Nielsen offers protection to copyright holders
Nielsen is expected to introduce a digital watermarking service to protect copyrighted video content from being pirated online. While other companies have ventured into video copyright protection, Nielsen has a leg up on potential rivals because it is responsible for encoding almost all network TV programs as part of its ratings service. Mediaweek

Report: Younger crowd more likely to watch missed shows on DVR, Web
A new study from The Nielsen Co. shows that 56% of adults 18 to 34 use DVRs, the Web and other means for watching episodes of TV programs they missed during their normal on-air broadcast, compared to 21% of viewers 55 and older. For all viewers, the DVR, at 29%, ranked as the most popular way to catch up with a show, while waiting for a rerun came in second, at 26%. The Hollywood Reporter

Advertisers contemplate life without TV — sort of
As the writers’ strike continues, advertisers and media buyers are mulling their options, including looking to non-scripted programming as an advertising outlet, as well as other media not affected by the strike. Brad Adgate, SVP of research at Horizon Media said, “There’s a lot of opportunities that consumers have with digital media, and advertising dollars are going to follow the eyeballs.” MSNBC/Associated Press

Simulcast snafu on Imus show
The second day of Don Imus’ much-touted return to the broadcast airwaves was marred by technical difficulties at a new studio designed for the show’s video simulcast on RFD-TV. New York Daily News

Other News

• Brian Williams takes slim lead in network news ratings
  The New York Times

• Dobbs to debut new radio show next year
  Radio Ink

• Moonves: CBS will not “go dark” due to writers strike
  Multichannel News