The new platform creates a non-stop music video stream in sync with the live on-air broadcast, giving online listeners a richer experience that goes well beyond the traditional audio-only stream.

“Fisher Interactive Network is a leader in local media innovation and we are thrilled to have Vadio’s new technology powering STAR 101.5’s streaming player,” said Vadio co-founder Bryce Clemmer. “With the talent behind STAR 101.5, Vadio will provide a new opportunity for the station to grow its online audience and interact live with its listeners.”

Vadio’s new streaming platform also allows clients to effortlessly stream live video of talk shows, celebrity interviews, and sponsored events from any location. The platform is available immediately for use by all broadcasters.

“We are excited to be the launch customer for Vadio’s new streaming technology,” said Jenny Kuglin, General Manager of Content and Social Media for Fisher Interactive Network. “Syncing a live radio broadcast with music videos while retaining breaks and live in-studio segments is no easy task, but Vadio’s platform does it effortlessly. This will open up a great new experience for our audience and advertisers.”

Vadio integrates with stations’ existing playout and streaming infrastructure, as well as handling rights management for the music videos.
As consumption of online video continues to grow, pairing live audio with music videos offers audiences an engaging way to experience everything the radio station and the singers and songwriters have to offer.

“STAR 101.5 is excited to help launch this innovative way to connect with listeners and provide them with a truly unique online music experience that can’t be matched in any other way,” said STAR 101.5 Program Director and Morning Host Kent Phillips. “It is a unique marriage of terrestrial radio and the internet to benefit both brands.”

About Fisher Interactive Network Fisher Interactive Network (www.fisherinteractive.com), a division of Fisher Communications, Inc. (www.fsci.com) produces Fisher’s award-winning news websites as well as over 120 hyperlocal neighborhood web sites in five markets, earning the company the 2009 Innovator of the Year award at the Borrell Local Online Advertising Conference. Additionally, Fisher Interactive has produced several websites dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment content, including SeattlePulp.com, PortlandPulp.com and Eugenepulp.com.

About Vadio: Vadio™ (http://www.vadio.com) is patent-pending technology that takes the songs radio stations are airing live and syncs them with music videos, all in real time. This creates a non-stop music video channel based on the live audio a station broadcasts to listeners. When a talk show airs, a celebrity stops by the studio, or there is a sponsored event, stations can effortlessly live stream at any time, from anywhere. Vadio is the next step for broadcasters looking to innovate in the digital realm.

Media Contacts:

Vadio
Bryce Clemmer
bryce@vadio.com
916-747-6814

Fisher Interactive Network
Jenny Kuglin
206-404-4295
jkuglin@fisherinteractive.com

The Society of Professional Journalists has announced that Tacoma KOMO reporter Halley Griffin has been selected for a top spot in the 2011 SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism Contest. We will learn May 19th whether Halley has earned a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place award.

The Idaho Press Club awarded KBOI2.com the award for Best TV Website in Idaho. KBOI2.com is an incredibe collaboration between FIN producers, developers and designers along with the exceptionally talented journalists at KBOI-TV. KBOI2.com Jerry Manter deserves special recognition for guiding the collaborative efforts.

The Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences has recognized Fisher Interactive Network with a 2011 Emmy nomination. Travis Mayfield and former FIN staffer Alyson Soma-Force received the nomination for their KOMO Communities promotional television campaign. Emmy winners will be announced June 2nd. Congratulations to everyone for these and so many other incredible successes.

Seattle, WA and Denver, CO April 10, 2012 – Fisher Interactive Network and Accelerated Media today unveiled the launch of connected TV applications for KOMO News in Seattle, featuring Accelerated Media’s advanced ad serving platform. The apps will include content from KOMOnews.com and KOMO television broadcasts. The ad platform will insert local and national advertising into both their connected TV and mobile viewing applications.

“Connected devices are quickly gaining momentum, and have opened up a new space for interactive advertising,” said Accelerated Media’s President& CTO, Doug McGary. “Adding interactivity transforms TV advertising from a ‘lean back’ experience into an immersive, consumer-driven experience. This type of viewer involvement leads to deeper engagement and higher levels of brand recall, purchase intent and product sales. We’re proud to partner with Fisher as we enter a new era of advanced advertising.”

Accelerated Media’s ad platform powers its Companion Ad Network^™ (CAN) to provide advertisers with advanced interactive advertising capabilities on smart TVs and second screen apps in mobile or tablet devices. The CAN provides advertisers the option to host VOD or photo galleries, request information, coupons or samples, find and map retail locations, integrate with social media and even transact (buy now) on any connected device. The CAN is incorporated into apps built by Accelerated Media, but can also be easily added to existing connected TV widgets and mobile device apps already deployed.

The beauty of these new content distribution platforms and their related advanced advertising tools means we can now distribute content in more places and monetize it in new ways.” said Randa Minkarah, SVP of Revenue and Business Development at Fisher Communications. “Our sales teams are now empowered with addressable and accountable advanced advertising tools that will enable our clients to improve their ROI.”

The Accelerated Companion Ad Network^™ includes an authoring system which will allow Fisher Interactive to build and deploy advanced advertising applications for their advertisers easily and quickly.

“We are excited to be able to offer these advanced advertising capabilities to our clients,” said Michael Seifert, GM of Digital Revenues for Fisher Interactive Network. “With all of the new functionality available today and the integration of the TV screens with second screens using Audio Content Recognition, all of our advertising products are more accountable and addressable.”

About Fisher Interactive Network
Fisher Interactive Network, a division of Fisher Communications, Inc., produces Fisher’s award-winning news websites as well as over 120 hyperlocal neighborhood web sites in five markets, earning the company the 2009 Innovator of the Year award at the Borrell Local Online Advertising Conference. Additionally, Fisher Interactive has produced several websites dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment content, including SeattlePulp.com and PortlandPulp.com.

About Accelerated Media
Accelerated Media develops and executes advanced TV interactive experiences for global consumer products companies and content programmers. The company aggregates campaigns across all interactive platforms, including cable, satellite, telco, as well as over the top TV devices and mobile/tablets, enabling clients to interact with their customers and viewers in revolutionary and accountable ways. Their expertise has resulted in unprecedented television ad ROI for multiple Fortune 500 advertisers and accounts for some of the first, and most sophisticated, interactive TV campaigns in the U.S. The technology leader in the industry, the company builds and deploys mobile and TV apps, as well as ad platforms and set top box technology for major chip manufacturers and cable MSOs.

Media Contacts

Kristi Waite
Digital Content Strategist
Fisher Interactive Network
206-404-4149

Larry Carstensen
Director, Media Business Development
Accelerated Media
303-981-0704

“As developing media becomes more specialized, we are maximizing Dean’s expertise to keep pace with the demands of the rapidly changing digital marketplace,” said Michael Seifert, General Manager of Digital Revenue for Fisher Interactive. “Advertisers face a variety of options in developing media and the addition of this position at FIN is designed to assist advertisers in navigating the many digital marketing opportunities.”

Snyder has been with the Fisher Interactive Network for almost 5 years and has the experience and knowledge necessary to fulfill FIN’s nation to neighborhood innovative brand.

“FIN has a tremendous portfolio of products and digital assets which are guaranteed to grow even more robust,” said Snyder. “This new position allows us to not only develop valuable new initiatives that will yield continued revenue growth, but take larger shares out of our marketplaces while fortifying Fisher’s positions as a digital trail blazer.”

About Fisher Interactive Network

The Fisher Interactive Network produces award-winning news websites as well as over 120 hyperlocal neighborhood web sites in five markets, earning the company the 2009 Innovator of the Year award at the Borrell Local Online Advertising Conference. Additionally, Fisher Interactive has several websites dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment content, including SeattlePulp.com and PortlandPulp.com.

Contact: Michael Seifert, mseifert@fisherinteractive.com, 206.404.3134

“Developing Media continues to be a rapidly changing and expanding field which is experiencing accelerating growth, evolving technologies, social media and mobile engagement opportunities. The addition of Ryan to our team will help us manage the growing demand from advertisers, while maximizing Fisher’s extensive marketing opportunities,” said Michael Seifert, General Manager of Digital Revenue for Fisher Interactive.

Moore was formerly the New Business Sales and Marketing Manager for KING 5 TV, KONG TV, Universal Sports, KING5.com and Northwest Cable News in Seattle where he managed and planned all multi-platform marketing solutions, non-traditional revenue generation, sponsorship and development of top talent since 2002.

“I am thrilled to join a company as forward thinking in the Digital and Broadcast space as Fisher,” said Moore. “I look forward to leading the innovative Fisher Digital Interactive marketing team and building upon their current success”.

Moore holds a Business Administration Degree from Seattle University and began his career at KREM and KREM.com in Spokane.

About Fisher Interactive Network

The Fisher Interactive Network produces award-winning news websites as well as over 120 hyperlocal neighborhood web sites in five markets, earning the company the 2009 Innovator of the Year award at the Borrell Local Online Advertising Conference. Additionally, Fisher Interactive has several websites dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment content, including SeattlePulp.com and PortlandPulp.com.

Contact: Michael Seifert, mseifert@fisherinteractive.com, 206.404.3134

The Pirq app delivers exclusive discounts of 20-50% off the total bill at more than 150 dining locations in the Puget Sound area, and is currently available to iPhone and Android users. Unlike other daily deal options, there is no pre-payment for coupons. Redemption is also quick, easy, and streamlined: customers just show up at the restaurant and scan a Microsoft Tag with their phone. Pirq allows users to save a significant amount of money while dining out, however, Pirq also delivers a tremendous amount of value to restaurants too. Pirq’s SmartYield™ technology recognizes when a restaurant is busy and when it is not, and then automatically makes real-time adjustments to the amount of offers available. This system helps maximize customer traffic during both off-peak and peak hours, and creates a true win-win for both customers and restaurants.

“Pirq has created a mobile solution that solves many problems for local restaurants. This is a 100% smart phone solution giving the user power to discover hyperlocal, quality offers from select dining establishments,” said Fisher SVP, Revenue and Business Development, Randa Minkarah.

Each time a customer uses the Pirq app, Pirq also donates 10% of its revenue to United Way in a partnership called “Deals for Meals,” in which donations go toward ending hunger in our community. There is no additional cost to the business or the customer. The special Fisher code that will benefit the United Way of King County is “KOMO”. Anyone using the code will also be entered to win a dozen roses just in time for Valentine’s Day. Details can be found at www.SeattleNow.com.

“We are delighted that PIRQ’s partnership with United Way will help to fight hunger in our community. It is a very good fit for Fisher as we are committed to helping our communities,” said Minkarah.

“Pirq is very proud and honored to team up with an established media partner like Fisher Communications to deliver true local savings for smartphone users in the Puget Sound. In today’s environment, everyone wants to save money,” said James Sun, CEO of Pirq.

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About Pirq

Pirq is a free smartphone app that gives users exclusive deals at nearby restaurants. Users love Pirq because they receive 20%-50% off their entire bill all day, everyday at a variety of local restaurants. Pirq also delivers tremendous value to vendors with its pioneering SmartYield™ technology that automatically and intelligently adjust deals in real-time to maximize a restaurant’s off-peak and peak hours, which helps deliver new customers and increase profit for the restaurant. Follow Pirq online: Website | Twitter | Facebook

About Fisher Interactive Network

The Fisher Interactive Network produces award-winning news websites as well as over 120 hyperlocal neighborhood web sites in five markets, earning the company the 2009 Innovator of the Year award at the Borrell Local Online Advertising Conference. Additionally, Fisher Interactive has several websites dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment content, including SeattlePulp.com and PortlandPulp.com.

In 2012, for the first time, one market will surpass the $1 billion milestone in terms of how much local businesses are spending on online media to reach local consumers.  (It’s New York City.)  Of all 210 US markets, only 1 in 10 will see less than $10 million in online spending by local businesses.

This continued uptick sets the stage for a dose of internal drama for digital media, which suddenly finds itself facing its own disruptor.  While traditional desktop-based web advertising continues to grow in 2012, so does mobile media.  By 2013 the proliferation of mobile devices — combined with local advertisers’ budding affair with mobile couponing, text messages, social media and apps — is likely to cause a precipitous decline in ads served up on desktop computers.  Forecasts call for 88% of all local online advertising will be viewed on tablets, smartphones or GPS enabled laptops by 2016.

Who’s winning the race for Main Street’s marketing dollars?  It may be hard to believe, but it’s traditional local media companies.  They already control 92% of all local ad dollars — including half of all locally spent online advertising.  For the past two years, traditional media companies have been quietly staffing up their online sales forces, stealing share from Internet pureplay companies.  That trend is expected to continue in 2012 as pureplay companies lose 1.6 points of share while local TV stations gain 1.6 points, radio 1 point and newspapers 0.8 of a point.

In terms of online ad formats, the big story is in sales of static banner advertising, sold on the basis of “eyeballs.”  Run-of-site banner sales are forecast to decline 3% next year while sales of targeted banner advertising more than doubles.  Increase are also forecast for paid search (up 10%), streaming video (up 18%), email (up 9%) and streaming audio (up 129%).