CIQ Headlines for February 2, 2007

CIQ Headlines

IVillage Hosts 2ndLife Fashion Show–(Media Post) Intended to boost the popularity of iVillage Monday, the virtual fashion show corresponds with the opening of Fashion Week in New York. CIQ: A wonderful idea, but with only 400 simultaneous avatars possible, one has to wonder about the bang-for-the-buck.

Porn Leads the Way in Digital Content Ideas and Format— (Wired) Online metrics almost always filter out online gambling and porn from the eCommerce numbers. Otherwise, our charts would be in the stratusphere. It’s no surprise that these two industries have led many online innovations. Wired columnist Regina Lynn notes that as people battle about DVD formats, the future of porn is in on-demand video and real-time simulated interaction. CIQ: Hollywood take notice and ask, how does this apply to your creative product.

EA Raises Support for Wii–(Financial Times) The get-off-the-couch video game is now outselling PS3, prompting Electronic Arts to announce increased support for the Wii. CIQ: One can imagine content developed for the platform that’s not just bowling. Say, jumprope with Shrek.

CIQ Headlines for February 1, 2007

CIQ Headlines

Ikea Employs User-Generated Video in New Campaign— (Media Post) Ikea is offering $5000 to the user who submits the best video on making a bed. CIQ: Great marketing idea! But they still have one of the lousiest ecommerce sites around.

Times Company Bleeds Red Ink–(NYT) The New York Times company said it was writing down the value of its two New England newspapers by $815 million due to sluggish sales. Executives say revenue from its online properties is expected to grow by 30% this year. But in 2007 online revenues represented only 8% of the total. CIQ: Will print be able to (a) make the transition to online fast enough? (b) survive as technology wrings the bloat out of the print industry?

 AOL Revenue Up 49%–(New York Post) Refocusing the company’s strategy to the ad-sponsored content model is producing results that commentators call “stunning.” CIQ: As with Apple, it’s a fun exercise to count the number of times the media has announced the death of AOL.