Pop-Up Ads are not just for the Internet anymore

Pop-up advertisements such as those traditionally found on the internet, interrupting your web surfing, are making their way to television. Recently the St. Petersburg Home Shopping Network has been experimenting with a slightly tweaked version of the pop-ups in an effort to draw more consumers to their network.

How it works is HSN airs a regular 30-second ad for the Home Shopping Network on another channel such as the Food Network. During the ad a graphic appears on screen that says "Press SELECT now to view HSN". The viewer can then simply press the select button on their remote and the channel immediately switches from the Food Network to HSN.

The goal of the pop-up ads is to take advantage of a consumer's interest as fast as possible, the moment it happens instead of the viewer trying to find HSN later or simply forgetting about it. The ads provide HSN with increased viewers and potential customers while also benefiting the cable and satellite companies such as the Food Network who are able to generate more revenue from extra fees paid by the advertising company such as HSN.

Switching channels is not the only feature appearing in these new interactive ads. The number of different types of these ads has been increasing as cable and satellite television companies are investing millions in developing and implementing them into their programming. The new interactive features are designed to give viewers more control over how they view television and allow them do things many different things such as sign up for contests or order brochures for products during live programming.

Toshiba's HD DVD backs down to Blu-Ray

Toshiba recently announced it will be dropping HD DVD altogether, first by immediately reducing shipments to retailers and then completely stopping by the end of March. The decision came after another announcement from Warner Bros Entertainment explaining that it will be joining Sony Pictures, the Walt Disney Co, and Twentieth Century Fox by releasing their movie discs in Blu-Ray format only.

The battle between the two technologies began in 2002 when HD DVD was first introduced. Toshiba believed in the technology proposed that it would be the replacement for existing technology. It became the main producer for HD DVD players and gained support from the DVD Forum who approved the technology. This action initially made it seem that HD DVD could emerge as the preferred technology over Blu-Ray.

Meanwhile, Blu-Ray supporters created their own forum to govern the development and implementation of the its technology. Backed by Sony Corp., Pioneer, and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co (producer of Panasonic, as well as five major Hollywood studios, Blu-Ray has managed to emerge victorious over its rival HD DVD.

Both of the technologies offer clear picture and sound that is far superior to exisitng video technology. However, the two differ in price and power; HD DVD is known for being cheaper while Blu-Ray has a larger capacity for recording. The two are also completely incompatible with one another and the older DVD players.

In the end, Blu-Ray was had better marketing and management, and that paired with its larger group of supporters has allowed it succeed over HD DVD.

Toshiba has tried to calm the nearly one million consumers who have already purchased the HD DVD players, explaining that they will do their best to provide continued HD DVD support.

"Winning The Media Game"

The Direct Response Academy has introduced a new course titled "Winning The Media Game". The course is the first of its kind to teach the best practices of buying and managing DRTV media. The course leader, Greg Sarnow, possesses extensive expertise in the field who throughout his career has successfully purchased and managed over $1 billion in DRTV media.

The course provides media and financial management tools to benefit everyone from ad agencies and entrepreneurs to the most established companies. And by having the ability to properly manage media buys, companies can increase their ROI by as much as 20%!

The topics addressed in the course include:
1. How to choose and manage a media agency
2. Building a financial foundation for media buying
3. Testing and roll-out tactics
4. How to save and make money through improved analysis
5. Understanding media trends and their impact on future media buying

For more information on the "Winning the Media Game" course and how to enroll please visit:

The Digital Television Only Age

The end of analog TV as we know it begins February 2009 when the FCC requires the end of analog television broadcasts. The FCC is trying to avoid a backlash from the some 15.5 million Americans who still rely on the traditional analog broadcasts by mandating that broadcast station owners run at least four and as many as twelve 30-second public service ads a day to inform the public of the tranisition to digital-only television.

However, broadcasters have another idea in mind that would allow them more flexibility in deciding when they air the public service ads. Their proposal is that the local stations will voluntarily air at least twelve announcements a week and two weekly ads for the "Big Four" and Spanish-language networks. The alternative plan has been gaining support with the Republican FCC members, but has yet to win the Democrats who see the need for more frequent announcements.

For those whose television were manufactured before March 2007 when all TVs were required to have a digital tuner, they may need to purchase a set-top converter box that will enable the older televisions to play digital signals. Congress is also trying to make for a smooth transition by allocating $1.5 billion to consumers who need to purchase the converters that are expected to sell for $50-$70 each. Congress' plan allows for those who need to purchase the converters to apply for a $40 coupon.