CW NETWORK will launch a newsmagazine-style show this Sunday that will not break for traditional commercials. Instead, “CW Now” will seamlessly present entertaining, paid segments as part of the regular program. The first episode will feature a celebrity-filled segment pitching a new Xbox game’s availability at Wal-Mart.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS will launch its own mobile website this November, to gain greater control over its content and advertising in a mobile environment. Instead of solely relying on poorly-designed carrier sites to promote its films, Universal will design its own destinations. The company expects the move to create better sites that offer it a higher percentage of advertising.
MYSPACE will announce a new mobile ad-supported version of the social-networking site today. Users will be able to post messages, leave comments on profiles, and more — right from their phones. The site will use sponsorships and banners to generate revenue, and will eventually run targeted advertising using registration data from cell phone carriers.
FOX SEARCHLIGHT will try to create buzz for its new film from director Wes Anderson by releasing a related short film for free on the web. The 13 minute “prequel” involves a character from the upcoming “The Darjeeling Limited,” and will be available as a free download from iTunes this Wednesday. The film is also being screened for free at Apple retail stores in major U.S. cities.
PUDDING MEDIA will introduce an ad-supported phone service today. Users can call anywhere in North America for free. Calls will be made over the Internet, while the company’s computers constantly monitor the conversation using voice-recognition technology. Ads will be shown on users’ computer screens to match the content of their conversations. Pudding promises not to record calls or keep logs conversation topics.