Media Roundup: DTV Switch is Today, USA Today Annoucnes E-edition and More

Digital television switch is today — The national changeover to digital television will take place today, after originally being delayed from February. Earlier this year, legislators feared that many citizens were not prepared for the switch. It is currently estimated that 2.8 million households, 2.5 percent of the TV market, are unprepared. At the initial February deadline, there were an estimated 5.6 million viewers without a digital converter box. Studies show that young adults and minorities are the most likely to be unprepared. [Source: Epicenter]

USA Today announces e-edition — The largest newspaper in the country announced it will be rolling out a digital “e-edition” to be read on e-reader devices and mobile phones. The new edition is set to be released on August 3^rd. Publisher David Hunke said the Gannett flagship paper was “very bullish” on its hopes for revenue through e-reader devices. USA Today also expressed regret that it did not charge for its iPhone application, and noted how surprised the company was at its download numbers. Recently, the Wall Street Journal has begun offering copies to hotel customers, long a USA Today staple. [Source: MediaWeek]

Massive layouts coming to MySpace — MySpace is rumored to be preparing to layoff as much as 25 percent of its staff. Earlier this year, the company replaced its CEO and the social network’s traffic has been slipping behind rival Facebook. The cuts are said to be coming from Fox Interactive Media, the parent company of MySpace. Since MySpace is the largest employer in Fox Interactive Media, the social network is likely to be the most affected. The company is also bracing for its search partnership with Google to end next year. [Source: TechCrunch]

Popular Science features hidden cover ad — Popular Science has run a free ad on its front page for General Electric that is only visible when held up to a web camera. When held up to a computer’s camera, the cover is said to signal the computer to display an animation in a technique referred to as “augmented reality.” Magazines have been devising increasingly clever ways to skirt the guidelines laid out by the American Society of Magazine Editors that prohibits front page advertising. In return for the cover ad, GE purchased three pages of ads inside the magazine. [Source: New York Times]

Boston Globe looking for buyer — After the Boston Globe’s newspaper union voted down a proposed paycut last week, the paper’s parent company, The New York Times, is seeking a buyer. Three businessmen with local ties are said to be the primary candidates. The candidates include the previous owners of the Globe who sold it to the Times in 1993. The Times and the union are set to meet on Monday to hammer out a cost cutting agreement. The Times had previously threatened to cut wages by 23 percent. [Source: MediaBistro]