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May 16th, 2006

Upfront Update: NBC Hooked on Digital, ABC on Comedy

NBC announced its schedule of shows for next season in its upfront presentation yesterday, though it acknowledged that the schedule was subject to change depending on competitor schedules, the New York Times reports. According to Jeff Zucker, chief executive at the NBC Universal Television Group, the network has put “a ton of thought” and effort into the digital world. He spent so much time on the network’s digital efforts, in fact, that the audience grew restive waiting for the prime time schedule for next season to be unveiled.

Related topics: Signs of What's to Come, TV Network, TV Upfront, Feature, Planning, Media Department, Interactive, Buying, Integrated/Cross-Media/Convergence, Television...    email this    permanent link

Media Buyer Sues McCann Over Age Discrimination

George Hayes, 54, a 30-year veteran of McCann Erickson’s media buying-and-planning operations, has sued his employer and its parent company, Interpublic Group of Cos., for age-discrimination, AdAge reports. According to the article, age discrimination could become a major issue as large agencies stride towards a digital world and fire longtime employees in the search of younger strategists and creatives who understand the digital media environment.

Related topics: Outdoor, Acquisitions/Biz Buzz, Interactive, Direct, Print, Radio, Television...    email this    permanent link

Mag Rev Up 5.1%, Pharma, Retail, Tech Lead Way

Total magazine rate-card-reported advertising revenue for the month of April increased 5.1 percent compared to the same month last year, according to Publishers Information Bureau. Ad pages totaled 20,348.69, up 1.4 percent from April 2005. Year-to-date, PIB revenue closed at $6,946,064,469, an increase of 4.5 percent over the same period in 2005, with ad pages totaling 71,717.80, a 0.7 percent gain.

Related topics: Measurement/Analytics, Print...    email this    permanent link

IAB Announces Broadband Video Ad Guidelines

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), in conjunction with its Broadband Committee and Measurement Task Force, announced final “Broadband Video Commercial Measurement Guidelines” (summary) MarketingVOX reports. Intended principally for interactive media companies and ad-serving organizations, the measurement guidelines determine at what point a broadband video commercial is counted. They also address browser- or browser-equivalent-based internet activity that involves streaming video and audio advertising content.

Related topics: Interactive...    email this    permanent link

J & J Skips Upfront

Johnson & Johnson will not commit ad dollars during this year’s upfront and Coca-Cola may not make any upfront purchases either, illustrating an increasing shift, on the part of marketers, away from commiting dollars during the upfront and toward a more year-round buying cycle, AdAge writes. A spokesman from Johnson & Johnson said that the company is moving from a broadcast year to a calendar year to bring the process in line with budgeting and planning, which means that negotiations would likely fall into a September timeframe.

Related topics: Signs of What's to Come, TV Network, TV Upfront, Feature, Planning, Packaged Goods, Interactive, Buying, Integrated/Cross-Media/Convergence, Media Department, Television...    email this    permanent link

Syndication Ratings Reported

According to PQ Media, spending in syndication in 2006 is projected to top $2.954 billion compared to $2.810 billion in 2005 (including upfront and scatter dollars), Mediaweek reports. That number is estimated to increase to $3.082 billion in 2007.

Related topics: TV Cable, Syndication/RSS/Atom, TV Network, TV Syndication, TV Upfront, Planning, Packaged Goods, Buying, Demographics, Entertainment, Measurement/Analytics, Television...    email this    permanent link

MySpace to Sell ‘24′ Episodes, Burger King a Sponsor

News Corp.’s social-networking site MySpace.com will begin selling TV show downloads - including episodes of Fox’s “24″ - for $1.99 each, starting May 22, the day that “24″ airs its season finale, writes CNET (via MarketingVOX). MySpace will also set up a “24″ social network area on its site. The show, along with others, such as “Prison Break,” are also available on iTunes for the same price.

Related topics: Interactive, Television...    email this    permanent link

Scripps Shutters Shop at Home

Scripps is shuttering its Shop At Home operations, yanking its Web site and ending TV productions, Mediaweek reports. Since its acquisition in October 2002, Scripps has lost approximately $84 million on Shop At Home, the country’s fourth-largest TV shopping operation.

Related topics: Acquisitions/Biz Buzz, Interactive, Television...    email this    permanent link

Yahoo Redesign More Interactive

Hoping to strengthen its advertising appeal while remaining the most popular online destination in the world, Yahoo Inc.’s website has revealed a new look today, marking Yahoo’s first home page facelift since September 2004, writes the Wall Street Journal.

Related topics: Online Networks, Planning, Search Engine Marketing, Media Department, E-Commerce, Buying, Creative Issues, Demographics, Interactive...    email this    permanent link
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