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TV News ®
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 Peacock jumps the gun
Jeff Zucker said at NATPE that expensive, showy Upfront presentations are a thing of the past, or at least should be, so NBC Universal is going low-key this year. And while that may be the case, NBCU is also getting a jump on the competition. The NBC Television Network will unveil its Fall 2008 lineup next week - a full six weeks before any of the other networks. And in keeping with its emphasis on 52-week scheduling, it will also be making pitches to advertisers for its midseason and summer programming, not just the new stuff coming for fall. As for the promised cost-cutting, NBC executives won't be walking across the street to make their pitches in Radio City Music Hall. They'll be staying right in the 30 Rockefeller Plaza building to introduce potential advertisers to the network's new shows. No word yet on whether the traditional shrimp platters will be replaced with hot dogs from the carts on the sidewalks outside.
TVBR observation: When you get down to it, the Upfront has really been about buzz. Ad buyers make commitments to a new show because people think it is going to be a hit, based on a pilot or, sometimes, just the star-power of the lead actor or actress. The truth is, buzz is often wrong. Highly touted new entries often fail to keep butts in couches and eyes on screens. On the other hand, if a show does better than expected, the network will do better selling in the scatter market. So, in the long run, what really matters is ratings, not buzz. Other than the reasoning that "it's always been done this way," all the hoopla about the Upfront is probably overdone.
 Decency watchdogs go on Fox hunt
Both the Parents Television Council and Morality in Media think the FCC fine against Fox for pixilated programming on a 2003 reality program called "Married by America" is totally justified -- if anything, according to PTC, the fine was paltry. Neither organization can believe that Fox is digging in and fighting the assessment.
TVBR observation: The New York Time weighed in on indecency Sunday, 3/23/08, and although it was talking about the Supreme Court decision to hear the FCC's appeal of its lower court loss on fleeting expletive enforcement, many of the same arguments apply.
| Read more here |
Box battle goes to court
The Community Broadcasters Association is headed to the DC Circuit Court to press its case that all digital-to-analog converter boxes should include an analog pass-through so the low power and translator stations that will not be broadcasting in digital on 2/17/09 will still be available to their over-the-air viewers. Most boxes do not include this feature. CBA's Ron Bruno contended before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet in February that the very survival of his members was at stake, and threatened court action if the pass-through feature was not made a requirement for approved boxes. Other witnesses, however, said that the pass-through was not necessary everywhere, and government mandates should be restricted to assuring a supply of such boxes only where they are needed, while encouraging retails to keep at least one such model in stock. The NAB came out in support of a pass-through in early February, but has also expressed its wish that CBA would take a more moderate approach to the problem.
 Hi ho, hi ho,
it's off to court we go
Talks on final financing terms for the 26.7 billion bucks going private buyout of Clear Channel have officially broken down. The would-be buyers, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital have sued their bankers, as has Clear Channel Communications itself. The lawsuit filed in a Texas state court in San Antonio, where Clear Channel is based, accuses the banks of tortious interference. The defendants are Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, RBS, Wachovia and Deutsche Bank. They're being sued for damages that CCU and the private equity firms claim far exceed the 26 billion price tag of the failed deal.
TVBR observation: This court battle should be familiar territory for one of the banks. Wachovia, has already had a legal fight over providing financing for a big broadcasting deal - coincidentally, the buyout of Clear Channel Television.
| Read more here |
Market alert
Restraining order against banks Oked
At 3:49am this morning a Market Watch alert reported; "Texas judge granted a temporary restraining order for banks not interfere with or thwart consummation of a planned $19 billion buyout by private-equity firms Thomas H. Lee Partners LP and Bain Capital Partners LLC. "We are pleased that the banks and the purchasers will now be able to move quickly to complete the loan documents and fund the merger," Clear Channel said in a statement."
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| Wall Street Business Report TM |
Picking the carcass
Now that the Clear Channel buyout has collapsed, what is the company worth going forward? Wall Street analysts are saying the trading price is likely to be around 25 bucks. SMH Capital analyst David Miller flipped his "Buy" recommendation to "Sell" after word hit the market that the buyout at $39.20 was on the brink of collapse. Without the buyout, he sees the value of the stock at about $24.50, or eight times estimated 2008 operating cash flow.
| Read more here |
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Ad Business Report TM
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Nexstar jumps 22 stations from Petry to Katz
Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced that it has signed a new long-term agreement for national sales representation with two units of Katz Television Group, a subsidiary of Clear Channel-owned Katz Media Group, transferring 22 stations in 14 of its markets from Petry Media Corp. subsidiaries Blair Television and Petry Media Sales.
| Read more here |
Media services available for political use
 The presidential candidates get most of the ink, and most of the campaign cash, but there are thousands of other elections taking place underneath that marquee event. A service called Political Advertising Program has been put together by a company called Spot Runner, which provides a number of media services priced to fit almost any political budget. The service was founded by political pros and internet entrepreneurs Nick Grouf and David Waxman, and boasts a bipartisan advisory board featuring political names like Bill Bradley, Mike Murphy, Dan Schnur and Bob Shrum. The service helps with creative for television, radio and online advertising. It offers both an extensive library of pre-produced, topical, customizable material, or production services that can quickly turn around candidate-supplied creative. It also offers market analysis that helps a budget-strapped candidate maximize the value of air time by super-targeting the appropriate audience. The service is available for use by candidates and public interest organizations. More info is available at www.spotrunner.com/political.
Scarborough thinks local
Scarborough Research announced that the company is evaluating the opportunity to expand its local market services and is in the process of "fully exploring" the option of measuring additional markets. The company measures 81 US DMA through its Top-Tier Service. Scarborough has added another 15 markets through a Mid-Tier study over the past two years. For the Top-Tier and Mid-Tier services, the Scarborough survey measures retail shopping behavior, multimedia usage and leisure/lifestyle patterns of adults ages 18 and older. This information is used by media companies, advertising agencies and marketers in the planning, buying and selling of media, as well as in strategy development, customer acquisition and retention.
| Read more here |
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| NAB Daytime Planner |
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The following will be attending the NAB. Call or email to make your appointment in advance.
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BROKERS
Patrick Communications;
Larry Patrick, Managing Partner;
Susan Patrick, Managing Partner;
Greg Guy, Managing Partner;
Todd Wirth, Director;
office: 410-799-1740;
Larry cell 410-707-4602 Bellagio Hotel; jill@patcomm.com, larry@patcomm.com; susan@patcomm.com
Schutz & Company; Bill Schutz; Bellagio Hotel; 757-258-8740, cell 757-880-9251; wbschutz@aol.com
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
Cavell Mertz & Associates, Inc.;
Gary Cavell, Richard Mertz, Dan Ryson; Main Office 703-392-9090;
NAB-Team@CavellMertz.com
| Bankers | Brokers | Legal |
| Traffic Systems | Consulting Eng. |
Contact jcarnegie@rbr.com to get your company listed today. |
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| Washington Business Report TM |
At FCC, there is no strenuous objection
 WJZD Inc. objected to the license renewals of Clear Channel stations in southern Mississippi; in particular, for WMJY-FM Biloxi, WKNN-FM Pascagoula and WBUV-FM Moss Point. The reasons, among others, are allegations that Clear Channel "engineered an unauthorized transfer of control" for WQYZ-FM Ocean Springs MS; the allegation that it is a recidivist indecency violator; and allegations that it misrepresents material before the FCC and lacks candor. However, the FCC pointed out the WJZD has made all these charges before, and lacking a showing of "material error or omission in the original order," and failing to raise "additional facts not known or not existing until after the petitioner's last opportunity to present such matters," leaves the Commission with no need to anything other than stand by its original ruling.
TVBR observation: This situation, which we see repeated in one form or another from time to time, obviously brings to mind the famous scene in "A Few Good Men" when the Demi Moore character refuses to let an overruled objection lie and ups the ante to a strenuous objection. The ultimate effect is to force a presumably impartial authority to defend your opponent. And another word of advice to those who would challenge a license because at some time in the past a licensee has been fined over one matter or another. If the fine has been paid, even if its for something you may consider morally reprehensible like uttering a bad word over the airwaves, then the matter is closed and cannot be used to punish the licensee on some new unrelated matter. This is not to say that we think all license renewal objections are necessarily frivolous. If a license challenger believes it has a genuine grievance, it is perfectly within its right to press its case. But there is also such a thing as a futile challenge. And it is your own time and money you'll be saving if you know when to let the matter go.
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| Cable Business Report TM |
 Cable v. Telco
If a subscriber wants to switch their phone service from AT&T to Verizon, they just subscribe to the new company, which cancels service from the old one. But if a subscriber to a cable MVPD service wants to switch to a telco MVPD service, the consumer has to set up a disconnect with the cable company. The telcos are petitioning the FCC to end this situation and allow free consumer movement between the rival video services. Meanwhile, cable giants -- which already offer phone and internet services along with their video fare in competition with telcos -- are banding together in an attempt to make WiMax wireless internet delivery a reality, further upping the ante between the rival industries. Comcast is said to be kicking in 1B, and Time/Warner 500M, in a development deal that also includes Sprint Nextel and Clearwire.
TVBR observation: Cable companies are encroaching into telco territory and vice versa. As they overlap more and more, the trend seems to be pointed toward a day when the only difference between the two will be their histories.
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| Entertainment Business Report TM |
 "The Shaggy Dog" and "Old Yeller" find a new home
Not only them, but "That Darn Cat" as well. Hallmark Channel announced that it has acquired the rights to 99 family-friendly movies from Disney-ABC Domestic Television. "We are thrilled about this deal, one of our most ambitious ever. This acquisition is another big step in our growth. It will help us expand our library of programming, drive ratings and lower our demos. Most of all, these movies are perfectly suited for the Hallmark brand of family-friendly programming and for the boomer generation, and will therefore help us attract advertisers and spur distribution for both Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel," said Michelle Vicary, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Scheduling.
The newly acquired movies will play on Hallmark Channel and on its sibling channel, Hallmark Movie Channel, a new 24-hour channel which airs "the greatest family movies of all time." The expansive list of baby boomer favorites includes Disney's "The Shaggy Dog," "Flubber," "Old Yeller," "The Parent Trap," "The Incredible Journey," "The Princess Diaries," "Freaky Friday," "The Santa Clause," "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," "That Darn Cat," "The Love Bug," "Mighty Joe Young," "Babes in Toyland," "The Cat from Outer Space," "Gus," "Return to Snowy River," "Snowball Express," "White Fang," "The Apple Dumpling Gang" and "Swiss Family Robinson." The Hallmark Channel also announced that it has acquired the rights to one of the most popular baby boomer series, "The Golden Girls," from Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
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| Internet Business Report TM |
Internet users mad for March Madness
CBSSports.com, in partnership with CBS Sports, CBS College Sports Network and the NCAA, has released traffic figures for NCAA March Madness on Demand for the first four days (First & Second Round) of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. In total, there were 3,318,844 total unique visitors to the NCAA March Madness on Demand video player, a 129% increase over 2007 figures (1,448,546 unique visitors). A new feature this year, the "Boss Button" - which dumps the streaming game for a serious-looking spreadsheet - has been clicked 2,190,488 times thus far.
| If you love numbers, read on |
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| Ratings & Research |
Week 26: Cable puts six in the top 100
Cable/satellite networks were again shut out of the top 50, but did manage to put six programs in the top 100 for Nielsen ratings in the key 18-49 demo. The weekly number crunch of broadcast and cable/satellite audience draws is done by the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVBR), using data from Nielsen Media Research. The top cable show was, as usual, "WWE Entertainment" on USA, at #54. If you didn't know that the #1 show overall was "American Idol" on Fox, you just haven't been paying attention.
| View the list here |
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| Stock Talk |
A day of pessimism
And not just about the shaky Clear Channel buyout deal. A second straight monthly decline in durable goods orders also depressed stock prices. The Dow Industrials fell 110 points, or 0.9%, to 12,423.
TV stocks were lower as well. The TVBR Television index declined 0.222, or 0.3%, to 86.108. Clear Channel recently completed the sale of its TV group, but its pending deal to go private has been closely watched by TV broadcasters as well, including former employees who still have CCU stock. It plunged 17.5% yesterday. Among TV stocks, Nexstar was down 4.5% and ACME was up 10.1%.
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| Stocks |
Here's how stocks fared on Wednesday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
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Acme*
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ACME
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2.35
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+0.22
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Journal Comm.
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JRN
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7.68
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+0.12
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Belo*
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BLC
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10.82
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-0.24
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Lincoln Natl.
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LNC
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51.67
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-1.68
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| CBS CI. B* |
CBS |
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22.93
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-0.13
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LIN TV*
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TVL
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10.18
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-0.10
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| CBS CI. A |
CBSa |
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22.93
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-0.19
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McGraw-Hill
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MHP
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38.37
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-0.33
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Clear Channel
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CCU
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26.87
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-5.69
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Media General
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MEG
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14.57
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+0.20
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Disney
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DIS
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31.72
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-0.36
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Meredith
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MDP
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38.52
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-0.55
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Emmis
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EMMS
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3.51
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-0.07
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News Corp.
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NWS
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19.19
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-0.20
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Entravision*
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EVC
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6.62
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+0.05
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Nexstar*
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NXST
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6.20
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-0.29
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| Equity Media* |
EMDA |
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2.48 |
-0.07 |
Saga Commun.
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SGA
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5.90
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+0.10
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Fisher*
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FSCI
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31.66
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-0.24
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SBS
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SBSA
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1.81
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-0.14
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Gannett
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GCI
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30.44
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-0.33
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Scripps
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SSP
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42.18
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-0.82
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Gen. Electric
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GE
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37.14
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-0.14
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Sinclair*
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SBGI
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9.46
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-0.20
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| Google |
GOOG |
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458.19
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+7.41
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Time Warner
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TWX
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14.39
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-0.50
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Gray*
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GTN
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5.99
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-0.19
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Wash. Post
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WPO
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660.40
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-8.62
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Gray, C1. A
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GTNa
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7.04
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-0.21
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Young*
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YBTVA
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0.74
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+0.02
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Hearst-Argyle*
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HTV
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21.25
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-0.08
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-
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-
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- |
-
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-
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*Component of the TVBR Television Index
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Bounceback
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 We want to
hear from you.
This is your column, so send your comments and
a photo to tvnews@rbr.com
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Below the Fold
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Cable Business Report
Cable v. Telco
If a subscriber wants to switch their phone service...
Ad Business Report
Media services available
For political use, presidential candidates get most of the ink, and most of the campaign cash...
Washington Business Report
At FCC, there is no strenuous
Objection, WJZD Inc. objected to the license renewals of Clear Channel...
Ratings & Research
Week 26:
Cable puts six in the top 100...
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Stations for Sale
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 Market your Stations For Sale
in our daily epapers.
Contact
Jim Carnegie
jcarnegie@rbr.com
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TV Media Moves
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Hammer nails
cable gig
 NBC Universal has named Bonnie Hammer President, Cable Entertainment and Cable Studio. Hammer adds to her current duties executive responsibility for the newly formed NBC Universal Cable Studio (formerly part of Universal Media Studios) and NBC Universal's Emerging Networks. Hammer had served as President, USA Network and SciFi Channel, since May 2004.
 Into the CBS family
Les Moonves is filling out the top-level staff for his new CBS Films. Debbie Miller has been named Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing, CBS Films. She will join CBS Films after her contract expires in June with Warner Bros. Pictures, where she serves as Executive Vice President of Domestic Theatrical Marketing.
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More News Headlines
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AAI claims DOJ softened antitrust standards
The American Antitrust Institute is "alarmed" that the Department of Justice lowered its standards to allow the merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. AAI says that DOJ took the standard wherein the mere possibility of price increases due to lack of competition is enough reason to turn the merger down, and turned it on its head, allowing the merger because it wouldn't necessarily increase prices, setting what AAI sees as a dangerous new precedent.
| Read more here |
Minority-owned broadcaster nailed on EEO
Entravision Holdings' Brownsville-McAllen TX radio group, which includes KFRQ-FM Harlingen, KNVO-FM Port Isabel, KVLY-FM Edinburg and KKPS-FM Brownsville, has been hit with an admonishment for failing to follow EEO job notification procedures. From 4/2/03 through 4/1/05, the group's recruiting efforts were deemed insufficient. FCC stated the company relied on "its corporate internet website, the stations' on-air advertisements, word-of-mouth, walk-ins, unsolicited job applications, or internal job postings." None of these methods were broad enough to fill the bill. Luckily for Entravision, the violations occurred in a prior licensing period and renewals have already been granted, so the group got off with a cash-free admonishment and reporting conditions.
TVBR observation: There you have it. Just because you're running a minority operation, staffed with an exemplary number of individuals from the minority population, does not get you off the hook for following required EEO procedures. Yeah, it probably seems a little bit like when the nurse wakes you up to give you a sleeping pill, but the rules are the rules.
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TVBR Radar 2008
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Television News you won't read any where else. TVBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
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TNS: U.S. ad spend
grew 0.2% in 2007
The ad market continued to sputter at the end of 2007 and finished the year with measured spending of 148.99 billion, up 0.2%. Cable TV spending surged in the second half and finished 2007 at 17.84 billion, an increase of 6.5%. Among television media, full-year Network TV expenditures declined by 2.0% to 22.43 billion. Spot TV, in the face of difficult comparisons against record-setting levels of 2006 political advertising, plummeted 10.2% to 15.59 billion. Syndication TV fell 1.5% to 4.17 billion.
TVBR observation: The analysis is compelling and the information and data valuable, Read more here in TVBR
03/26/08 TVBR #60
Clear Channel Battle Rages On
Shares plunged in after-hours trading as the Wall Street Journal posted a story on its website that the private equity buyout was "near collapse." After closing at 32.56, the stock fell to 27.50 by 4:40 pm ET, 3/25/08. The mood darkened in recent days as the private equity firms, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital, worked on details of the credit agreement with their bankers. According to one source quoted by the WSJ, "no one wants to do this deal except for the seller."
TVBR observation: The long roller coaster ride for Clear Channel employees is not over yet. But what are they supposed to do while this battle rages behind closed doors? The company went into a holding pattern at the beginning of the year, with Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan calling a halt to virtually all hiring, promotional spending or any spending that could be delayed. Now it looks like that state of limbo is going to continue into Q2. Along with the radio stations, folks at Katz, RCS, Inside Radio and the other businesses that Clear Channel owns don't know how to plan for the future. What's that going to do to morale? Reported First by TVBR, the Hogan memo 01/28/08 TVBR #25.
03/26/08 TVBR #60
Take the money and run
Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Wienkes is telling clients to sell their Sirius shares as they surge on the DOJ merger approval. Don't wait for the FCC, he warns. Warning of a potential 30% or so downside, Wienkes has added Sirius to Goldman Sachs' "Conviction Sell List."
RBR observation: In his summary, Wienkes even warns of "de facto FCC rejection of the deal." That was what you read here on Monday - that Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin could lose by winning (3/24/08 RBR #58) if, after winning at the DOJ, the FCC gives its approval as well, but with restrictions so onerous that XM and Sirius will refuse to go to closing and head to court instead. Indeed, having the DOJ give its green light has caused some consumer groups to step up their calls for the FCC to require a significant set-aside of spectrum for other operators as a condition of permitting the monopoly to go forward.
03/26/08 RBR #60
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TVBR.com Classifieds
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Account Executives
WDCW-TV, Washington's CW has two immediate openings. First, for entry-level AE and Second, need an experienced New Business local AE. Highly motivated self-starters who have the ambition to be successful apply. Winning attitude is important. Requirements include ability to develop long-term relationships and have strong closing skills. Must be well-organized and possess excellent presentation skills. EOE To apply see TV Careers below.
Hard finding that key person
to fill the important position at your organization? Try TVBR Classifieds.
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