The Marine Corps has banned social networking sites including, Twitter, Facebook and MySpace because they create a larger attack and exploitation window, expose unnecessary information to adversaries and provide an easy conduit for information leakage that puts security and personnel at extra risk. And yes, the DOD is considering a ban on social networks from all government computers.
A report from Veronis Suhler says that, for the first time since they started tracking media consumption, American consumers spent more time with purchased media than with ad-supported media. They don't see this trend reversing, and they don't see the advertising sector returning to growth until 2011.
Ancestry.com has filed for a $75 million IPO, an idea you have to applaud in 2009. But, before you get your Internet-bubble hopes up, consider the facts. They have over a million subs, a $200 million dollar top line and their EBITDA is just north of 30%. And, perhaps most importantly, they are not advertiser supported. Looks like there's a new recipe for tech IPO's.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski appointed key personnel to the Broadband Development Committee. Genachowski announced that Kristen Kane will act as the national purposes director, in charge of everything from initiating digital health care records to rolling out a nation wide broadband grid. The team, which Genachowski described as "brilliant", has the task of developing the entire plan by February 17th 2010.
While many networks and cable companies are reporting loses for the quarter, Discovery Communications earned $183 million during the period. The company, which experienced a 12% increase in ratings across the board, noted that profits were up $43 million year over year. Discovery's positive profit report comes after the sale of its Discovery Kids division to Hasbro.
Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV. Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here. Shelly can be reached at shelly@palmer.net For information about Get Digital Classes, visit www.shellypalmer.com/seminars