October 2009

In a letter to Senate Commerce Committee leadership, American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew Polka asked lawmakers to maintain regulatory parity between cable operators and satellite TV providers if Congress decides to adopt new broadcast carriage rules designed to expand choice and consumer access to state-related news, weather reports and other vital information. The letter focused on various proposals on Capitol Hill that would allow satellite TV carriers to offer their subscribers access to TV stations located outside of their local market but based within the same state. Access to those in-state, out-of-market broadcasters would enhance the ability of satellite consumers to stay current with important developments within their own states, whether the subject is politics, general news, weather, government, crop reports or sports results. Due to federal exclusivity rules and other contractual restrictions imposed by the broadcast networks, cable operators are often prohibited from offering in-state broadcast stations to their customers.

GroupM Search and comScore Tuesday released the results of a study that examines the relationship between social media exposure and search behaviors. The study reveals the correlation between the discovery of brands through social media and search behavior, including increased lower-funnel searches and paid search click-through rates (CTRs). The study breaks the search behavior into segments based on where queries fell in stages of the purchase funnel. This included upper-funnel terms expressing awareness and consideration, as well as lower-funnel terms expressing action and loyalty. The study reveals that people who search and engage with social media, especially those exposed to a brand's influenced social media, are far more likely to search for lower-funnel terms than consumers who do not engage with social media. Furthermore, consumers exposed to a brand's influenced social media and paid search programs are 2.8 times more likely to search for that brand's products compared to users who only saw paid search. The study, which provides insight on how to tap into search, estimates a 50% lift in click-through rates across the board when consumers had been exposed to social media and paid search. Generic keywords at the top of the funnel are popular, but one of the clear signals from the study reveals that consumers use social media to change their mind on the products and services they would consider buying.

A look at how e-patients and their caregivers have become a force in the medical world and the many ways that e-patients are using the Internet to research and respond to their health needs and to share their stories using social networking sites, blogs, Twitter, and other social media.

[Commentary] We know that Wall Street has not learned much from the crash it helped instigate. We know that our government, whatever its stated desire to clean up the markets and reform the financial behemoths, lacks the willingness and perhaps the clout to rein in the real power centers. We are not sure if they have been "captured" by them, or just lack the guts to take on institutions and individuals that helped fund their rise to power. But do we know that, even now, much of our media, despite the sheer volume of coverage may be missing the real story? Do we know that if we want to find missing facts and the real context we have to turn away from the failed media system that never really investigated the failed financial system?