Subway breaks new campaign
Subway has debuted two new spots as part of their new "Split Screen" commercial series. Highlighting the brand's latest healthy offerings, Subway Fresh Salads, Split Screen was created by Fallon Worldwide and feature an effect in which, on the right half of the screen, someone describes their favorite Subway salad, while on the left side, the food is being built. Additional Split Screen commercials are in the works. The new campaign continues the "Eat Fresh" message with the line, "It's what to eat when you want to eat fresh." The first two Split Screen commercials include "Willpower" and "Superstitious," with WNBA player Lisa Leslie. The Split Screen series is airing on high-profile national network and cable stations. In addition to situation comedies, dramas and entertainment shows including American Idol. MediaCom continues to handle Subway's planning and buying.

Kerry loses top media man
Jim Margolis, John Kerry's top media adviser who has worked for the campaign for the past two years, issued a statement that said he and his firm Omnicom's GMMB will no longer be the creative force behind the Kerry ad campaigns. He said his departure was based on unacceptable contract changes, read: fee disputes. His firm will still be involved with buying for the campaign but will not be involved in creative. "Unquestionably, being a part of Senator Kerry's presidential campaign has been one of the most important efforts our firm has ever undertaken," Margolis said in his statement. "The stakes couldn't be higher for our country and we have been honored to help produce the spots and assist in developing the strategy that helped him secure the Democratic nomination." GMMB had handled the lion share of the $10.5M the Kerry campaign has spent on advertising from its inception through February of this year.

CBS to sponsor African Americans In Advertising's "Media Network Exchange"
African Americans In Advertising (AAIA) will hold a networking forum entitled "Media Network Exchange" on 4/12. The panel will be sponsored by CBS and held at Black Rock in NYC. | Full Story Click Here |

GM to double dealer ad contributions
CIBC World Markets reports in its monthly sales conference call held last week, a GM exec confirmed that the plan to double dealer contributions to the local advertising co-op applies to its network of dealers nationwide. As of 4/1, GM was asking its dealers in New England to double the amount of ad dollars it pays into the co-op to $200 per vehicle, with GM's contribution of 25% unchanged. This brings the total dollar contribution to the co-op to a record $250 per vehicle, up from $125. According to CMR ad figures, GM's co-ops spend 55% of their budgets on local TV, with the rest mainly on newspapers (35%) and some on radio (7%), although TV skews higher as a percentage of the mix in the more expensive, large market DMAs. Based on GM's 2004 sales expectations, CIBC estimates GM's co-ops should spend an incremental $600M annualized overall on advertising and $325M incremental on Spot TV. Assuming all other factors equal, CIBC estimates this increase would represent 1.4% growth in overall Spot TV.

History Channel eats crow
Responding to a hailstorm of criticism for airing "The Guilty Men," in which a theory was given credence that then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson was behind the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, The History Channel has reviewed the show and found it wanting. A panel of three historians reported back to the cable channel that the conspiracy theory was without foundation and that the show should not have aired. | Full Story Click Here |

USA Today to launch "Sport Page"
USA Today Live, a division of USA Today, announced the development of a weekly half-hour TV show, "USA Today Sports Page." Media consultants Sverdlik Brady have been retained to represent the company for distribution as well as for ad sales. Sverdlik Brady will work directly with USA Today Live managing editor and former reporter/anchor Lauren Ashburn as she oversees this initiative. " USA Today Sports Page will showcase the same kind of feature stories which have contributed to the enormous popularity of the USA Today Sports section," said Ashburn. "We will create a quality television program with uplifting stories from the world of sports that the entire family can enjoy." The show will be produced at USA Today Live studios in McLean, VA. A search for anchors, reporters and an executive producer is underway. National distribution with cable and broadcast networks and national advertising sponsorships are also being developed.

Another reunion for CBS
Reunion shows have been so successful for CBS that you just knew they couldn't pass on bringing the "Dick Van Dyke Show" cast back together. It's being billed as the "159th episode" of the classic series, picking up on the lives of Rob and Laura Petrie - - Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore - - 40 years later. All surviving cast members have agreed to appear on the show, which is scheduled to air May 11th.

NBC unveils Summer reality series
NBC announced "For Love or Money" (premieres 6/7 at 9P) "Who Wants to Marry My Dad?" (6/14 at 10P) and "Last Comic Standing" (6/8 at 8P) are among the Summer reality shows returning to the net. New reality strips include "Next Action Star" (6/15 at 8P) and "Come to Papa," starring comedian Tom Papa and his day-to-day life and family (6/3 at 8:30P). Next Action Star runs 10 episodes. Throughout the course of the series, competitions will test contestants' physical and psychological prowess as well as their acting ability and star potential. The final pair--one male and one female--will be chosen to star in a television movie (tentatively titled "Hit Me"), produced by renowned producer Joel Silver.

Most TV stocks rose with the rising tide. Disney and Entravision each gained 2.1% as the top performers.

04/06 - Get the feel of what you are scrolling down and reading ...Listen to this morning's AudioCast and
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Moonves booked for TVB

ANA and Reveries to launch exclusive online resource

BBC awards PR to
Pryor & Associates

USRN and Reality Central
pact for vignette

The following brokers will be attending the NAB. Call or email to make your appointment in advance.
-------------------------------Glenn Serafin, Aladdin Hotel,
cell 813-494-6875
gserafin@compuserve.com

Gordon Rice, Gordon Rice Associates, Bellagio, 843-884-3590,
gordon@gordonriceassociates.com

Elliot Evers, Media Venture
Partners, Ltd. , 415-391-4877,
sosullivan@mediaventurepartners.com

Ted Hepburn, The Ted Hepburn Company, 561-863-8995,
tedhep@aol.com

Terry Greenwood, Bellagio,
410-931-3362,
terry.a.greenwood@verizon.net

Dick Kozacko, Luxor,
office 607-733-7138, cell 607-738-1219,
rkozacko@stny.rr.com

Jim Ortega, Satterfield & Perry,
cell 303/913-1888, ortegamedia@hotmail.com

Ron Swanson, Satterfield & Perry,
cell 570-881-5274, Bellagio Hotel, ronaldkswanson@aol.com

Cliff Gardiner, Clifton Gardiner & Company, 303-758-6900, cliff@cliftongardiner.com

Larry Patrick, Patrick Communications, 410-740-0250, Bellagio, michele@patcomm.com

Media Services Group,
Bellagio Hotel, mediaservicesgroup.com

Zoph Potts, Snowden Associates, Bellagio, 252-940-1680 cell 252-717-3772, zophsnowden@earthlink.net

John L. Pierce, John Pierce & Company LLC, Mirage Hotel,
859-647-0101, cell 859-512-3015, jpierce@johnpierceco.com

Frank Boyle, Bellagio, 203/969-2020,
fboylebrkr@aol.com

Todd Fowler, American Media Services, Bellagio, 843-972-2200, tfowler@ams.fm

Broadcast boon in the
battleground states?
The 2004 election cycle begins hot, heavy and early. However, that is no guarantee that your station will reap any benefit. As in most businesses, the key to collecting political ad dollars is location, location, location. TVBR observation: The battlegrounds are the states and the money follows as the charts inside charts the color of money. The states where Campaign 2004 is essentially being fought, and therefore these are the states which stand to benefit from a political ad windfall. Number one - California and yes the Da state - Florida. Recommendation: Plan your inventory now. 04/05/04 TVBR #66

Accountability 2004: The History of Radio Ratings, Part 9
Looking at the diary method
Personal seven-day diary: This has been Arbitron's technique since it started measuring radio in 1968, and Nielsen used it back in the 40's. Listening from diaries returned, well - Pros: Gets multiple days of listening - - better establishes listening patterns. Cons: Arbitron is having to work ever harder to keep response rates at acceptable levels. Publisher note: Everyone is having PM syndrome. 04/05/04 RBR #66

NAB forms programming task force
It will examine options which include the possible establishment of a new NAB Code of Conduct. TVBR observation: Phil Lombardo had the best quote: "Broadcasters have a long history of being responsive to local communities that we serve.." To some extent this is true but now we have two sectors of the medium to serve and one master of a potential code - Radio and TV. Both similar but light years apart in community service since TV has yet to experience radio's voice program tracking outside the major markets and to experience the one owner in the market place as radio. Remember Minot, ND? 04/02/04 TVBR #65

Chairman Powell's
message to broadcasters
took the anti-indecency torch from outgoing Democrat Gloria Tristani when he joined the Commission, and often seemed to be waging a single-handed battle. But recently, has grabbed a torch of his own and has been charging ahead stride for almost stride with Copps. Editor's note: Powell's recommendation: "...I want to strongly encourage you to develop and adopt a new voluntary code to guide your actions in the same spirit you have in years past..." Question on years past - how many years past Chairman Powell? Besides the Janet Super Bowl raw naked action, what really has driven radio and television to get into such a mess? Part of the answer and especially in radio and maybe in television soon is - The medium is killing itself from the inside out. 04/02/04 TVBR #65

The History of Radio Ratings, Part 8 Accountability 2004
We have seen where the ratings game started and why now we are currently in the accountability stage for the future of the radio business and methodology for your market. But what are the relative strengths and weaknesses of each system? That's what this article will attempt to offer. It's written by a twenty-year-plus veteran of radio audience measurement, albeit with neither of the current "players."
04/02/04 RBR #65

TVBR mole report: Broadcasters look ready to self-police
An RBR source who attended the NAB Summit said that the broadcast industry seems bent on self-policing. Michael Copps repeated his oft-stated desire to pursue license revocation hearings, and mentioned Infinity/Viacom's WKRK-FM Detroit as a possible target. TVBR observation: Just as well the press was not invited - - we've heard most of this stuff before. And we thought we were part of the family! (sniff) Dog and Pony - period. Bet now NAB wishes they would have charged for it or had the event in Vegas.
04/01/04 TVBR #64