Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Rentrak Announces Trial With Charter Communications

- Rentrak's TV Essentials System to Include Data from the Nation's Fourth Largest Cable Provider To Analyze Relationship Between On Demand and Linear Viewing Trends -

PORTLAND, Ore., March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rentrak Corporation (Nasdaq: RENT) today announced it has reached an agreement with Charter Communications to begin a linear TV measurement trial. The trial, utilizing Rentrak's TV Essentials service will focus on the relationship between linear television and on demand viewing patterns.

Rentrak's TV Essentials system is a comprehensive suite of research tools that enables customers to analyze anonymous and aggregate audience viewing of programming and advertising for linear television. Features of TV Essentials include reports on audience flow, audience retention, day part analysis, and series/title comparison summarized at a national or market level.

"With the addition of the Charter data, Rentrak is uniquely qualified to provide unparalleled linear television insights," said Sandra Kilbridge, vice president of operations, Advanced Media and Information (AMI) division at Rentrak. "As the industry continues to demand greater accountability, Rentrak is leading the way to deliver timely, accurate, multi-platform media measurement."

"Consumers ultimately benefit from a better understanding of linear and on-demand television viewing habits through improved programming and easier access to that programming," said Jim Heneghan, Charter's Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales.

Rentrak's TV Essentials system processes data from more than seven million set top boxes to help advertising agencies, networks and local stations make business decisions to drive increased revenue. In addition to the TV Essentials system, Rentrak processes on demand television data representing more than 54 million set top boxes.

About TV Essentials(R)

Rentrak's TV Essentials is a comprehensive suite of research tools that enable customers to analyze anonymous audience viewing of programming and advertising across VOD, DVR, interactive and linear television. Utilizing proprietary technology to process massive amounts of click-stream data, the TV Essentials system is able to aggregate and report second-by-second information from millions of digital set-top boxes. The system can isolate individual market, network, series, or telecast performance, administer national and local estimates, and provide an evaluation of influencing factors such as psychographics and demographics.

About Rentrak Corporation

Rentrak Corporation, based in Portland, Oregon, is an information management company serving clients in the media, entertainment, retail, and advertising industries. The company's Entertainment Essentials(TM) suite of services is redefining media measurement in the digital broadband era. Entertainment Essentials provides customers with near-real-time, actionable insight into performance of content distributed over a wide variety of modern media technologies. Available by license or subscription, each Entertainment Essentials application allows executives to analyze detailed industry-wide and title-specific data to make decisions that enhance the bottom line and provide competitive advantage. For further information, please visit Rentrak's corporate Web site at Rentrak.com.

    Contact for Rentrak Corporation:
    Sallie Olmsted / Amanda Bartz
    Office: 310-854-8124 / 310-854-8151
    E-mail: solmsted@rogersandcowan.com / abartz@rogersandcowan.com

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Ulanguzi Creates 'Extreme' Website for Edenton Builders.

Agency builds website and communications portal for Extreme Makeover : Home Edition's 143rd build.

RALEIGH, N.C., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Included in the efforts, are a website, www.extremeEBheroes.com, which serves as a clearing house for information and a resource for volunteer and donation activities and an online logistics management portal to coordinate the thousands of people and supplies needed to successfully complete the build. Just as the show relies on the efforts of volunteers, Ulanguzi is donating all of the services needed to build and maintain these systems.

"An important part of Ulanguzi includes doing things that matter, that make a positive contribution to the world," remarks Ulanguzi Designer Matt Tarpley. "This is absolutely one of those things."

"Like so much of what we do, this project brought together disciplines from throughout the agency," adds Web Developer Ryan Keefer. "The real-time collaboration of our entire team was instrumental in completing this project in an impossibly short timeframe."

With the builder announced and the web system launched, Ulanguzi has met its first goal of creating an active information portal, and with the project build and show air dates approaching quickly, the website and their associated systems will prove to be instrumental to a successful home build for one very deserving family.

About Ulanguzi Creative Strategies

Founded in 2001, Ulanguzi, a Raleigh based design agency, brings together a talented group of marketing and advertising strategic thinkers and skilled designers and programmers from all parts of the country. Swahili for "spirit of revolutionary success," ulanguzi is the approach that is applied to solving an organization's marketing, communications, advertising and design challenges. Ulanguzi employs clear thinking, strategic planning and on-target creative solutions that propel companies confidently through the battle zones that face businesses every day. To participate in the revolution, call 919.899.3835 or visit Ulanguzi on the Web at http://www.ulanguzi.com.

About ABC's-TVs Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, "which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is entering its 6th season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Anthony Dominici is the executive producer; and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.

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Hannah Montana Fans Get Key to Online Secrets With New Book and Interactive Website

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Kids get the key to hours of fun and entertainment with Hannah Montana Secrets Unlocked Online, new this spring from Reader's Digest. Fans will covet the collectible charm with secret password that comes with the book. It enables readers to access a special website, www.hannahwebpass.com, that's chock-full of fun online activities. Kids can read about Hannah, her friends Lily and Oliver, and even heartthrob Jake Ryan, then log on to the website, plug in the secret code, and discover a treasure chest full of pictures, posters, printables and interactive activities.

The book and website each include three separate sections -- "Fashion Focus," "School, Friends, and More," and "Family Rocks" -- that not only show what makes Hannah so cool, but also give kids a chance to explore their own fashion style, relationships, and more. Fans will want to share with each other the book's familiar Hannah Montana moments -- silly, goofy, funky, and, of course, romantic. The website extends the fun.

Online, kids can design a room, guitar, bulletin board, birthday card, or concert t-shirt, choose outfits for Hannah, edit a magazine cover or yearbook, and print out a fashion calendar or a birthday keeper. Whether fans want to read Miley's diary, find out their "crush style," or create a Hannah Montana family scrapbook, it's all there at www.hannahwebpass.com. A special bonus page even allows kids to download and print posters and stickers.

The Hannah Montana Secrets Unlocked Online book and secret website are the ultimate key to fun for Hannah Montana fans.

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Monday, March 2, 2009

New Course Announced on Using Direct Response to Reach U.S. Hispanics

AUSTIN, Texas, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Direct Response Academy is introducing the first course on infomercial marketing to the U.S. Hispanic consumer. Hispanic DRTV Marketing will be held on March 24 & 25 in Austin, Texas.

"This new program is very timely," says Greg Sarnow, Academy CEO. "Marketers are being challenged today to introduce their brands to the Hispanic market using infomercial television advertising. But first, they need to understand the distinct differences in approach to this sector."

Attendees at the Austin course will explore the nuances of marketing to the Hispanic consumer and the tactical differences in approach to Hispanic marketing vs. general marketing. Challenges like the vendors needed for Hispanic DRTV, how to solve the issue of COD, and the truth about credit cards in marketing to Hispanics will be thoroughly evaluated.

The Hispanic DRTV Marketing course is built on the curriculum of the Academy's cornerstone program, DRTV Management Boot Camp, which covers the full spectrum of an infomercial campaign. Participants will learn to:

  • Determine if a product is feasible for a Hispanic infomercial campaign
  • Build a compelling product offer
  • Choose the best creative approach and production format for a Hispanic program
  • Build a sound financial model
  • Analyze media placement results
  • Maximize effectiveness of telemarketing and product fulfillment vendors
  • Integrate web sales with a DRTV campaign
  • Brand DRTV products for sale at the retail level

An added bonus is that the course dovetails with Austin's annual SXSW festival. Information on the festival can be found at http://sxsw.com/.

Hispanic DRTV Marketing will be held in Austin, Texas on March 24th and 25th. For more information, contact Mark Warren at courses@directresponseacademy.com, or call (512) 301-5900. Visit: www.DirectResponseAcademy.com/courses-hispanic-drtv-marketing.html

The Direct Response Academy in Austin, Texas is the only educational company dedicated to teaching the best practices of direct response television marketing. The Academy offers on-site and public training, infomercial campaign management, and consulting services for companies and individuals who are launching or managing DRTV campaigns.

    CONTACT:     Patricia Mellody
                 512-301-5900
                 pat@directresponseacademy.com

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One Shot One Dream Reality Series to Launch

Titillating 2009 Season Features Hot Male Athletes in World Locations

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Soccer in the United States has failed to capture the same viewership as it has around the world; but don't tell that to Esad Pepic and Dominic Fratantaro, creators of the new reality series One Shot One Dream.

In this reality series, twenty-three hopefuls will live out their dream as professional soccer players in Europe, hitting the road on a 14-day glimpse into soccer madness, fame, and European attractions. The team will be led by their hard-nosed former professional coach turned ultimate fighter, preparing the players for harsh realities when they play six showcase matches against top European teams in search of a professional contract.

Between games the team will tour Europe on their two story bus adorned with International Soccer Star artwork, compete in street soccer games in historic European cities, mingle with the hard core soccer hooligans, dine on authentic European cuisine, and travel the Adriatic Sea by yacht.

International Soccer Star F.C., the independent international traveling soccer club behind the One Shot One Dream reality show will be a groundbreaking show for soccer in the United States. "Forget about Beckham and the MLS, this series will be the most talked by all American sports lovers ... it has something for everybody!" Pepic voiced. The production expects to attract thousands of young hopefuls from across the country that will have their climb to soccer stardom recorded in detail.

"This series takes the drama of the Real World, shoves it in a bus and punches it in the face," said Pepic. Fratantaro added, "This is not the soccer you see in America ... it has sex appeal, passion, and intense drama." Check out the 2008 season to see how the first tour rocked Europe at www.OneShotOneDream.com.

The buzz surrounding the first season demonstrates that major network interest will be high. Pepic noted, "We will be showcasing to FOX, WB, HBO, ESPN and many more networks in the weeks ahead ... you add team in-fighting, night clubs, world class soccer, fashion shows, Europe, and the opportunity to be offered a contract, and you get a recipe for a fantastic reality series ... we were blown away at what happened and now it's time for us to officially launch."

The 2008 season ended with six players receiving trials and three players offered contracts. Who will be the next International Soccer Star on the One Shot One Dream Reality Series? It could be you!

Hopefuls for the One Shot One Dream Reality TV Series can sign up early on the official site www.oneshotonedream.com . For further information: 1 (949) 610-4353.

                            Location: Irvine, California

                             Cost: $145 Registration Fee

                              Tryouts: June 13-14, 2009

                            Camp: June 22 - July 17, 2009

                          Europe: July 20th - August 3, 2009
                ****All Times and Locations are Subject to Change****
                       Soccer Gear Awarded To All Participants

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Comcast Interactive Media Appoints IAB Co-Founder and Media Veteran Scott Schiller as SVP of Advertising Sales for Fandango, Fancast, Movies.com and Plaxo

LOS ANGELES, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast Interactive Media (CIM), a division of Comcast Corporation dedicated to developing and operating online and cross-platform entertainment and media businesses, announced today that it is appointing entertainment media and digital advertising industry veteran Scott Schiller as its Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales, overseeing sales for Fandango, Fancast, Movies.com and Plaxo.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090302/LA77165)

A co-founder of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), and its first vice-chairman, Schiller has more than 25 years of advertising, sales management and start-up media experience, in leading positions at worldwide entertainment brands including Disney, AOL, Sony, Prodigy and MTV Networks.

As a key member of the CIM executive team, Schiller will be based in New York City, but he will staff and manage CIM sales offices throughout the country. Schiller will report directly to Chuck Davis, Executive Vice President of Comcast Interactive Media and Chief Executive Officer of Fandango.

"We are pleased to welcome Scott to the Comcast Interactive Media family," says Chuck Davis, Executive Vice President of Comcast Interactive Media and Chief Executive Officer of Fandango. "CIM has a growing number of trusted brands, and Scott has a long track record of building highly motivated advertising sales teams. We think his experience, combined with our highly-trafficked sites, creates a winning formula."

Schiller joins CIM from Glam Media, Inc., one of the fastest-growing women's Web properties, where he was the Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and its original Chief Revenue Officer. Earlier in his career, Schiller served as Senior Vice President of Interactive Marketing for America Online; Senior Vice-President of Strategic Partnership Marketing for the Walt Disney Internet Group (where he ran advertising sales and sponsorship for such Disney-branded sites as ABC.com, ABCNews.com, Disney.com, Family.com and ESPN.com); Vice President of Advertising and Partnership Marketing for Sony Online Ventures; Vice President of Advertising Sales for Prodigy; and account director for MTV Networks, during the cable network's earliest days.

About Comcast Interactive Media

Comcast Interactive Media (CIM), is a division of Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) dedicated to developing and operating online and cross-platform entertainment and media businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net), one of the country's most visited websites. CIM's other properties include Fandango, a top movie and entertainment destination, selling tickets for more than 16,000 screens across the country; Fancast.com, a national online entertainment site; Movies.com, a top information site for film fans; DailyCandy, the daily e-mail newsletter and website; thePlatform, the industry-leading provider of digital media publishing solutions over broadband and wireless networks; and Plaxo, an online social networking based platform.

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Spanish Beisbol Network Expands Offering for Fans and Advertisers

PHILADELPHIA, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- With Major League Baseball spring training underway, it's a signal for fans and advertisers that the official season is just around the corner. The Spanish Beisbol Network (SBN) is gearing up for the season with the addition of a new MLB team to its roster and the extension of its marketing platform to help sponsors effectively reach the growing Hispanic demographic.

Recently, SBN inked a five-year deal with the Oakland A's. It marks the first time in Oakland A's history that fans will be able to listen to Spanish broadcasts for every regular season game, home and away. SBN also has the broadcast rights for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals, and provides feeds for mlb.com and SAP-TV in some markets.

"This announcement represents a milestone for SBN," states Bill Kulik, president of SBN. "It expands our network to the West Coast. And, it gives us great pleasure to bring our first rate Spanish language baseball programming to the San Francisco Bay Area Latino community. We thank our radio station partners, KDIA and KDYA, and the Oakland A's for their tremendous cooperation in making this deal a reality."

According to Scarborough Research, 62% of all U.S. Hispanics are MLB fans, compared to 59% of the total population. For this reason, advertisers looking for a low-cost, multi-platform approach to reach the Hispanic audience are responding to the new elements that SBN has to offer. In April, SBN is re-launching its website, http://www.beisbol.net, in conjunction with the start of the season to be a more fan-friendly, interactive Spanish-language baseball source. This new site will be promoted on every SBN broadcast, and provides measureable exposure for a brand in the form of banner ads, contest and fan poll sponsorships, branded features as well as links to an advertiser's site.

"In addition, Latino youth baseball clinics, pre-game hospitality events, in-game promotions, sweepstakes and online contests are just some of the ways we're working with sponsors to develop fully integrated programs beyond the traditional radio spot buy," says Kulik. "With 162 games, the SBN platform is a relatively low-cost, yet effective way to connect with Hispanic sports fans and provides the frequency needed to build brand awareness."

About Spanish Beisbol Network

The Spanish Beisbol Network (SBN) was founded in 2001 as a premier sports media broadcasting and content company for Spanish-language sports programming. SBN currently has contracts with the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, Oakland A's and the Caribbean World Series. In 2008, SBN was acquired by Celeritas Management Inc., a portfolio management company, based in Virginia. Celeritas partners with companies at the intersection of sports, entertainment and lifestyle pursuits whose products and services strike a chord with the passions of American consumers, especially the Hispanic demographic. For more information about SBN, please visit http://www.beisbol.net.

    Contacts:
    Bill Kulik, SBN President, 215-518-2376, william.kulik@beisbol.net
    Beth Woerner, Celeritas Sr. VP of Marketing, 804-230-4235,
     beth.woerner@celeritasmgmt.com

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