News & Opinion

Our Bob Gold & Associates team experienced a digital wonderland of sights and sounds as well as controversy while supporting multiple clients at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where we were busy from morn till night. The biggest story and PR lesson in years came out of the show that saw nearly 150,000 attendees. Who in America doesn’t now know about the surprising controversy created when CBS CEO Les Moonves personally pulled the Best in Show Award as voted by his CNET’s editorial staff for our client, EchoStar’s design and manufacture of the Dish set top box, Hopper with Sling? CBS got an avalanche of bad publicity when their own editors’ votes were tossed aside by too-big-to-care corporate brass. Suffice it to say that, as PR professionals, we know independent editorial judgment is among our most prized freedoms. Beyond the awards fireworks (and another example of poor judgment that only seems to occur in Vegas), we were also wowed by: Panasonic’s ginormous 3D TV display.  Jaw-dropping doesn’t do it justice Samsung’s TVs moving like Rockettes in a smooth million-dollar staging – Ultra HD anyone? Intel’s cyclone of personal laptops Everyone seemed to have a tablet – even old brands attempting comebacks like Polaroid and RCA Chinese brands that start with an H (Hisense, Haier and Huawei, for starters) Non-tech brands got in the game - New York Times, Lowe’s and even Ford The next wave of CE products will be centered around the connected “smart home” with IP security cameras, home healthcare gadgets and energy-efficiency solutions. That means your cable company will be in the game, right?

1. Continuity Across Devices- With more users on multiple devices, 2013 will see a move to provide the missing link in today’s computing experience – the ability to change devices and pick up the session in exactly the same place you left off. 2. Transformation of the Television - Mobile TV (as on cell phones) officially arrives! The app-ification of media by innovative firms like Slingbox across connected devices will further drive content delivery beyond traditional TV. 3. M2M - The Internet of Things - In 2013, the physical and digital worlds will continue to fuse. From RFID tags on a marathoner’s bib to the real-time camera feed from traffic lights, the physical world is becoming a digital information system to build a better, more connected world. At least, that’s the plan – until one smart MIT dropout or terrorist cell takes control of the whole digital ecosystem and politicians are called in to save us! 4. An Increasing Role for Analytics – Big Data. Big Data. Big Data. Learning to manage the daily addition of multiple terabytes of new data will drive innovation and desperation. How customers are engaging and the amount of information about each of us that is unprotected makes George Orwell look a bit tardy, but not forgotten! 5. Wearable Computing - Everything Gets Smart. Not just Maxwell Smart, but the proliferation of owning and carrying “smart” devices such as Google Glass—becomes standardized and easily connected to the cloud (If you think “cloud” was overused in 2012 – just wait till this year!)

BG&A recently journeyed to New York City to produce a brand enhancement event for our client, Clearleap. This digital entertainment technology innovator has created an important new solution that ensures programming networks and television service providers can more quickly move their content onto multiple platforms. Unique and unmatched, Clearleap is making a major difference for advertisers, programmers and service providers. Our newsmaker breakfast prominently positioned Clearleap's solution at Michaels, THE place where the NYC advertising community dines in a fast-paced multiscreen discussion moderated by our own Bob Gold. Top executives from Scripps Networks Interactive, home to six major networks including Food Network and HGTV, Nielsen and Clearleap were on hand to tout the deployment. Because of Clearleap, Scripps now has the ability to drastically expand their content library available on demand and on the third and fourth screens. Scripps and Clearleap both received positive feedback from attendees and the event was attended by media as diverse as the Wall Street Journal and Advertising Age. The day’s announcement was also covered in key industry trade publications.

(Forbes, by By Robert Wynne, Contributor, 4/10/2013, original article here ) What Does A Public Relations Agency Do? We don't buy ads. We don't write stories for reporters. We don't put up billboards. We don't come up with catchy phrases to make people buy more products they probably don't need. So what do public relations agencies do? PR agencies, as opposed to advertising agencies, promote companies or individuals via editorial coverage. This is known as "earned" or "free" media - stories appearing on websites, newspapers, magazines and TV programs - as compared to "paid media" or advertisements. PR agencies and advertising agencies share the same goals: promoting clients and making them seem as successful, honest, important, exciting or relevant as possible. But the paths to creating awareness are vastly different. Most people understand advertising is paid for by the client and should be viewed with skepticism. Articles or TV appearances in respected publications have the advantage of third-party validation and are generally viewed more favorably. The Public Relations Society of America defines the management of public relations as: "Anticipating, analyzing and interpreting public opinion, attitudes and issues that might impact, for good or ill, the operations and plans of the organization. Counseling management at all levels in the organization with regard to policy decisions, courses of action and communication, taking into account their public ramifications and the organization's social or citizenship responsibilities. Researching, conducting and evaluating, on a continuing basis, programs of action and communication to achieve the informed public understanding necessary to the success of an organization's aims. These may include marketing; financial; fund raising; employee, community or government relations; and other programs. Planning and implementing the organization's efforts to influence or change public policy. Setting objectives, planning, budgeting, recruiting and training staff, developing facilities - in short, managing the resources needed to perform all of the above." That's a good overview of the general functions of a public relations agency. The tactics include some or all of the following: Write and distribute press releases Speech writing Write pitches (less formal than press releases) about a firm and send them directly to journalists Create and execute special events designed for public outreach and media relations Conduct market research on the firm or the firm's messaging Expansion of business contacts via personal networking or attendance and sponsoring at events Copy writing and blogging for the web (internal or external sites) Crisis public relations strategies Social media promotions and responses to negative opinions online Firms and individuals should hire a public relations agency when they want to protect, enhance or build their reputations through the media. A good agency or PR practitioner can analyze the organization, find the positive messages and translate those messages into positive media stories. When the news is bad, an agency can formulate the best response and mitigate the damage. "A good agency is a strategic partner who helps clients successfully talk to and with their audiences," says Bob Gold of Bob Gold & Associates of Redondo Beach, CA. "An agency is a good listener to the marketplace and knows what conversation starters will work, but also what just might catch fire. How well can your agency push back on ideas without offending? And are they an innovative partner, or a bunch of "yes men and women?" Gold advises clients to look for the best cultural fit. "Can your agency find and " get" your voice? And do they lead the conversation, like a good dinner partner or are they too busy gathering clips?" Effective publicists have great relationships with many different journalists in many different industries. Many PR pros are former journalists, so they know the best ways to pitch a story and to reach editors and reporters. Since they are not employees of the firm that hires them, they can give an honest, outsider view of the firm and the potential for what story ideas will work. The relationship between client and agency should not be passive. Clients should inform the agency what messages they would like to promote and make suggestions on where they would like to appear. Very few stories make the front page of the New York Times, but with a media atmosphere that includes blogs, websites, TV shows, magazines and other media that evolves every day, a good PR agency will help clients increase their visibility via increased recognition on as many respected editorial platforms as possible. Long term, public relations can be an investment in the brand and the visibility of a firm or individual that results in increased recognition and reputation.

As competition intensifies service providers are pulling out all the stops in their efforts to build revenues. Are multi-screen TV Everywhere services panning out? Is Home Premiere a winner? Are new navigation systems tied to blended premium and over-the-top services making a difference? Are value-adds like whole-home network management, home security and energy management producing results? Leaders weigh in with their views on which service innovations are resonating with consumers. Ann Shaub, Director, Connected Home & CPE,Verizon Tom Sauer, Vice President, Corporate Strategy, AT&T Susan Simmons, SVP & Managing Director of CSMG, TMNG Global Mark Mangiola, Venture Partner, Canaan Partners Moderator: Bob Gold, President, Bob Gold & Associates

The cable TV industry is changing quickly with consumers demanding Internet-delivered content to their TV's. What does this mean for the future of the cable industry's set top box? And what about anvigating in a world of endless conent? Latens, one of the world's foremost software companies talks about the industry trends with Bob Gold.

Olympusat owns and distributes ten (10) Hispanic Cable TV Channels, as well as almost an additional 2 family and faith channels. Here's what the company Chief Operating Officer has to share about today's fast growing Hispanic TV Marketplace.

GolTV's Rodrigo Lombello chats with Bob Gold about the 24/7 All Soccer bilingual Network and its upcoming launch of it's HDTV channel, GolTV HD.

During the NCTA National Cable Show, Bob Gold interviews Technicolor's EVP, Vince Pizzica to discuss the company and its new directions for Time Warner Cable Channel 101.