Seattle, WA, and Madison, WI October 24, 2012 – Fisher Interactive Network today announces that it has signed a multi-year agreement with Broadcast Interactive Media (BIM) for web, video and mobile publishing tools used on Fisher Interactive Network’s portfolio of news and lifestyle websites such as KOMOnews.com. The BIM platform provides flexibility and creative control for Fisher’s development and editorial teams to easily launch new features and deliver news in an ever-changing media landscape.
 
“We are proud of the results our team has produced and are glad to have BIM as a trusted partner to support our efforts,” said Jenny Kuglin, General Manager of Fisher Interactive Network.
 
The renewal is the latest in Fisher Interactive Network’s long-running professional partnership with BIM, and provides further validation of key product enhancements driving new revenue opportunities on BIM client sites such as High Quality video and content syndication.
 
“BIM is extremely pleased to extend our partnership with Fisher Interactive to support their innovative and growing sites,” said Timur Yarnall, Co-founder and CEO of Broadcast Interactive Media.  “Fisher Interactive Network has long been known as a leader in local interactive and we’re thrilled that their development and sales teams choose to continue growing on our platforms.”
 
Randa Minkarah, SVP of Revenue & Business Development at Fisher Communications, Inc., noted that “The FIN sites have experienced very strong user engagement and growth due in part to the strong relationship with BIM.  BIM has demonstrated a commitment to our success and a willingness to innovate with a focus on evolving the platform.  We look forward to continued success in the years to come.”
 
In addition to rolling out HQ video delivery as part of the BIMvid platform, Fisher will launch BIM’s Closed Captioning support to ensure the Fisher Interactive Network sites comply with recent FCC deadlines for online video distribution. Fisher Interactive Network will continue to utilize key services that BIM has incorporated into its industry solutions including the BIMLocal Digital Network, which helps broadcasters maximize revenue with national ad placements.
 

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 Broadcast Interactive Media
Broadcast Interactive Media (BIM) is a leading digital ad network and data services provider of revenue and technical solutions to online publishers and remains a trusted resource for hundreds of local broadcasters and media sites worldwide. Core products are the BIMLocal Digital Network, BIMvid video CMS, MediaStar Suite of program scheduling tools, and TitanTV.com Guide Data Services.  Customers include ABC, Belo Television Group, Capitol Broadcasting, CBS Television, Fisher Communications, Fox Television, Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst-Argyle, NBC Owned Television Stations, Scripps-Howard and the Telemundo Station Group. BIM is based in Madison, WI with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, CA, Cedar Rapids, IA and Austin, TX. For more information, please visit broadcast-interactive.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/bimlocal.

FIN’s social media leadership in the local broadcast industry also broke new ground this year with the launch of social to broadcast engagement efforts including the uniquely localized #LiveOnKOMO initiative.  Fisher staffers embraced Twitter and Facebook to engage the local audience to watch ABC’s The Bachelorette live as it aired on KOMO-TV over the summer.  The FIN team lead an on-going digital commentary in the social space about the program.

Fisher Interactive and KOMO-TV are pioneering the use of on-screen Twitter hashtags during local newscasts. The use of a discreet hashtag on screen contributes to  driving second screen social engagement during live viewing.

“We believe authentic use of social media at a local level can drive live viewership, facilitate a robust community conversation based around broadcast content and facilitate viewer engagement,” said Randa Minkarah, Senior Vice President Revenue & Business Development . “Driving live viewership and individual interaction enables advertisers to further maximize the opportunity for their messages to connect with the audience.”

Nielsen ratings for The Bachelorette as it aired on KOMO-TV saw measured and marked growth in key demographics year over year and week over week on a consistent basis. The ratings numbers in key demographics were also up in the Seattle DMA when compared to other top 25 markets across the country. This coincided with the #LiveOnKOMO social to broadcast initiative.  Overall, engagement on Twitter also reflected the broadcast demographics where KOMO-TV saw growth.

“We’re honored that Seattle Weekly’s readers trust us to deliver local news and stimulate community conversations,” said Jenny Kuglin, General Manager of Fisher Interactive Network. “We’re just as honored that viewers of KOMO-TV and local ABC programming want to engage socially with our people and our brands.”

 Livefyre is a social engagement platform that turns news story comment sections into live conversations, increases the quality of those conversations and creates an entirely new social news experience.

 “We know our stories, photos and videos are sparking conversations across platforms and networks,” said Jenny Kuglin Fisher Interactive General Manager of Social Media and Content.  “Now you can find and engage with all those conversations in one place.”

 Designed for the social web, Livefyre replaces static comment sections with dynamic, real-time conversations that empower users and help build hyper-active communities.

“With Livefyre you’ll see immediate pageloads, quicker access to the most interesting discussions, searchable comments and the ability to have a real-time conversation,” said Anne Tiller Fisher Interactive Network Director of Design, Development and Human Factors.

Livefyre collects, shares and displays social conversations taking place live on Facebook, Twitter and in the traditional comments section.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Fisher Interactive Network and help form community and audience engagement across their sites.  ” said Jordan Kretchmer, founder and CEO of Livefyre. “With Livefyre,   audiences on Fisher sites will be able to easily to participate in conversations, tag friends to bring them into the conversations, and form a strong community around Fisher content.”

 Features of the new Livefyre social conversation and commenting system on Fisher Interactive sites include:

• A tagging feature that allows users to share thoughts, react to on-going conversations and spark new debates with their social networking friends without leaving Fisher Interactive sites.
• No more refreshing the page to see new comments thanks to real-time updates within the LiveFyre conversation stream.
• Strategically searchable commenting and social interactions.
• Intelligent spam filtering and moderation features that allow site managers to deliver the best experience to more users more often.

Livefyre made its debut on Portland based KATU.com and has been rolled out across other Fisher sites including Seattle’s KOMOnews.com, Eugene’s KVAL.com, Boise’s KBOI2.com and Bakersfieldnow.com among many others.

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 Livefyre
Livefyre powers the world’s conversations. Designed for the social web, Livefyre turns publisher content into the center of the discussion by aggregating comments from around the web back to one place. By interacting with Livefyre, audiences discover new people and content to engage with on your site, on the Livefyre network, and across the web.

Livefyre was founded in 2009 and is based in San Francisco.

Contact:  

Kristi Waite, kwaite@fisherinteractive.com, 206.404.4149

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

“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%).