MediaPost | TVBlog

How Much Will Sports Become All About Cable Money?

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:25:38 -0400

In sports, one person's greed is another person's sound business decision. So, while avarice may determine how many top-tier sports events move to cable, making money generally is not a crime. A harbinger of where the balance lies for rights holders could come as the NBA negotiates its next TV contract, where ESPN and Turner are the incumbents.

DirecTV Could Pose Aereo-type Threat

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:26:17 -0400

CBS CEO Leslie Moonves says he's not losing sleep over Aereo. But DirecTV could bring some restless nights with the amount of money it could ultimately deny broadcasters. The satellite operator's CFO Patrick Doyle said this week DirecTV has a fully legal way to avoid paying carriage costs for local stations. Broadcasters - including the Big Four networks -- are banking on those retransmission consent payments to provide a robust dual-revenue stream. And DirecTV accounts for a lot of their cash with its 20 million subscribers.

Research Plays Prominent Role At Upfront Events

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:10:49 -0400

Research has been a staple of upfront presentations for a long time. Network executives might tout how their ratings are soaring among beer-drinking men ages 25 to 54. Or, cite data about how viewers stayed tuned to the programming longer at 10 p.m. than competitors. That type of spin is still around. But in a sign of how much advertiser hunger to demonstrate ROI has increased, research in many forms seems to be increasingly finding its way into the presentations.

Madison Avenue Meets Washington During Upfronts

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:49:35 -0400

It will be interesting how many ABC upfront deals resemble what the network pitched heavily Tuesday in its upfront presentation. ABC sales chief Geri Wang sought to portray the network as a pioneer in cross-platform ad buys. Smartly, she acknowledged that the network is prepared to find sturdy measurement that combines viewing across TV, tablets, etc.

NBC Offers Upfront Evoking Nostalgia

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:35:43 -0400

For advertisers, is there really a reason to attend an upfront presentation like the one NBC put on Monday? No and yes. It's hard to make a case from a business standpoint. Using NBC as an example, though, it's a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours. And, a chance to soak in the nostalgia makes it worth it.

Harbert's Upfront Screed Resonates, Ergen Avoids One

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:59:00 -0400

NBC's Ted Harbert offered one of the more memorable performances at an upfront presentation a year ago. No, he didn't sing or dance to get attendees excited about a show. He postured. If upfront events are about luring advertisers, the NBC broadcasting chief surely turned a lot of them off from the start.

Many Large Markets Suffer During Sweeps

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:54:39 -0400

TV viewing may be increasing on a national basis, but that's hardly the rule in major markets. By one metric, Nielsen data shows about half saw viewing declines in February, including one by an average of nearly 40 minutes a day.

Bundling Will Help Big Media If Aereo Survives

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:53:54 -0400

Months after Time Warner Cable stopped carrying Ovation, the network still has a highly visible plea on its Web page asking for help in getting the cable operator to bring it back. A Los Angeles Times columnist spoke with Ovation COO Chad Gutstein, who indicated the arts channel is at the mercy of distributors because it's not part of a major media company. He's right. If Ovation were owned by News Corp. or NBCU, Time Warner Cable (TWC) subscribers would still have access.

Magazine Publisher Offers ROI Guarantee

Mon, 06 May 2013 17:28:23 -0400

Cable networks are filling much of Manhattan's blank space with ads seeking upfront dollars. But a pitch in Monday's Wall Street Journal seemed to pop more than any of them. In a full-page ad, magazine publisher Meredith offered "ROI Guaranteed" in bold type.

Netflix, Amazon Could Impact Original Content Ecosystem

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:15:00 -0400

Netflix or Amazon may produce some original hits, but upend the traditional TV production model? The advertising mogul and TV commentator Donny Deutsch argued that vigorously on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" in an appearance with the masterminds behind "Alpha House," the Amazon political comedy that started to come together last year. Yet it's tough to accuse Deutsch of going overboard. Broadcast networks aren't going anywhere and cable channels are producing some of the best dramas ever.

Guest Commentary: TVB's Lanzano Talks Viewing Patterns

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:58:00 -0400

In a guest commentary, TVB President-CEO Steve Lanzano argues live + same day ratings in local markets is "the data stream that most closely correlates with the accepted network standard."

Snickers Deserves Earned Media

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:36:00 -0400

Marketers increasingly look to employ elements of paid, earned and owned media in their campaigns. Snickers may or may not buy any media to back a stunt it's got going in conjunction with this weekend's Kentucky Derby, but it deserves some earned exposure.

Cox Shows Facebook Responseiveness

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:25:45 -0400

Facebook would seem to be a helpful customer-service tool for cable and other pay-TV providers. How better to quickly respond to frustration about service disruptions or answer questions about when a particular channel might be carried?

C3 Vs. C7 Offers Room For Compromise

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:58:15 -0400

Is the C3 vs. C7 debate worthy of the attention it will continue to receive until a settlement is reached? Yes. Anytime, the national TV market could undergo a currency switch, it merits vast interest. Not just in the financial impact, but in the philosophy (i.e. what does it say about consumer behavior?). Buyers and sellers will have to sort it out. But there is a compromise to be had.

Guest Commentary: When Crisis Strikes, Viewers Count On Local Stations

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:02:36 -0400

Editor's Note: In this guest commentary, a top Boston station executive recounts events from last week in the wake of the Marathon tragedy, while offering an endorsement of local broadcasting's role in a time of crisis.

Who Put Social Media In My Television?

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:27:15 -0400

There's no doubt that TV and social media have become hot companions. In fact, there's a whole sub-category of media hype that's been coined to describe it: "Second screens." Needless to say, TV has been the first screen, while PCs, tablets and handhelds are all deemed, well, No. 2. Now, Madison Square Garden Co.'s Fuse network wants to flip the model, launching what it claims is the first TV shows inspired by social media content vs. the other way around. The new show, dubbed "Trending 10," not surprisingly, is being done in collaboration with Twitter, and will be produced based on real-time spokes emanating from the Twittersphere.

Some Cable Networks Better Prepared For TV Everywhere Than Others?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:22:02 -0400

Beta Research released compelling research Wednesday showing various consumer preferences among cable networks. Most interesting, though, is the clue the data offered as to which networks might succeed most on TV Everywhere platforms.

Neuromarketing Could Face Legal Hurdles

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:34:37 -0400

Neuroscience sure seems a lot more effective than online surveys and focus groups. At least on paper, evaluating brain activity seems a more straightforward path to gaining insight into marketing effectiveness than 15 people sitting around a table, where they may be afraid to be completely honest. The brain doesn't lie, right?

TV Spending Nears $80 Billion, DVR Penetration Chasing 50%

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:24:59 -0400

Wasn't one supposed to kill the other? Annual TV ad spending is closing in on the $80 million mark, while DVRs could soon be in 50% of U.S. homes by the start of the new TV season. In an annual report, Nielsen estimates 46% of homes have a DVR, marking a 9% increase over the prior TV season. Meanwhile, the research firm says the U.S. TV market generated $76.5 million in spending in 2012, a 6.5% increase.

Comedy Central 'Nudifies' To Expose New Series

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:15:10 -0400

Advertisers might say negotiations with the Comedy Central sales team can leave them nearly stripped, so to speak. So would the network really invite clients to post photos of themselves that way on the Internet? Speaking about launch plans for the upcoming "Inside Amy Schumer," Comedy Central's marketing chief Walter Levitt says network might look to "nudify" advertisers.

TVB Looks To Stave Off Commercial Ratings

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:35:39 -0400

TVB, the trade group representing local stations, offered up all kinds of data Thursday that at its core was an effort to forestall commercial ratings ever being used as the currency in local markets. Some of the smartest media mathematicians - the types that can zip through equations with a VPVH and PUTs - might find it difficult to sort through.

VOD Views Grow, Offering Networks Help Fighting DVRs

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:34:00 -0400

Bruce Lefkowitz pretty much declared war last month. At an upfront event, he introduced a new FX Now platform, where viewers won't be able to blitz through spots. "The strategy we've developed is one designed to obviate DVR usage," said Lefkowitz, FX's sales chief.

A&E Hopes Start-Ups Will Boost Sales

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:21:12 -0400

Libby O'Connell keeps wanting to give away shoes. With the repeated offers, you get the feeling her office is stuffed with boxes of the Stinger 2 sneaks. And exceedingly proud of her loot, she can't wait to unload them. "They're awesome," she says. The executive has the sneaks with springs embedded in the soles because of the venture capitalist route the A&E Network is taking. O'Connell, a senior vice president in corporate outreach at A+E Networks, put the initiative in motion last year.

Research Shows Online Viewing Brings Substantial Cannibalization

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:53:26 -0400

Networks used to argue with considerable passion that making full episodes available online had little impact on ratings. The digital viewership was "additive," they'd say. Cannibalization? No way. But that position is receding. And new research from GfK backs up the evolving views with the conclusion that cannibalization is here.

Media Feuds Percolating Across The Business

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:23:55 -0400

Does the media embrace feuds? Of course. Bitter face-offs drive clicks, ratings, etc. Why? Because people who think the media are making too much of the battles can't get enough of them. In the media business, there are some emerging doozies.

Technology Continues To Wow With PayPal And Smart TVs

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:37:35 -0400

Though the wow moments are coming more frequently, every once in a while it bears stopping to marvel at the brilliance of the engineers working across the media space. Really, what can't they do?

YouTube Looks To Make HD Standard And "Kill The Spinner"

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:42:52 -0400

More than 4 billion hours of video is watched on YouTube each month. The quality, however, varies for any number of reasons. Paco Galanes, a YouTube software engineer, is striving for uniformity. No matter the device by which the content is viewed, he wants it to appear in high-definition and stream without those pesky interruptions (also known as buffering).

With A Weak Hand, Networks Could Always Play Promo Card

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:27:55 -0400

Predictions are starting to accelerate from Wall Street on how the upfront market will play out. The emerging consensus is volume will be slightly up at best, while pricing will increase in the mid single-digit range.

TV A Copycat Business? Not A Chance

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:29:25 -0400

Cable networks spend loads of cash trying to build a brand with a unique identity. Surely viewers exposed to a new show should have no problem guessing where the program will air. Of course, they know their TLC from their Bravo and Weather Channel from their History.

Dish Continues Prelude To ESPN Main Event

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:06:44 -0400

Dish Network is continuing to pursue a federal case against ESPN, appealing a February verdict. A jury awarded it nearly $5 million, but the satellite operator was seeking around $150 million. Still, it seems like the undercard.