Steve Grubbs: Challenges and opportunities in media abound - Part II
In this three-part series from our August print issue, we speak with Steve Grubbs, CEO of Omnicom's PHD. He's responsible for 4.5B dollars in global billings and seven US offices. Clients include DaimlerChrysler, Gap/Old Navy, Ralston Purina, J&J, Goodyear, Reebok, Gap, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Discovery Networks, Schwab and Energizer. Prior to joining PHD, Steve was CEO of OMD USA, Omnicom's other global media services network. Before that, Steve was EVP/Director of National TV Buying and Program Development at BBDO New York, where he served for 22 years. Steve's also a former Chairman of the AAAA's Network TV committee and currently serves on the board of directors of Advertising Information Services and E-sync Networks. Here, Steve gives an insightful take on holding the keys to innumerable, constantly-evolving media vehicles (continued from Monday). | More... |

Zimmerman wins S&K account
Omnicom's Zimmerman Partners has been named agency of record for S&K Famous Brands Inc, which operates the S&K Menswear retail stores. In announcing that it had won the 13M dollar account, Zimmerman said it will be working with S&K to enhance its market share. "We intend to work with them on everything from customer relationship management to direct mail to advertising - - it's not all about the ads, it's about the company's business direction as well," said Jordan Zimmerman, founder and Chairman of the agency which bears his name. S&K, based in Richmond, VA, has more than 240 stores in 70 markets.

Environmentalists go after Bush on FL Panhandle
The League of Conservation Voters has jumped into the campaign for Florida with a television ad campaign which takes on the environmental record of George W. Bush, specifically in regard to off-shore drilling within 30 miles of the Florida panhandle. The campaign aims to contrast Bush's words with his policies on the topic, accusing him of saying one thing while doing another. The campaign is scheduled to run in the Mobile-Pensacola and Panama City markets.

Religious group gets Philly TV
Trinity Christian Center is buying out the stock of Dorothy E. Brunson, as well as satisfying outstanding claims of her creditors, as part of a 48M deal for WGTW-TV, an independent outlet in the Philadelphia market. The deal calls for an upfront escrow deposit of 4.8M, an additional 2.2M cash payment on closing day, and payment of debt amounting to an estimated 41M. As far as compensation for the station goes, that 41M is a hard number, since the 7M in currency will be adjusted up or down to account for any surplus of deficiency of indebtedness. The only debtor mentioned specifically are Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., and Kalil & Co., which brokered the deal - - others are mentioned generally. Trinity is a California-based non-profit entity headed by Paul Crouch Sr. It operates 30 television stations throughout the US, as well as an international shortwave radio station. WGTW, which is licensed across the Delaware River from Philadelphia in Burlington NJ, has analog facilities on Channel 48, and digital on Channel 27.

Scripps Trust registers more stock for sale
Repeating a move it made more than a year ago, The Edward W. Scripps Trust has registered with the SEC to sell off millions of its shares of The E.W. Scripps Company. The trust sold seven million shares last year (3/26/03 TVBR Daily Epaper #60) and has now filed to sell six million shares. The trust currently owns 35% (63.1 million shares) of Scripps' publicly traded Class A Common shares, which is what it will be selling. It also owns 87.3% (18.4 million) of the company's closely held Common Voting Shares, which gives the trust effective control of the newspaper/TV/cable company. The trust says its stock sales are part of a long-term plan to diversify its holdings.

TV stocks went along for the ride. Fisher Communications rose 3.7% a day after reporting improved Q2 results. LIN Television rose 3.5%.

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Martin races to Indy
Tribune Broadcasting is moving WBDC-TV (Ch. 50, WB) Washington, DC VP/GM Jerry Martin to Indianapolis to take over as VP/GM of WTTV-TV (Ch. 4, WB) and WXIN-TV (Ch. 59, Fox).

Bosgang joins Stern
Former FX programming exec Jeremiah Bosgang has joined Howard Stern's production company, creatively called the Howard Stern Production Company, to head its new West Coast Office in LA. The company is currently developing an animated series, "Howard Stern: The High School Years," for Spike TV.

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Kellner sees radio and
non-pol TV in same boat
According to ACME Comm. CEO Jamie Kellner, there are haves and have-nots in this year's advertising environment. The haves are the big four TV network affiliate groups, who are cashing in big on political spending with their news-intensive stations. TVBR observation: Finally someone has said it for TV; they are in the same boat going up stream with only one paddle.
08/10/04 TVBR #155

Chrysler launches "Discover Your Ride" on Infinity stations
Infinity Broadcasting says more than 125 of itwand online cross-promotion for the Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep brands called "Discover Your Ride." The idea that leverages the popularity of Infinity DJs by encouraging their loyal listeners to check out an innovative way to shop for a new car using the stations website. TVBR observation: If you didn't get it then take a look see at that rich media and internet action is all about. "Discover Your Ride," also means discover the marketing, sales, programming and local interaction. 08/10/04 TVBR #155

Powering up the DTV plant
Stations operating a DTV station along side their traditional analog station have been thus far allowed to operate at reduced power. The time for that to change is now upon us. Here, straight from the FCC.
Editor's note: Best print this out as your rule book because if you ask your FCC Lawyer it will cost you but our observations are free.
08/09/04 TVBR #154

Senators step up to the
plate for Adelstein
A bipartisan group of Senate Commerce Committee members are making a third attempt to shake the proposed nomination of FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein out of the White House cubby hole wherein it is entrenched, and get it to the floor for a vote. 17 members of the committee signed a letter asking that President George W. Bush submit his name. TVBR observation: A piece of history as RBR has the letter, dated (8/5/04), showing the who's who inside the beltway. Here's the letter. 08/09/04 TVBR #154

A choice proposition on DTV
Most television broadcasters are currently operating on two channels, with one broadcast going out in analog and the other in digital. The time is rapidly approaching when final decisions must which channel - - perhaps one the two already occupied or perhaps a third option - - will become the permanent home when the station is digital-only. Here, straight from the FCC, are the channel election parameters.
08/06/04 TVBR #153

TVBR economic snapshot
The economic recovery continues to caterpillar forth, with each new day providing a freshly mixed bag of signs for the tea-leaf rewders to ponder. This time, while jobless claims were down, so were retail sales. But there is something which may be going up - - interest rates. Various prediction is Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan is going to put another quarter of a percent onto the prime ! rate, moving it from 1.25% to 1.5%. This is because for all the sluggishness, there are also positive signs, such as renewed consumer confidence and a jump in auto sales. Editor's note: Best have your business model in place after November 2nd. For whom the bell tolls rings 01/01/05.
08/06/04 TVBR #153

Nexstar CEO Sook says
JSA NPRM is a long shot
Major issue facing TV broadcasters addressed by Perry Sook is - The FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on TV station JSAs. We feel this is the start of a process. And with changes in the Commissioner ranks at the FCC, we think regardless of the outcome of the election we think this process will take a substantial amount of time to play out-perhaps years.
08/05/04 TVBR #152

TVB: cable penetration drops, satellite rises
Nielsen figures showing a nine-year low in cable penetration thanks to the growth of alternative delivery systems (ADS), which are mostly, satellite DBS. See the list.
08/05/04 TVBR #152

FCC puts the cattle-prod
to DTV process
The FCC has taken several steps toward bringing the conversion to digital television to a conclusion. All of them are aimed squarely at broadcasters. 08/05/04 TVBR #152