Advertising: new year's Eve, Tie Ins popcorn (nytimes)

For the third consecutive year, Nivea is an official sponsor of the celebration of the eve of the day of the year at Times Square, and accompanied by sponsoring a stage called the Kiss Nivea platform, it will be hand about 30,000 samples balm for the revellers in the hours before the countdown.

"Mark is based on the idea that something wonderful occurs when the skin affects the skin and human beings humans connect and kiss of Réveillon new year sets the tone for the new year to come," says Magnus Jonsson, Vice President of marketing at Beiersdorf, parent company of Nivea.

This year, Nivea also organizes a contest on his page from Facebook, where couples in long-distance relationships compete for a chance to win a free trip to New York together in Times Square on new year's Eve, with two couples who collects the most votes on Facebook WINS.

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Nivea is one of a multitude of sponsors for the celebration of this year, which is jointly produced by the Times Square Alliance and the countdown Entertainment. But the sponsorship is not open to any company willing to write a check.

"We are waiting for developers can be organically integrated into our event, and there are some authors say not to because it is not a natural fit, said Jeffrey Straus, President of countdown." It is a civic event for the city of New York and authors focus in this event without any commercial message.

The most obvious example is of course, that descends on Times Square, for the countdown, which is not a logo top scalloped, but is known by the same casual viewers to be provided by Waterford Crystal crystal ball.

On to mark the nascent year figures are almost as prominent as the ball and Duracell battery brand hopes to become synonymous with the same way. For the third consecutive November established brand in place what she calls to Times Square, Duracell power lab consists of four stationary bikes, when pedaled batteries charge which will be used subsequently in the light of the sign.

This year, the bikes are housed in a trailer for the rest of the year, is deployed in the disaster areas, where it will provide pricing for items, including cell phones, stations rechargeable batteries and portable computers.

When a camper who heard a rustling outside of the tent reaches for a flashlight, batteries had better work, and Bob Jacobs, Versace, Procter & Gamble brand marketing manager, said the time when digits are switched on in Times Square as "an analogy to large-scale" functions for consumers.

"We speak much trust Duracell when she was just at work, persons", said Mr. Jacobs. When figures come on, "it is as emblematic of the holiday season when moment millions of people watch and it is a great association for batteries Duracell is approved in an important moment", said Mr. Jacobs.

The Times Square Alliance estimates that 1 million people attend the feast of the eve of the day of the year. A strategic relationships with media Trylon study commissioned by arrimée group international audience in more than one billion.

This is the first year for many authors, including Get married Media, which publishes the magazine Get married and hosts a website, GetMarried.com. The company held a competition for a wedding on the eve of the day of the year at Times Square, the winning couple receives not only a trip to New York, but also a wedding dress, wedding bands and a honeymoon in Dominican Republic.

Bethany Phillips and Geoffrey Dubie, a couple of Jacksonville, Florida, who met while serving as a marine in Iraq, won the competition and their marriage will appear directly on Times Square LED screens they take their wishes it.

"The time of holidays is among the greatest moments of the year for people to get engaged and approximately 70% of the eve of new year's Eve viewers are 19-35, and it is the kind of wedding gowns target, said Anita Brady, President of Get married Media, which is based in Atlanta."

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Another new sponsor, MasterCard, will donate $1 for every transaction with credit cards in Times Square to Stand Up To Cancer, who pays for cancer research. About 90 companies, American Eagle Outfitters in the hotel The Westin, participate and MasterCard will donate up to 1.5 million to the promotion, which began on 26 November and ends January 1, 2011.

A campaign to promote the campaign by the Agency of Schwartz Robertson, marketing reach incoming on Virgin America flights in airports in New York, in the Port Authority Bus Terminal on videos in cabins and, naturally, public service announcements with tourists on two large screens Toshiba Times Square, itself.

Preceding the new year, another promoter, Cintas document management company will host Good Riddance day December 28 in Times Square.

Participants are encouraged to bring items such as images of old flames or patterns, statements of credit card and reporting - cards and feed paper shredders provided by Cintas.

The first line will be Tiffany Bradley, Knoxville, Tennessee, who won a contest online for a free trip in New York City based on the documents it holds shred: deadly surgery that she had in 2009 and reimbursed medical expenses in 2010.

«Shredding of these bills would finally have repaid and would be a great way to celebrate my recovery, "Ms. Bradley wrote in his winning entry. "That it took forever, but I feel really like myself once more."

Media decoder: the United States heads: the voice of the Netherlands (nytimes)

After "American Idol," "The Sing-off," "The America Got Talent" and "X-Factor," entry can anyone lead to yet another way to singers compete on TV?

NBC and one of the producers of reality more success in the enterprise, Mark Burnett ("survivor," "Apprentice"), apparently not think. They are team on a format called "Voice of America", a variation on a hit in the Netherlands, as Mr. Burnett said show would air coming in the spring.

The different aspects of this show both relate how hearings will be held and that will most of the Elimination of the singers. Paul Telegdy, who heads the Department of NBC, reality program said the network has a "Eureka moment" when she saw in the "Voice of Holland" version "a point so simple format, we simply do".

This point: the hearings are blind.

A group of four coaches, including Mr. Burnett said would be artists well known music, listening to singers see them and only decide on the basis of their voice coach wants add to their team. Each coach will be assembling a team through blind auditions. (Coaches will press on a button if they like the talent; if more than one coach expressed interest, singer gets to choose the coach that he or she wants to).

In a second phase, the coaches themselves will eliminate the team per week. Mr. Burnett said that each of the cars will work on performing styles and even the appearance of their team members.

In the final phase, the few remaining candidates an equal number of each coach, participate, until every coach a candidate nomination. The audience will vote on the ultimate winner.

Price, a contract for registration will come with an agreement which also involves the winner career coach. "The coaches have real skin in the game", Mr. Burnett said, "these coaches are really going to win."

Coaches will be "recognizable names", said Mr. Burnett, but none has been selected yet. He said that he had already been searching talents for potential candidates.

NBC made an agreement to buy led by John de mol, Dutch production company whose reality earlier creations have included many international versions of "Big Brother" show. NBC said ratings for the Dutch TV market where the "voice of Holland" has become the most popular talent contest in the country.

Media decoder: superordinateur I.B.M. "Watson" with challenge "Jeopardy" stars (nytimes)

A supercomputer I.B.M. system named after founding the company, Thomas j. Watson SR., is almost ready for television test: an episode of questioning on the quiz show "Jeopardy."

I.B.M. and producers of "Jeopardy" will announce Tuesday that the computer, "Watson," will have to face two actors more success in the story "Jeopardy", Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, three episodes will be aired on February 14, 15 and 16, 2011.

I.B.M., "Watson" is a test of artificial intelligence. It scientists have been talking to the "Jeopardy" Man vs. machine match-up for the greater part of two years. "If the program beats humans, the area of artificial intelligence that made a leap forward," John Markoff of the New York Times wrote in April 2009.

In a press release, companies said that the format of "Jeopardy" was "the ultimate challenge" for "Watson" because "indices of the game involves analysis subtle sense, irony, puzzles and other complexities in which human beings humans Excel and computers are traditionally not."

I.B.M. and producers have agreed that a million dollars will be on the line. If "Watson" WINS, the money will be donated to charities. If a human wins half of the money will be given.

The producers of "Danger" said computer qualified for the show by passing the same test as human candidates. Recently "Watson" has been playing saving games with old human candidates for practice. I.B.M. will share some highlights of these games on their website in the coming weeks.

The match-ups "Jeopardy" supercomputer is on television since almost 50 years, are an opportunity to draw attention. It is an endorsement of sorts for format - as Harry Friedman, executive producer of the show, in a news release, "we are delighted that Jeopardy!" is regarded as a point of reference for the ultimate knowledge. »

Media decoder: Jimmy Kimmel Extends run on ABC (nytimes)

After one year turbulent late-night, at least at NBC television stability will be reign at ABC, where Jimmy Kimmel has agreed to extend his contract for at least two years.

Mr. Kimmel has seen grow odds on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in the past year, unusual for host of late night, because the field has become so crowded and late-night shows are mostly being poorly by competition from reading performances recorded on digital video recorders.

The financial details of the contract not disclosed, but Mr. Kimmel clearly until an issue related to salary. Jay Leno issuing "Today", whose salary was settled in the range of approximately 25 million dollars per year, often makes the point that it still does not "Silver Dave." Refers to what CBS star David Letterman made equally to 31 million dollars per year.

A requested if it is now "Silver Dave", said Mr. Kimmel: "Yes, Dave Coulier."

Larry King prepares sign off and everyone is Talking (nytimes)

"I consider unique Larry, absolutely a kind," said Ross Perot, one of the many subjects of political life, including Mr. King interviewed during his 25 years on CNN. Unlike other hosts the television, Mr. Perot said: "that will stop you if you're not saying what they want to tell you," Mr. King "will allow you to finish what you're saying."

After approximately 50 000 interviews — between the transition to television and radio career - m. King finishes his race as a support for 9 hours on CNN this week and may take with him form conversation hour cable news television interview. It is unclear how its replacement, Piers Morgan, will result in its program, but some change in the format King is likely.

Although he was professed no regrets, Mr. King was pointing to what he identified as "the saddest part" leaving the scene of the nocturnal interview, where programs that evil CNN and m. King in the ratings are headed by hosts advocating a point of view policy.

"If you look at media now,"he said in a telephone interview", all these other entertainment hosts interview themselves." Guests are an accessory to the hosts of these cable networks. The guest is always paramount me. »

He left this week, many of these guests return for a stroll under the Presidency last: Naomi Wynonna Judd Tuesday, Barbra Streisand, Wednesday, and a lot of old favorites on the final Thursday.

And as he counts down to the last of its programs of nearly $ 7,000 for the network, guests and a framework for other famous people want to talk to Mr. King and gratitude for his distinctive style interview Mark summarized by a frequent guest comics Bill Maher: "Larry was the ultimate minimalist: ' Al Gore." your thoughts! » ”

Some critics reflects the minimalist approach as the equivalent of throwing a shout weekend softball. Mr. King said critics still mattered him.

"I don't know what a softball question is" he said. "" "" All the I know is I have no agenda. I have short questions and I listen the response.

Greta Van Susteren, host of Fox News Channel which has become a well-known legal commentator on CNN in the trial of o. j. Simpson, said critics complain of what they consider as softball questions are "grossly naive."

"It makes guests feel very comfortable and want to talk about and what they do", said.

Mr. King was interviewed Mr. Gore - most famous as the host of debate news-making 1993 with Mr. Perot on the North American free trade agreement. The Perot-Gore debate was a decisive moment for the program. It draws on more mainstream CNN for a regular program, about 20 million viewers. At this time, Mr. King was already closely associated with Mr. Perot had surprised him and a large part of the nation by declaring Chairman on the program in 1992.

"I found him a fascinating character," Mr. King said. "The debate, Gore presented with an army of the White House." Perot brought a friend of Dallas. "Perot took slightly Gore, he said. "Gore stir-fry just him and that he had the time.

The pair were part of a long list of subjects of political life, including every President since Richard M. Nixon. (When Mr. King asked Nixon if it had always been in the Watergate building, the former President said laughing rueful, "not me, me.)

A President George h. w. Bush, admitted feeling "very close to Larry." President Bush, in an e-mail, said: "I am a very high esteem of Larry King," describing "a direct interviewer and professional depth."

Another President who felt moved to express his admiration is still in Office, well away from Washington. December 1st, the Russian President, Vladimir V. Putin, said Mr. King in an appearance on the programme to the United States, "there are many interesting and talented people, but still there is a single King."

In recent months, the crowded invited King's farewell list included other Presidents (among them, Jimmy Carter), a horde of the show-business stars, George Clooney, Stevie Wonder, Jon Stewart, Jeff Bridges) and the usual declarations of every description and celebrities assortment: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Iran; Oksana Grigorieva (ex Mel Gibson). Ricky Martin (declaring his sexuality). Steven Slater, JetBlue flight attendant's rebels.

The range of subjects affected by "Larry King Live" has always surprised and amused outside commentators. "Not many people can interview Putin then Snooki," said Katie Couric of CBS News anchor. Mr. Maher cites a memorable example: "one night it was Margaret Thatcher, the next night, is a grouping of Lawrence Welk.".

Jeffrey Toobin, legal CNN analyst said that the trial of o. j. Simpson long-term, who played nightly on "Larry King Live" is somehow the story perfect for Mr. King "because he combined high and low;" you have important questions about justice and race and celebrity sleaziest in Los Angeles. »

Mr. King himself had no difficulty in recalling some highlights of favorite as a lunch with Nelson Mandela in South Africa and a first 1963 radio interview with Ms. Streisand, then a young singer, barely known in Brooklyn. The Hotel Eden Roc in Miami Beach, where she was appearing at the time, asked at the interview to try to get him exposure, said Mr. King.

"At the end, she told me:" you don't know me now, but one day you will know me "". ""

And then there was Marlon Brando, memorable appearance which ended with the actor planting a smack thanks to the lips of the host. Mr. King recalled that he, Brando had requested a lunch opening and picked the image of a m. King, driving a Chevrolet.

Mr. King account, two men drove around of Beverly Hills singing songs. "He would be singing a single line, I sing the next: ' tell me why you keep foolin,' coquette little." ”

Reality television and real estate mogul Donald Trump said: "Larry has been able to obtain more information from you that anyone - and you getting no account even you have summer giving."

As Ms. Couric said: "there is something to be very direct, without frills." It never Larry. It is always the person with whom he spoke.

As Mr. King wound to obtain information on almost every significant figure of his life (both he regrets more missing are mode of typical mixed bag, Fidel Castro and Jack Nicholson) attributes to be "extremely curious" as well as a talent "" I take no credit: people respond to me. ""

He confessed, "I'm going to he missed." But he said: "I am 53 years in this business." This is everything that I've always wanted to do. I had a great trip. I have no complaints. »

Piracy fight stop Down music Blogs (nytimes)

"At first I thought it was hackers," said Mr. Hofman. But a few hours notice ascended the site saying that its domain name had been seized by the immigration unit United States and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security; This is one of the dozens of sites, accused of infringement of copyright and the sale of counterfeit products.

But Mr. Hofman, a long Aboriginal ruissèle in his beginning in the 1930s who worked previously for a major label, do not think himself as a pirate.

OnSmash.com and the handful of other blogs music closed by Government post brand new songs and videos without a licence, but much of this material is often leak their managers, music labels, and even the artists themselves.

Consequently, these sites have a complex symbiosis with the music industry. While the Recording Industry Association of America wants to shut down their, labels - particularly in hip-hop circles - rank uses them as a marketing tool and the sale of advertising.

"Joe q. public"leak"sounds like a bad word," Mr. Hofman said in an interview with a pizzeria on the Lower East Side, his lawyer at his side. "" "" But if you've never been to a label marketing meeting, "Hey, can you escape to blogs? Leakage is now a verb marketing.

In addition to OnSmash.com sites music close included Dajaz1.com RapGodFathers.com and rmx4u.com; another torrent - finder .com, is a search engine for users of BitTorrent, a file sharing system that can be used for any data type.

Weekend action of grace - most of the 82 sites involved seizures have been closed to sell imitation bags in hand, sunglasses and other goods - were made without warning. Internet as the Electronic Frontier Foundation advocacy groups have expressed alarm on the precedent that could set the action.

December 6, Victoria a. Espinel, Coordinator of the intellectual property of implementation of the White House, said that several judgments could expect soon the Government pursues "pirates and counterfeiters."

Some people more surprised by the judgments are the industry's music itself.

"My artists and industry have any issues with most of these sites, said Corey Smyth, a manager of rappers and producers such as Lil Jon and Talib Kweli." When you try something to do, it is where children go. »

For artists, which deals with the most recent leak blogs are not always beneficial, is not always clear where leak originated. Fabolous, a Brooklyn rapper label Def Jam, who has worked with OnSmash.com, said competition between blogs had resulted in a disorder in which auditors messaging for artists and producers had pirated for any extracts of new music that might attract readers.

"This is a double edged sword" said Fabolous. "It's a big, big promotional tool for all that you try out for the masses." But on the other hand, it is a bit of piracy, because sometimes it is not always what is given - there are some things that are taken. »

More than a decade since the advent of Napster, large file sharing service labels still struggle to reconcile the promise and the threat of digital music.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not explained how he selected sites that deal with downloadable music, but a spokesman for the Recording Industry association of America, which represents the major music labels stated that he had worked with ICE and other federal agencies in the identification of the infringing sites.

"Sites and services identify us are blatant federal law of copyright, illegally offering songs from the artists or pre-release infringement contained non-commercially available online or in any store," said the spokesman of Group business, Jonathan Lamy.

M. Hofman, who began his career working in new media and marketing departments of a label main (he wouldn't say which), enjoys easy access to artists and labels. His site regularly organized showcase concerts in clubs in New York and was decorated with artist shout-outs. Miami rapper Rick Ross, in his recent album top 10 "Teflon Don" liner notes thank OnSmash.com to mention his own record company.

"I get nothing with open arms, receptions,", said Mr. Hofman, which is quite important in the world of music as Kanye West links on Twitter. "I fall more industry invites that I accept."

Mr. Hofman said tracks and videos were disclosed to his site regularly, adding that if he has received a letter to stop and abandon on material on its site is not permitted, it has taken.

Sites like OnSmash.com and Dajaz1.com had advertising, but their operators said that income was minimal. Dajaz1.com, operator called splash, he would not his real name), itself described in an interview as a married father of two Queens, who once worked in the industry of music.

"I am a regular Joe Schmo employment," he said. But a blog influential rap running has its privileges. "I'm on the phone with Busta Rhymes once every three or four days," said splash.

For the moment seized areas are in a legal vacuum. David Snead, a lawyer specializing in the case of the Internet that represents the owner of the torrent - finder .com, speculated that there may be 30 to 60 days of an order of seizure before it could. "The Government provides zero information to help us determine what he is being accused of", he said. "This is a black hole."

Some sites have resumed their assignments by simply moving to other areas: RapGodFathers.com now works on RapGodFathers.info and torrent - finder .com is now torrent - finder .info.

Mr. Hofman said he is "very nervous" about his situation legal but also puzzled.

"I see myself as a legitimate source of content online, and I have no reason to believe that I've never seen as otherwise." So what I do is so bad and covers damage to artist, then why is it retweeting stuff for two megacity? "Mr. Hofman said, referring to Kanye West. "He just not good for me."