Facebook Rate Card Leaked To Blog: $10 CPM +

From Online Media Daily - WANT TO SPONSOR A FACEBOOK page? It will cost you $10 a CPM plus $2 to $5 extra for targeting costs, according to a February rate card leaked to industry blog Valleywag this week.

According to the rate card, which Facebook refused to authenticate, marketers have to shell out a minimum of $50,000 for the prized sponsorships. | Read full article

MTV/Microsoft Study: Kids Love Technology, Don't Care How It Works

From Media Daily News - WHILE KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS may be immersed in digital media, there are limits on what they want to know about the technology, according to new research.

A massive study--jointly produced by MTV Networks and Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions--surveyed 18,000 kids ages 8-14 in 16 countries, offering a wide range of results on digital entertainment and communications platforms.

One major finding is that kids are not focused on the detailed workings of the technology itself. It's how technology lets them communicate and be entertained. Only 20% of teens and young adults showed any "interest" in technology.

For the still TV-centric MTV, the study showed promising data for television viewing--59% of kids 8-14 still prefer traditional TV over the computer and the Internet. One major exception is in China, where the study noted that 8-14s prefer online over TV. | Read full article

Massive Adds Five EA Sports Titles To In-Game Ad Network

From Online Media Daily - MICROSOFT'S MASSIVE INC. ANNOUNCED THE incorporation of five new sports titles from Electronic Arts (EA) into its in-game advertising network--further strengthening the in-game ad value proposition in a booming U.S. video game market.

With video game hardware and software sales topping $1.1 billion in June according to market research firm NPD, advertisers seeking to reach gamers have more consoles and games than ever to do so. The EA titles joining Massive's network include both perennial bestsellers and a number of new releases to connect brands with highly engaged sports gamers.

The Xbox 360 and PC titles include Madden NFL 08, NASCAR 08, NHL 08, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, and SKATE, and all five will feature the ability to incorporate dynamic in-game ads via the Massive Network.

Available ads include 2-D units (such as a movie poster or soda machine), embedded sound and video units (say, a movie trailer or music video), interactive units, and even 3-D object replacement, which can insert branded objects into the game play over a certain period of time. | Read full article

Behavioral Targeting: Not Quite Ready For Prime Time

From Online Media Daily - THE PROGNOSTICATORS SAY 2008 IS supposed to be the year behavioral targeting hits it big in the U.S.--reaching the $1 billion mark in terms of online ad spend, according to eMarketer.

But at the Behavioral Marketing Forum Tuesday, it was clear that obstacles exist ranging from definition to education.

"Behavioral targeting is any method of targeting a consumer after they've taken any kind of measurable action," said Carrie Frolich, digital practice lead, Mediaedge:cia. "And it's not only online."

Joe Weaver, associate media director, Media Storm, added: "It's not a line item on an Excel sheet. Behavioral targeting is a strategy."

Advertisers are also struggling to find metrics that can justify the premium prices for behaviorally targeted ads while providing quantification of ROI at the same time.

"We have to explain effectiveness in terms of traditional buying metrics like GRPs," said Frolich. The panelists said that sometimes those metrics don't fit if the desired outcome is engagement or brand awareness.

Developing effective behaviorally targeted creative also poses a challenge, as it often requires customization that may be out of a client's budget, or simply out of their capability because it involves conversation. | Read full article

DoubleClick Launching Video Ad Feature

From Online Media Daily - DOUBLECLICK THIS WEEK IS LAUNCHING a new video ad feature that allows developers to create high-impact teaser ads with short flashes of video. | Read full article

iTunes Store Tops Three Billion Songs

From Apple - Apple® today announced that more than three billion songs have been purchased and downloaded from the iTunes® Store (www.itunes.com). iTunes is the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store featuring a catalog of over five million songs, 550 television shows and 500 movies. iTunes recently surpassed Amazon and Target to become the third largest music retailer in the US.* | Read full article

Sprint, Google Vow To Make WiMAX Widespread By 2008

From Online Media Daily - SPRINT HAS PARTNERED WITH GOOGLE to create a WiMAX portal that will house Web-based applications, social networking and search--creating an opportunity for marketers to reach consumers with a digital message wherever they are, and on any available device.

In the as-yet unnamed portal, Sprint's high-speed wireless service (which includes location detection) will be combined with Google Apps (including e-mail, chat and calendaring), allowing consumers to browse the Web, buy products on-demand, and stream media on devices ranging from laptops and PDAs to phones and music players.

"This is a play to get Internet access in a very broadband way through a number of different devices," said Peter Cannistra, director of Sprint's mobile broadband business. "WiMAX is being built out for laptops and fixed computers, but we're working to put the chips into wide array of consumer electronics." | Read full article

Where are the Wiis?

While on vacation in Northern Virginia, I figured it would be a cinch to find a Wii console. After all, the region is full of stores selling consumer electronics. I wasn't prepared to leave empty handed.

After visiting at least 5 stores and calling another 8, I was laughed at by staff at leave 4 times. Their typical response to my question about whether they had a Wii was, "No, we don't have any. We got 10 in last week and people lined up around the block..."

I have heard that Nintendo is playing up the shortage to keep hype around the console at a high pitch. But it could backfire. Do I want a Wii? Hell yes. Am I willing to wait in line or spend $100 more than the retail price to pick one up? Not a chance. At this rate, my Wii envy may disappear in a month or so, to be replaced by the next big thing. Until then, I will still dream of Wii Sports and the fabulous Wiimote.

Jesuits say take word of God to Second Life

From CNN -- Catholic missionaries have always trekked to dangerous parts of the Earth to spread the word of God -- now they are being encouraged to go into the virtual realm of Second Life to save virtual souls.

In an article in Rome-based Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica, academic Antonio Spadaro urged fellow Catholics not to be scared of entering the virtual world which may be fertile ground for new converts wishing to better themselves.

"It's not possible to close our eyes to this phenomenon or rush to judge it," Spadaro said. "Instead it needs to be understood ... the best way to understand it is to enter it."

Second Life is a simulation game where players can create a virtual version of themselves -- an avatar -- and interact with other people in the three-dimensional world. | Read full article

Gijit is back

After a week away from our computers, Gijit is back. Thanks for your patience.

-- The Gijit Team