YAHOO and ADOBE will begin paying publishers to run ads inside PDF files. Publishers can upload a PDF to Adobe to have dynamic text advertising inserted. Advertisers will purchase the ads through Yahoo’s online system and have them contextually placed in relation to the contents of a PDF. Adobe and Yahoo have settled on a short, catchy name for the new advertising service, calling it “Ads for Adobe PDF Powered by Yahoo!”
COMCAST will charge DVR subscribers an extra $2.95 per month to run TIVO‘s software on their boxes, bringing the total monthly rental charge to $20. TiVo CEO Tom Rogers told investors that Comcast is planning an aggressive campaign to convince consumers to upgrade to TiVo software. In related news, Carat has become the latest agency to subscribe to TiVo’s second-by-second viewer ratings.
KEVIN MARTIN has asked the FCC to adopt a rule that would prevent Comcast from getting any larger. Quickly recovering from a nation-wide “thumbs-down” for his recent regulation efforts, Martin has asked the FCC to prohibit a cable company from controlling over 30% of the market. The proposal will be voted on during the December 18th FCC meeting.
FACEBOOK has been under pressure from users to dim the lights on Beacon. Top company executives have been meeting to craft a response to mounting complaints from users. Over 42,000 users have joined an anti-Beacon group started by Moveon.org, with some users complaining that Beacon spoiled their holiday surprises by broadcasting gift purchases to their social networks. Businessweek reports that Beacon may undergo major changes as soon as today.
THE NFL is making a solid play for the least satisfying online video experience of the year. Around 60% of the country cannot get the NFL Network, so the league has decided to offer parts of NFL Network games online. Visitors to NFL.com can watch short “look-ins” of games at :15 and :45 past the hour and on select plays in the “red zone.” It’s unclear what viewers are expected to do for the rest of the time, but Guitar Hero 3 sounds like a good option.