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New Media News Every Morning

LiveScience relaunches

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livescience_relaunches.jpgImaginova Corp., a science and technology digital media and commerce company, has successfully re- launched LiveScience.com. The web site, which originally launched in 2004, has become one of the most popular sources of original content relating to science and technology news. LiveScience’s new design is cleaner and easier to navigate and better showcases its engaging and topical content through video, RSS feeds, podcasts, syndication partners and community-driven content.

LiveScience users can now expect more cutting-edge editorial on a range of science topics in the following vertical categories: Space, Animals, Health, Environment, Technology, History and Strange News. Most noticeably, the editorial team is ramping up the Web site’s coverage of environmental and sustainability issues as well as space news by leveraging the established authority of its sister site, Space.com. In addition, LiveScience continues to be a credible news source whose content is regularly syndicated through major news portals such as Yahoo!, MSNBC and AOL.

Since its soft-launch in May 2007, LiveScience has experienced tremendous growth in traffic. In June 2007 LiveScience reached 3.0 million monthly unique visitors.

Originally posted on July 17, 2007 @ 10:30 am

Filed Under: Web

Podbridge serves ad insertion capabilities for Personal Life Media

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podbridge_personallife.jpgPodbridge, Inc., provider of analytics and ad insertion services for downloadable video and audio content, today announced that it has partnered with Personal Life Media, Inc. to provide audience measurement and ad insertion services for its portfolio of weekly personal growth shows. Podbridge’s sophisticated ad insertion technology delivers the unique ability to insert ads seamlessly in the middle of video or audio content, also known as a mid-roll position, in addition to the standard industry offerings of pre- and post-roll. These ads are dynamically inserted so they can be easily changed based on campaign parameters. Publishers determine ad insertion locations, can vary ad lengths and bundle multiple ads together to offer integrated ad packages that are most valuable to marketers. In addition, the feature of fade–ins and fade-outs of ads within the show content enable a smoother, more professional consumer experience.

“Podbridge deftly supports dynamically-served ‘Surround Sessions’ that include combinations of pre-, mid- and post-roll ads for shows downloaded from my site, within iTunes and across our syndicated podcast network,” Susan Bratton, founder and CEO, Personal Life Media said. “To attract advertisers, downloadable content providers must have the ability to create these kinds of innovative and professional advertising packages.”

Personal Life Media, Inc. is a multimedia lifestyle brand providing entertaining and authentic personal content to socially conscious adults, and is the first podcast and blog advertising network for advertisers to reach the “cultural creatives” market segment. Expert hosts deliver talk shows, reality-audio programming, interviews, advanced techniques and guided exercises in blogs, web audio and podcasting formats about personal growth and transformation.

Originally posted on July 16, 2007 @ 10:25 am

Paltalk combines broadcasting, social networking and video chat into socialcasting platform

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paltalkscene_beta1.jpgPaltalk, a real-time, video-based community with over 4 million users, today solidifies its leadership position in socialcasting with the launch of Screening Rooms. Socialcasting brings together high quality programming and video content with social networking and live interactive community. This launch also coincides with the release of Paltalk’s latest video community service called PaltalkScene. Screening Rooms, PaltalkScene and all of its features support an active and participatory, rather than a passive, online video experience, where users not only watch content, but can interact with it and each other in real-time.

Screening Rooms allow anyone to watch shows and pre-recorded video content, either licensed or user-generated, in a public or private video chat room with up to 5,000 other Paltalk members. In the Screening Room, viewers can watch synchronized video content together while interacting with each other in the room through voice, video and text chat as the video plays. Screening Rooms are available in beta starting today and will be offered in general availability later this year.

Screening Rooms are debuting with programming from many leading online video content providers including ManiaTV!, Heavy.com, Rip.tv. Starting today Paltalk users will have access to original video content ranging from extreme sports, professional mixed martial arts, entertainment news, comedy and serialized programs. Paltalk members will also be able to upload and play their own video content and home movies to share and comment about it with their friends and family.

Originally posted on July 16, 2007 @ 10:01 am

Grouper relaunches as Crackle

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crackle_grouper.jpgCrackle, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company formerly known as Grouper, announced the launch of its streaming entertainment network. Crackle’s comprehensive approach includes a unique programming and editorial strategy, wide-reaching global distribution platforms and collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, the IMPROV Comedy franchise and other leading media companies. Crackle’s development of “fame partnerships” with these media and entertainment companies provides a launch pad for the best emerging video talent.

“Crackle’s irreverent editorial team, with a little help from our viewers, programs our provocative and entertaining channels for an audience of 25 million monthly unique users. We reward the best video creators with Crackle funding, promotion, syndication and even greater exposure to our large media partners. Great content surfaced from our open studio model is the key to our success,” said Josh Felser, founder and co-president of Crackle.

“The evolution of online video will bring viewers more professionally produced material,” said Sean Carey, senior executive vice president, Sony Pictures. “Crackle will provide this next wave of creative talent a forum that will give them the exposure and recognition they seek and deserve.”

Originally posted on July 16, 2007 @ 10:09 am

Streakr bares all

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streakr.jpgStreakr.com, the web discovery tool and social networking site today announced its launch into beta phase and calls for users to test its site.

Streakr boasts of bringing users the best of the web. Users simply download a ‘discovery’ bar onto their browsers which, at the touch of a button, finds dozens of new websites that match their interests. They can then rate the sites they like and dislike by stamping them with a ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’ icon. Once selected, the URLs are saved onto their personal profile page and indexed for future reference. The sites, which users can also review, can then be shared with fellow Streakrs via the social network.

“Streakr is unique in that it brings together web discovery, social bookmarking and a social network in a user-friendly, customisable environment,” Neil Gould, co-founder and CEO of Streakr said.

Other features of Streakr include: fully customisable profile pages; the ability to search for friends on other social networks; public comment boards on each profile; a private email system; a photo gallery and an MP3 player.

Originally posted on July 16, 2007 @ 10:00 am