DailyDOOH

NCR have booked 30sqms at #ScreenMediaExpo in May in London. They will be on stand E8.

Steve Jacobs is bringing his experience of broadcasting, digital technologies, strategic alliances and business development to a new role as president of Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation, San Juan Capistrano, California.

Ubiquity is described by Jacobs as “really a hybrid. It’s a technology company. It’s a media company, and it’s a licensing – and relatively soon, an application company. Ubiquity represents a fusion of content, technology and commerce. Everything I’ve done in my previous professional lives has prepared me for this job.”

Redefining content creation and distribution for the digital age, Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation, privately held, is positioned as a next-generation company, creating the world’s first ubiquitous network, where content distribution is platform and screen independent. With more than 60 worldwide patents and patents-pending, Ubiquity is accelerating the ultimate convergence of media: mobile, Internet and television.

Jacobs was recently vice-president of broadband strategy and alliances at Sony Electronics, where he was responsible for the company’s relationships with a myriad of media companies worldwide. He was also integrally involved with Sony’s 3D development. He earlier held several other senior vice-presidential positions in the Sony organization. Jacobs’ tenure at Sony followed a 15-year career in broadcast journalism with CBS News.

London, U.K.-based Saffron Digital, video delivery platform company, is creating a promotional movie service for HTC and T-Mobile, for the new powerful Android-based HTC Desire handset.

Featuring a host of Warner Bros. movies, the new service, which launches this month, is based on Saffron Digital’s innovative Video-on-Demand service for T-Mobile, which successfully launched last year. With VOD+, users can watch, pause and resume playback between their PC and mobile handset.

Regarding her company’s partnering with T-Mobile and HTC ahead of the launch of the new consumer proposition, Isabelle Bertrand, business development director UK & Eire, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, says, “This brilliant new promotion will allow T-Mobile customers to discover how easy it is to enjoy movies on the move or in the comfort of their own homes.”

T-Mobile customers purchasing the HTC Desire in the first month will be granted access to two complimentary Warner Bros. movies from a list of eight titles, including Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince and The Hangover. These will be available on a 48-hour rental basis, playable on the HTC Desire or on a PC. More Warner Bros. films will be added to the VOD+ service over the next few months, costing £3.49 for new releases and £2.49 for catalogue titles.

“Our VOD+ service is going from strength to strength,” says Shashi Fernando, CEO, Saffron Digital, adding that VOD+ is seen as a must-have service that will entice buyers to the Desire.

Working in partnership with both HTC and T-Mobile, Saffron Digital has created and will host a mobile Internet destination to which T-Mobile customers who have bought the HTC Desire will be directed via an SMS mechanic and in-store posters. A follow-up email will also be sent to users that have activated their handset, but not used the promotion. The site will be linked to T-Mobile’s VOD+ site, also created and powered by Saffron, where a wide catalogue of films from Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. are available for purchase.

Jon French, executive director UK, Ireland and South Africa, HTC, says, “The HTC Desire is perfect for multimedia, with a powerful 1Ghz Snapdragon processor and a 3.7inch AMOLED screen delivering a bright and rich visual display.”

“We anticipate the Desire being one of our most popular handsets of 2010, and the VOD+ service makes it even greater value for our customers – giving them even more functionality on top of an already impressive features list,” says Nicola Shenton, head of handset and device marketing at T-Mobile. “As the service is unique to T-Mobile, it will also be a key differentiator for us as we compete with other networks.”

We learned a little bit more about Six Flags Media Networks digital program announced this week – see our earlier article Ed

Six Flags has made significant infrastructure investments that allow it to centrally manage the entire digital out-of-home network. This includes multiple software solutions across a standardized hardware platform, all of which can be seamlessly and centrally managed by Six Flags Media Networks’ in-house team.

For example, across the DOOH network, Six Flags Media Networks can target messages by region/park or screen, change them out quickly, and overall ensure that advertising partners are given as much flexibility as possible to reach the right audiences at the right time.

• The software used on Menu Board TV is C-nario
• Six Flags Television Network is currently run in partnership with Omnivex
• Six Flags is using primarily NEC screens

New York-based Screenvision, innovator in cinema advertising, has entered into a new long-term agreement with Harkins Theatres, the premiere entertainment company in the Southwest U.S., giving Screenvision exclusive rights to sell the on-screen preshow and non-exclusive rights to promotions.

Harkins, a top 10 exhibitor with 30 locations representing 428 movie screens across Arizona, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas, has a high concentration of theatres in the important Phoenix area. In fact, 89% of Harkins Theatres are located in top 20 DMAs.

“Harkins Theatres operates state-of-the-art megaplexes within key demographic areas,” says Darryl Schaffer, executive vice-president, exhibitor relations, Screenvision. “Securing such a high profile and sought- after theatre operator is a coup for Screenvision. Harkins Theatres joins an industry-leading group of exhibitor partners including Malco Theatres, Marcus Theatres, and Rave Motion Pictures that have recently signed long-term contracts with Screenvision.”

Continuing our series of presentations at #ScreenMediaExpo in May in London that we think you’d be well advised to attend, we look today at John Rankin, General Manager, EYE Europe who will be talking about their digital platform (Day 1 DOOH Expo 1130-1200).

As many readers will know EYE has been firmly at the forefront of digital airport media for many years. Every EYE format has been specifically designed to showcase the nominated media form, whilst also being targeted at specific audience groups and environments.

EYE is able to provide media solutions which are truly innovative and accountable. The EYE product suite continues to remain consistent, relevant and cutting-edge in terms of design and technology. EYE’s inventory provides a unique communication vehicle that involves and engages consumers.

John’s presentation will focus on the development, deployment and learning’s from EYE’s extensive digital Out-of-Home media experience and will reference learnings regarding digital media from EYE’s Eye Tracking studies.

About John Rankin

John joined EYE business in Australia in 2004. Two years of successful selling and relationship management within the Eye Shop division, incorporating sales of EYE’s evolving digital platform, saw John step into the role of National Manager – Eye Plus.

John was accountable for the successful development of sales strategies and revenue growth across the entire digital portfolio in Australia and New Zealand. This role involved building awareness of not only EYE’s digital product portfolio but also the broader digital Out-of-Home proposition encouraging uptake of this format amongst media and creative agencies and direct clients.

In late 2007, John joined EYE’s UK operation based in London as National Manager. Recently, John was promoted to General Manager Eye Europe with responsibility for the day to day management of EYE’s UK operations.

We travelled up to San Francisco during our enforced sojourn in Las Vegas to meet face to face a new client and saw these two beautiful unmanned kiosks – all except for the obvious afterthought of the LCD top left …

and err top left again…

The Out-of-Home Division of Deutsche Telekom AG (DTAG) is entering the traditional OOH and DOOH sector with their recent (OOH) contract win in the city of Bremen.

Interestingly this pits them directly against the likes of JCDecaux, Ströer and WALL in Germany.

We also believe that DTAG will be equipping 25 shopping malls all over Germany and four Airports (Berlin Tegel, Berlin Schönefeld, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart) with digital screens.

We also hear rumours that they may sign up another three airports within short order.

Add in 480 REWE food retail stores with close to 2,600 screens (the roll-out will start in April 2010 and will be completed by October 2010) and you surely have a new German digital powerhouse in the making.

This REWE network is second only in size to Neo Advertising’s EdekaTV Network but we believe that i total DTAG is planning to roll-out an additional 10.000 screens by the end of year.

Reminder to Broadsign for those who remember several years ago at DSE and later #ScreenMediaExpo “Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down”.

Yesco Europe and Pink Banana Studios have joined forces to bring the World’s first 10mm LED bus display to #ScreenMediaExpo in May in London.

The European division of Yesco was recently formed by David Birkett and Oliver Theobald.

About Yesco Europe

Young Electric Sign Company was started in 1920 by Tom Young in Ogden, Utah.

In 1945, YESCO opened a branch in Las Vegas, selling spectacular neon displays to the Casinos that were springing up everywhere. One of the most famous was Vegas Vic, installed in 1951 standing 75 feet tall and weighing over 5 tons.

In 1984, YESCO installed the first large electronic message centre in Las Vegas, launching a new generation of four-colour, computerised displays.

Today, YESCO is one of the largest sign companies in the world. Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) produces custom signs and other display systems for businesses of all types and sizes. From the smallest retail kiosk to the largest multinational organization, we can design, manufacture, install and maintain an identification package that is tailored to your business’s specific needs.

Wireless Ronin just named Scott Koller as president and COO, effective 7th May – that’s strange as Scott has a technical background and many would not necessarily see him in that new role.

Anyhow, James C. Granger will remain the company’s CEO through 31st December 2010 unless extended by mutual agreement – as some in the industry might say “that’s probably when the money runs out anyway!”

This unfortunately is a train wreck waiting to happen.