News & Opinion

Penthera, a provider of intelligent mobile video software solutions for TV networks and content distributors, has received three new patents from the U.S. Patent Office. Two of the issued patents, US Patents 8929717 and 8923683, describe how to manage commercials in TV shows downloaded to tablets and smartphones. A third patent, US Patent 8937543, describes a process notifying a consumer when a video has completely downloaded, in the background, on the user’s mobile device.  The patent application was filed in 2008. Downloading TV shows and movies to iPads, iPhones, Android and other mobile devices is a popular new feature in “TV Everywhere” apps available from broadcasters, cable networks and TV distributors. Penthera’s Cache&Carry™ software enables smartphone and tablet users to download TV shows, movies and other content for later viewing. The company’s Cache&Carry™ licensed by tier-1 U.S. and international pay-TV distributors and cable networks, has won awards as a top TV Everywhere solution and has powered millions of video downloads. It is embedded in top-ranking consumer apps on the App Store and the Android Market. Penthera has received six new United States patents in the last nine months, all in the area of mobile video and advertisements. “We’re proud that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has recognized our commitment to innovation,” said Michael Willner, CEO of Penthera.  “We’ll continue to push the envelope at the intersection of TV, mobile, and advertising.”

Slingplayer App Now Supports Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick For Viewing All of Consumers’ Live TV and DVR Content on Large Television Screens Sling Media Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corp., will demonstrate its popular line-up of “TV Anywhere” solutions at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show. The Slingbox® M1 and Slingbox 500 are the best solutions for  delivering a customer’s live or recorded pay-TV channels and programs to the most popular mobile devices in HD quality and with no restrictions on content. Offered at a suggested retail price (MSRP) of $149.99, the Slingbox M1 is the most affordable Slingbox that Sling Media has ever produced for core access to all of consumers’ live TV and DVR content; the Slingbox 500, with an MSRP of $299.99, delivers the power of a Slingbox combined with new “Smarter TV” features designed to enhance the TV viewing experience in the living room. Sling Media also recently announced Slingplayer® app support for Amazon’s popular Fire TV and Fire TV Stick streaming media devices. Similar to the manner that Slingbox products currently support media streamers, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV stick owners can now download the Slingplayer app and enjoy all of their live TV and DVR content on any large television screen that their Amazon product is connected to. Avoid C.W.A.P.: Don’t Be Fooled By Big Cable on “TV Anywhere” Sling Media recently launched a new online media campaign, which is designed to aid consumers in understanding the limitations they face when utilizing the “TV Everywhere” solutions promoted by leading cable companies. Sling Media has detailed these limitations on their website (www.slingbox.com/BigCable.aspx) in a fact-based manner that leads consumers to the conclusion that only Slingbox solutions offer genuine “TV Anywhere” capability, without restrictions. This online media campaign is augmented by an irreverent website (www.dontgetcwap.com) that allows consumers to upload 6-second video clips of their frustration trying to watch all of their live TV and DVR content outside of their homes without a Slingbox and avoid the dreaded C.W.A.P. (“Can’t Watch Anywhere Pain”) syndrome. Sling Media will be demonstrating its entire lineup of “TV Anywhere” solutions at Booth 8143 in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall throughout CES.  Consumers can follow and stay abreast of the sights and daily happenings in the show booth by following Slingbox on Twitter at @Slingbox and #SlingboxCES. Visitors to the Slingbox booth also will be eligible to win a Slingbox M1 during a daily raffle throughout the show. Both the Slingbox M1 and Slingbox 500 are available at leading U.S. retailers including Best Buy, Amazon, TigerDirect.com, Walmart and select Target locations. Slingbox products can also be purchased directly from Sling Media at www.slingbox.com.

As we wind down 2014 and prepare for the New Year, we thought we’d look back at our most popular posts from this past year.  Here are our top 10 posts as measured by the amount of engagement each one had with followers based on number of likes, retweets and comments on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages.  Wishing all of you a prosperous New Year! Bob shared a “Throwback Thursday” (TBT) picture of him enjoying lunch with former First Lady Hillary Clinton. One week over the summer we hosted PR leaders from around the world at our office in Redondo Beach. TopPRagencies.com ranked Bob Gold & Associates as the #1 telecommunications PR agency for January 2014. Our blog post on the indirect role of social media influencing search engine optimization. Social media managers unite. Illumination Entertainment uses Adder Technology to address increases in production. Account Coordinator Chris Huppertz enjoying the speakers at Social Media Week LA. New hires for Acumen Digital in Denver. Deluxe Entertainment selected Bob Gold & Associates for global PR agency services. Rethinking how you build your media lists is a great way to keep PR skills sharp. What’s your favorite Bob Gold & Associates post from this year?  

Cloud-Based Solution Provides Path for Service Providers to Accelerate Launch of 4K UHD Content Without Investing in New Infrastructure Deluxe today announced key capabilities and feature enhancements to its cloud-based content supply and video-on-demand (VOD) management solution, Deluxe OnDemand™. These key features enable service providers to launch 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) services immediately—and without additional infrastructure investment or workflow costs. Deluxe OnDemand also mitigates the risk of investing in new technologies emerging in the 4K market, while helping operators speed the launch of their 4K services as they seek to gain competitive advantage and market differentiation. Deluxe OnDemand’s 4K UHD capabilities encompass all the enhanced workflow functions and processes for authenticated Internet delivery of 4K content directly to UHD-compatible televisions and mobile devices. That includes digital re-mastering of 4K content, conversion and high efficiency video encoding (HEVC) or H.265, transcoding, DRM, and CDN hosting and delivery. “Deluxe has architected a solution that easily integrates with our customers’ existing infrastructure and workflows to enable service providers to meet the early demand for 4K and scale, as the market evolves without the capital and operational investment,” said Todd Collart, general manager of Deluxe Digital Distribution. “Beyond the cost issues, Deluxe’s leadership and expertise in the upstream 4K UHD and HDR digital re-mastering, processing and delivery enables our customer to rely on the best practices we have developed working closely with studios, broadcasters and device manufacturers, such as Samsung and LG Electronics,” Collart said. “Our real-world experiences will help our customers sort through the complex issues that go into establishing standards and benchmarks for delivering a superior 4K experience to their subscribers.” Enhanced capabilities of Deluxe OnDemand 4K UHD support both content supply and turnkey VOD management.  This includes: Digital re-mastering and processing of next generation formats for 4K UHD, High Efficiency Video Encoding (HEVC) or H.265, and Higher Dynamic Range (HDR) displays, such as Dolby Vision. Ingest of 4K mastered and re-mastered source files and processing of higher quality encodes and ABR transcodes. Flexible on net/off-net hosting & delivery options to address storage and bandwidth issues associated with 4K massive file size. Proven integration with 4K Ultra HD TVs, including Samsung and LG Electronics. Support for surround sound audio using DTS and Dolby Digital Plus. Deluxe Digital Distribution recently announced 4K UHD content processing, management and distribution deals with Samsung and LG Electronics.

By Michael Kroner The Holiday season is best known as a time for giving and on average Americans give about 3 percent of their income to roughly one million charities that exist in the United States. With so many charities out there, choosing the right organization can be a challenge, but following the philanthropic passions that best match your beliefs and goals will lead to the right group if you don’t already have one in mind. Here at Bob Gold & Associates, we applaud the goodwill of local organizations like the Toberman Neighborhood Center in San Pedro for their programs and services that give back to those in need. As a pro-bono client, Bob Gold & Associates supports the Toberman Neighborhood Center through media outreach and support of their community events. The Toberman Neighborhood Center is a non-profit community-based organization committed to assisting Harbor-area families and individuals by delivering life-changing services that encourage, inform, educate and empower them to live healthy, purposeful lives. There are many ways you can help support this wonderful organization. For more information please visit: http://www.toberman.org/  

JB&A Captures Additional Adder Market Share with New Channel Adder Technology, the industry leader in high performance keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) products, today announced that its distribution agreement with JB&A has been expanded to include ordering and fulfillment of Adder’s connectivity products through the CDW (NASDAQ: CDW) website. As such, Adder’s media networks, extenders and keyboard, video and mouse switch solutions, including the AdderLink Infinity, will be immediately available through CDW’s website. For 30 years Adder has delivered IP-based high performance KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) solutions to the entire broadcast workflow chain, with unparalleled flexibility and reliability.  Working with partners like Adder and CDW, JB&A is able to customize end-to-end workflow solutions to meet the evolving needs of the media and broadcasting industries throughout North America. "Including Adder’s products on the CDW website will not only elevate the Adder brand, but will make its products more widely available," said Jeff Burgess, JB&A CEO. "JB&A is well positioned to manage the fulfillment and delivery of Adder products ordered through this new channel." “We are pleased to be working with a highly focused distribution partner like JB&A, as they continue to expand awareness and availability of Adder’s products and services throughout North America,” said Tim Conway, vice president, Adder Corp. “CDW is widely respected as a national solution provider offering an extensive product portfolio. Now, Adder customers can purchase our IP connectivity products directly from the CDW website.”

By Michael Kroner The PR industry is constantly shifting like a running back looking up field, and these changes impact every aspect of our job. Staying ahead of the curve can be a scramble to keep up in a changing media landscape. How you build your media lists becomes more challenging. As an account coordinator, one of my main responsibilities is to craft amazing, well-thought-out lists for account executives that leads to great coverage for our clients. Reflecting on my own experiences, I’ve found there are a few tricks and tips that can help anyone craft the perfect media list. Define what is being pitched Whether it’s a new product announcement, original story or an interview with an executive, you need to have a thorough understanding of what it is you’re offering to the media. It’s hard to build a targeted media list without knowing what you intend to pitch. Determine your ultimate target audience Let’s say a client has an amazing new product that allows consumers to watch television anywhere. Who would be interested? Although the answer is likely anyone with a T.V., this demographic is simply too broad. Try refining your audience into smaller subsets like sports fans, college students, frequent travelers and parents on the go. Find a specific outlet Now that you’ve determined a target audience that fits your client’s image and needs, it’s important to select the perfect outlet to receive your pitch. A Google search for publications covering those specific demographics will provide plenty of options to pitch. Most often agencies will have software like Cision or Meltwater that have detailed contact information for each outlet. Know your contact Having found the right outlets means you’re only halfway done, now you need to find the perfect contact to add to your list. When selecting a reporter, take a look at the recent stories this person has written. This is essential in determining whether or not the reporter will be interested in your pitch and can help personalize your pitch. It also shows the contact you took the time to write up something great. Do you have any additional tips on creating an awesome media list for your agency?

Bob Gold & Associates is pleased to announce that the firm was recently honored as the 2014 PRSA Los Angeles Chapter PRism Award winner for outstanding pro bono campaign. The Los Angeles Chapter annually recognizes outstanding programs and materials created by public relations professionals who work in the Greater Los Angeles area or have completed projects for LA-based clients. The award recognizes the agency’s efforts on a campaign earlier in the year, in which we helped rally oppositions to the housing of tigers near homes in Malibu. The campaign began in the summer of 2013, when residents of Malibu were informed that the Ventura County Planning Department had given preliminary approval to allow the housing of five tigers in a residential Malibu neighborhood within Ventura County. Residents only had a matter of days to appeal the decision and the situation seemed to be under reported in the community. It was an uphill battle trying to stop one of the world’s most dangerous animals from being housed in their backyards. The agency’s efforts stretched over the course of seven months, beginning with the initial media outreach on August 7, 2013 and lasted until March 20, 2014 when the planning department made its final vote of 3-to-2 against housing tigers in Malibu. Bob Gold & Associates would like to thank everyone who contributed time and effort to this campaign.   February 21, 2018 Update: Tigers can't be kept near homes in Malibu area, appeals court says

Here at our office, we’re asking the question fat TV or skinny TV, what do you want to subscribe to? Skinny TV means only subscribing to basic over-the-air broadcast channels. Not the full stream of video services that include so many networks, because people don’t want to spend that much on their video channels. Think about it, a sports network package alone is costing subscribers over $200 to $320 dollars a year just for those sports networks. More than three million people this year have shaved what their watching and what their subscribing to. Another 10% of all new subscribers choose to watch less – and it’s called Skinny TV. So think about it, fat TV or skinny TV? That’s the question.