Video Monitoring Services of America

Video Monitoring Services of America[1][2][3][4] collects and distributes information about TV news broadcasting and its viewership.[2]

History

Robert J. Cohen founded VMS.[5][6]

The New York Times described them as "a company that tracks news programs in major cities."[2] Their coverage includes news about the industry.[2] News sources use their transcripts[7][8] and statistics.[9]

They bought a Phoenix-based clipping service in 1998.[1]

Their "VMS DOES!" ads in Advertising Age used time-pressured "Do You Know" captions (Do You Know How To Get A Reel Of All Commercials Featuring 7 Guys In Flowered Hats ... By Noon Tomorrow?,[10] Do You Know Your Competitor Broke Their New Coffee TV Campaign In Seattle Last Night?[11]) appearing with unusual images.

Controversy

Their operation involves recording 24/7 and then selectively reviewing broadcast. It was proven in court that they sold a 30-minute CNN segment. CNN then attempted to get an order blocking all future recordings. Video Monitoring countered that this was over-reaching, especially since future broadcast do not exist; by law, something that does not exist cannot be copyrighted.[12] From prior cases it was clarified that "The primary objective of copyright is not to reward the labor or authors, but '[t]o promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts.'" [12]: 18 

References

1. "NewsCount sold to N.Y. firm, dumps print clips". BizJournals.com (Phoenix). January 4, 1998.
2. David Barstow; Robin Stein (March 13, 2005). "Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged TV News". The New York Times.
3. "On The Move". AdWeek. August 10, 1998.
4. "Profiles, Executive Moves". Crain's New York Business. September 15, 1997. for Adbank, a division of Video Monitoring Services of America, New York.
5. "Robert J. Cohen, philanthropist". NJ Jewish News. July 6, 2011.
6. "COHEN, Robert J." New York Times. June 23, 2011.
7. Mike Allen (January 18, 2003). "Rice: Race Can Be Factor In College Admissions". The Washington Post.
8. "Systems & Information Technology Job Fair". The New York Times. 1997.
9. Terence O'Hara (January 9, 2006). "Checking-account customers are traditionally reluctant to switch, but banks are fighting hard for their business. Checking-account customers are traditionally reluctant to switch, but banks are fighting hard for their business". The Washington Post.
10. Image: four sitting, three standing behind them, hats as described "Do You Know How To Get A Reel Of All Commercials Featuring 7 Guys In Flowered Hats ... By Noon Tomorrow?". Advertising Age. October 14, 1996. p. 61.
11. Image: contortionist sitting at a table, holding cup of coffee in her hands, with feet over shoulders "Do You Know Your Competitor Broke Their New Coffee TV Campaign In Seattle Last Night? VMS DOES!". Advertising Age. October 14, 1996. p. 63.
12. "Cable Network News .. v. Video Monitoring Services of America". September 4, 1991.