Good Morning - Gain a personal edge on today's business day. Are you reading this from a forwarded email?
New readers can receive our RBR Morning Epaper for the next 30 Business days!
SIGN UP HERE
|
|
|
|
|
Volume 23, Issue 32, Jim Carnegie, Editor & Publisher
|
Wednesday Morning February 15th, 2006
|
|
|
TV News ®
|
Big shareholders reportedly favor
VNU break-up to sale
As VNU management continues to evaluate a buyout bid from a consortium of private equity firms (2/8/06 TVBR #27), the Wall Street Journal reports that several of the company's biggest institutional shareholders aren't satisfied with the 8.8 billion bucks offer. Instead, they're said to favor breaking VNU up into three companies and then selling the pieces. According to the WSJ, analysis by those big shareholders figures the pieces could be worth 35-40 euros per share, considerably higher than the offer of up to 28.50 euros from the equity consortium. If such a strategy were to be followed, the largest and most profitable piece would be the media measurement division, led by US-based Nielsen Media Research with EVP of Media Measurement & Information Susan Whiting. Next would be the marketing services business headed up by President / CEO Steve Schmidt, which includes ACNielsen and Claritas. The least profitable division, considered the most likely to be sold off in any scenario, is the publishing and trade show operation, whose major US titles include Billboard, Adweek and The Hollywood Reporter fall under the watch of President / CEO VNU Business Media (USA) Michael Marchesano
TVBR observation: Having already derailed VNU's proposed seven billion bucks acquisition of IMS Health, causing VNU CEO Rob van den Bergh to announce his resignation (11/18/05 TVBR #227), VNU's big shareholders obviously have a lot of clout. The company's directors aren't likely to cross them again and approve a buyout bid that they won't like. After all, they might well have the votes to reject it anyway. Selling three companies will be more difficult than selling one, but then that's essentially what the equity consortium plans to do - - selling off unwanted pieces and then building up the remainder of VNU for a sale or IPO. The big shareholders apparently think they might as well do that themselves and eventually pocket the profits.
NAB goes to bat for telco MVPDs
There is nothing ambiguous about the position being staked out by the National Association Broadcasters when it comes to the looming battle between entrenched cable operators and would be competitors from the telephone industry. NAB wants the doors wide open for the new kids. In comments filed with the FCC, NAB cites the well-known general benefits of competition and refers to a smattering of statistics to back up the claim. NAB also notes that another channel lineup will help break cable's influence over what is and is not seen, giving new producers another place to try and peddle their wares. But NAB's chief concern is getting the programming of its constituency in the broadcast community before as many people as possible. Having a second local MVPD outlet (or third most places where satellite carries local channels) obviously provides local television with another way to reach viewers. "A new video distribution platform will represent another outlet for broadcast programming, including local news and information. Given broadcasters' dependence on advertising revenue (and thus on reaching as many viewers as possible), the expansion of our opportunities for reaching consumers must be regarded as positive. The development of another video distribution platform for carrying broadcast programming may also encourage the development of innovative digital television programming, including multicast and high definition programming. If new MVPDs emerge as viable platforms for carrying local stations' HD and multicast programs, broadcasters will be encouraged to make the substantial investments needed to bring their multicast service plans to fruition. In the end, it is consumers that will benefit by receiving a greater diversity of programming, including local programming, from multicasting broadcast stations and unaffiliated cable programmers via a competitive MVPD."
TVBR observation: Broadcast and telephone interests haven't gone unnoticed, sweet-talking to one another over there in the corner. The two industries seem to be developing a symbiotic relationship. Telcos can help broadcasters leverage high-def and multicast carriage, which broadcasters help telcos get started. This letter from the NAB to the FCC can be seen as a little Valentine to the phone people.
Redstone's son seeks breakup of
company that controls CBS
Was Brent Redstone inspired by his father's decision to break up Viacom? He's filed a lawsuit seeking to break up National Amusements Inc., the company by which the Redstone family controls both CBS Corporation and the new Viacom. If Brent has his way, the eight billion bucks company will be dissolved and he'll take his one-sixth stake to do with as he wishes. As it stands now, his father, Sumner Redstone, has majority voting control of National Amusements and, in turn, both CBS and Viacom. Brent is a lawyer-turned-rancher and once served as a director of pre-split Viacom. But he's been estranged from his father since siding with mom when the couple divorced in 1999. Sister Shari, who is closer to Sumner, is now President of National Amusements. According to the Los Angeles Times, which strangely was the first news outlet to report the Maryland lawsuit, Brent alleges that he was forced off the National Amusements board because he refused to falsely certify minutes of board meetings that never took place. The lawsuit also claims that Sumner failed to inform him of some major transactions, including a 425 million bailout of his father for a personal debt. "It is unfortunate that Brent Redstone is abusing the court system in an attempt to extract a financial settlement in a family dispute. His allegations are completely unfounded and NAI will defend itself vigorously against this meritless lawsuit," National Amusements (NAI) said in a statement yesterday.
|
|
|
Bush administration
pumping cash into the media
According to the Government Accountability Office, government agencies in the last two and a half years have pumped at least a cool 1.6B dollars into advertising and public relations, and the real number is likely much higher. Of this, the lion's share went through advertising agencies, which received 1.4B via 137 separate contracts. 54 agreements valued at 197M were made with PR firms, and 131 smaller contracts went directly to media companies, adding up to a total or 15M. A technique which gained notoriety in recent years was the video news release (VNR) - - GAO said 1.2M was spent on 14 such contracts. Even the rarely-used Armstrong Williams-type deals were also noted - - there were only eight, totalling just under 100K. However, the actual agreement between the Department of Education and Williams was not part of the study. According to a release from Democrats in the House of Representatives, GAO did not have direct access to much of the government and was certain that reports received were incomplete, since DE's known relationships with Williams and PR firm Ketchum Communications were not provided. "GAO surveyed only seven of the 15 cabinet-level departments and did not survey any independent agencies," it was explained in the release. Direct comparison to the spending habits of prior administrations was not part of the study, but it was noted that government spending on PR in 2000 was 39M, compared to 88M in 2004.
Mixed bag of January results
Both Scripps and Journal Communications reported yesterday on January ad sales - - and with very different results for their broadcast TV groups. At Scripps, January revenues were up 7.1% to 24.2 million. Local was up 12% and national gained 3.4%. TV revenues were also up at Journal, but only because of the new stations it recently acquired from Emmis. Including those stations, January revenues were up 64.1% to 8.8 million. However, without the new stations January TV revenues were down 2.4%.
Ads in Twin Cities spark protests
NBC Channel 11 KARE-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul says an ad being run on its station is sparking viewer protests. It comes from a group calling itself Progress for America. In the current flight - - KARE says the group has spent 700K on Minneapolis air space - - uses Minnesota military veterans to make a case for carrying on the war in Iraq. Several of the people who objected to the content thought it was misleading, if not outright incorrect, but was defended by one of the on-camera veterans as hewing strictly to the truth nevertheless. KARE stated, "The station neither agrees nor disagrees with the messages in advertising, but one of our responsibilities is to be an advocate for freedom of expression and to provide a marketplace of ideas."
TVBR observation: We agree with KARE. As long as the station makes its airwaves equally available to those with opposing views, the station should have no problems.
|
|
|
|
| Cable Business Report TM |
Eight months and out at EchoStar
Michael Neuman has resigned as President and COO of EchoStar after less than eight months on the job (6/21/05 TVBR #121). He'd previously been President of Bell Mobility, a subsidiary of Bell Canada. No reason was given for Neuman's departure. In fact, EchoStar didn't issue a public announcement, but simply filed a notice with the SEC. It said that Neuman's duties will be assumed by Vice Chairman Carl Vogel and Chief Technical Officer Michael Dugan, who is a former President and COO of EchoStar. Of course, Charlie Ergen continues as CEO.
|
|
|
|
|
Ad Business Report TM
|
Kwan's withdrawal changes Coke's ad plans
Michelle Kwan's withdrawal from the Winter Olympics has forced Coca-Cola to reevaluate its TV plans. Coke decided not to go ahead with one of its two ads that mention Kwan, while Visa USA is sticking with her in its campaign. A series of Coke ads that feature fans rooting on their favorite athletes included one where they were rooting for Kwan. Since she isn't seen in the ad, Coke will substitute ads featuring other athletes in the spots. Kwan and speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno had their names used in another Coke ad where the v/o says, "Without ice, Apolo Anton Ohno would be a speed-swimmer, Michelle Kwan would be a water-skater, and our Cokes would be warm." That ad is staying on the air.
MPG latest to sign for PPM
Arbitron announced that MPG, the buying and planning unit of Havas, has signed a contract to use its PPM radio audience estimates when the company makes a decision to deploy its state-of-the-art audience measurement service. "It's time for the radio industry to embrace the PPM so that it can be more accountable to advertisers," said Phyllis Maguire, MPG EVP/managing director of. "We're ready to work with radio broadcasters to help stations transition to Portable People Meter measurement." The agreement covers the U.S.-based radio planning and buying activities of Havas companies including MPG and MPG Diversity.
AdLab's Cohen invited
to join Round Table Group
Barry Cohen, principal of AdLab Media, has been admitted to Round Table Group's expert network. Round Table Group is a Chicago and Washington, D.C. think tank recognized by the "Wall Street Journal" for high profile companies seeking intellectual experts. In 2004 and 2003, Round Table Group made the "Inc 500" list of fastest growing US private companies. It has also been featured in Crains's and Fortune. |
|
|
|
| Media Business Report TM |
Knight Ridder auction
encounters new barrier
As Knight Ridder and its financial advisors evaluate buyout bids for the nation's second-largest newspaper chain (12/12/05 TVBR #241), it turns out that number crunching won't be the only part of the process. Knight Ridder's own San Jose Mercury News reports that company officials discovered a provision of the company's articles of incorporation which requires that the board of directors certify that the buyer will continue the company's "journalistic excellence." If the board can't or won't make such a certification, then a sale would require not just a majority, but 80% approval by shareholders - - a significant hurdle for any buyout to clear. The Mercury News said Knight Ridder management was scrambling this week to assemble a panel of independent journalism experts to evaluate the journalistic bona fides of potential buyers.
|
|
|
|
| Washington Media Business Report TM |
Commerce Committee flips sessions
Broadcasters have only a passing interest in many of the communications hearings currently on the agenda at the Senate Commerce Committee, and a pair of flippers constitute two of them. A session on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is moving from 3/14/06 to 3/2/06, swapping planks with Wireless Issues/Spectrum Reform, moving from the earlier to the later date. A national conference being held the week of the 14th posed a conflict for many with an interest in the VoIP issue.
|
|
|
|
| Entertainment Media Business Report TM |
NBCU Domestic TV signs
Access Hollywood
Starting with the 2006-2007 TV season, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution will now oversee all media sales for "Access Hollywood," it was announced by Barry Wallach, President, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution and Bo Argentino, SVP/Advertising and Media Sales, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. NBC takes over from Warner Bros. Access Hollywood, in its 10th season in syndication, currently is the youngest skewing first-run show of any prime access TV program and has the highest median income of any show in national syndication. "I would like to thank the Warner Bros. media sales team for their hard work and dedication in positioning "Access Hollywood" as a premiere property for national advertisers," says Wallach. "We are thrilled to add "Access Hollywood" to the NBC Universal portfolio and we look forward to building strong partnerships with advertisers in the show's next ten years."
|
|
|
|
| Hollywood Media Business Report TM |
Disney, Cisco Systems,
Intel re-launch MovieBeam
Disney's MovieBeam Inc. movie rental service has sold some 53 million in stock to investors including Cisco Systems, Intel, Mayfield Fund and Norwest Venture Partners. Disney remains MovieBeam's largest shareholder. They're resurrecting the datacasted VOD service with lower pricing to challenge established players in the space like Netflix, offering rentals - - some in HD - - for 1.99-4.99 each. MovieBeam's datacasting technology delivers the movies over the air to an antenna. The company uses spectrum held by National Datacast Inc., a subsidiary of PBS. The service is selling the service in 29 U.S. cities. MovieBeam is reportedly charging 199 bucks for the set-top box, with a startup fee of 30 dollars. The set-top boxes and antennas will be sold by Best Buy, CompUSA, Sears and directly from MovieBeam. MovieBeam offers new releases and popular favorites from virtually every major Hollywood studio. There are always 100 movies available instantly, with up to 10 new titles automatically delivered digitally each week. Subscribers have 24 hours to watch a movie after it has been ordered. Films can be replayed in that span but can't be recorded. No porn will be offered. MovieBeam was deployed and tested in three cities for more than a year, beginning in September 2003. It was all but shuttered by April 2005.
The newly appointed MovieBeam board includes:
Kevin Fong, managing director, Mayfield Fund
Matthew Howard, partner, Norwest Venture Partners
Salil Mehta, executive vice president, ESPN Enterprises (part of The Walt Disney Company)
Tres Izzard, president and CEO, MovieBeam.
|
|
|
|
| Ratings & Research |
Olympics take NBC to the top
NBC scored its first weekly ratings win of the 2005-2006 TV season in both Household and 18-49 on the strength of the Winter Olympics. Even so, the highest rated of the first three nights of Olympics coverage ended up in 7th place for HH ratings, with the Tuesday edition of "American Idol" on Fox claiming the #1 spot. For the week, NBC had an average HH rating of 9.4 and a 14 share. CBS was second at 8.1/13, with ABC 7.6/12, Fox 6.6/10, WB 2.3/3, Univision 2.2/3, UPN 1.9/3, Telemundo 0.7/1 and i 0.3/0. In the big money 18-49 demo, it was NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS, Univision, WB, UPN, Telemundo and i.
| Read More... |
Nielsen goes to college
For the first time, Nielsen is going to include TV viewing by college students living away from home in its National ratings. College students from Nielsen sample households will be added to the ratings calculation in early 2007. Nielsen has already run a two-year pilot program on how to measure college audiences, with support from a number of clients, including Turner Broadcasting, The WB, CBS, MTV Networks, Fox and ESPN. The first year focused on demonstrating that Nielsen could recruit participants and install People meters in campus locations. Year two focused on understanding the ratings impact of college viewing. During the 2004-'05 school year, Nielsen found that college students living away from home watched an average of 24.3 hours of television per week. Nielsen estimates that overall Adult 18-24 viewing levels could increase from 3-12% by incorporating college viewing in the National TV ratings.
|
|
|
|
| TVBR Stats |
Nielsen Monitor-Plus:
Winter Olympics opening ceremony ads
NBC carried a total of 40 minutes of national commercials during its telecast of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony, on 2/10 in Torino, Italy, according to Nielsen Monitor-Plush. This compares to 35 minutes of commercial time during the Opening Ceremony of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 and 40 minutes of commercial time during the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, both also carried by NBC. The Automotive Category aired the greatest number of commercials during the Opening Ceremony, accounting for a total of 71/2 minutes of airtime. General Motors contributed to a majority of the commercial minutes, advertising for its Chevrolet and Cadillac brands as well as promoting its environmentally friendly "FlexFuel" vehicles. The Motion Picture Category followed with 31/4 minutes, as Buena Vista Pictures placed the most ads for the films "Eight Below" and "Shaggy Dog", while Credit Card Services held the number three slot with a total of 3 minutes of commercials, all for Visa International. General Motors was the top advertiser, airing 51/2 commercial minutes for the following brands: Cadillac Escalade (1 minute), Chevrolet Tahoe (11/2 minutes), Chevrolet Trucks (1 minute), Chevrolet Suburban (30 seconds), and General Motors Autos and Trucks (11/2 minutes). Visa aired 3 commercial minutes and McDonald's, Exxon Mobil and Coca-Cola follow for the third slot with 2 minutes of air time each. Visa Credit Card Services was the top brand advertised during the 2006 Opening Ceremony, with a total of three 60-seconds commercials. McDonald's, Exxon Mobil and Coca-Cola Soft drinks each aired 2 minutes worth of commercials, while Chevrolet Tahoe Trucks, General Electric and General Motors tied for third, each running 11/2 minutes of commercials.
|
|
|
|
| Engineering Business Report TM |
NETIA announces advanced monitoring solutions
NETIA, a provider of software solutions for managing media content, is launching a powerful new range of audio and video monitoring solutions for radio and television. This new offering, which is fully integrated with NETIA's Manreo and Radio-Assist media-management solutions, is comprised of Chronos and Dragster software. Chronos automatically captures audio and video feeds during a broadcast and offers real-time MPEG-4 encoding for video and MP3 or WAV encoding for audio. Its interface allows operators to view video data on demand, 24/7. Users can retrieve playlists without interrupting the recording and the system automatically archives and purges recorded files stored locally or on the network. Dragster is a real-time engine that monitors the appearance of specific images among thousands of clips, triggering such actions as recording, switching the grid, playback from a server, and notification in a database. It features full-screen image recognition as well as recognition of parts of images.
|
|
|
|
| Stock Talk |
Back above 11,000
It was a day of hitting landmarks in the markets. Oil prices fell below 60 bucks a barrel, which got the attention of stock traders, who sent the Dow Industrials above the 11K mark. Specifically, the blue chip index rose 136 points, or 1.3%, to 11,028.
TV stocks rose modestly. Sinclair rose 2.3% and News Corp. rose 2.1%.
|
|
|
|
| Stocks |
Here's how stocks fared on Tuesday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
|
Acme
|
ACME
|
|
3.60
|
+0.10
|
LIN TV
|
TVL
|
 |
11.09
|
+0.01
|
|
Belo
|
BLC
|
 |
21.66
|
+0.08
|
McGraw-Hill
|
MHP
|
 |
54.16
|
+0.78
|
| CBS CI. B |
CBS |
 |
25.60
|
+0.06
|
Media General
|
MEG
|
 |
50.36
|
+0.31
|
| CBS CI. A |
CBSa |
 |
25.59
|
+0.08
|
Meredith
|
MDP
|
 |
54.98
|
+0.67
|
|
Clear Channel
|
CCU
|
 |
28.70
|
+0.04
|
News Corp.
|
NWS
|
 |
16.95
|
+0.35
|
|
Disney
|
DIS
|
 |
26.75
|
+0.34
|
Nexstar
|
NXST
|
 |
4.22
|
+0.03
|
|
Emmis
|
EMMS
|
 |
17.44
|
+0.16
|
NY Times
|
NYT
|
 |
28.10
|
+0.29
|
|
Entravision
|
EVC
|
 |
7.24
|
+0.09
|
Paxson
|
PAX
|
 |
0.87
|
-0.03
|
|
Fisher
|
FSCI
|
 |
42.89
|
+0.35
|
Saga Commun.
|
SGA
|
 |
10.00
|
+0.10
|
|
Gannett
|
GCI
|
 |
63.13
|
+0.83
|
SBS
|
SBSA
|
 |
5.94
|
+0.09
|
|
Gen. Electric
|
GE
|
 |
33.46
|
+0.21
|
Scripps
|
SSP
|
 |
49.99
|
+0.54
|
|
Granite
|
GBTVK
|
 |
0.14
|
unch
|
Sinclair
|
SBGI
|
 |
7.64
|
+0.17
|
|
Gray
|
GTN
|
 |
8.40
|
-0.07
|
Time Warner
|
TWX
|
 |
18.17
|
-0.10
|
|
Gray, C1. A
|
GTNa
|
 |
8.40
|
unch
|
Tribune
|
TRB
|
 |
31.16
|
+0.42
|
|
Hearst-Argyle
|
HTV
|
 |
23.89
|
+0.27
|
Univision
|
UVN
|
 |
34.08
|
-0.32
|
|
Jeff-Pilot
|
JP
|
 |
60.11
|
+1.65
|
Wash. Post
|
WPO
|
 |
743.03
|
+1.03
|
|
Journal Comm.
|
JRN
|
 |
12.52
|
+0.02
|
Young
|
YBTVA
|
 |
3.58
|
+0.02
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bounceback
|
We want to
hear from you.
This is your column, so send your comments and
a photo to tvnews@rbr.com
I read the 2/13/06 Media, Markets & Money segment with interest (2/13/06 TVBR #30) and felt a need to comment on LTV Network's aim, "...to become the third largest Spanish TV network in the US." It would seem that LTVI has a long road to travel on their quest. The Azteca America Network currently reaches 77% of US Households via affiliated broadcast stations like KMCE - Azteca 43 in Monterey-Salinas, CA. Cable and Satellite carriage of our affiliates penetrates further into the burgeoning US Hispanic population. The programming resources of the Azteca America Network stand on a firm foundation laid by TV Azteca - - the 2nd largest producer of Spanish Programming in the world. I would say that the target LTVI is aiming for has already been struck. We welcome the efforts of networks like LTVI. The success rate of Hispanic media outlets in this country can only continue to rise.
Brad Jackson
Operations Manager
KMCE Television - Azteca 43
Monterey-Salinas, CA
|
|
|
Below the Fold
|
Cable Business Report
Eight months and out
New EchoStar President
is gone out left the building...
Ad Business Report
Coke to reevaluate TV
Kwan's withdrawal decides
not to go ahead...
Hollywood Media Business Report
A re-launch of MovieBeam
By Disney, Cisco Systems, Intel...
Ratings & Research
Olympics just so-so
May take NBC to the top
but 'Idol' still on top...
|
|

|
Download Now
February '06 RBR/TVBR Solutions Magazine
|

As a Professional courtesy and your convenience we have produced our printed Magazine in PDF Format. Read the pdf version from the link below or right click and choose "Save Target As" to save the pdf.
Read February's
RBR/TVBR Magazine
This pdf requires
version 6.0 or later. Use this button to update now.
|
|
|
TVBR Radar 2005
|
|
Television News you won't read any where else. TVBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
|
Reverse comp may be a
tough sell for the CW
Plans by partners CBS and Time Warner to collect reverse network compensation for the new CW network launching this fall may face resistance from potential affiliates. With News Corporation also out pitching its unwired network alternative of stripped programming from its 20th Television subsidiary, CBS and Time Warner may find it tough to push for reverse compensation if, in some important markets, either the current WB affiliate or the current UPN affiliate sits out the bidding for the CW affiliation.
TVBR observation: What happens if no broadcast station in a market bids for the CW? After all, Sinclair owns both the WB and UPN affiliates in a few markets. There is another option for the CW - - a digital only multicast station. That's a viable alternative, but it would also be a startup, making it even more difficult for the would-be affiliate to work reverse compensation into its business plan.
02/14/06 TVBR #31
President Dennis Donlin on GM's new local TV relationships
Here's what he told us: "[Last] week GM Planworks had a constructive dialogue with local TV stations on a new approach that will improve partnership. More in
02/13/06 TVBR #30
Carat clears the air
on the DVR ultimatum
Ray Warren, Carat Americas President, tells RBR/TVBR about a bit of a misunderstanding that may have been behind ABC's Mike Shaw's recent ultimatum. Details in in
02/13/06 TVBR #30
TVBR First
GM share deals to be cancelled
Stations to monitor pod violations as GM Planworks SVP/Local Investment Director Kevin Gallagher made the announcement to all in the Television Business. Reps were called to a meeting and told that GM share deals would all be cancelled from Q2 on and that stations, not buyers, would then monitor pod violations. Said one industry source: "These moves lose GM multiple millions of ad time at a time when they need every dime they can get. In the local community the reps are out celebrating as are the stations."
TVBR observation: Trouble is brewing here so read the details
02/10/06 TVBR #29
Announcement imminent at AAAAs
Jean Pool, EVP/Director of North American Operations Universal McCann, Chairman of Media Policy at the AAAAs, confirms what Jon Mandel alluded to yesterday over ABC's Mike Shaw's proclamation that ABC will not do business in the 2006-07 upfront with media agencies that insist on using only Nielsen's live ratings as the measurement currency. Confirms Pool on the matter: "Yes we will be announcing something at the 4As conference."
TVBR note: And TVBR Publisher Jim Carnegie and Sr. Editor Carl Marcucci will be there for the fireworks with exclusive content for your TV Business.
02/10/06 TVBR #29
TVBR First
What have we done???
By Jean Pool, Keynote Speaker 4A's '06 EVP/Director N.American Ops. Universal McCann
Just why is it that we're hell bent on irritating the very people that we are trying to sell our products and services to? Clutter is the death of the media. Early Saturday morning call... a telemarketer that instructs me to wait for the next available operator. What are they thinking? Another favorite is my Sunday New York Times stuffed full of inserts that usually end up scattered on my hall floor. Then there is radio... driving along listening to Dr. Laura berating a call-in when you're interrupted by a commercial. Or one hour of Howard Stern's show of 18 commercials ...38 units ran. Geez, that barely gives Howard time to get in the F word. For a reality check read the entire article
02/01/06 TVBR #22
VNU in no rush to sell itself
The long-term fate of Nielsen Media Research remains unclear. There's still no indication of the fate of Billboard, Adweek, The Hollywood Reporter and other US media magazines owned by VNU as their parent company mulls whether to accept a buyout bid. VNU confirmed that the head of its Supervisory Board, Aad Jacobs, and VNU's Executive Board met Monday with Eric Knight, who heads the Knight Vinke Asset Management investment group, to hear his views on the possible sale of VNU to a consortium of equity investment funds. VNU says it is continuing to have active talks with the equity funds about a buyout of the company. But while there are lots of talks going on, VNU management appears to be in no hurry to strike a deal.
TVBR observation: As we've noted before, the equity buyout firms haven't given any indication what parts of VNU they intend to keep for a while and build up for an eventual sale or IPO and which ones might be sold off immediately. The general view from outside observers is that the publishing and trade shows unit is the most likely to be put on the auction block. The most profitable division - - and the least likely to be sold unless there's a really impressive offer - - is the media ratings business, led by Nielsen Media Research in the US.
02/08/06 TVBR #27
ABC leads strong quarter for Disney
Powered by ABC Television and its theme parks, Disney reported fiscal Q1 (October-December 2005) results that exceeded expectations. Media Networks revenues rose 6% to 3.67 billion and operating income rose 7% to 606 million. Within that, operating income for the Broadcasting segment shot up 87% to 234 million, primarily due to higher ratings at ABC Television driving higher ad revenues. Broadcasting revenues rose 9% to 1.81 billion.
There is more see
02/07/06 TVBR #26
Citadel + ABC: Done
Here's how the deal will work
The merger of Citadel and ABC Radio will be a complicated one. Because its tax basis in the radio assets is essentially zero, Disney insisted on a "reverse Morris Trust" so it (and its shareholders) will not have to pay capital gains taxes on the transaction....ABC's O&Os, 22 stations in nine markets, will become part of Citadel Communications, as will ABC Radio Networks. Citadel will have an exclusive 10-year licensing agreement to deliver ABC News Radio programming to terrestrial radio stations.
02/07/06 RBR #26

|
|
|
|
 |
Local Sales Executive
TeleFutura 49 in Dallas seeking a motivated and dedicated individual to join local sales team. Minimum 2 yrs experience in TV, Radio or Cable Sales. Excellent opportunity for growth. EOE.
See TV Careers
Companies Looking
1. Local Sales Manger KQCA-TV
2. Top TV editor for TVBR
3. Sales executive for TVBR
See TV Careers
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Help Desk
|
Having problems with our epapers?
Please send Questions/Concerns to:
Memberships@rbr.com
If you wish to remove your name completely from our database use this link __UNSUB__
TVBR Epaper -- 108 annual
or just 9 a month
|
|
|
|
©2006 Radio Business Report, Inc. All rights reserved.
Television Business Report -- 2050 Old Bridge Road, Suite B-01, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 -- Phone: 703-492-8191
|
|