| WGA Strike Central: Day 86 |
 Carat on strike:
"Are TV fans tuning in
or dropping out?"
To gain a better understanding of consumers' media habits and attitudes as a result of the strike, Carat fielded an online survey of 1,000 primetime TV viewers. The findings shed light on the fact that fans are not deserting TV, but people are shifting their viewing patterns. 72% of respondents report that they are watching the same amount of primetime TV than before the strike, while 25% of people are watching less and 3% are watching more. The survey also discovered that in addition to their typical television viewing, consumers are changing what they watch during primetime. For example, they are willing to watch different genres, watch repeat episodes and channel surf to hunt for different programs. Additionally, they are open to expanding their use of other entertainment options such as online, DVDs, magazines and video games.
For those who "would not" or "may not" continue to watch their favorite shows in repeats, the top choice was to go online (54%), followed by channel surfing until they found something else interesting to watch (51%). 16% said they would continue to watch favorite TV shows in repeats for the next 3-6 months. Among those viewers, 21% said they would never lose interest. Among those who said they would not (24%) or may not (60%) continue to watch their favorite shows in repeats (total of 84%).54% said they would go online instead. 51% said they would channel surf until they found something else interesting to watch instead. 42% would watch rented DVDs or buy DVDs. 38% would watch DVDs they currently own. 32% said they would watch other primetime shows they are familiar with. 30% would read magazines. 20% would play video games. Of the 54% of viewers who said they would go online instead, 6% said they would go to TV networks' websites to watch shows or parts of TV shows (webisodes/episode players, etc.) that they would or would not normally watch. 81% said they would browse the Internet for topics of interest
DGA Board unanimously approves new contract
The board of the Directors Guild of America voted unanimously Sunday to recommend ratification of a deal with Hollywood studios. The three-year agreement reached 1/17 establishes key provisions involving compensation for programs offered on the Internet that will hopefully be used as a template for the resumed WGA-AMPTP negotiations. "We achieved our three primary goals: jurisdiction in new media, which was absolutely essential; compensation for the use and reuse of our work in new media; and significant gains on issues of real importance for our work in traditional media," DGA President Michael Apted said in a statement. The ballot will now go to the DGA's 13,500 members for ratification.
WGA to write for Grammys
The WGA announced an interim agreement with the producers of the 50th Grammy Awards-adding to what it guaranteed last week during the new AMPTP negotiations--it will not picket the ceremony. "Professional musicians face many of the same issues that we do concerning fair compensation for the use of their work in new media," WGA West president Patric Verrone. "In the interest of advancing our goal of achieving a fair contract, the WGAW board felt that this decision should be made on behalf our brothers and sisters in the American Federation of Musicians and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists." Scripting for the show will be written under a WGA contract.
TVBR observation: This is very promising news. It shows both sides are changing their tone during these critical negotiations. The good will is flowing, and a new contract is likely to be had soon, at least under these friendly conditions. Fingers crossed!
|
|
|
|
|
TV News ®
|
 One less broadcast analyst
Yet another radio and TV stock analyst has gotten his pink slip. Bank of America is the latest Wall Street firm to decide it can do without anyone covering broadcasting stocks and has bid adieu to Jonathan Jacoby, as well as folks covering a couple of other media sectors. Jacoby had been with BofA since May 2003 and was covering broadcasting stocks for a couple of years before that at Suntrust Robertson Humphrey. There was no immediate word on whether other analysts at BofA might pick up some of the broadcast companies that Jacoby had been following, including such names as CBS, Clear Channel, Citadel, Cox Radio, Disney, Emmis, Entercom, Entravision, News Corporation, Radio One, SBS, Sirius, Viacom and XM. His layoff comes just a few days after Deutsche Bank decided that it, too, could do without a pure-play broadcast analyst and cut loose James Dix.
TVBR observation: TVBR readers know that we had quoted Jacoby's research pieces frequently, so we will miss sharing his views with you. His email notifying us of his departure from BofA expressed the hope that this will be a short "respite" before he resumes his dialogue with us about stocks. We hope that's the case, but it certainly looks like a tough time to be finding anyone hiring media analysts on Wall Street.
Now you can invest in Al Gore
Former Vice President Al Gore's Current Media has filed to sell up to 100 million bucks worth of stock in an IPO. The company operates a website that distributes content aimed at young adults along with a related cable network, although it has suffered from a lack of carriage agreements in the US. The company had revenues of 37.9 million and an operating loss of 4.8 million in 2006. Revenues grew to 63.8 million in 2007, with an operating loss of 6.1 million. Gore is listed as Executive Chairman and Director, with Joel Hyatt (of Hyatt Legal Services fame) as CEO and Director. Former News Corp. exec Mark Goldman is COO. The preliminary prospectus filed with the SEC identifies JP Morgan, Lehman Brothers and Pacific Crest Securities as the main underwriters. The company plans to trade on Nasdaq as "CRTM."
 FCC tells ABC:
No ifs, ands or butts
An episode of NYPD Blue first aired in February 2003 has resulted in an FCC fine meted out to 52 ABC-affiliated television stations. Language was not a problem, but footage of a woman about to enter a shower was. Each station was hit for 27.5K, for a total addition to the US Treasury of 1.43M, assuming the Notice of Apparent Liability moves forward to a full-flegeded forfeiture. The stations participating in the hit are all in the Central and Mountain time zones. The program aired in the safe harbor 10PM time slot in the Eastern and Pacific zones. Only two ABC/Disney O&Os turned up in the FCC's net, WLS-TV Chicago and KTRK-TV Houston. The offending footage showed a rear-view of a naked woman, with brief side views of her breasts (the FCC's full description is available under the click below). ABC contended that buttocks are "not a sexual organ," but the FCC countered that its position was supported by case law and common sense. ABC also argued that there were relatively few complaints about the program, but the FCC countered that while ABC itself may not have been inundated, the FCC received "thousands of letters from members of various citizen advocacy groups."
One of those groups was certainly the Parents Television Council. "We are thankful that the FCC has finally taken a stand for children and families with this unanimous order," said PTC's Tim Winter. "The delay in getting here has been frustrating, but we are delighted by the decision. PTC members and concerned citizens across the country spoke out against the nudity in the 2003 episode of NYPD Blue and today their pleas have been answered." FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate weighed in on the NAL. "Our action today should serve as a reminder to all broadcasters that Congress and American families continue to be concerned about protecting children from harmful material and that the FCC will enforce the laws of the land vigilantly," she said. "In fact, pursuant to the Broadcast Decency Act of 2005, Congress increased the maximum authorized fines ten-fold. The law is simple. If a broadcaster makes the decision to show indecent programming, it must air between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM. This is neither difficult to understand nor burdensome to implement."
TVBR observation: Interesting timing here. This incident occurred almost exactly a year before Janet Jackson introduced a whole new level of toxicity into the indecency debate during the Super Bowl halftime show. Why did it take four years for the FCC to get around to it, when it could've been dealt in the relative quiet of 2003? And why do the opinions of even a million advocacy group members outweigh the opinions of many millions more who didn't seem to find any problem with the footage in question, as ill-advised as it seems in the post Jackson-Timerlake world? It NAL also is released after the FCC made it through all of 2007 without issuing a single penny in indecency NALs, and while the Supreme Court mulls giving a listen to the FCC's struck-down fleeting expletive case.
| FCC description of offending scene here |
 First ruling of a hamstrung FEC
Staff at the Federal Election Commission has issued an advisory opinion based on requests from SpeechNow.org and FreeCause Inc. The SpeechNow question asked for opinion of the subject matter of four proposed advertisements and on whether they were subject to donation caps. The draft of the advisory opinion (AO) stated that the ad material did indeed "constitute express advocacy," and that the organization would be considered a political committee upon receiving or spending in excess of 1K. The AO must be ratified by the commissioners, but an acute failure of the administration and Congress to see eye-to-eye has resulted in the existence of only two of six commissioners actually on the job. Four are needed to approve an AO. In this case, Chairman David Mason (R) believes that the staff got most of the AO right, but that there is no need to cap the organization's contributions. Democrat Ellen Weintraub said there was nothing ambiguous about staff's interpretation and that they were perfectly correct and donation restrictions apply. SpeechNow will receive a copy of the draft, notification of the vote, and an explanation that the whole this doesn't count.
TVBR observation: The AO may or may not have been ambiguous, but the end result certainly is. This should be a matter of some concern to SpeechNow.org, since organizations on both sides operating as 527s back in 2004 were eventually fined for behaving like PACs, even though the FEC dragged its feet into issuing an opinion on that matter when it would have actually been instructive and helpful. Continued refusal to agree on FEC nominees, which may be deliberate, could contribute to an anything-goes melee in 2008, even if it results in fines not levied until all the votes have been counted.
|
|
|
|
| Wall Street Business Report TM |
Hedge fund names nominees
We now know who the Harbinger hedge fund wants to place on the board of directors at the New York Times Company. It has joined forces with Firebrand Partners to nominate Firebrand founder Scott Galloway, Allen Morgan of the Mayfield venture capital fund, former AOL exec Gregory Shove and Kohlberg & Co. co-founder James Kohlberg. Together, Harbinger and Firebrand say they control 4.9% of the stock of the New York Times Company. In a letter addressed to Chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and CEO Jane Robinson, Galloway insists that his intention is to be an "honest broker" between the company and its shareholders.
"It has been, and remains, our intention to pursue this effort in a spirit of cooperation with the Board and management that moves beyond the old dichotomy of 'hostile' and 'friendly' and focuses instead upon our shared interest in building shareholder value. To that end, I am writing on behalf of Firebrand/Harbinger, LLC, a company formed by Firebrand Partners and Harbinger Capital Partners, who together own approximately 4.9% of the outstanding common equity of the Company, to request a meeting with you and your Board. I want to assure you that we are not pursuing a change in the dual class shareholder structure. The New York Times is a great institution controlled by the Sulzberger family and we have no illusion about, or desire to change, that fact. Our efforts are focused on how we can work with management and the Board for the benefit of all stakeholders," Galloway said.
TVBR observation: Somehow, we doubt that the management at New York Times Company is going to be impressed by this sweet talk. "There is nothing wrong with The New York Times Company that cannot be fixed with what is right with The New York Times. We believe a renewed focus on the core assets and the redeployment of capital to expedite the acquisition of digital assets affords the greatest shareholder appreciation and creates the appropriate platform to compete in today's media landscape," Galloway said in his letter. Why "Arthur and Janet," as he addresses them, need his assistance isn't explained.
|
|
|
|
|
Ad Business Report TM
|
 WorldLink signs with
NHL Network for DR
WorldLink, a multiplatform ad sales firm, has entered into an exclusive agreement with NHL Network to oversee all direct response spot and longform ad sales. The announcement was jointly made by Toni Knight, Founder and CEO of WorldLink, and Larry Gelfand, NHL Senior Vice President, Media Sales. NHL Network, which launched in the United States in October, is the National Hockey League's official network, airing live games as well as extensive news coverage and highlights year-round. NHL Network joins WorldLink's portfolio of nearly 50 sports networks worldwide represented by the company, which is the largest sports-oriented direct response rep firm in television. Company clients include the Big Ten Network, Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports Latin America, NBA TV, CSTV, Fuel, Altitude, TVG, Gol TV, NewYorkRangers.com, NewYorkKnicks.com and MSG.com, among others.
Campbell Soup, ABC airing heart health messaging
People who watch "The View" or any of three soap operas on ABC are going to hear a lot about women and heart disease -- and Campbell Soup -- in February, according to an AP report. ABC and Campbell have an integrated effort to promote heart health and the soup in both programs and commercials through February, which is American Heart Month. This is the first ABC has ever made to have all its daytime shows focus on a single issue. "The heart-related story lines will surface in different ways. On "General Hospital," one nurse will have a heart attack; on "All My Children," characters will plan a charity event sponsored by Campbell's to benefit the American Heart Association. On the talk show "The View," the hosts will wear red on Friday to promote the cause," said the story.
Wendy's reduces the orange wigs in campaign
Wendy's will scrap its eight-month old campaign -- much of it built on young men wearing a red wig with braided pigtails -- amid continued weak sales, the chain announced Monday. The campaign, which debuted during "American Idol" in May, has generated attention but hasn't translated into improved sales, the company said. The campaign was built on the tag, "That's right," which relied on humor to emphasize the chain's made-to-order food and unfrozen beef. The slogan for a new campaign is "It's waaaay better than fast food. It's Wendy's." The red wig still remains part, but the focus is now on the Wendy's logo. Kirshenbaum bond + partners handled creative. The logo opens and closes each ad. An animated Wendy holds a fishing rod in one ad to introduce the new fish sandwich. In other ads, she takes a bite out of a hamburger or holds a piggy bank to promote Wendy's super value menu. The new campaign better represents Wendy's traditions while still focusing on the key target audience of 18-to-34-year-olds, Kerrii Anderson, Wendy's CEO told the AP.
|
|
|
|
| Media Markets & Money TM |
French takes a ride on the Reading
If WTVE-TV Reading was on a Monopoly board, it would be one of those deeds turned over, the format Parker Brothers used to indicate general insolvency. A company headed by Richard French has come forward to buy the station out of Chapter 11. French's WRNN-TV Associates will get the station for 13.5M, a price negotiated my Chapter 11 Trustee George L. Miller after plans for an auction fell through at the last minute. They tried to assemble five bidders, found two and one dropped out the night before the auction would have been held. WTVE is an indy on Channel 51 (DTV 25), considered to be part of the Philadelphia market. French is already active in New York with niche properties WRNN-TV Kingston NY, DTV-only on Channel 48, and it's satellite WRNN-LP Nyack NY. According to Wikipedia, the stations play Jewelry TV and anime-formatted FUNimation Channel fare.
|
|
|
|
| Washington Business Report TM |
House panel pegs PEG witnesses
 The Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet has announced the lineup of witnesses for its hearing on "Public, Educational and Government (PEG) Services in the Digital TV Age." It will no doubt come as a relief, and probably not much of a surprise, that broadcasters can generally give this event a wide berth. David L. Cohen of Comcast figures to be in the hot seat, along with Gail Torreano of AT&T Michigan. The witnesses effectively playing the role of plaintiffs figure to be Mayor John B. O'Reilly Jr. of Dearborn MI and Annie Folger of Midpenisula Community Media Center in Palo Alto CA.
TVBR observation: The DTV transition is on the agenda this same House subcommittee and the Senate Commerce Committee, on 2/13/08 and 2/14/08 respectively. There is nothing on the immediate horizon aimed directly at radio. And 99.9% of the time, the lack of a congressional hearing on the agenda is good news, so that is exactly how we suggest you radio people take this.
|
|
|
|
| Ratings & Research |
Nielsen to measure real-time
consumer feedback during Super Bowl
The Nielsen Company announced it will measure U.S. consumer preferences of the 2008 Super Bowl ads from its first social network platform, HeyNielsen.com, a site geared to highly engaged entertainment enthusiasts. Hundreds of consumers from the volunteer panel will rate the 2008 Super Bowl ads in real-time using a proprietary HeyNielsen.com ratings and review scale. In addition, Nielsen will measure the degree to which other site members validate or agree with the posted reviews. After each commercial break throughout the Super Bowl, Hey! Nielsen members will be asked immediately to rate each commercial on a scale from 1 to 4. Panelists can also add their own commentary after each commercial break and at the conclusion of the game. Results will show which commercials were the most and least favorable, and whether the panelists are likely to use this advertiser's services in the future. Results from the live online focus group will be shared with Nielsen clients following the Super Bowl.
875 million consumers have shopped online
More than 85% of the world's online population has used the Internet to make a purchase-increasing the market for online shopping by 40% in the past two years-according to the latest Nielsen Global Online Survey on Internet shopping habits. Globally, more than half of Internet users have made at least one purchase online in the past month, according to Nielsen. Among Internet users, the highest percentage shopping online is found in South Korea, where 99% of those with Internet access have used it to shop, followed by the UK (97%), Germany (97%), Japan (97%) with the U.S. eighth, at 94%. Additionally, in South Korea, 79% of these Internet users have shopped in the past month, followed by the UK (76%) and Switzerland (67%) with the U.S. at 57%.
 Globally, the most popular and purchased items over the Internet are Books (41% purchased in the past three months), Clothing/Accessories/Shoes (36%), Videos / DVDs / Games (24%), Airline Tickets (24%) and Electronic Equipment (23%). Among Germany's Internet users, 55% said they bought books, 42% had bought Clothes/Accessories/Shoes and one in four had purchased Music/Videos/DVD's in the past three months. During the same period, among Internet users in the UK, 45% bought books online, followed by Videos/DVDs/Games (44%), Clothing/Accessories/Shoes (38%), Music (37%) and one in four Internet shoppers also purchased and Airline tickets/Reservations online. Among U.S. Internet users in the past month, 41% bought Clothing/Shoes/Accessories, 38% bought books and one in three Internet shoppers bought Videos/DVDs/Games.
|
|
|
|
| Stock Talk |
Buyers bet on Ben
Wall Streeters have high hopes that Ben Bernanke and his fellow Fed folk will cut rates again at this week's meeting. The Dow Industrials rose 177 points on Monday, or 1.5%, to 12,384.
TV stocks went along for the ride. The TVBR Television Index rose 0.667, or 0.7%, to 93.363. Media General shot up 8.8% as management battled publicly with a hedge fund investor. Entravision gained 5.5%. There were, however, some significant losers. ACME fell 7.5% and Clear Channel 7%.
|
|
|
|
| Stocks |
Here's how stocks fared on Monday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
|
Acme*
|
ACME
|
|
2.58
|
-0.21
|
Journal Comm.
|
JRN
|
 |
8.09
|
+0.36
|
|
Belo*
|
BLC
|
|
17.00
|
+0.29
|
Lincoln Natl.
|
LNC
|
|
52.71
|
+1.74
|
| CBS CI. B* |
CBS |
|
24.72
|
+0.84
|
LIN TV*
|
TVL
|
|
12.23
|
-0.19
|
| CBS CI. A |
CBSa |
|
24.70
|
+0.84
|
McGraw-Hill
|
MHP
|
|
41.79
|
-0.21
|
|
Clear Channel
|
CCU
|
|
31.42
|
-2.38
|
Media General
|
MEG
|
|
20.73
|
+1.67
|
|
Disney
|
DIS
|
|
29.37
|
+0.69
|
Meredith
|
MDP
|
|
47.26
|
+1.05
|
|
Emmis
|
EMMS
|
|
2.86
|
+0.06
|
News Corp.
|
NWS
|
|
19.59
|
+0.33
|
|
Entravision*
|
EVC
|
|
6.93
|
+0.36
|
Nexstar*
|
NXST
|
|
7.66
|
-0.03
|
| Equity Media* |
EMDA |
|
3.25 |
unch |
Ion Media
|
ION
|
|
1.40
|
+0.01
|
|
Fisher*
|
FSCI
|
|
32.93
|
+0.29
|
Saga Commun.
|
SGA
|
|
5.78
|
-0.02
|
|
Gannett
|
GCI
|
|
37.48
|
+2.01
|
SBS
|
SBSA
|
|
1.84
|
+0.11
|
|
Gen. Electric
|
GE
|
|
34.72
|
+0.72
|
Scripps
|
SSP
|
|
40.08
|
+0.97
|
| Google |
GOOG |
|
555.98
|
-10.42
|
Sinclair*
|
SBGI
|
|
9.39
|
+0.45
|
|
Gray*
|
GTN
|
|
7.86
|
-0.02
|
Time Warner
|
TWX
|
|
15.25
|
+0.29
|
|
Gray, C1. A
|
GTNa
|
|
8.54
|
-0.02
|
Wash. Post
|
WPO
|
|
738.30
|
-10.40
|
|
Hearst-Argyle*
|
HTV
|
|
21.12
|
+0.35
|
Young*
|
YBTVA
|
|
0.69
|
unch
|
*Component of the TVBR Television Index
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bounceback
|
 We want to
hear from you.
This is your column, so send your comments and
a photo to tvnews@rbr.com
|
|
|
Below the Fold
|
Ad Business Report
What's moving and shaking
WorldLink Signs with NHL Network for DR Campbell Soup, ABC airing heart health Wendy's reduces the orange wigs...
Media Markets & Money
French takes a ride
On the Reading,if WTVE-TV Reading was on a Monopoly board, it would be...
Washington Business Report
House panel pegs
PEG witnesses,for its hearing on Services in the Digital TV Age...
Ratings & Research
Real-time consumer feedback
Nielsen will measure U.S. consumer preferences of Super Bowl ads from its first social network platform...
|
|
|
Stations for Sale
|
 Market your Stations For Sale
in our daily epapers.
Contact
Jim Carnegie
jcarnegie@rbr.com
|
|
|
More News Headlines
|
Denny's launches new multimedia effort
Denny's is reinforcing its "real" breakfast dominance by challenging fast food (quick service) restaurants for the first time. Denny's is out to bust so-called "fake" breakfast. Denny's AOR Publicis Mid America in Dallas developed the integrated campaign entitled "Don't Fall for Fake." From national broadcast, diverse digital, PR, in-store merchandise, and guerrilla marketing efforts, the scrappy campaign targets men and women 25-40 and reinforces the overwhelming appeal of real, as consumers are faced with real versus fake. Components include two new TV spots Tony Sirico, formerly of "The Sopranos." In "Phony Money" (:30 & :15) Tony tosses down fake money at a fast food joint to pay for breakfast -- his rationale: fake money for a fake breakfast. In "Line Up" (:30) Tony and an upset man are featured behind a two-way mirror, along with a police officer, and they're viewing a lineup of fast food workers in various crazy themed costumes. The man picks out the offender that sold him a fake breakfast.
The national broadcast buy via Optimedia catches consumers during "American Idol" and "Grey's Anatomy" and spans primetime/premium syndication, early morning, late night/overnight, general syndication, African American syndication, late night cable and general cable. Denny's is also introducing a new Spanish-language TV campaign titled De verdad verdad (Really Real) via :30 and :15 television spots. Real versus fake also employs a digital strategy developed by Optimedia. The engaging campaign ranges from humorous banner ads, mobile alerts, offer-based online games, video ads, to paid searches and music polling/custom playlists such as your top fave breakfast songs.
|
|
|
RBR - Radio News
|
ICBC hangs out
a new shingle
ICBC, better known as Inner City Broadcasting Corporation, has been running broadcast facilities for a long time, and must be hugely popular in regulatory circles these days since their licenses can be added to the undersized minority-owned category. However, its 17 stations are primarily concentrated in four markets, meaning it can offer management advice in hundreds of other markets without a conflict of interest. A message from ICBC's Skip Finley notes that the company has three execs with more than 100 years experience between them on matters such as M&A, due diligence, operating multiple format platforms in large or mid-sized markets, management training and retention, market analysis, financial services and strategic direction. It is looking to lend a hand in distress situations, and says its willing to offer full trustee operational services for stations with "an uncertain timeframe for asset sales."
RBR observation: Finley makes no mention of any kind of ownership focus, nor should he - distress is distress. But if the company can help stressed minority owners keep their heads above water, that will be great news for the owners, and concerned individuals on Capitol Hill and at the FCC.
|
|
|
TVBR Radar 2008
|
|
Television News you won't read any where else. TVBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
|
WGA Strike Central, Day 85
Daytime ratings down this season
Even before effects of WGA strike are felt, Live program ratings for network daytime are down this season at a critical juncture as drama programming transitions to scripts written mostly by non-members of the Writers Guild. On average, the three networks are down double digits this season versus year ago, and this is before we see any possible effects on dramatic storylines due to non-union scripts
01/28/08 TVBR #18
ABC stations fined
1.4M for bare buns
It took the FCC five years to decide that a February 25, 2003 episode of "NYPD Blue" broadcast on ABC Television was indecent, but late Friday the Commission announced plans to fine two ABC O&Os and 50 affiliates a total of 1,430,000 bucks because the program showed the bare buttocks of a woman as a young boy was depicted as entering a bathroom and discovering the woman nude as she was about to enter the shower.
TVBR observation: This is going to be a really tough one for the FCC to defend in court, so here is some free legal advice for the Commission's lawyers. First, make certain the judge has no access to a dictionary. This is absolutely critical to upholding your position that a buttock is a "sexual organ." Secondly, don't let the judge find out how arbitrary, vague and inconsistent your indecency standard has been over the past several decades. And finally, make sure he/she doesn't learn that not a single one of the complainants actually saw the broadcast, as they certified to the FCC. The monitoring sites for these zealot groups are in the Eastern time zone where the broadcast was within the safe harbor. But they ginned up complaints via email blasts that got followers to lie to the FCC and claim that they had viewed the broadcast in the Central and Mountain time zones.
01/28/08 TVBR #18
Clear Channel orders
deep cuts as recession looms
Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan sent out an email Friday ordering all VPs, GMs and Business Managers to make immediate cost cuts to curtail Q1 expenses. This follows RBR's recent report on how soft national sales pacings were early in the quarter (1/23/08 RBR #15). Apparently the shortfall is deep and wide for Clear Channel as management struggles to keep profits up in preparation for the going private buyout.
RBR observation: For a company that had already long ago cut expenses to the bone, further cuts could very likely create opportunities for competitors to increase audience and/or revenue share. But with the economy sliding into recession, it's not clear that very many will have the resources to grow as the radio industry giant shrinks. It will be hard to ramp up promotions and hire more sales people at a time when, in many cases, flat revenues will be seen as good news. For Hogan and his bosses, Mark and Randall Mays, the top priority right now is getting the Clear Channel buyout across the finish line. The stars appear to be in alignment, but anything that knocks the Q1 financial numbers severely off-course could be disastrous.
Read the email at RBR.com
Hedge fund wants board seats at
Media General, NY Times
Harbinger Capital Partners has made good on its threat to try to place directors of its own choosing on the board at Media General (1/21/08 TVBR #13). The hedge fund has formally filed to nominate Eugene I. Davis, F. Jack Liebau Jr. and J. Daniel Sullivan to stand for election at the annual shareholders meeting set for April 24th - presumably opposing candidates nominated by company management. The New York Times Company also announced that it has received word from Harbinger that it plans to nominate four candidates for that board.
TVBR observation: Harbinger cannot be anything more than an irritant on the board in either company, since both have two-tiered voting structures that guarantee voting control for the founding family. That is the Bryan family at Media General and the Ochs-Sulzberger family at the New York Times Company.
01/28/08 TVBR #18
WGA Strike Central, Day 82
Andy Donchin on WGA strike fallout; NBC moves
Andy Donchin, Carat Americas Director of Broadcast Buying, spoke out about the latest issued surrounding the WGA strike and what fallout it has caused-including the recent statements from NBCU CEO Jeff Zucker that NBC will not be doing any upfront presentations and has all but cut funding for pilots. The one-on-one in this report of TVBR.
01/25/08 TVBR #17
Form for substance?
The FCC's "Standardized Television Disclosure Form" is officially available, and it's a doozy. We clock it in at eight pages. It asks for all kind of information. What market are you in? Are you a network affiliate? Publicly owned? Independent? Commercial/noncommercial? It asks for information on primary and non-primary programming streams, the amount of time weekly for different types of programming, and how much is in high-definition. Go to TVBR.com to see the entire form
TVBR observation: This form is going to be a great deal of fun to keep up to date. And we can see where it would be fun to go to a station's public file and dig into this stuff, especially for the watchdog community. It may not be a bad thing for every station, either.
01/25/08 TVBR #17
|
|
|
TVBR Classifieds
|
Sales & Special Events Coordinator
Bow Tie Cinemas, a fast-growing, family owned cinema chain seeks energetic, detail oriented and organized individual to manage group sales, special events, house rentals. Must have excellent communication, multi-tasking and follow-up skills. Base salary, attractive commissions and benefits. To send resume and salary requirements via email see -
TV Careers
Hard finding that key person
to fill the important position at your organization? TVBR Classifieds, Results with Service. Contact April McLynn at classifieds@rbr.com
|
 |
|
|
|
|
