Convergence

I received this email this afternoon. I am not interested in or qualified for the job, but I am re-posting it here because it highlights so effectively how close we are to going beyond YouTube and really seeing the internet as a viable broadcast channel for original content.

This is just one recruiter working for one company looking for one project manager...

Product Manager/Innovator, Webisodic TV (Freelance, New York, NY)

Title: Product Manager/Innovator, Webisodic TV
Client: Leading Media Network
Location: New York, NY
Type: Freelance (strong potential for fulltime hire)

Yes, that's right. We're here. It's time. Almost every gig we've put out over the last 12 months has been leading us to this very gig alert -- an opportunity to define convergence as it should be.

So without further ado ...The Hired Guns are seeking a product manager with unbelievable web video chops for our client, a leading media network that is seeking to develop a platform for aggregating, distributing, promoting and monetizing episodic/serialized video programming created by independent show producers for the Web.

This is your chance to build an ecosystem for producers, audiences, and advertisers with the ultimate goal of moving the best series launched on your web platform to broadcast TV. The platform will allow show producers to upload their shows, distribute them simultaneously to their own site and a destination site that will be built by the network, and push them out to the Web.

Producers will monetize their content through advertising sold by the network. For consumers, differentiated product and user interface design will allow viewers to search for video content by show name, channel, or producer name. Through click-throughs, time spent viewing, other key tracking metrics and voting, users will be able to rank the good, the bad and the ugly. By allowing the audience to be the judge, the best content will rise to the top.

It is intended that the best of the web series will receive an on-air run on one of the network’s branded linear networks. In this way, the episodic video offering serves as a platform for low-cost talent evaluation and recruitment for the company’s linear television brands and terrific potential exposure for producers who don't want to go the typical Hollywood route. The best talent can go from relative obscurity to top of mind, all driven by the ultimate critic -- fans.(Note: if you're reading this and thinking, "Hey, I'm not a product manager, but I've got one hell of a web series that I'd like to get out there," send us your stuff! We'll get it over to our client in short order for evaluation.)

Your challenge as Product Manager will be to get this product to launch by year-end 2007 by bringing your brain, contacts and ingenuity, along with the full resources of the company, to bear on the effort -- from consumer research, technology and creative to sales and marketing.

Key Deliverables to Launch

Understand broad consumer, psychographic, competitive and video trends to determine number and type of channels (i.e. Sex, Business, Animated, etc) required at launch.

Work your Rolodex, your LinkedIn network and whatever else you've got to recruit short-form video shows and producers for launch.

Build pipeline of show producers through grass roots marketing and other viral recruitment efforts; sustain relationships with best-of-breed producers to develop brand as "preferred distribution partner."

Develop standard producer terms and contracts to facilitate rapid producer recruitment

Influence product design decisions and development to deliver differentiated user interface and experience.

Provide input to business model decisions (e.g. ad share, distribution relationships, promotion, etc.) to sustain long-term business model.

Build product requirements to achieve on-time and in-budget product launch

Develop and institute legal processes related to content/copyright infringement and standards-and-practices issues.

Institute system and processes to insure on-time royalty payments to producers


HOW TO APPLY

Email a cover letter (required) with your most recent resume attached to webisodegig@thehiredguns.com. The cover letter should detail your experience relevant to this opportunity and include the reasons for your interest in the position. No phone calls or faxes, please.