PermissionTV, an interactive Internet video technology platform provider, announced it has closed a new nine million bucks round of financing. In the past year, 30 leading content providers, media companies and agencies including Adobe Systems, Agency.com, Bob Vila, Fox's MyNetworkTV, Intercontinental Hotels, and Toyota Scion have partnered with PermissionTV to configure and manage branded Internet TV channels and monetize their audiences through ad-supported, pay-per-view and subscription-based services.

The round was led by two new investors, Castile Ventures and Point Judith Capital, who join existing investors Common Angels, CramerOnline, Inflection Point Investors, the Massachusetts Technology Development Corp. (MTDC), SAS Investors and the Venture Capital Fund of New England (VCFNE). Castile Ventures' Carl Stjernfeldt and Point Judith Capital's Sean Marsh will join the PermissionTV board.

Having already signed retransmission agreements for compensation by various cable MSOs, Nexstar announced that it has signed a retrans agreement with Verizon for the FiOS TV service it is introducing in various markets to compete with cable. Terms were not revealed, but the multi-year deal covers both the analog and digital, including high definition, signals of all Nexstar stations located within FiOS TV markets. As of now, that is only one market, Ft. Wayne, IN, where FiOS will carry Nexstar's WFFT-TV (Ch. 55, Fox). 

Marking the one year anniversary of its Anytime Anywhere Media Measurement initiative (A2/M2), Nielsen has sent clients a progress report claiming success in its effort to "follow the video," regardless of what platform people are using to watch. Of course, television itself is still where most viewing takes place, so deploying Local People Meters is a key focus of A2/M2. Nielsen says it remains on schedule to have LPMs in all of the top 25 markets by early 2010, having completed the top 10 about a year ago. Houston, Tampa and Seattle are due to being their LPM "preliminary period" deployment next month, with the data becoming ratings currency in October.

Possibly beginning also in October will be measurement of video viewing via the Internet in a limited number of live panel homes. "Convergence Panel" tests have already been conducted and Nielsen is now conducting complementary research to answer questions raised by its client committee.

Out-of-home viewing measurement is a current major focus as Nielsen evaluates two options for passive measurement: Smart Cell Phones or custom "Go Meters." Both would collect audio signatures from TV viewing away from home. Nielsen has already been testing both options and plans a major "Go Meters" test in August.

NBCU's Bravo has unveiled "Bravo Media," a new global, multimedia content company that will broaden its focus to program and market to every consumer touch point.  Bravo will expand its current television and digital content offerings under the newly formed title Bravo Media, creating an all-encompassing group of divisions – talent management alliance, publishing, merchandising, Bravo To Go (wireless), Bravo Experience, digital, television, radio, and international.  The announcement was made by Lauren Zalaznick, President, Bravo.

Included is the formation of an alliance with Pangea Management Group to help facilitate the burgeoning careers of the Bravo talent and personalities from the network's popular docu-dramas and competition reality franchises (chefs, interior designers, stylists, etc.); the development of a cookbook based on the network's food series "Top Chef" with partner Melcher Media; branded "Top Chef" knives from Master Cutlery and the first "Top Chef" mobile game from LimeLife. 

The new division details

BRAVO PUBLISHING
Leveraging the success of Bravo's television and digital assets, Bravo goes "old school," expanding into the traditional medium of books.  The network plans to build a series of books based on its franchises.  The first release (tentatively set to launch in 2008) will be a cookbook based on Top Chef. 

BRAVO MERCHANDISING
Working with licensing agent Joy Tashjian, JTMG, Inc., the exclusive consumer products agency of NBCU Television Distribution, Bravo Merchandising will produce Bravo licensed product for the network's passionate consumer base.  The first product set for release in the fourth quarter at various retailers across the country will be "Top Chef" knives from Master Cutlery, professional quality blades worthy of a Top Chef. From "Top Chef" kitchenware to "Work Out" gym apparel, Bravo fans will have the opportunity to buy goods related to their favorite shows in retail and online. 

BRAVO TO GO
The network continues to expand in the wireless landscape when this year Bravo To Go launches the Top Chef Mobile Game with LimeLife, Inc., a premiere mobile media company.  This marks the first mobile game for the network, which plans to introduce additional games in the future. Currently on MobiTV, Amp'd and Media Flo carry the Bravo channel bringing original content to wireless on the network's most popular shows. 

BRAVO EXPERIENCE
For Bravo fanatics that can't get enough, Bravo Experience will provide firsthand interaction with the pop culture brand.  In December, the network will hold its first Bravo Fan Fest at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles, where visitors can meet the network's favorite personalities face-to-face.  Additionally, the network is in development on a Bravo Travel group that would create fun unique experiences reflective of Bravo for the everyday consumer: a Bravo Camp, Bravo Cruises, Bravo Food Tour.

BRAVO RADIO
Emerging beyond television, Bravo plans to launch a Bravo Radio division to further maximize the network's successful shows and talent on the terrestrial, digital and satellite radio.

BRAVO DIGITAL
Bravo's BravoTV.com, BrilliantButCancelled.com, OUTzoneTV.com, getTRIO.com and TelevisionWithoutPity.com — will continue to grow and expand.  Later this month, BRAVO Digital will launch a food portal to coincide with the network's food category killer Top Chef, the No. 1 food show on cable.  With recipe finders, drink blogs, food blogs, video cooking tips and more, topchefonline,com delivers a 365 day a year destination for the food obsessed.   The division plans to roll out similar portal extensions around its biggest series.

This Fall, BRAVO Digitak will reintroduce Television Without Pity, the recently acquired top site for all things television.  Adding blogs, interactivity, video and more, the site is expected to realize double-digit growth across all metrics.

BRAVO INTERNATIONAL
Bravo's slate of original programming will continue to be licensed internationally by NBC Universal International Television Distribution, with a new focus on driving pre-sales and co-productions for Bravo's popular unscripted series.  Bravo's original series "Top Chef," has been licensed to more than 100 territories worldwide and, most recently, a co-production deal was signed with E! UK for "Kathy Griffin: My Life On My D-List." In addition to original produced episodes, NBC Universal International Television Distribution will also continue licensing Bravo's original programming formats to broadcasters around the world. "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" has had local versions produced in more than ten countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Australia, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

In what's being called "a landmark multi-platform creative initiative" for NBC Universal, the newly named Universal Media Studios announced that it will produce the US English-language version of a hit Colombian telenovela for NBC while a Spanish edition will be produced and broadcast independently with a different cast, script and production team by NBC Universal's Telemundo Network.

Look for a title change before this starts airing in the US, but the novela carries the provocative name "Sin Tetas No Hay Paraiso," which translates in English to "Without Breasts There Is No Paradise." It is based on a best-selling, true-to-life novel by the same name that tells the story of Catalina, a young woman seduced by a world of easy-money, who agonizes that her figure is a barrier to deliverance from poverty and a pampered life as a drug-trafficker's lover.

"These synergistic productions represent a giant leap forward for the networks of NBC Universal. I scour the world for the best ideas and for the game-changing hit shows and 'Sin Tetas' is one of those shows. We have a tremendous opportunity to achieve cross-promotional efforts on behalf of both of these telenovelas as we reach out to diversify our audiences," said NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios Co-Chairman Ben Silverman.

NBC Universal and Telemundo acquired the rights to "Sin Tetas No Hay Paraiso" from Colombian production company, Canal Caracol.

Noe Corp. has announced the sale of its CBS-8 KNOE-TV in Monroe LA. The buyer is Hoak Media Corporation, which will add it to a portfolio which already includes stations in Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Texas and Colorado. President George Noe said, "This is a bittersweet day for the Noe family. While we as a family agreed that we wanted to sell this asset, we are sad that our 54 year stewardship of KNOE-TV is coming to an end."

The sale takes the family two-thirds of the way out of the broadcasting business in the market. It sold KNOE-AM to Holladay Broadcasting in a deal filed with the FCC last December and plans to announce the sale of KNOE-FM in the coming months.

Hoak Media President and CEO Eric Van den Branden noted they were getting one of the strongest CBS affiliates and the nation, commenting, "This acquisition is consistent with our strategy of acquiring stations with quality local news programming, solid management teams, and the highest commitment to serving their local communities."

The value of the transaction was not immediately disclosed.

Seeking to compete with wired cable providers on every level, both DirecTV and EchoStar have signed distribution agreements enable both satellite companies to offer wireless high-speed Internet service to their customers via Clearwire Corporation. It is also contemplated that Clearwire, in turn, will be able to offer the video services of one or both satellite companies to its customers. This is expected to enable each of the three companies to offer high-speed Internet, video and voice in all current and future Clearwire markets. The launch is planned for later this year.

Under the terms of the distribution agreements, DirecTV and EchoStar's Dish Network will have access to Clearwire's wireless high-speed network, and will be able to market a bundle that includes Clearwire's high-speed Internet services to their residential customers. The satellite TV companies will also have the ability to sell Clearwire's branded services on a stand-alone basis. Similarly, the agreements call for Clearwire to be able to sell DirecTV and EchoStar satellite video services.

Clearwire, founded in October 2003 by Craig McCaw, now offers service in 39 US markets, covering approximately 9.9 million people.