I'm Chumby, darn it!

I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to feature this new, little, portable, electronic internet device that, well, seems to have great appeal to the geek in all of us.

Our good and descerning geek friends at Cnet.com tell all about it.

Find out more at www.chumby.com.

What will advertising be like when I grow up?

Wow. This little one asks a profound question. Clearly, she senses the great speed of change transforming the art and science of TV persuasion. Indeed, right now, at that speed of change, the cheese continues to move again and again and again. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, technology leaps and the media-consumption capriciousness of the masses shifts.

It doesn’t seem fair does it? Well, little one, life isn’t fair. So, as enlightened promulgators of the Message, how shall we then communicate?

Our counterparts in general market television advertising aren’t waiting for lightning to strike and the media elements to naturally reveal the truths of commercial manipulation in a changing world. They’re joining forces to study what techniques will draw the huddled (around the TV) masses… and move them to act.

Their effort is called, “Beyond :30” and is a $1 million-per-year study going on in Australia to figure out what kind and type of TV advertising the people will watch. Backed by American marketers, agencies and broadcasters, this never-ending project is tirelessly working to determine how to get all of us to watch a commercial in an environment where viewing habits keep evolving.

Are there any lessons for us? Maybe. Besides the boot camps at the annual gathering, I don’t see much cooperative thinking and research going on. From time-to-time we have the opportunity to link up with like-minded producers and agencies on projects. Still, wouldn't it be great to create a consortium of Christian communicators cooperatively focused on getting the Message consumed in a whirlwind of media changes.

Well, little one, I’m not sure what advertising will look like in the future. What I do know is that if we really believe what the Message says, then we have a mandate before us. If we choose to accept that it, then we will discover the way to carry it out after we ask, seek and knock.

You know... faith of a child and all.

700 Club to Air Extensive Hillary Interview Tonight

The media aspects of this race just get more interesting all the time. You can preview the CBN News interview here.

Watching Oscar

According to TV Week Online, the ratings for the Oscars may be the lowest ever. The writer offered up some reasons:

1) The writers strike ended so recently, that there just wasn't enough time to prepare the finely crafted parade of words that we've come to expect.

2) The lack of new programs (thanks to the writer's strike) made promoting the program difficult.

As compelling and logical these reasons appear to be, may I offer up a third:

America doesn't care.

Is snow in your donor's forecast?

Certainly by now you know that come February 17, 2009, the United States will end the reign of analog television transmission forever. But, does that mean that the analog TV is dead?

No. But some households may need a little fix.

Long ago we recommended to our clients that they let their constituents know the facts about the Great Digital TV Migration of 2009. Do you know what to tell your friends and partners?

Here's a little background to help you (help them) here and here.

You can also find more information and links at the FCC's website.

Do we finally trust eCommerce?

It wasn't that long ago that I recall observing our colleagues twitch when we explored the use of internet-based sales. A few would nearly pass out at the mere mention of receiving donations online.

My how things have changed.

Public confidence with the web as an efficient and secure purchasing vehicle continues to grow. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) indicates that customer satisfaction has risen to a score of 81.6 (out of 100). That represents a 2% increase from about a year ago. This up-trend echoes our experience with online giving performance. More-and-more people are persuaded by traditional media (direct mail, television and radio) and then choose to purchase or give online.

Take a look at this recent article found on ResponseMagazine.com for the whole story.

Paper vs Electrons

With our help, most of our clients are already sending out a parallel and complementary stream of e-mail in addition to traditional paper mail.

A recent issue of Target Marketing Online carried a good article with some basic but helpful insights on this approach.

It's worth a read... Here.

TV Pop-Ups are not for breakfast

While we're on a TV/Web jag, let's review another cross contamination brought to traditional television from the web...

The pop-up ad.

It seems that St. Petersburg based Home Shopping Network (HSN) is trying a new twist on the venerable and mostly annoying practice of pop-up ads. Imagine you are watching television when suddenly you are offered the "opportunity" to watch HSN live!

Now that's what I'm talking about! Surely this would bring a tear to Ron Popeil's eyes.

The Tampa Tribune explains it all here.

Wait a minute... TV has a problem afterall.

According to industry observers, good ol' television continues to lose favor with marketers. In an article by Advertising Age Online, a recent survey shows shrinking popularity for the veteran medium. While TV's overall popularity seems to be holding its own with audiences, the winds of change seem to be blowing the advertisers in a different direction.

I'll stop mixing my metaphors while you read all about it here. Free registration required.

And, be sure to take a look at the really cool televisions like the one above here.

TV Safe from Web for Now

In their article from yesterday, TV Week reported that "Online Video Is Creating Its Own Viewers, Not Stealing TV's." So is this a win-win? Read all about it here.

Alrighty then, Blu-Ray it is.

I guess Sony wasn't going to allow another Betamax.

What or Who. . .

. . . is cutting the world's submerged fiber-optic cables? Three have been severed in the last week, plunging hundreds of millions into internet darkness.

It's a question the conspiratorial-minded are answering with their typical blame-America-first knee jerk.