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Tag: Jason Hirschhorn

  • Natpe sets up digital advisory board

    Natpe sets up digital advisory board

    MUMBAI: US organisation Natpe is convening leaders from all segments of the digital content business for its new Digital Advisory Board, with representatives including My Damn Channel founder, CEO Rob Barnett, The ReDef Group CEO Jason Hirschhorn; Generate CEO Jordan Levin,.

    Natpe Content First president, CEO Rod Perth said, “Our focus is to bring together some of the most creative, successful minds in the digital content business, and underscore our commitment to serving as a facilitator between the creation and monetisation of content across all platforms. This is a serious effort to build on the momentum from a very successful NATPE 2013 in January.”

    The advisory board, which was initially announced in January at the opening of the Natpe 2013 Market and Conference, will serve as a digital brain-trust designed to act as a catalyst for the discovery, creation, and monetisation of all types of content, and for facilitating ongoing cooperation between the Hollywood, international, digital, and brand/advertising communities.
     
    Evolving to meet the needs of a changing media landscape, Natpe through its many activities including videos, live streaming events and vibrant annual markets is the facilitator between content creation and monetisation in the multiplatform world.

  • MTV Networks chief digital officer Jason Hirschhorn quits; Nick Lehman to be interim digital head

    MTV Networks chief digital officer Jason Hirschhorn quits; Nick Lehman to be interim digital head

    MUMBAI: Viacom division’s MTV Networks chief digital officer Jason Hirschhorn has resigned from his post.

    MTVN digital executive vice president Nick Lehman will replace Hirschhorn as an interim replacement.

    Hirschhorn was appointed as chief digital officer last year in November. He had joined MTVN in 2000 with the acquisition of his music-centered Mischief New Media. He will stay on through the summer to ease the transition.

    Hirschhorn was instrumental in developing the digital music service Urge, which is a tie-up between MTV and Microsoft Corp. He also spearheaded MTV’s digital media business and interactive strategy aimed at reaching audiences via the Internet and mobile devices.

  • MTV, Microsoft launch digital music service Urge

    MTV, Microsoft launch digital music service Urge

    MUMBAI: Media conglomerate Viacom’s unit MTV Networks, which brought in the music video fad, is foraying into new digital music service and will be competing with the music store of Apple Computer Inc’s iTunes, which has a strong dominance in the online music market.

    The broadcaster has teamed up with Microsoft to launch the beta of a new online music service, called Urge, that will be integrated in Windows Media Player 11, which is set to make its debut on 17 May.

    Offering more than two million songs from the major labels and thousands of independents, Urge will encompass all musical genres from alt-country to zydeco. In addition to a broad catalogue of music choices, Urge will deliver a deep well of exclusive MTV Networks programming and original, hand-crafted content.

    Urge, the subscription and download music service, though not first in the market, can be purchased for 99 cents each or as full albums starting at $9.95. The service will also offer a two-week trial without requiring any commitment or credit card number, according to media reports.

    The service also will offer unlimited downloads at a monthly rate of $9.95 or $14.95 for the ability to transfer songs to any or more than 100 compatible portable music players.

    It has celebrity playlists, streaming radio stations, artist profiles and an increasing number of blogs. One can download billboard charts by genre and year, watch music videos, and explore music by genre.

    MTV Networks’ music group president Van Toffler said, “Urge will serve as a ‘psychic concierge,’ introducing fans to new artists and helping them to develop a deeper connection to old favorites.”

    “By combining our expertise in digital media with the music leadership and marketing savvy of MTV Networks, we have created a powerful and unique way to experience music. This landmark collaboration will bring innovative new experiences to millions of music fans,” said Microsoft media/entertainment and technology convergence group corporate vice president Blair Westlake.

    “As with everything we do at MTV Networks, every element of Urge will be developed with our audience in mind. Beyond providing a simple transactional service, Urge will provide a musical playground where fans can experiment, customise, discover and download new music,” said MTV Networks chief digital officer Jason Hirschhorn.

    Urge will be promoted through multiple venues, including the MTV, Vh1 and CMT channels, which on average collectively reach more than 165 million US viewers, as well as through the respective brands’ web sites and Urge.com.