BBC are launching a new iplayer with social networking built into it which will allow users to share their favourite shows via facebook and twitter. They will also help search for commercial channels' content by linking to it if people search through iplayer. The player will now also customise itself to your viewing habits offering you related content and, no doubt, shows that others with similar tastes like. 5 years ago the internet was going to be the death of TV; if marketers can find a way to engage with this level of interaction it could be the making of it. It will certainly make recognising how successful TV shows are, as per the blog about new metrics for TV, much easier. See the full story here

 

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There was quite an interesting article in the Evening Standard yesterday about a new type of digital poster. It includes a camera that can recognise the viewer's gender and alter the ad accordingly, the obvious application would be advertising clothing.The camera can also measure views and dwell time and because it is digital this means that an ad that is not having impact can be removed alomst immediately and replaced. If you have seen Minority Report that is exactly the type of thing it will be. Read more here
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A new online archive of TV shows has been launched called Seesaw. A number of broadcasters have signed up including BBC and Channel 4. It will feature current shows and old ones. The whole site will be supported by unskippable adverts and there are a number of brands that have already signed up including BT and Diageo. There will, in the future, be a premium service with micro payments for shows and no adverts. This sounds a lot like Spotify for TV and a very good way to monetise old TV shows without running an expensive DVD production. I'm just wondering if they take requests; I want to see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy again. Head here for the full story and here for the website itself.
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So tomorrow we see a revolution in cinema happen before our eyes with the release of Avatar, well that's what we are supposed to think. I personally believe that cinema has been marked by a number of watershed moments; these being: Sound (the Jazz Singer), Special Effects (Star Wars) and Blockbusters (Jaws). Each of these is marked by a dramatic change in the way we see (or hear) films. While Avatar isn’t the first 3d film, just as the aforementioned weren’t the first in their category, there is usually one film that marks the full change in direction. Avatar could well be one of those turning points.

3d started to be pushed when box office reciepts were falling dramtically. It was seen as a way to lure audiences out of their home cinemas and back into the proper cinema. Avatar has actually emerged when the box office is recovering which could make it even more impactful. Rather than having to draw audiences back to the cinema it will re-enforce its new appeal. It really could be as significant as we are promised it should be. My advice is go and see Avatar anyway because maybe in 30 years time you will look back from a 3d future and be able to say “I queued up outside my local cinema and was there when things changed forever”.

Just to be clear I do not have shares in Odeon.

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