More big companies have taken notice of the huge losses traditional media outlets (i.e., newspapers) have been experiencing in the recent path. Even cable providers see the handwriting is on the wall according to a recent LA Times article.

Time Warner Cable is creating a system that will allow subscribers to watch television shows on the internet. Comcast has already been playing around with such a setup. I think that we are going to see a gradual increase in internet television viewership.

If the success of Amazon Kindle is any indication, we’re bound to see the same visual technology make watching entire shows online just as pleasurable as watching HD in your own living room.

If a business manager or owner, it might be wise to look into the marginal return advertising online vs. traditional routes.

Article here.

Some highlights from a USA Today article on Social Media:

1). Ford tapped 100 bloggers and gave them a Fiesta (new car model) in exchange for talking about the car (honestly) on their blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

2. Ford has an executive level head of “Social Media”.

3. 95% of business decision makers use social media.

4. 53% of 300 marketers surveyed plan to increase social-media marketing this year. In a recession!!

5. Ford, Levi Strauss, Chevron and others are re-configuring their marketing practices to switch to ‘digital tools’.

6. Software maker Intuit built a site for small businesses, it grew to 1 million visits and shipments of Intuit’s Quickbooks product grew 57%.

7. Article ends with a poignant statement and a quote from a social media strategists.

“Marketers cannot ingnore millions of potential customers who are consuming media in new ways.”

“Companies have no choice. This is where their customers are going.”

If you haven’t yet, it might be helpful to look into how your business can harness this growing wave.

Article here.