single format and approximate business model, digital is being handled very differently. Every Studio has its own view and approach to this new era, resulting in the development of a fragmented market, which will undoubtedly hinder the future development of digital.For example, some Studios are likely to adopt a 'day and date' strategy for film release, making content available across all platforms on the same day, from the physical DVD to online downloads. Others will continue with different release dates depending on the delivery medium. As Amel concludes "How the Studios react is crucial. It's a delicate balancing act between maintaining their relationships with their highly important DVD customer base – the powerful retailers like Walmart and Tesco – whilst meeting growing consumer demand for immediate online downloads."
For more information please contact:
Screen Digest:
Fay Hamilton
PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7424 2847
fay.hamilton@screendigest.com
Media enquiries:
Lucy Green
Tel: +44 (0) 7817 698366
lgreen@greenfieldscommunications.com
About this research
The data in this press release is taken from Screen Digest's latest report 'Online Movie Strategies: Competitive Review and Market Outlook'. The report focuses on the online distribution of digital movies in W Europe and the US, and contains detailed analysis of the strategies of the major Hollywood Studios. Comprehensive data includes consumer spending on movie downloading, as well as trade level revenues generated by content owners, together with the value of the total movie home entertainment market. The report also details the penetration of technology: including broadband connectivity, portable video device data and in-home broadband-enabled entertainment device forecast. The company profiles section of the report presents key details on eight Hollywood Studios, including the size of libraries prepared for digital distribution and a comprehensive benchmarking of service deals struck in the US and W Europe.
About Screen Digest - Global media intelligence
Screen Digest is the pre-eminent firm of industry analysts covering the global media markets. We employ a team of 30 specialist analysts covering television, broadband, mobile, home entertainment, cinema and gaming. Our online services and reports provide the information and analysis that hundreds of media companies worldwide base their decisions on.
To find out more, please contact Screen Digest sales/sales@screendigest.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7424 2820. www.screendigest.com
http://www.screendigest.com/reports/07onlinemoviestrat/press_releases_04_09_2007/view.html
For some hardware manufacturers, selling digital movies will be used as a marketing tool to sell devices. In this highly competitive climate, the Studios are able to cash in and command high margins: Screen Digest's analysis reveals that the Studio wholesale price on movie downloads to service providers ranges from 70% to 105% of consumer price on the latest new film releases. As such, for service providers, movie downloads will become a low-margin and potentially loss-making endeavour, and only those service providers who have a strong hardware proposition and are able to absorb the cost, such as Apple, Microsoft or Sony, are likely to succeed.
According to Screen Digest, the online digital movies segment will constitute 3 per cent of all movie home entertainment revenues in the US and W Europe by 2011. This may be smaller than some observers were expecting, but is still a significant market and will bring much needed incremental revenue to the movie business as DVD growth falls away. Arash Amel, Senior Analyst and author of the report says "At Screen Digest we have re-evaluated our 2006 forecasts of the digital movie market value in response to consumer reaction to existing services. It is becoming increasingly apparent that people want to watch films they've downloaded on their large screen TVs and home entertainment systems. To do that, they need a new device, such as an Apple TV, an Xbox, a PS3 or a plain old media extender, which can link their broadband connection to the TV set. At present, there simply isn't adequate penetration of these devices – and the idea that people will en masse watch a two or three-hour movie on the PC just isn't realistic. It will take time to reach a wider market penetration with these new devices, and we believe that this will start to become more main stream beyond 2011.
In the competitive analysis section of the report, the different strategies and tactics employed by the Studios for exploiting digital movie content are compared. Unlike the introduction of the DVD, where the Studios agreed a single format and approximate business model, digital is being handled very differently. Every Studio has its own view and approach to this new era, resulting in the development of a fragmented market, which will undoubtedly hinder the future development of digital.For example, some Studios are likely to adopt a 'day and date' strategy for film release, making content available across all platforms on the same day, from the physical DVD to online downloads. Others will continue with different release dates depending on the delivery medium. As Amel concludes "How the Studios react is crucial. It's a delicate balancing act between maintaining their relationships with their highly important DVD customer base – the powerful retailers like Walmart and Tesco – whilst meeting growing consumer demand for immediate online downloads."
For more information please contact:
Screen Digest:
Fay Hamilton
PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7424 2847
fay.hamilton@screendigest.com
Media enquiries:
Lucy Green
Tel: +44 (0) 7817 698366
lgreen@greenfieldscommunications.com
About this research
The data in this press release is taken from Screen Digest's latest report 'Online Movie Strategies: Competitive Review and Market Outlook'. The report focuses on the online distribution of digital movies in W Europe and the US, and contains detailed analysis of the strategies of the major Hollywood Studios. Comprehensive data includes consumer spending on movie downloading, as well as trade level revenues generated by content owners, together with the value of the total movie home entertainment market. The report also details the penetration of technology: including broadband connectivity, portable video device data and in-home broadband-enabled entertainment device forecast. The company profiles section of the report presents key details on eight Hollywood Studios, including the size of libraries prepared for digital distribution and a comprehensive benchmarking of service deals struck in the US and W Europe.
About Screen Digest - Global media intelligence
Screen Digest is the pre-eminent firm of industry analysts covering the global media markets. We employ a team of 30 specialist analysts covering television, broadband, mobile, home entertainment, cinema and gaming. Our online services and reports provide the information and analysis that hundreds of media companies worldwide base their decisions on.
To find out more, please contact Screen Digest sales/sales@screendigest.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7424 2820. www.screendigest.com
http://www.screendigest.com/reports/07onlinemoviestrat/press_releases_04_09_2007/view.html
Article: Cartoon Network New Media Invites Kids to Rule After School with Master Control
Starting Sept. 24 kids can join interactive teams at CartoonNetwork.com where they will vote for their favorite shows; winners gain domination over the network’s after-school airwaves
Just in time to take some of the sting out of back-to-school season, Cartoon Network New Media launches the 15-week first season of Master Control on Sept. 24. Master Control is an unprecedented multiplatform initiative that gives kids control over the after-school time block on Cartoon Network and builds an engaging fan network online at CartoonNetwork.com.
As Master Control kicks off, fans can visit CartoonNetwork.com and join one of three Master Control teams. Team members can vote online for which Cartoon Network show they’d like to see air Monday through Thursday in the 5:30 p.m. program slot. The team that casts the most votes each Friday decides the entire 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. programming block for that day (all times are ET, PT).
“We are committed to delivering multiplatform activities that will spark engagement and empowerment for the Cartoon Network audience,” said Paul Condolora, senior vice president and general manager of Cartoon Network New Media. “Master Control does that and offers a Cartoon Network twist to online voting for television programming.”
Master Control teams will have home pages that serve as virtual clubhouses with themed logos in addition to branding that will carry through to network promotions and on-air bumpers.
At launch, kids can choose to join one of three Master Control teams, switching allegiances as they like throughout the season. In the spirit of fun and over-the-top adventure, the teams are:
Shadowmark: Stealthy and mysterious, Shadowmark achieves its goals by any means necessary.
Vikinators: Fiercely competitive warriors, the Vikinators never back down.
Blastadons: Elite warlocks by birthright, Blastadons wield powerful and ancient magic.
“The team home pages will serve as a rallying point for members,” said Art Roche, Cartoon Network New Media creative director. “We think kids will love the interactive element of competing against other teams. Fans really will control the destiny of everything, working together to beat their opponents from week to week.”
As the Master Control season progresses, Cartoon Network will roll out more team-themed activities and extras, culminating in a tournament-play round, the winner of which gains even more days of control over the network lineup.
About Cartoon Network New Media
Cartoon Network New Media is responsible for the production of Cartoon Network’s popular Web sites, which include CartoonNetwork.com, ToonamiJetstream.com, Awesomehouseparty.com and CartoonNetworkYa.com (the Spanish-language site for kids). These sites are some of the most popular entertainment sites in the world for kids, currently attracting an average of more than 6 million unique users each month in the U.S. (Nielsen//NetRatings). The top attraction is their roster of games, which drew more than 2 billion game plays in 2006. In addition, Cartoon Network New Media is the creative force behind Cartoon Network’s video-on-demand offerings, interactive TV and mobile offerings, which include partnerships with such major carriers as Sprint, Cingular and Verizon.
About Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 91 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.
CONTACTS:
Jessica Wolf MPRM Public Relations (323) 933-3399 JWolf@mprm.com
Tim DeClaire Cartoon Network (404) 575-9283 tim.declaire@turner.com
http://www.turnerinfo.com/newsitem.aspx?P=CARTOON&CID01=61c020bb-e491-44c3-838c-31f94231020f
Just in time to take some of the sting out of back-to-school season, Cartoon Network New Media launches the 15-week first season of Master Control on Sept. 24. Master Control is an unprecedented multiplatform initiative that gives kids control over the after-school time block on Cartoon Network and builds an engaging fan network online at CartoonNetwork.com.
As Master Control kicks off, fans can visit CartoonNetwork.com and join one of three Master Control teams. Team members can vote online for which Cartoon Network show they’d like to see air Monday through Thursday in the 5:30 p.m. program slot. The team that casts the most votes each Friday decides the entire 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. programming block for that day (all times are ET, PT).
“We are committed to delivering multiplatform activities that will spark engagement and empowerment for the Cartoon Network audience,” said Paul Condolora, senior vice president and general manager of Cartoon Network New Media. “Master Control does that and offers a Cartoon Network twist to online voting for television programming.”
Master Control teams will have home pages that serve as virtual clubhouses with themed logos in addition to branding that will carry through to network promotions and on-air bumpers.
At launch, kids can choose to join one of three Master Control teams, switching allegiances as they like throughout the season. In the spirit of fun and over-the-top adventure, the teams are:
Shadowmark: Stealthy and mysterious, Shadowmark achieves its goals by any means necessary.
Vikinators: Fiercely competitive warriors, the Vikinators never back down.
Blastadons: Elite warlocks by birthright, Blastadons wield powerful and ancient magic.
“The team home pages will serve as a rallying point for members,” said Art Roche, Cartoon Network New Media creative director. “We think kids will love the interactive element of competing against other teams. Fans really will control the destiny of everything, working together to beat their opponents from week to week.”
As the Master Control season progresses, Cartoon Network will roll out more team-themed activities and extras, culminating in a tournament-play round, the winner of which gains even more days of control over the network lineup.
About Cartoon Network New Media
Cartoon Network New Media is responsible for the production of Cartoon Network’s popular Web sites, which include CartoonNetwork.com, ToonamiJetstream.com, Awesomehouseparty.com and CartoonNetworkYa.com (the Spanish-language site for kids). These sites are some of the most popular entertainment sites in the world for kids, currently attracting an average of more than 6 million unique users each month in the U.S. (Nielsen//NetRatings). The top attraction is their roster of games, which drew more than 2 billion game plays in 2006. In addition, Cartoon Network New Media is the creative force behind Cartoon Network’s video-on-demand offerings, interactive TV and mobile offerings, which include partnerships with such major carriers as Sprint, Cingular and Verizon.
About Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 91 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.
CONTACTS:
Jessica Wolf MPRM Public Relations (323) 933-3399 JWolf@mprm.com
Tim DeClaire Cartoon Network (404) 575-9283 tim.declaire@turner.com
http://www.turnerinfo.com/newsitem.aspx?P=CARTOON&CID01=61c020bb-e491-44c3-838c-31f94231020f
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