Podcasting Dragonfly; Raggs comes to APT

Want to join the podcasting fun? DragonflyTV podcasts are available for downloading now to watch individual DragonflyTV segments. When you subscribe, you’ll get new episodes delivered to you weekly. If you have iTunes, click here to add DragonflyTV podcasts to your playlist: http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/rss/DragonFlyTV_rss.xml

American Public Television (APT), the second largest supplier of television shows to public broadcast stations, will begin offering the new children's musical series "Raggs" on February 4, 2008. The series stars five colorful canines - Raggs, Trilby, Pido, B. Max and Razzles - who play in a rock 'n' roll band and live together in a clubhouse with their wisecracking pet cat, Dumpster. The innovative format features live costumed characters, animated segments, interviews with children and music videos. Dr. Sholly Fisch, former VP of Program Research at Sesame Workshop, directs "Raggs" educational content which reinforces preschool academic and pro-social themes.

Captivating music lies at the core of "Raggs," with more than 200 original rockin' songs that educate as well as entertain children and parents. The Raggs concept evolved from the success of The Raggs Band, which has played over 3,000 live concerts on four continents since 2001. Performances include three overseas tours for Armed Forces Entertainment and three trips to The White House.

The nation's most-watched public broadcaster, San Francisco's KQED, added "Raggs" to its award-winning list of successful shows in June 2007. "When we began airing 'Raggs' as a test, we bookended it in the schedule with 'Curious George' and 'Dragon Tales,' two of public broadcasting's most successful titles," says Scott Walton, KQED Executive Director of Communications. "In August, 'Raggs' ratings exceeded both titles 13 out of 20 days. We have been amazed at the overwhelming public support for 'Raggs' and know that it will delight audiences across America."

NATPE’S Mobile Conference Spotlights $5 Billion Business Opportunity

700+ Industry Insiders and Visionaries Brainstorm Gaming, Social Networking and Other Hot Mobile Applications at NATPE Mobile++

The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) announced highlights from its fourth annual NATPE Mobile++ event, held yesterday at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. This year’s event featured more than 700 attendees worldwide from the entire mobile content value chain, including content owners, mobile aggregators, distributors, producers, mobile operators and marketers. Mobile video continues to be a major, long-term opportunity in the U.S. market, according to a presentation by Mark Donovan, senior analyst at M:Metrics.

The number of Americans who watched mobile video grew 60% between January 2007 and November 2007, Donovan said. The firm’s research also found that the movie trailers, music videos, sports action or news, comedy and weather currently are the content types most popular with mobile users. “NATPE Mobile++ is all about mobile content – no distractions from other areas of the mobile universe, no fluff, just concise, actionable insights from mobile content’s leaders and innovators,” said Rick Feldman, President/CEO, NATPE. “That’s why, in four short years, NATPE Mobile++ already has the reputation as a must-attend event for those looking for opportunities in the $5 billion mobile content market.”

Also during the event, John Hadl, managing director and founder of BrandinHand stated, “Mobile offers a closer to purchase opportunity for advertisers. Mobile allows advertisers to reach consumers you can’t otherwise reach, it also offers scale to reach consumers and interact with them to ultimately generate a long-standing relationship.” Designed to provide a concise overview of the mobile content marketplace, as well as opportunities to network with the industry’s best and brightest, this year’s NATPE Mobile++ event featured presentations from leaders such as AT&T Mobility, BrandinHand, Google, MTV Networks, Nielsen Mobile, SK Telecom, Sprint and Yahoo.

The event also included the first-ever NATPE Mobile++ Top 12 Awards, which showcase innovation and excellence in the mobile content marketplace, as selected by an interdisciplinary jury comprised of leading digital media executives and the programming team of NATPE Mobile++. For a list of winners, visit http://www.natpemobile.com/.

NATPE is a global, nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation, development and distribution of televised programming in all forms across all mature and emerging media platforms. NATPE develops and nurtures opportunities, both commercial and educational, for buying, selling and sharing of content and ideas.

ACHILLES MEDIA LTD. is the management organization that manages the NATPE Mobile++. Achilles Media also produces the nextMEDIA events, the Banff World Television Festival and the History Makers International Summit of History and Current Affairs Producers. Achilles Media undertakes the organization of prime international events as well as training and development opportunities for content creators and other professionals in the television and new media

Jeff Zucker Keynote Address

NATPE 2008 Opening VideoLegacy Awards Opening Video Sneak peak at tomorrow: Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America Shelly Lazarus, Chairman & CEO, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide Hear what executives are saying about NATPE: Joe Jasin, VP Corporate Development, SK Telecom USAEmerson Coleman, NATPE Co-Chair/VP Programming, Hearst Argyle TelevisionWoody Fraser, Producer, Woody Fraser ProductionsMichael Kernan, Co Head New Media & Bus Aff, ICMJonathan Leess, President/GM, CBS Digital Media Group/CBS TV Stations Matt Wasserlauf, CEO, and Bryon Evje, COO, Broadband Enterprises (Digital Briefing participants)