Internet Advertising Not Enough For News Sources

News organizations in the U.S. are facing a worsening financial struggle as they look for alternative sources of revenue.

A new study from the Project for Excellence in Journalism, dubbed State of the News Media 2007 has found that the Internet has not garnered new sources for revenue as they had hoped. Internet advertising especially has not lived up to the high hopes that news organizations, especially newspapers, have held for it.

"The hope that Internet advertising will someday match what print and television now bring in appears to be vanishing," the study stated. Charging web users to access news is one possibility that could garner the extra income needed, the study suggests.

In the last few years, newspaper stocks have been steadily declining as consumers turn to other outlets to get their news. Newspaper analyst John Morton told Reuters that newspapers must invest more heavily in new technology and devising ways for it to pay off.

"What we have discovered is that newspapers have moved quicker than broadcast TV stations in adapting to the online video advertising marketplace," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "Estimates are that the local online video advertising marketplace will reach $371 million this year or about 5% of total online ad spending. And that traditional media, especially newspapers are playing a significant role."

For more information on broadband Internet access as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Treasure Coast fishing report: March 29

By ED KILLER
March 29, 2007

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

Steve Parsons, at Wabasso Tackle, said the fishing at Sebastian Inlet has been erratic at best and is largely affected by the recent windy conditions. A few whiting are being reported from the beaches. Snook fishing is very inconsistent. Anglers who target a specific tide are finding that they need to cover more time and more tides to get a good catch. Fishing in the river has been on and off with trout being one of the most consistent catches. Offshore information is hard to come by.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

Justin Coffin, at Billy Bones Bait and Tackle in Port St. Lucie, said the freshwater fishing around area ponds and canals has really dropped off. Most of the spawning period is over, he said. The North Fork of the St. Lucie River has seen a good showing of just-undersized snook in the mangroves and croaker and snapper at Rivergate Park. A good bite of large trout has been had at Bear Point in the Indian River Lagoon. Fish topwater plugs early on the sand bar for best action.

MARTIN COUNTY

<>Anglers are catching snook 10 to 20 pounds near area bridges and upstream in the South Fork of the St. Lucie River. Large jigs and live bait fished on the outgoing tide near the bridges has been the best bite. Trout fishing is fair in areas along the east shore of the Indian River Lagoon, such as Joe's Point in Jensen Beach and along the docks on Hutchinson Island. Offshore fishermen found a good dolphin bite with sailfish mixed in.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Capt. Mike Shellen, in Okeechobee, said bass fishing is strong on both wild shiners and Shaky Tail jigs. Fish are in 18 inches of water and low lake level conditions are making it difficult to get into well-known fishing spots. Anglers on their own should stay in areas with ample water depth such as the Kissimmee River, Indian Prairie Canal and parts of the Rim Canal. Mayan cichlids are taking red worms and topwater baits near J & S Canal.

Contact outdoors editor Ed Killer at edward.killer@scripps.com

U.S. Still Number One In Online Audience

The U.S. has more people online than any other nation on earth, according to a recent survey.

However, last year the population of Internet users increased the most in India, Russia and China, the survey by comScore Networks shows. There are now 747 million Internet users over 15 years of age around the globe, the wide-ranging survey found.

Bob Ivins, managing director of comScore Europe, said: "The importance of the worldwide internet population continues to grow. "Internet users outside the U.S. now account for 80 percent of the world's online population, with rapidly developing countries experiencing double-digit growth rates year-over- year."

The Canadians spend the most time online, the survey found, averaging 39.6 hours per month online. Israel, South Korea, the U.S. and the UK follow Canada as the users that spend the most time online. These countries all have extremely high broadband penetration rates, which account for the longer time spent online, the survey found.

Meanwhile, Telephony Online has recently discovered that the U.S. is not among the top ten countries with the most Internet protocol television (IPTV) subscriptions. With 896,000 IPTV subscribers, France tops the list of countries with the most IPTV subscriptions, a new report from the marketing researcher Dittberner has found.

"We're seeing tremendous growth in all areas of digital products and services," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "As providers expand and upgrade their networks the user base continues to expand."

For more information on high-speed broadband access visit www.broadbandnational.com

Joost To Offer JumpTV Programs

New Internet television outfit Joost has announced that it has forged a deal to offer content from JumpTV over the Internet.

Under the agreement, Joost will be able to offer Spanish-language programming from Chile, Peru and Colombia, in addition to Arabic-language shows. JumpTV is the world's most prolific broadcaster of ethnic television over the Internet and its content library features programming in Spanish, Arabic, Romanian, Turkish, Russian and Bengali.

Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, president and chief executive officer at JumpTV International, said: "We see Joost as a unique and important distribution/programming partner. Like us, the Joost team innately understands the power of viral, high-affinity long-tail content - for example, JumpTV's ethnic TV programming. Because of the high success rate of its founders Joost could completely transform online television, added Mr. Tuzman. Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, the duo behind the highly successful Internet phone company Skype, founded Joost.

"The target audience would be expatriates and ethnic audiences interested in watching TV from their homelands," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "The news that online TV platform Joost will be adding more programs to its growing inventory of TV shows with international YV program distributor JumpTV has surely had the media buzzing with speculation of its growing threat to YouTube."

For more information on broadband Internet access as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Nanking, The Movie

My wife and I were invited by our friends Ted and Lynn Leonsis to a private screening of their new movie/documentary entitled Nanking. Ted served as the inspiration and the Executive Producer.

It's a powerful, emotional and relevant reminder of the heartbreaking toll war takes on the innocent, Nanking tells the story of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China, in the early days of World War II. As part of a campaign to conquer all of China, the Japanese subjected Nanking – which was then China’s capital – to months of aerial bombardment, and when the city fell, the Japanese army unleashed murder and rape on a horrifying scale. In the midst of the rampage, a small group of Westerners banded together to establish a Safety Zone where over 200,000 Chinese found refuge. Unarmed, these missionaries, university professors, doctors and businessmen – including a Nazi named John Rabe – bored witness to the events, while risking their own lives to protect civilians from slaughter.

Often refered to as the forgotten Holocaust this film will certainly move you and promte many question of how thses atrosites could have happened. It is a must seen film.

For more information visit http://nankingthefilm.com/.

Dolphin Denny Dies

I had the opportunity to know and party with Denny Sym also known as Dolphin Denny. The unofficial mascot of the Miami Dolphins. He was a fun guy to hang out with after the games. We would often meet up at a little bar In Dekray Beach after each home game and share beers with the other hundred or so fans that also showed up to party.

Click here for the full story.

"Cheers Dolphin Denny, RIP"

NHL Planning To Broadcast Live Games Over Broadband

The National Hockey League (NHL) could soon be streaming live games over broadband, it has announced.

According to Keith Ritter, president of NHL Interactive Cyber Enterprises, the league's satellite and cable package could be available to high-speed Internet users before the end of the season. He said that the NHL wants to ensure the broadband package is secure in order to protect broadcast partners Versus, NBC and the regional sports networks, reports Multichannel news.

"We've been testing it, but our primary concern is the security of the gating and the ability to make sure our broadcast partners are protected," Mr. Ritter said. "So far, the test is going very well, and I'm hopeful that we'll be able to offer it in the not-too-distant future." Established in 1917 with five teams, the NHL has now grown to 30 teams. The majority is based in the U.S., although there is a small presence in Canada.

National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and ESPN already offer broadband packages, states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "It's our understanding that NHL will charge a fee for the service but an exact cost has not been determined yet"

For more information on high-speed broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Fishing Report

Treasure Coast fishing report, March 13

By, Ed Killer


Capt. J.C. Henderson in Sebastian said inshore anglers can expect to pick up a few spotted seatrout fishing near sand bars and sandy spots in the grass flats between Vero Beach and Grant. Most of the fish are in 3-4 feet of water and the best action was on soft plastic baits. Included in a day's fishing are sheepshead, small snook, jacks, black drum, ladyfish and a few flounder near Sebastian Inlet.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

Capt. John Follweiler fished the flats in Fort Pierce near Harbor Branch to record catches of trout to four pounds and big bluefish on topwater lures. Offshore, the action was slim to none. A few dolphin were caught in 160 feet of water along a well-formed line of sargassum weed. Fishing aboard the Twin Vee with Capt. Fox Watkins, Katherine Knauf, 9, and brother Mitchell Knauf, 13, caught a bonito and a barracuda.

MARTIN COUNTY

Capt. Greg Scherer of Bridge Tender Guide Service said action was a little on the slow side inshore although a few keeper-sized snook are being caught near the bridges and under docks. Big jacks are crashing mullet pitched near seawalls, but there is not a lot of bait in the St. Lucie River this week. Snapper, sheepshead and Goliath grouper to 12 pounds round out the catches near structure.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Easterly winds are making the lake muddy again. The bass are really biting well, but only in clean water and in areas that are becoming more difficult to get to. In the lake, expect to find bass in 18 inches of water mixed in with the heavy Kissimmee grass. In the river and the canals, the bass are holding in deeper water where a crank bait or spinner bait is more effective. Wild shiners however are still the way to go for sheer numbers.

To file a report, contact Ed Killer at edward.killer@scripps.com or call him at (772) 221-4201.

Skype Teams With Nokia To Provide Broadband

Popular Internet calling service Skype has joined with Nokia to develop a new mobile calling function. Announced at the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, the collaboration basically consists of making Skype mobile on the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. As long as there is a wireless Internet connection available, customers can use Skype wherever they so choose, under the new service.

Ari Virtanen, vice president, convergence products at Nokia, said: "Skype is the recognized leader of internet communications with over 136 million registered users worldwide. "Nokia's new N800 Internet Tablet is designed for mobile Internet. Together, we can develop communications devices beyond expectations." The Nokia N800 is to become available sometime in the first half of 2007.

Meanwhile, special software has been developed as an add-on for Skype, which can tell whether a person is lying. The software analyzes the voice stream of the person and shows their stress levels to the user. Skype is currently the most widely used Internet communication service and is available in 28 languages. Users of Skype can avail themselves of free voice, video and instant messaging over the Internet.

"Digital voice is one of the fastest growing broadband services," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website. For more information on VoIP and digital voice visit www.broadbandnational.com

TV Network Sites Uninteresting And Out Dated

Although television companies are streaming content over the Internet and broadband video is proving a hit with consumers, TV network sites are failing to live up to the standards of more interactive sites, a new study has said.

According to an industry report by Broadband Directions, TV network sites are less interesting because they fail to engage the user and are much less attractive than popular file-sharing sites.

Other problems likely to divert traffic away from these sites are out-of-date videos and promotional clips and their inability to upload video, download clips to portable media players and create personalized playlists.

Broadband Directions has said that TV stations need to realize that online video is not merely promotional but is a self-sufficient medium, reports MediaPost Communications. "Most networks still have not embraced the value of building out robust, deeply interactive, short-form clip properties," the report said. "The most common interactive element we found was the ability to email the clip along to a friend."

Broadband Direction's report follows a warning from Google that the Internet is not capable of supporting TV broadcasts and that the popularity of services like YouTube could bring the infrastructure down.

"If networks want to broadcast, interact and engage viewers over the Internet there needs to be a serious upgrade and build out of existing networks", states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "The high data transfer rates required for such interaction is why fiber to the premises (FTTP), also called fiber to the home (FTTH) is the preferred technology that many providers are already intorducing."

For more information on IPTV and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Recording Industry Tackles Illegal Downloads

Recording industry groups have announced a crackdown on illegal music downloading in universities.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has complained to a number of universities across the US and has called on them to take action against the offending students. While it is possible to identify which computer is being used, the RIAA does not know which individuals are illegally downloading copyrighted material.

Jonathan Lamy, a spokesman for the RIAA, said: "We know piracy is most acute on campuses. "Students have high-speed access and have more time than money." The RIAA wants universities to take action against those who illegally download music through various means, such as forcing them to watch an educational video on piracy.

It has also suggested that universities revoke students' rights to use computers on campus if they are found to be downloading unlawfully. In the past year, the number of complaints sent out by the RIAA has increased three-fold to 15,000.

"Illegal downloading is certainly not a new story," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "People must remember that along with your music, you are most likely downloading hundreds of nasty viruses that will cripple your PC. They embed themselves right in the music files and begin to go to work damaging your PC while you listen to the music."

For more information on music downloads and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com