»
Media watchers are likely to enjoy February sweeps month, as strong programming from several contenders makes it difficult to predict an outcome.
Fox has the continuing success of American Idol, while CBS gets to air the Super Bowl and the Grammys and ABC gets the Oscars.
The winner in the adult 18-49 race is expected to be either CBS or Fox, writes Media Life. Networks are cutting back on “stunts,” banking on series returns to boost ratings. ABC, for example, will see the return of Lost on Feb. 7, while CBS will bring Jericho back on Feb. 21, Survivor: Fiji on the 8th and The Amazing Race: All Stars on the 18th.
Fox’s American Idol will bring back its two-hour back-to-back episodes on Feb. 20 and 21, with a one-hour results show following on Feb. 22. On Feb. 27 and 28, the shows will be 90 minutes long each night, again with a one-hour results show following, though it will fall outside sweeps, on March 1.
But while American Idol gives Fox an enormous advantage, it’s tough to beat the Super Bowl. Fox expects to come in a strong second, while ABC should maintain a solid third.
NBC, too, will avoid stunts, relying mostly on original episodes of regular programming, staying true to its focus on a “longer, more strategic rebuild of the network,” Mitch Metcalf, executive vp of programming, planning and scheduling for NBC Entertainment, is quoted as saying.
Marketers have unleashed their holiday promotions earlier than ever this year, with many hitting the stores well before Thanksgiving. But Sirius XM isn’t launching most of its 24-hour holiday music channels until turkey day or later.
The newly merged company…
PC Magazine will stop publishing a print edition with its January issue. The magazine will shift operations entirely online.
The magazine will be sent via email with a link to the current edition. It will continue to look like the…
The switch to digital television arrives in less than three months, and to remind consumers of the transition, the National Association of Broadcasters is running a campaign across PumpTop TV’s network of screens at gas stations.
The spot began airing…
After the third week of Nov. sweeps, the tie between CBS and ABC remains intact.
CBS is still the most-watched network, while it is tied with ABC for No. 1 among adults 18-49, writes Mediaweek.
CBS maintains its lead on the…
Getting real-time, 24/7 online access to company news and reaching responsive and efficient PR representatives still rate high on journalists’ wish-lists, but reporters are increasingly sourcing stories from new forms of media as well, according to research from Bulldog Reporter and TEKgroup…
Through the first half of the year, automakers have slimmed their ad spending by 10% to $6.1 billion, according to Nielsen Monitor Plus.
General Motors slipped 6% to $1.2 billion, while Ford Motor cut ad spend by 22% to $954…
