The Monday Media Trend Report covers a wide range of topics that went down in the previous week in media, marketing, and entertainment. First part of the report is media based and how about AVATAR – making an estimated $242.2M worldwide in the first weekend opening. WOW! Track how it performs in the weeks to come at Box Office Mojo.

Google almost acquires very popular site Yelp; Kids are clicking on video ads online – grown ups? Not so much; Q3 revenue for broadcast TV plummet and Comcast’s has started their “TV Everywhere” program called Xfinity.

Crazy, how one can get discovered these days – YouTube video posted by an artist in Uruguary gets picked up by Sam Raimi and will be a $30M motion picture project and interesting to know what YouTube’s strategy is for monetizing their platform – for now YouTube is considering a pay model for TV content?

The season finale of DEXTER was the most watched Showtime show in the history of the network – 3M viewers tuned in. Congratulations to Bob Greenblatt and the Showtime creative/programming team as well as the the production crew/cast of DEXTER – it is a terrific show.

Simon Fuller, creator of the Idol TV franchise is trying to win big online with his multi-platform series IF I CAN DREAM which will focus on five young people who strive to make their mark on the entertainment industry.  To be distributed on Hulu.com, MySpace, and Clear Channel and to be sponsored by Ford and Pepsi.

The second part of the media trend report is what’s going on in brand-marketing. Check out what Mountain Dew, Paris Hilton, Pepsi, and other brands are doing to embed themselves into the consumer’s lifestyle through conversations, media, and more. It is a very interesting time for brand/marketers these days – a lot of creative programs at their fingertips via new media technology, communication platforms and new creativity – will these new creative programs deliver results? Time will tell.

Mountain Dew crowd sources product design – Mountain Dew collaborated with passionate soft drink fans to create three products that will hit store shelves in April 2010. Through social media, grassroots campaigns and in-home trials, the company determined products, flavor, color, tastes, advertising and brand message.

Paris Hilton forms intimate relationship with consumer via texting-online-interactive campaign: Texting the letters “PH” to a short code, 72747, featured on the packaging of the products, returns back a link to the mobile Web site. There, fans can sign up to receive tips and information on products and services, along with coupons and upcoming special offers.

Samsung making marketing fun with the Olympics Samsung is offering 10 blogging teams a chance to head to the Winter Games this February in a contest that will have them competing in challenges as they cover the games. The first phase of Samsung’s Mobile Explorer program launched earlier this month with the company encouraging people to post a video application showing their excitement about the Olympics, experience and interest in blogs and social networking, as well as their ability to seek out and generate buzz. Once the 10 teams are selected (via a third party), they will be tasked with challenges, like visiting sites around Vancouver, collecting fan stories or covering events, to record on a Samsung Mythic mobile phone.

For the first time in years Pepsi decides to not run a spot during the Super Bowl – instead of pouring millions into production and media buying for the Super Bowl spot and other sports into 2010 – Pepsi chose to use some of their marketing dollars for the better good of the people and I like it a lot: “Pepsi Refresh Project.” Under the program, Pepsi will award grant money for community projects proposed and selected by consumers, such as helping high-school students publish books to develop their writing skills. Pepsi says it has earmarked $20 million of its ad dollars for the grants next year.

Subway and MTV Networks have forged a partnership to bring emerging artists, comedians and musicians to a wider audience through a digital marketing program being promoted as “Subway Fresh Buzz.” – something tells me these brands are too – well – white bread to be able to tell the youth what’s fresh – we’ll see if this is just a fancy PR announcement or the real deal – all in due time.

Toyota’s Scion division always comes correct with their marketing – good looks Jeri Yoshizu – she makes the brand look real good this time mixing music and marketing: Toyota’s Scion division next week will launch a video extension of its in-house Scion A/V label, called Scion A/V Video, comprising a series of music videos from independent labels across an array of genres.

The music videos, from artists in genres like metal, hip-hop, electro and new-disco, were produced by Scion and will be distributed via iTunes, and Scion’s social media channels including Scion’s just-launched lifestyle Web site ScionAV.com. The videos will also be on Vimeo and other video sites and promotional DVDs.