Category: News (page 16 of 1505)

Canadian newspapers need access to foreign owners if they are to compete with the unregulated Internet for advertisers and readers, Postmedia Network Canada Corp. PNC.A-T’s chief executive officer said Wednesday as he spoke out against ownership restrictions on domestic publications.

Under Canadian tax rules, advertisers cannot receive the same tax breaks for advertising in a foreign-owned newspaper as a Canadian one – which effectively ensures that all major newspapers in this country are controlled by Canadians. “Antiquated laws” also mean that the government could veto any foreign takeover, Postmedia CEO Paul Godfrey said.

A month after his company hired a lobbyist to push the government for changes, Mr. Godfrey said during a conference call that the time has come for looser rules. He said online-only, foreign publications such as the Huffington Post can set up in Canada with minor investments and face no regulation.

“There are no rules on the Internet and you see that digital advertising has surpassed newspaper advertising in 2011,” he said. “They provide little content, they get Canadian content from other sources. They didn’t have a reporter at our AGM, I don’t see them covering city hall and they aren’t in Ottawa with a national columnist. “We have two playing fields – one for the Internet and one for print. Maybe it’s time to step into the 21st century.”

He also brushed aside concerns that foreign owners wouldn’t provide local content, a problem that could cause the government to veto any takeover of a newspaper company from abroad.

“A foreign owner that does not present hyper-local news as quickly as a local owner will quickly fail. It is hard for me to believe anyone could differ with that opinion,” Mr. Godfrey said.

Postmedia was created in July, 2010, to buy the newspapers of the bankrupt CanWest Global Communications Corp. Its shares were listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange last June. The company’s current investors, led by New York-based Golden Tree Asset Management LP and other funds, are expected to try to sell their stakes in the company within the next few years.

Analysts who follow the company aren’t convinced any Canadian buyers would step forward, especially if the chain, which includes titles such as the National Post and The Gazette of Montreal, keeps posting weak quarterly reports, such as the one it did on Wednesday. The Toronto-based company said reluctant advertisers pulled first-quarter revenue 9 per cent lower, although a gain on the sale of B.C. newspapers pushed the bottom line higher. Quarterly profit came in at $28.3-million, compared to $6-million a year earlier.

Mr. Godfrey said he wouldn’t entertain any offers for the chain’s other newspapers to pay off the company’s debts, which surpass $500-million.

Revenue fell to $231.1-million from $254.1-million in the same period a year earlier. Print advertising revenue was down almost 12 per cent to $149.4-million.

Chief financial officer Doug Lamb said a weak national advertising market was the company’s main challenge in the quarter.

“Two-thirds of the decline [in advertising] was from national print advertising,” he said. “Half of that came from the financial services category.”

Digital revenues, a major plank in the company’s growth strategy, were also hit by weaker national sales, he said. A rise in local revenue was offset by national dips.

Mr. Godfrey said he didn’t think the slow sales had anything to do with the company’s management, adding that three-quarters of the company’s difficulties were caused by the economy.

“We really believe it was across the board and not just us,” he said, adding that the second quarter has also been slow. “It’s also affected our competitors.”

NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — Vertical Search Works™ (www.verticalsearchworks.com, VSW), a leading provider of patented semantic search and advertising solutions, announced the launch of its new VS4Food™ search offering for publishers.

VS4Food is a vertical search engine that resides on a publisher’s site.  Users can enter a query without leaving the site through a toolbar, and the search engine returns results from both the publisher and from other web sites relevant to the query. VS4Food automatically organizes results into facets, relevant categories associated with the query. For example, searching for “sirloin steak” will classify documents in categories about grilling recipes and wine pairings. Similarly, a search for “Emeril dessert” will return categories such as cooking show, dessert recipe and cookbooks.

VS4Food features relevant images next to results, making the page more attractive. Images are selected by analyzing the article and identifying pictures that illustrate the article’s topic.  In addition, the new VS4Food Products Services facet allows the user to browse the relevant product and services associated with their query.  The search results also contain relevant advertisements selected by VSW’s proprietary semantic ad matching technology. 

“Together, these new capabilities help create a unique search experience for the user,” said Colin Jeavons, CEO of VSW. “Our semantic search helps Web publishers mitigate search leakage, and hold on to visitors longer and increase page views. This in turn increases revenues, since search has a better click-through and conversion rate.”

VS4Food leverages VSW’s semantic search technology, which organizes millions of concepts and expressions into more than 80 distinct content verticals.  This technology allows VSW to serve the most relevant search results and highly targeted ads for advertisers and publishers in key content areas.

About Vertical Search Works™:

Vertical Search Works’ mission is to provide better, more accurate search to people seeking information, knowledge, products or services within their area of interest.  VSW leverages proprietary semantic search technology which understands user intent better than traditional keyword-based search.  Users can experience VSW Search™, a targeted vertical search engine, on the Web sites of major online content producers in the Food, Home Garden, Weddings, Family and Entertainment industries.  The company also offers VSW FeatureLink™, which allows marketers to feature their products with an image and a 140-character call to action next to relevant content from VSW’s online publishing partners.  Marketers pay a fixed price cost-per-click and generate additional sales without the complexity of keyword bidding.  VSW FeatureLink™ is complementary to all paid search and advertising models currently used by its publishers. Vertical Search Works was formed from the February 2010 merger of Convera Corporation, a leading developer of search technology for the U.S. intelligence community, and Firstlight ERA, a leader in advertising sales technology.  VSW is headquartered in New York.  For more information, visit www.verticalsearchworks.com.

SOURCE Vertical Search Works

A sentencing hearing began Tuesday for a former advertising sales rep at CHEK TV who defrauded friends in the business community out of $235,000 to finance his gambling addiction.

Michael Muir pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud over $5,000 between June 2007 and January 2009.

Crown prosecutor Laura Ford told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Robert Johnston that the offences were a classic Ponzi scheme – a form of fraud in which belief in a nonexistent business venture is fostered by the payment of quick returns to the first investors from money invested by later investors. Ford asked Johnston to impose a prison sentence of two to two-and-a-half years.

Muir, a respected member of the media business community, persuaded friends he met in the business world to give him money, said Ford. Muir told his business friends that he was buying a large number of flatscreen TVs from a supplier and selling them to high-end hotels. He promised them a 20 per cent return on their money within a few months.

The frauds were sophisticated, with Muir creating false documents using letterhead for the flatscreen TV company, said Ford. Initially the “investors” saw a return on profit, although it was rolled over into the next purchase of TVs.

“Multiple fictitious deals were concocted by Mr. Muir. But all the money was spent on gambling and it all came crashing down in a cascade of lies and excuses in February 2009,” she said.

Kevin Beggs, the manager of a local paint company, met Muir at a corporate golf tournament. He lost $30,000. John Holland, who was in the automotive business and had known Muir for about 10 years, lost $30,000 he needed for his retirement. James LeBlanc, who had known Muir since 1996 when he worked at a local radio station, lost $40,000. LeBlanc had put the money aside to finance his children’s postsecondary education.

Michael Marchie, a sales manager for a car dealership, also lost $30,000. But his biggest regret, said Ford, is introducing his friend Cameron McFarlane to Muir. McFarlane lost $106,000 in the Ponzi scheme.

“These dealings were an abuse of trust because the relationships Mr. Muir carefully cultivated as a salesman for the TV station turned into friendships and those friendships motivated these men to trust the transactions were real,” she said.

The house of cards began to fall on Feb. 11 when Marchie received a panicked call from McFarlane who told him a cheque for $74,000 had bounced. McFarlane phoned Muir, who told him the TV company had gone bankrupt. Muir was crying and threatening to kill himself, said Ford.

The three men met and McFarlane and Marchie tried to console Muir, urging him to look after his health. On Feb. 12, a suicidal Muir was admitted to hospital.

A few weeks later, Muir went to Marchie and confessed he had an addiction to gambling and there had never been any TV deals, said Ford. Muir told Marchie he had lied about everything.

Victim impact statements showed the men experienced shame and embarrassment. They have become far less trusting and have lost faith in their ability to judge character, said Ford.

A pre-sentence report indicates Muir offended because he is addicted to alcohol and gambling. His gambling addiction also cost his wife $100,000 in home equity when she took out a loan to pay off Muir’s loans and credit card debt, although she thought it was money he owed his parents.

The hearing was adjourned until Friday. ldickson@timescolonist.com

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Jan. 9, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — Tax time at Walmart officially kicked off today as Jackson Hewitt Tax Service®, the nation’s largest privately held tax preparation firm, celebrated the tax season Grand Opening of its kiosks conveniently located in 2,800 Walmart stores nationwide. If Walmart customers and associates are looking for convenience, ease and value when it comes to having their 2011 tax return accurately prepared, then ‘Jackson Hewitt’s How You Do It!(SM).’  

Jackson Hewitt’s tax pros invite Walmart customers and associates to stop by the Jackson Hewitt kiosk for a free tax refund estimate. Your Jackson Hewitt tax pro can also provide you with information about the various products and services available this year, including a new free federal Form 1040EZ* offer available at Jackson Hewitt’s Walmart kiosk locations for qualifying taxpayers. A refund readiness checklist is available to assist Walmart customers and associates with organizing tax-related information in advance of having their tax return prepared.

With approximately 75 percent of taxpayers eligible to receive a refund, and an average refund of roughly $3,000, tax time is an event many Walmart customers and associates look forward to. With Jackson Hewitt’s recently launched new ad campaign celebrating tax refund joy, the tax pros at Jackson Hewitt’s kiosks look forward to delivering the best possible outcome and the feeling of tax refund joy to Walmart customers and associates nationwide.

“We are more excited than ever this year to open our tax preparation kiosks and kick off tax time at Walmart,” said Philip H. Sanford, president and chief executive officer of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. “We’ve got great, convenient Walmart locations throughout our nationwide system, tax pros ready to meet customer expectations and a new tiered pricing offer that we know will be attractive to Walmart customers and associates alike. On top of that, the powerful combination of products and services offered by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and Walmart’s MoneyCenters delivers to Walmart customers and associates not only the experience of tax refund joy, but also an overall experience of convenience, ease and value at tax time.”

To assist taxpayers with getting a quick start on their 2011 tax return, Jackson Hewitt offers free W-2 download service. This valuable service not only allows taxpayers to obtain their W-2 information rapidly, but also to start and potentially file their tax return prior to receiving their W-2 via U.S. mail.  Free W-2 download service is available to all Walmart associates and Walmart customers whose employers make W-2’s available online. To learn if your employer’s W-2’s are available online, visit the Jackson Hewitt kiosk at your local Walmart store.

“Customers need to make every dollar count in this tough economy, and that’s why we’re committed to helping customers pay less for their financial services during tax season and throughout the year,” said Daniel Eckert, Walmart’s Head of Financial Services. “With more than 3,000 tax preparation kiosks in Walmart stores across the U.S. and low flat-fee check cashing services, our customers can conveniently make their refund dollars stretch farther by simply taking care of their tax needs at Walmart.”

At Walmart MoneyCenters, customers can cash their tax refund for just $3 for checks up to $1,000 and $6 for checks up to $7,500**. In addition, Walmart will load the funds onto a Walmart MoneyCard at no charge.

Walmart MoneyCenters

Walmart is a leading provider of affordable money services that help customers manage their money and keep their finances on track.  Products and services include:

• Check Cashing – With Walmart check cashing, customers can conveniently cash payroll or government checks, including tax refund checks, starting at $3;
• Bill Payment – Walmart offers three-day, next-day and same-day bill payment delivery options, with prices starting at 88 cents;
• Money Transfers – Customers can use MoneyGram® to send money to friends and family around the world in minutes, for a great low fee; and,
• Walmart MoneyCard – The Walmart MoneyCard is a leading reloadable, pre-paid  debit card, available for the low price of only $3. American families underserved by traditional financial institutions can have many of the advantages of a checking account, including depositing their paychecks on a safe and secure card, checking their balances, paying bills and shopping anywhere Visa or MasterCard debit is accepted. The Walmart MoneyCard has no overdraft fees.

To locate a nearby Walmart with a Jackson Hewitt® kiosk, visit www.walmart.com/jacksonhewitt.

*The free federal Form 1040EZ offer includes up to two W-2’s and is generally used by single or married taxpayers who claim no dependents and who do not itemize deductions. Additional fees apply for state, local and more complex federal tax returns, financial products and other services.

**Walmart cashes most types of pre-printed checks, as well as payroll cards and eligible government benefit cards. Walmart cashes tax refund checks and cards up to $1,000 for $3 and tax refund checks up to $7,500 for $6, offering significant savings over many other check cashers. Walmart cashes checks in 47 states, excluding New York, New Jersey. Walmart is also currently testing other check cashing services in Rhode Island.

About Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

Based in Parsippany, NJ, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. is an industry-leading provider of full service individual federal and state income tax preparation, with nearly 6,500 franchised and company-owned locations throughout the United States, including 2,800 located in Walmart stores nationwide. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service®^{also offers an online tax preparation product at www.jacksonhewittonline.com. For more information, or to locate the Jackson Hewitt® office nearest to you, visit www.jacksonhewitt.com or call 1-800-234-1040. Jackson Hewitt can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.}

About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 9,700 retail units under 69 different banners in 28 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://walmartstores.com, and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

Contacts:

David G. Weselcouch    Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.  (973) 630-0809                                  david.weselcouch@jtax.com              

Melissa Connerton    CooperKatz Company(917) 595-3039mconnerton@cooperkatz.com    

Walmart Media Relations(800) 331-0085http://walmartstores.com/reporter

SOURCE Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

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Mobile is the true pay per call platform as there is an immediacy about mobile local search that drives higher response rates and the dominant mobile ad response is a call. Mobile consumers are ready to make a purchase right away.

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) January 09, 2012

Telmetrics, the leading provider of advertising call measurement solutions, today released its local search trends forecast for 2012 with a focus on the pivotal role mobile is playing in local search and advertising performance management. High mobile adoption rates among both consumers and advertisers are transforming the industry and driving a mobile-first mentality for measurable results.

“Mobile is the true pay per call platform as there is an immediacy about mobile local search that drives higher response rates and the dominant mobile ad response is a call. With mobile, consumers are ready to make a purchase right away and advertisers are seeing the valuable link between a call and a purchase,” said Bill Dinan, president, Telmetrics. “The mobile marketing performance model is more easily defined and monetized, and that will help drive more revenue for advertisers and further tailor their mobile approach.”

The Top Local Search Trends/Predictions for 2012 focus on mobile innovations, including:

1)    Pay Per Call Goes Mainstream With Mobile: High mobile adoption rates for both consumers and advertisers mean there is a mutual understanding of the platform and the relevancy of calls. Unlike the drawn out learning curve that came with online advertising, this new proficient mobile knowledge base will help drive pay per call programs.

2)    Mobile Propels Pay Per Action: Advertisers today realize the wealth of data available via mobile and are eager to track and pay for revenue producing actions including calls, map/directions downloads, QR code reads – any definable and concrete action that means a purchase is likely imminent.

3)    In-App Call Tracking Rises: We expect consumers will continue to hone their lists of favorite apps and use them as their go-to resources for everyday planning and purchasing more so than mobile browsers. As such, advertisers will increasingly track the impact of in-app activity on call volumes and sales. This includes social apps like Facebook and Yelp.

4)    Marketers and Advertisers Shift to Mobile-First Strategy: The combination of continued low advertising budgets and the tracking capabilities of mobile will mean a market shift of companies implementing a digital strategy that starts with mobile and then extends to other platforms that can supply similar metrics.

“The mainstreaming of mobile pay per call has the potential to revitalize pay per call for traditional media as well. Advertisers prefer calls and will request more call leads regardless of the media source,” added Dinan.

Telmetrics’ call measurement solutions track the lead generation quality of local search advertising and pay per call programs for the leading brands in local search. This includes both publishers and agencies that serve millions of SMBs and national franchise locations across North America. Using call tracking to measure the ad-driven calls across all media channels offers valuable call data including the caller’s number, date, time, whether the call was answered, the number of rings, the length of the call and more. This insight reveals what type of caller activity and leads an ad program delivers and can be used to optimize the program for higher quality lead generation.

About Telmetrics, Inc.

For more than 20 years, Telmetrics has been the Call Measurement industry leader. Telmetrics’ call tracking solutions, which are available in North America and in more than 10 European countries, enable marketers to evaluate consumer phone response to ads by providing valuable ad feedback and consumer call intelligence. With greater visibility into advertising performance across all media channels—digital, mobile, print and more—media publishers, agencies and advertisers can optimize the media mix for higher quality lead generation, resulting in increased revenues and a more complete picture of ROI across converging media. For more information, visit Telmetrics.com.

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