MediaPost | Around the Net In Media

Discovery Network Launches Video Network Aimed At Young Men

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:17:02 -0400

Discovery Network is looking to snare a young, male-centric audience online with the launch of its free, ad-supported video network, TestTube. The video network was the brainchild of Revision3, an Internet television studio acquired by Discovery Networks last year. "If you had to think about what Discovery would look like if you invented it today for the millennial generation, TestTube is that image," J.B. Perrette, chief digital officer of Discovery Communications, says.

'Inquirer' Staffers Charge Philly.com With Cannibalizing

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:17:02 -0400

"It's basically outright warfare going on," says one source. "None of us wanted to be part of the Philly.com ship of entertainment and sex." But the site remains in "power because they still control our main portal to the world. Nobody knows about Inquirer.com." The tension is longstanding. In March, the creation of the Inquirer.com and PhillyDailyNews.com sites gave both papers handsome websites and the online editorial control they had long been denied. But Philly.com conspicuously fails to advertise either site, and their peculiar structure suggests that they may have been built to benefit Philly.com to the papers' detriment: Newspaper content is on Philly.com for free, while the papers' sites guard the same content with a hard paywall.

CBS Adds 'Bad Teacher' Series

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:32:00 -0400

CBS' plan for five new sitcoms for the upcoming season just moved to six. The network issued a late series pick-up for single-camera comedy "Bad Teacher," based on the Cameron Diaz film. It stars Ari Graynor as an inappropriate former trophy wife who masquerades as a teacher in order to find a new man after her wealthy husband leaves her broke.

Cable Network Name Changes Could Mean Drama for Pay-TV Operators

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:38:03 -0400

Cable networks are changing their names in an effort to grab more viewers and advertising dollars. Will this mean an increase in subscriber fees expected from pay-TV companies, who have no control over content and may need to pay for fledgling shows that don’t necessarily bring home the bacon? "You bargain for a specific service that you were pitched to meet the needs of consumers," said Dan York, head of programming for DirecTV. "If that doesn't work, it doesn't mean the content provider has a unilateral right to turn it into something else or even call it something else."

ESPN Layoffs Could Number 300-Plus

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:38:03 -0400

ESPN is axing a single-digit percentage of its global workforce, a move that could pink-slip 300-plus employees around the world. With revenue streams from advertisers and subscribers, the self-proclaimed "Worldwide Leader in Sports" rarely lays off staffers. But ESPN spokeswoman Katina Arnold confirmed staff cuts in a statement Tuesday.

CBS Nets Tony Awards Through 2018

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:51:00 -0400

CBS has reached a new broadcast agreement with the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing to keep the Tony Awards on the network through 2018, reports Broadcasting & Cable. CBS has aired the show, which honors achievement on Broadway, for the past 35 years. This year the show moves back to Radio City Music Hall after two years at the restored Beacon Theater, an art deco treasure on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

TV Networks Concerned Over Nontraditional Competition

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:09:03 -0400

The day has come when TV networks not only have to compete with fellow networks with scripted and reality shows but now they must compete with nontraditional rivals with original programming, like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Netflix is launching new episodes of “Arrested Development” soon, while Amazon Prime released 14 pilots for viewers to vote on. “Ultimately, the appeal of Netflix and Amazon Prime is the absence of advertising, said Christopher Vollmer, partner-leader of Booz & Co.'s global media and entertainment practice, which makes it unlikely they will move toward an advertising model.”

New Media Replaces Old In New York's Times Square

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:09:03 -0400

Yahoo, the giant Web company that agreed on Sunday to buy Tumblr for $1.1 billion, is moving its New York headquarters to the former home of "The New York Times," on 43rd Street, east of Eighth Avenue, where it plans to expand. Yahoo is talking to city officials about erecting a large illuminated sign with its name on the cupola at the top of the building, where "The Times" once had its own sign.

A First: Pay TV Loses Subscribers

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:14:00 -0400

Video subscriber gains in the first quarter of 2013 by top U.S. service providers were not enough to avoid the first net subscriber loss in the category over a four-quarter period, per Leichtman Research Group. LRG’s analysis of the top 13 multichannel video providers in the U.S., representing 94% of the market, showed they added about 195,000 net additional video subs in the period, down versus a net gain of about 445,000 in the year-ago quarter, and a net gain of about 470,000 in the corresponding quarter in 2011.

In Address, 'N.Y. Times' CEO Hails Paywall Advance

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:03 -0400

In a commencement address to business students at Columbia University, New York Times CEO Mark Thompson hailed the company's digital subscription strategy and dismissed skeptics who say media outlets can't reinvent themselves. "[T]he launch of the pay model is the most important and most successful business decision made by The New York Times in many years. We have around 700,000 paid digital subscribers across the company's products so far and a new nine-figure revenue stream that is still growing."

Amazon Changes Media Agencies

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:03 -0400

Amazon awarded IPG’s Initiative its global media account, following a review. WPP’s Mindshare previously handled the work. WPP’s MEC handles digital work, which was not involved in the review process. According to Ad Age, “The move to shift agency accounts also comes as the company gets more aggressive in the digital media and consumer electronics business. Amazon recently announced plans to launch a set-top box for Internet streaming over TV, as well as plans for its own smartphone.”

Cable Increases VIewership Cross-Platform

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:29 -0400

Tthe Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau reports increases in consumption of cable content and brands across multiple screens.

Layoffs at BBDO, GSP

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:24:02 -0400

Following the loss of substantial accounts, like Gillette and Chevrolet, BBDO and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners made some staff cuts. Jeff Goodby, co-founder of GS&P, wrote in an internal agency memo: “…We are optimistic about our plan to move forward, in terms of serving present accounts and getting new ones, and will share details next week. But we are also thankful for and deeply appreciative of the contributions of people who are leaving.We will do everything to find them new situations. And if history is any indication, we will find ourselves welcoming some of them back in the future.”

N.Y. Post Axing 10 Most Senior, HIghest Paid

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:24:02 -0400

The New York Post stands to lose a sizable chunk of its longstanding institutional memory as newsroom employees who were offered buyouts last week decide whether or not to jump ship with exit packages. A list of around 10 Post journalists who are said to have been offered buyouts has been circulating among veterans of the tabloid. Those on the list are mostly older, longtime reporters and editors. "Loyal soldiers. Highest paid. Have pensions as well," said one former Post employee familiar with the matter.

Time Warner Cable May Take Stake In Hulu

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:59:16 -0400

Time Warner Cable is considering taking an equity stake in online-video site Hulu LLC, according to people with knowledge of the situation, reports Bloomberg. Discussions are at an early stage and a deal isn't a given. Another pay-TV company is also weighing a Hulu bid, said one of the people. A deal would mean more ad revs for TMC, which would become a co-owner with Disney, News Corp and Comcast; each company holds a one-third stake in the streaming TV, movie service. Time Warner Cable could offer Hulu to its customers as a bundled service, sources said. The company is focusing more on its broadband business as traditional pay-TV growth stalls.

White Houses Pushes For Media Shield Law

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:47:03 -0400

Following the Justice Department’s subpoena to access the phone records of reporters at the Associated Press, the White House is pushing for legislation to provide greater protection to reporters that keep their sources confidential. The bill would be a revision of the 2009 Free Flow of Information Act. According to the Times, “The version the Obama administration is seeking to revive, however, is the one that was chiefly sponsored by Senator Schumer, which was negotiated between the newspaper industry and the White House. It was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in a bipartisan 15-to-4 vote in December 2009. But while it was awaiting a floor vote in 2010, a furor over leaking arose after WikiLeaks began publishing archives of secret government documents, and the bill never received a vote.”

Tribune Tamps Down 'Noise' Over Possible Sale

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:47:03 -0400

Seeking to tamp down "noise" over the possible sale of its newspapers, Tribune Co. CEO Peter Liguori sent an email to employees Wednesday calling speculation about a transaction premature. "A sale transaction is only one of our possible strategic options, and there are many others," Liguori said. Some 40 parties have expressed interest in acquiring some or all of Tribune Co.'s newspapers, according to sources close to the situation.

JLo Named NuvoTv's Chief Creative Officer

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:24:35 -0400

Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez will serve as Latino-targeted cable network NuvoTV’s new chief creative officer. Lopez, who partnered with NuvoTV last September, will be involved in network programming decisions and the development of several original shows for the English-language network. New shows inclue "The Jennifer Lopez Biography Special"(working title); "Gotta Dance," a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of back-up dancers on world tour with Lopez; and "Rodney's Joey," a docu-series featuring Grammy producer Rodney "Dark Child" Jerkins and his wife Joy Enriquez, a former Mexican American pop-star, who put her career on hold to raise a family.

TBS and TNT to Stream Programming Live

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:26:02 -0400

Beginning this summer, TNT and TBS will start to live stream their programming online and the new Watch TNT and Watch TBS apps. Available to both cable and satellite subscribers, live streaming will include original TV shows as well as sporting events. According to Adage, “the announcement comes on the heels of a similar initiative out of ABC, which earlier this week introduced the Watch ABC app, which lets cable and satellite TV subscribers to stream ABC's live signal to mobile devices.”

The Atlantic Defends Its Turf, Launches Defense One

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:27:39 -0400

The 156-year-old magazine publishing company best known for award-winning literary and cultural journalism, continues to diversify with new flanker publishing brands, and it may be hard to defend its latest diversification. It's into defense. Specifically, Defense One, a new "digital first" publication aimed at the national security community. If someone understands the affinity with The Atlantic's core brand, please let me know what it is. Don't get me wrong, defense industry publishing is a nice and lucrative niche. Just ask McGraw-Hill, publisher of Aviation Week & Space Technology, or Jane's Defense Weekly. But from the folks who brought us Longellow and Emerson?

Generational Shift In Hispanic Response To Ads

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:07:05 -0400

Targeting Hispanics in advertising is a trillion-dollar business. But it's more nuanced than it used to be. Generatiions differ in their responses, according to a report from Yahoo/Mindshare, Ethnicity in the Digital Age: Marketing to Hispanics. First-gen Hispanics are more likely to look for news content that speaks to their ethnicity and try brands that target them ethnically. Second- and third-generation are less likely to be swayed by ethnic marketing, but avoiding stereotypes in ads is important to all.

Networks Continue To Watch Ad Dollars And Ratings Decline

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:02:03 -0400

How important are this week’s upfronts to the Big 4 networks? Very. Ad dollars are shifting to cable and mainstay hit programs like “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” have seen a decline in ratings. The pressure to perform big and snag a portion of the $9 billion advertising pie is tremendous. “The networks are getting picked at from every direction,” said Jessica Reif Cohen, the senior media analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “While broadcast networks were setting record lows, cable channels were setting record highs; AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and the History mini-series “The Bible” regularly beat almost all the shows on network television while they were on,” said The New York Times.

Buyers Optimistic About Fall TV Offerings

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:02:03 -0400

One day in to upfront week and buyers are happy with what they’ve seen. Fox debuted trailers for promising dramas like “Sleepy Hollow,” “Rake,” “Almost Human” and “Gang Related,” while NBC aims to bring family comedy back to Thursday night with “The Michael J. Fox Show,” “Welcome to the Family” and “Sean Saves the World.”

BBH North America Hires CEO

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:02:03 -0400

Patrick Lafferty, most recently chief operating officer at McCann North America, was named CEO of BBH North America. The post has been vacant sine last September, when Greg Andersen, the former CEO, left amid a round of staff cuts. According to Adage, “the choice of Mr. Lafferty signals a major change in tack when it comes to the CEO spot, as BBH is bringing on someone steeped in account management experience rather than planning experience (which was the expertise of Mr. Lafferty's predecessor Mr. Andersen). BBH also focused on reeling in a candidate with both client-side and agency experience.”

Dish Frames Broadcasters As Attacking Consumers

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:23:04 -0400

Dish executive R. Stanton Dodge will posit broadcasters' challenge of its Hopper DVR service -- which allows subs to skip ads and view content on other devices -- as an attack on consumers in his May 14 state-of-video testimony before the Senate Communications Subcommittee.

"The networks are accusing millions of subscribers of being copyright infringers just because they want to skip commercials more easily or watch TV on iPads in their bedroom," according to a copy of his prepared testimony. Dodge borrows from the new a la carte bill introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), which would require the FCC to reclaim the license and spectrum of a broadcaster that tried to move its programming to cable.

Seth Meyers to Host "Late Night"

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:13:45 -0400

It’s official: “Saturday Night Live” head writer, Seth Meyers will replace Jimmy Fallon as host of “Late Night,” once Fallon departs to host “The Tonight Show” in Feb. 2014. SNL producer Lorne Michaels will also produce “Late Night” and “The Tonight Show.” Meyers will be the fourth host of “Late Night,” following David Letterman, Conan O’Brien and Fallon.

The Havas And The Have-Nots: French Holding Co. Has A Quarter Of The Highest Paid Ad Execs

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:02:00 -0400

One out of four of the 37 highest paid ad executives in the ad industry work for Havas, according to a compilation of earnings data published by Business Insider. Havas took nine of the 37 positions, which is noteworthy because Havas is one of the smallest of Madison Avenue's major agency holding companies. WPP Chairman-CEO Martin Sorrell was the highest paid executive overall, earning $27 million in 2012, followed by Publicis Chairman-CEO Maurice Levy, who earned $24.4 million.

Analysts: Broadcast Nets Poised For Moderate Upfront Ad Rate Gains

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:36:00 -0400

The major broadcast networks likely will reap moderate single-digit price increases in the prime-time upfront marketplace, according to Wall Street analysts assessing the supply and demand of the TV advertising marketplace. Increased competition from digital options, as well as strong cable programming performances by networks such as AMC, are likely to take some steam out of the broadcast networks.

Fox Revives '24' In 2014

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:10:00 -0400

Fox has greenlit a shortened revival of one of its biggest legacy hits, "24." The 12 expisodes will begin May 2014.
Kiefer Sutherland will reprise his Jack Bauer role. The series will unfold chronologically, as with the initial run from 2001 to 2010. Fox says there may be a regular "24" beyond the revival, depending on response.

Cheers! Newswoman Deborah Turness Moves From ITV To NBC

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:52:02 -0400

With NBC reportedly turning to a Brit – Deborah Turness – to be the first female head of a U.S. network news division, here’s a view of the development from across the pond. Josh Halliday points out that the ITV News exec would “become the third British news executive to depart for the US in less than a year, following ex-BBC director general Mark Thompson's appointment as chief executive of New York Times Company and Jon Williams, the former BBC world news editor who left to join ABC News.” Turness’ appointment was first tipped by Joe Flint in the Los Angeles Times last month, with The New York Times’ Brian Stelter setting off Friday’s barrage of news reports on her impending appointment