The $47bn mobile content market?

"Mass 3G adoption will drive mobile entertainment revenues to $47.5 billion by 2010, says Juniper Research. Its report claims China and the Far East region currently provide the largest market for content services and contribute around 41 per cent of global revenues. Despite rapid growth in developing markets, the Asia Pacific region will retain its leadership through to 2012, when it will still contribute 33 per cent of sales. However, Juniper cautions that entertainment service adoption will stumble unless improvements are made in User Interface, network coverage, data charges and regulation of gambling, adult content and some social networking services." Mobile Entertainment, Mar 08

YoYoGames hits 100,000 user landmark

"Casual development community experiences huge growth
The YoYoGames.com development community has attracted its 100,000th visitor within ten months.The site gives away a free Lite version of the popular Game Maker software and gives a space for users to share their creations with the community at large. CEO Sandy Duncan, ex Microsoft X Box says the 'best way to describe it is as the YouTube of games.' " Develop, March 08

Channel 4 to fund multiplatform kids TV

"UK's voice of the independent production community PACT is welcoming the decision by Channel 4 to begin commissioning for children's TV as part of its "Next on 4" strategic initiative.
C4's plan to increase its spend on multiplatform kids projects follows the successful re-distribution of its education budget to online. A substantial part of the new US$61 million budget is expected to be allocated to online fare. PACT is also lauding C4's announced intention to up its support of indies outside of London by 50% by 2012." Kidscreen, March 08

US: Online winning over TV for kids

"New study finds that the internet is encroaching more and more into children's TV viewing habits. According to a study by research firm Grunwald Associates, TV is no longer capturing the undivided attention of kids in the US. The Kids' Social Networking Study found that internet activity is becoming a growing factor in what children choose to watch and 64 per cent of kids go online while watching TV. Nearly half of teens (49 per cent) said that they go online frequently while watching TV. In addition, 47 per cent said they focus their attention primarily online while multi-tasking between TV and the internet, and 42 per cent said they focus on TV and online activities equally. Just 11 per cent said that TV held their primary attention while multi-tasking."Active multi-tasking and social networking present a tremendous opportunity to inform, engage and empower kids more deeply than ever before," said Grunwald Associates founder Peter Grunwald. "At the same time, it's important for commercial efforts to be credible and respect kids' intelligence - and the content they product. Kids are using social networking tools to create personal content and share their opinions with great speed, passion and influence." The study is made up of three parallel surveys conducted in the US: and online survey of 1,277 nine to 17 year-olds, an online survey of 1,039 parents and telephone interviews with 250 district leaders who make decisions on internet policy." Kidscreen Mar 08

Disney CEO Iger Champions Digital Media

"PROCLAIMING THE WEB "JUST AS important as TV" for kids, Disney CEO Robert Iger urged fellow executives on Wednesday to join the digital revolution--or hire people who can. "Hire new people," Iger declared to nervous laughter during a morning keynote at the McGraw-Hill Media Summit in New York. Reiterating Disney's aim to grow digital revenue from $750 million to $1 billion this year, Iger outlined several areas where the company is investing online. In the area of social networks, Disney is readying the launch of a "Cars"-related virtual world dubbed "Radiator Springs." Another virtual world, "Pixie Hollow," is in the works for Disney's "Fairies" franchise. (Disney recently established a new group, Disney Online Studios, dedicated to the creation of virtual worlds, games and branded communities online.) Eying global expansion, Disney is tailoring a slew of new and existing content for consumers in foreign markets from Paris to Shanghai, Iger said. Iger also impelled media companies and marketers to shed their protectionist stances on new and emerging technologies. "Most classic brand managers look at technology with a deep-rooted aversion," Iger said. "Technology is good," he said, explaining how it allows brands to distribute more broadly, and to be more relevant in the marketplace. "You have to keep the consumer in mind and use technology to do that." Beyond corporate strategy, Iger took time on Wednesday to regale the audience of new- and old-media types with his personal adventures in online media. He admitted to having a Facebook page, but only two friends in the hot social network. "It's important for executives to experience all of this," Iger said, referring to the myriad new platforms available to media companies, marketers, and consumers, from video-sharing sites and mobile services to social networks and virtual worlds.
Perhaps showing bias, Iger said his presence was more established within Club Penguin, the virtual world for kids that Disney acquired last August. "I've got some pretty cool stuff in my igloo"--which, he said, boasts a flat-screen TV, a fireplace, and a basketball hoop. "I've never been to an igloo with a basketball hoop, which is pretty great." Noted Iger, since Disney entered into a distribution deal with Apple's iTunes a year and a half ago, the company has sold between 40 million and 50 million TV episodes, and some 4 million Disney movies. Disney's digital revenue comes from ads sold alongside content streamed on ABC.com, and syndicated on sites like AOL.com; ads sold on other Disney Web properties like ESPN; subscriptions to ad-free sites like Club Penguin and various online games; downloads of movies and music; and e-commerce not related to Disney theme parks." Online Media Daily, March 08