July 2010 – OnMedea

July 16, 2010April 4, 2011

Comic-Con – R.I.P.

Sorry geeks. Sorry freaks. Gone are the dreams and dancing (well, not really ‘dancing’ – I forgot who I was writing about). Comic-Con is dead.

And I know right now there are hundreds of Dr. Who and Stargate Universe marathons going on in anticipation of this or that panel discussion, but, face it, it’s over. The cool dorks know it’s true. The rest will find out soon enough.

And it’s not really your fault that Comic-Con is dead. Unlike the whacked out kids in “Final Destination”, you DIDN’T see it coming. Hollywood, with its truckloads of swag and sizzle reels, just steamrolled you and took control of YOUR EVENT (this includes my own parent company – Manka Bros. Studios – The World’s Largest Media Company and Manka Bros. Publishing’s MC Comics).

It’s really sad but your beautiful ‘Woodstock of Geekdom’ has been crushed by the evil empire of big media.

I know you thought you dictated the terms and still think Hollywood needs your approval before going forward with a new comic book movie or TV show but, the truth is, you need Hollywood more than they need you.

It’s sort of like how you thought you and the cheerleader in high school would start dating because she was nice while you helped her get ready for a test. After the test was over, and she passed, it was right back to the quarterback and she didn’t even remember your name. The cheerleader is Hollywood.

The problem is, the cheerleader knows that all she has to do is smile and you will be right back on board – helping her with the next test.

Don’t take the bait anymore geeks! Rise up and stop helping the cheerleader with HER homework!

If Hollywood thinks it can get a good write up on your blog because they send Jessica Alba down to do body shots with you – they have another thing coming!

So here’s what needs to be done. Kill Comic-Con and go back to the church basement (or wherever) to whence it started and, like the best of the comic book origin stories, begin again. Rebirth.

Start your little A/V club from scratch and this time DON’T INVITE THE CHEERLEADERS! They don’t want to be there anyway. It’s totally messing up their summer vacations.

Jill Kennedy – OnMedea

July 15, 2010

The Evolution Of Entertainment – Online Gaming

Manka Bros. Films, Television, Manka Faith, Forensics, Manka Legends Channel are just a few of the top brands Manka is currently hosting. The success of each and every one of these brands is topped by the very best corporate management, and the created synergy helps us be the largest media company in the world. However, this does not mean we are resting on our laurels. We are constantly preoccupied with improving ourselves, keeping up with new technologies, and continuing to be a global pioneer in both old and future media.

Technology – Good Or Bad For The Entertainment Industry?

Few are the people who opinionate technology has had a negative effect on society as we know it today. The advent of the internet is certainly simplifying our lives at all levels. And it is turning into a more and more enjoyable environment to turn to when we need to relax or keep ourselves entertained. We can do anything from watching TV, movies, listening to music, reading virtual books, or play games from the comfort of our own homes or with the help of a handheld device from any remote location. It’s not hard to spot the way technology has changes the way we look at entertainment today. We use legal programs to legally listen to music and we can download songs without turning into online pirates, which was the case just a few years back. We can watch our favorite shows and episodes at our desired pace online without depending on TV guides.

And we can take great advantage of the advanced gaming technology that has significantly improved the way games look and feel. Games have turned into more of a social experience thanks to advanced gaming and gambling systems; online gambling has turned into a an independent industry on its won worth several billion dollars also thanks to internet technologies, RNG systems, secure payments online and an attentively regulated industry. Today we can play poker online at poker.ladbrokes.com from our laptops or straight from Android or Apple tablets or smartphones and get the same rush of adrenaline any land poker room can provide us with. We no longer need to go through traffic, spend money on gas, food, and accommodation to play the original game of Texas Hold’em in Vegas. The Ladbrokes Poker room is hosting a wide selection of poker variants ranging from Omaha, 7 Card Stud, Razz seven card stud, Speed Poker, Multi Table, sit ‘n’ go tournaments like Maui, Dirty Dozen, Fort Knox, and other exciting titles. Can you imagine the thrills of taking part in a Multi Table tournament, playing several hands at a time and trying to give your best to win the huge pool prize? The financial factor is also determining for the success and popularity of these games; with a welcome deal worth up to £1,200 for high rollers who are willing to deposit sufficient money on their first deposit and the rest of the weekly bonuses and regular cash promotions offered as rewards to both lucky, skilled, and loyal players, this place is one of the most lucrative to play in. And as long as the gambling is responsible, people can make nice money out of it.

July 13, 2010April 4, 2011

The Woman Of Sun Valley

Allen & Company retreat, Anne Mulcahy, Ari Emanuel, Barry Diller, Ben Silverman, Bill Bradley, Bob Iger, Bobby Kotick, Brian Grazer, Brian Roberts, Candice Bergen, Carol Bartz, Charlie Rose, Chase Carey, Chris Silbermann, Cory Booker, Diane Von Furstenberg, Don Graham, DumbDumb, Electus, Eric Eisner, Eric Schmidt, Erin Burnett, George Bodenheimer, Gina Bianchini, Gordon Crawford, Haim Saban, Hank Vigil, Harvey Weinstein, Herb Allen, Herb Allen Sun Valley Conference, Herbert Allen, Jean-Bernard Levy, Jeff Berg, Jeff Bewkes, Jeff Bezos, Jeff Weiner, Jeff Zucker, Jeffrey Immelt, Jerry Yang, Jim Berkus, Jim Gianopulos, Jim Robinson, John Donahue, Jon Miller, Jonathan Dolgen, Ken Auletta, Ken Chenault, Khan Manka, Lachlan Murdoch, Lady Gaga, Larry Page, Leslie Moonves, Lionel Barber, Lloyd Grohl, Manka Bros., Marc Andreessen, Marissa Mayer, Mark Pincus, Mark Zuckerberg, Martin Sorrell, Mathias Dopfner, Michael Ovitz, Mike Bloomberg, Niall FitzGerald, Owen Van Natta, Patt Morrison, Peter Chernin, Phillippe Dauman, Rachael Ray, Reid Hoffman, Richard Parsons, Ricky Van Veen, Rob Wiesenthal, Robbie Bach, Robert L. Johnson, Ron Meyer, Rupert Murdoch, Sergey Brin, Sheryl Sandberg, Steve Burke, Steve Jobs, Sun Valley Retreat, Sun Valley Retreat 2010, Terry Semel, Tim Armstrong, Tom Freston, Tom Friedman, Tom Glocer, Tom Rothman, Ursula Burns, Vivi Nevo, Warren Buffett, World's Largest Media Company

Being a member of the fringe press, I have no idea how many people attended the Herb Allen Sun Valley Retreat last week and I certainly don’t know a complete gender breakdown – but from everything I’ve seen in the press (including from the blogs written by my mogul boss, Khan Manka, Jr., from inside the event), there were very very very few women represented.

By my count, there were three (and two were from Xerox – Ursula Burns and Anne Mulcahy [retired]) and only one, Sheryl Sandberg got any sort of attention at all.

And, no, mogul wives don’t count.

[If Allen & Co. can please email me an invited guest list, I’ll be happy to post an update with other names.]

Yes, Facebook is the hot company of the moment with a giant spotlight on senior management, but (and we all know this is a Hollywood / New York / Silicon Valley problem and not a Herb Allen problem) this was a pretty pathetic effort no matter the situation.

This is not to slight the accomplishments of Sheryl Sandberg. I have a great admiration for her (even though I think she’s on a sinking ship).

“The Women In Technology” panel (moderated by Tom Brokaw) must have been fascinating. Perhaps it was set up as a way to inform the white male moguls that there are ‘Women in Technology’. Who knew?

Here’s hoping that next year I can report on “The WOMEN of Sun Valley”.

Jill Kennedy – OnMedea

July 1, 2010July 26, 2012

Facebook Is Worthless

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Facebook Must Be Stopped

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Facebook To Reach 7.3 Billion Users By 2015

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Original Post (Facebook Is Worthless):

Salacious headline? Yes. True? Also yes.

This is not a slam against the EXTREME popularity and unprecedented GROWTH story that is Facebook. This is a reality check of an unsustainable business model.

Much like a homeowner who can no longer afford an overinflated house purchased during the height of the bubble and decides to walk away, Facebook (with claims that it will hit ONE BILLION users in the not too distant future) has given it all away for free for far to long to change.

But change it must or Facebook Is Worthless.

Imagine the cable networks at their inception (especially premium channels like HBO) giving the channel to anyone for free at the beginning and then trying to convince customers to pay down the line. It’s a daunting task. One that Hulu is going through now – but they made the hard decision, and even though traffic and video streams will certainly fall, it will soon be profitable because it wasn’t too late to right the ship.

Imagine Disney/Pixar putting out Toy Story 3 for free in theaters and trying to make up their costs by throwing up billboards along the walls. What kind of idiot would do that? It would never be considered.

People love (and some actually depend on) Facebook, but it is too late to right the ship – and not just because no one cares or pays any attention to the banner ads that are thrown up against everyone’s status updates. It’s because people are starting to get really bored with it.

There are some late adapters that are still in the ecstasy phase of seeing their old high school friends as they look today (Facebook has ruined surprise factor of high school reunions forever, but I digress), but for the most part – at least in my case – most of my Facebook friends have stopped participating. They will pop on once a day or so just to see if anyone has posted any new drunken pictures or family photos of the new baby, but that’s about it.

My Facebook experience now is basically the same five people posting the same boring crap.

The Bored Office Worker who posts about “needing coffee” – and “can’t wait for Happy Hour!”

The Super Mom who claims every morning – “Went to 8 museums adn made banana bread all before 10am! My kids are awesome and sooooo funny!”

The Quoter who searches quotation websites looking for some daily affirmation that will get about 15 “Likes” and a few “I’m going to use that!” replies.

The Reviewer who writes stuff like “Smoke Monster? Shit Monster if you ask me!”

The Pissed Off Traveler with daily pearls like “10 hours on the tarmac!” and “Yet another delay, thank you American Airlines!”

And that’s about it. Every day, the same five people and I have over 300 Facebook friends (even though I only see about three friends actually in person in any given month).

The valuation on Facebook is so high that no one could possibly acquire it now (not even my employer, the insanely deep-pocketed Manka Bros. Studios) especially considering there is really no monetary growth story.

As it becomes more of a digital dumping ground, costs continue to rise. It has peaked as a global fascination. Check the value of Bebo, Myspace, Friendster, etc. and you’ll see the future of Facebook. Even though Mark Zuckerberg claims he’s different than all the others.

So here’s what Facebook needs to do – start charging every current or new user $0.99/month. Just ninety-nine cents per user per month to use all the features they currently use. New services may make it possible to bump that up to a premium fee down the line.

Millions will leave and start some “Facebook Should Be Free” movement, but other millions (like my five daily posters who feel they need to be heard) will definitely pay. Because $0.99 is nothing. It’s the purchase price of a pig on Farmville. There will still be advertising and cross-promotional opportunities and corporate sponsorships, etc. – multi revenue streams.

But the free culture has to change or Facebook is Worthless.

Deep down, at least to me, this seems to be the reason the IPO hasn’t happened. Zuckerberg says he’s not interested and will delay the IPO as long as possible. Yeah, because it’s a $15 billion company (so they say) with costs that exceed revenue – and no signs of that ever changing.

I wouldn’t be interested in an IPO either.

Someone enlighten me and correct my ignorance.

Jill Kennedy – OnMedea