In front of a room-full of potential advertisers at the Digital NewFronts, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt declared "the future is now" for YouTube, which recently passed 1 billion unique visitors monthly. While many would have expected Schmidt to purport that YouTube's content is as good as what's on TV, he made a simple and very clear statement instead: YouTube content is better than TV. 

The event, billed as a "brandcast,” featured celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Macklemore and YouTube personality Felicia Day, but the real star was the platform itself. Schmidt said YouTube is “not a replacement for something that we know," according to Business Insider. “It's a new thing that we have to think about, to program, to curate and build new platforms."

"I thought that YouTube was like TV, but it isn't. I was wrong," added Robert Kyncl, YouTube's global head of content. "TV is one-way. YouTube talks back. TV means reach. YouTube means engagement."Continue reading...

Remember YouTube's promise to deliver more than 100 original channels of exclusive programming with brands and celebrity partners in 2012? In the wake of its recent pitch to advertisers, the Google-owned video giant is making good on that promise.

Two of those exclusive channels, launching July 2nd, are being produced by Electus. That's the multimedia branded entertainment studio founded by Ben Silverman, former head of programming for NBC, with the backing of Barry Diller's IAC.Continue reading...

The 1950’s eat-at-home-TV-dinner is being flipped, as a dining room TV network is coming soon to your local Taco Bell.

The quick-serve restaurant has signed a deal to install an in-store television network and free Wi-Fi at its 5,600 locations throughout the US by 2015.

Forget CNN or Fox News nattering away in the background — the programming will include interactive content that includes games, polls, iTunes songs, as well as opt-in text messaging and social marketing campaigns.

The goal of the agreement between Taco Bell and IndoorDIRECT's Restaurant Entertainment Network is to convert Taco Bell’s 36.8 million weekly drive-through customers to in-restaurant diners, and reach an estimated total of 48 million customers.

"Our consumers come to us for great tasting tacos and burritos, and now we're enriching their experience with the addition of indoorDIRECT's Restaurant Entertainment Network," stated Taco Bell CMO David Ovens.Continue reading...