Jon Mandel upped to Chairman
of MediaCom; he comments
Jon Mandel, Grey Global Group's Mediacom Global Buying Officer/Co-CEO, has been upped to a new position that makes him both Chairman/MediaCom US and Chief Global Buying Officer at MediaCom Worldwide. Grey/MediaCom also announced the promotion of MediaCom US's co-CEO, Dene Callas, to sole CEO of the media agency. Mandel tells RBR/TVBR: "I think the important thing is it gives me time to do what I do best for clients, and it gives Dene and I each the authority and the time to do what we do best. We're still buying and planning together. We're still a team, we still run things together. But it's a clearer delineation of how we do things."

NPLC wants to derail Subway Euro campaign
The National Legal and Policy Center is incensed. An advertising campaign is under way in Europe, and it wants the Defense Department, the Senate and the House of Representatives to do something about it. It seems that over in Europe, sandwich-maker Subway is advertising an image of the Statue of Liberty holding a burger and fries, with headlines asking "Why are American so Fat?" "Subway has undertaken a cynical campaign to bash Americans and our national symbols abroad, just to increase market share," said NLPC's Ken Boehm. TVBR observation: Be careful, those of you who make your living on the airwaves. Recording devices are everywhere, and nowhere is safe. Make a questionable remark about leprechauns in Pago Pago and you may well read about it in the US press the next day.

Tysons launching $75M effort
Tyson Foods will unveil a year-long, $75M effort 8/30 to position chicken, beef and pork as a healthy source of protein. "Powered by Tyson" includes TV, radio, print, online and promotions. Creative is handled by Arnold Worldwide, Boston. African American and Hispanic is handled by E. Morris Communications Chicago, and Lopez Negrete Communications, Houston. The effort features "a humorous, tongue-in-cheek approach, showing people doing things a little better than others, all because they are 'Powered by Tyson,'" according to Tyson CMO Bob Corscadden.

DirecTV buys out Pegasus
Ending a dispute that's been dragging on for some time, satellite telecaster DirecTV is buying the portion of the business of Pegasus Satellite Television that deals with: DirecTV. Assets and subscriber rights will go to DirecTV (the one in which News Corp. just acquired a stake) for $875M. An earlier judgment in fawvor of DirecTV, when factored in, brings the total value of the deal to $938M. Pegasus is in Chapter 11, and the transaction has been approved by a creditor's committee. The principals hope that a bankruptcy court in Maine will follow suit in four to six weeks.

EAS under new scrutiny
The FCC is looking at fixing the much-maligned Emergency Alert System (EAS). And it wants your help. You'll be joining an effort which already includes the Department of Homeland Security and its component, FEMA and the Department of Commerce and its component, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. The effort is being undertaken in part based on advice from the Media Security and Reliability Council. and the Partnership for Public Warning.

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TV/DTV allotment requests on ice
The FCC is putting a freeze on all requests to make allotment and/or service area changes to existing analog and/or digital television stations. It goes into effect immediately and will stay in effect until further notice. The action is being taken to further the DTV transition. TVBR observation: Annoyed? Wanna comment? Forget it. The FCC explains that, too, saying that "...this freeze is procedural in nature and therefore the freeze is not subject to the notice and comment and effective date requirements..." most such dictates require.
08/04/04 TVBR #151

Another FCC light bulb idea
May see light as the commission is thinking of dimming the light on Joint Sales Rules (JSA) on the TV side. Big area of concern here but few years away. TVBR observation: When was the last time - first time - any FCC commissioner hit the streets at 8:30am and sold a spot in any competitive environment? Answer? Idle hands in an election year - you know the saying. 08/04/04 TVBR #151

RBR Closer Look
The Number two radio group in size
Cumulus Media and their CEO Lew Dickey went under the RBR microscope from - Survived "the perfect storm" - - Confluence of disparate events, all of which conspired to inflict particular damage on the radio image. - Not part of the spot clutter problem and welcomed Clear Channel's upcoming spot diet, - Somewhat-embattled ratings giant Arbitron a vote of confidence.
RBR observation: See the total report. 08/04/04 RBR #151

TVBR Closer Look
Winds of Naples, FL
Bending the Palm Trees
Hurricane season doesn't officially end until Nov. 30th. but they are coming; just wait. Key forecaster Bob Coen from Universal-McCann media revenue forecast sees these storms for the balance of 2004. This is just the short term picture. We have heard many new buzz words and phrases hanging around: Spot Load Diet, Forward Guidance ending, Weekly Pacing canned, Reality Show is charted to pace your individual station(s) by to hit your budget compliance. 08/03/04 TVBR #150

Veronis Suhler takes stock of communications
Has dusted off its crystal ball, and sees a turnaround in communications and advertising businesses which should carry forth into 2008. TVBR observation: Does this mean we can all just sit back, try not to screw up and watch the money roll in?
08/03/04 TVBR #150

Veronis Suhler Stevenson
sees radio growth returning
Defend and remain convinced that radio is going to return to its normal pattern of 6%+ growth. The question is when? At this point, it appears that the VSS forecast out today of 6.7% growth for 2004 is extremely bullish. TVBR observation: Again, no forward pacing so for your guidance we suggest you print the chart attached inside. 08/02/04 TVBR #149

Concentrating on men
Reaching men included a great chart ranking programming elements of both radio and television side-by-side in terms of their ability to find high concentrations of men, without wasting impressions on women, if that is germane to your particular advertising campaign. In general, a number of radio formats do a better job than any television format in delivering a high concentration of men. TVBR observation: When viewing the TV list this is a place for cross marketing and if radio markets on TV then it seems logical to buy that 15 or 30 second promo spot for your morning drive on Leno or Letterman plus don't forget cable and guys like Dennis Miller etc. View this as a good research programming tool. 08/02/04 TVBR #149

Who gets the FCC FINE?
Well, the 'F' word slipped out plus others choice phrases from the mouth of DNC Don Misher when all was happy except the balloons didn't fall as planned. Misher caught on-air by CNN saying: We need balloons... I want all balloons, 'God---' no balloons. Then the slip of that great 'Fudge' word - just over a few crummy balloons. TVBR observation: Who does FCC fine? The balloon maker, the balloon blower upper, the balloon cord puller, Misher, the DNC, John Kerry since those balloons were for him, or CNN? Na on CNN that is cable. Ah, what the 'Fudge', nobody cares. It was a slip of the, ahhh, tongue. 07/30/04 TVBR #148