There’s never enough time, is there? So, it’s crucial how we spend it. Today, we’re told that information drives society. That we should use our time to consume information so we can be one step ahead, one degree wiser than our competitors. To do this, we need a system that delivers information at the speed of need.

Staying on the television theme-- was it that television was such a powerful medium in its heyday? Or was it the video (film, moving pictures, etc.) format? With the rapid increase in viewers of online video (spurred by bandwidth), the format seems to remain highly preferred by consumers. 

Cable television giant, Cablevision, launched an interactive ad format this month that allows digital subscribers to click on a spot and get more information including product samples. This long-term promise has finally been fulfilled. And the most valuable part of this technology is NOT the ability to track your ads.

A Michigan television station has begun running local obituaries. About $100 gets your Aunt Tilley's mug on the tube and on the station's website as well. Apparently, the passing of 3 of the 4 daily newspapers in the viewing area prompted requests from grieving widows.

According to the Marketing to Moms Coalition, e-mail is the #1 online activity by mothers with children under age 18 -- a full 85% do so. No surprise there, but some other media habits in the report include:

In addition to the paid online news content, last month we asked how many of you were listening to commercial radio these days. 72% still are, but many mentioned also spending time with satellite radio and their Ipods.

The debate over free vs. paid news content is heating up. Traditional daily newspapers are dying because readers are shifting habits online, but advertising revenue isn't following them en masse.

We’ve always been taught that when conversing one-on-one, most communication is non-verbal. The tone of your voice, the position of your eyebrows, your nervous fidget, your eye contact. All of these have been key to effective message delivery.

According to a newly released National Report from Media Audit, U.S. adults now spend an average of 3 hours and 2 minutes per day online, compared to 2 hours and 2 minutes per day a year ago, a 62% increase. As a result, the Internet now represents 29% of the typical media day for U.S. adults, when compared to time spent with TV, radio, newspaper and outdoor media such as billboards.

The media empire is no longer the conglomerate of companies that make up the various TV networks, cable companies, radio stations and newspapers.

At VI, we’re not so much into new media as we are new marketing. Yes, it’s the digital tools that have provided us many of the opportunities that we’re taking advantage of. But, they’re just that: tools. And there are plenty of new opportunities in traditional media as well (we’ve developed several over the last few years).