Scarborough adds program genre viewer info
Scarborough Research announced it has added TV program genre viewer and and VOD viewing to its study. Clients can get info on specific show-genre preferences and cross reference them with a host of lifestyle choices. Beginning with the first release of the 2004 Scarborough database (this month), in-depth qualitative info about consumers who watch different types of shows-from the many versions of reality (dating, game shows, documentaries, adventure, talent, etc.) to music videos and local news-will be available to help TV stations, cable systems and marketers better target their audiences and customers. | Full Story Click Here |

Research completed on Unicast's
video commercial format
Final results based on five studies conducted by Dynamic Logic on the "Video Commercial" from Unicast, were announced. Aggregate results from the Video Commercial campaigns from AT&T, Honda, Pepsi, Vonage, and Warner Brothers, showed that, on average, these campaigns lifted brand and persuasion metrics 5-11 times greater than Dynamic Logic's MarketNorms. In addition to measuring the Video Commercial's effect on brand and persuasion metrics for advertisers, consumer response to the online advertising format, itself, was evaluated. | Full Story Click Here |

Fox Networks Group creates
new engineering, ops division
Fox Networks Group has announced the creation of Fox Networks Engineering & Operations, a new division overseeing all network engineering and operations for FOX Broadcasting Co., Fox Cable Networks and FOX Sports. Based in LA, the new unit draws upon and combines the physical resources and expertise of Fox Digital in LA and Fox Cable Networks' Technical Operations Center in Houston. Richard Friedel, EVP/GM of Fox Networks Engineering & Operations, will supervise all broadcast and transmission operations, production and post-production, field operations, engineering and facility service activities within the new unit, reporting to Andrew Setos, President of Engineering for the Fox Group. | Full Story Click Here |

C-Span considers time delay
The NY Times reports C-Span is considering a time delay to remove offensive material uttered by live callers. "That's the only way to deal with this," Brian Lamb, C-Span CEO told the paper, referring to a spike in vulgar language on the cable network's live call-in programs. "What's a tragedy about this is the greatest thing we've been able to do over the past 25 years is the spontaneous discussion" of public policy.
| Full Story Click Here |

Ben Sherwood gets GMA
As predicted (4/16 TVBR Daily Epaper #75), Ben Sherwood has been named executive producer of ABC News' "Good Morning America," replacing Shelley Ross, who moves to "Primetime Thursday." Sherwood is a noted author and was previously senior broadcast producer of "NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw." Prior to that he was an investigative producer with ABC News' "Primetime Live." Sherwood will assume his duties at "Good Morning America" on 4/26, reporting to Phyllis McGrady, SVP/ABC News.

"In Da Morning"
with Bob DeCarlo'
will return Monday April 26th

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P&G's Jim Stengel talks reality of today's advertising world.
Accountability Part II:
They are at it again.
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AFL-CIO targets Clear Channel
over executive pay
The AFL-CIO has picked ten public companies in its annual campaign against what it views as excessive executive pay packages - - and one of this year's targets is a broadcasting company, Clear Channel Communications. Editor's Note: Naples, Florida Is Calling - How radio is killing itself from the inside out. Senior Management is killing this business from every angle. These selfish leaders are lining their pockets and the pockets of Wall Street and the legal community without any consideration for the future of the medium, the people who work in it. This is not a commentary from some old fart longing for the good old days where WABC had more listeners than the population of most major cities. This is from someone who has been to the front line, and doesn't like what he is seeing there. Read the entire perspective on Naples, Florida Is Calling in the May RBR Solutions Magazine, page 3.
04/19/04 TVBR #76

TVB Roars with Outlook for TV
Here are the quick bullet points from President Chris Rohrs for 2004: #1 The transition to Digital transmission, #2 The Business Process of Spot is about to be re-born and #3 TV station websites are capturing the potential that Broadband to the Home is finally delivering. Editor's note: For those who did not take one day out of their calendar... hit the showers. Free TV is at risk. 04/19/04 TVBR #76

Whiting responds to Fox's people meter trashing at TVB
Poor Nielsen CEO Susan Whiting took a heck of a beating over people meters at last week's TVB2004. But she may have reached a boiling point over it when it comes to Fox's statements, or shall we say, "campaign," against the devices. TVBR observation: Again, Arbitron and Nielsen do lunch and get to know one another real quick, like now. 04/19/04 TVBR #76

TVB conference still
running on all cylinders
Continues its tight association with the annual New York Auto Show with over 1100 TV execs breaking bread with important folk in the automotive industry, advertising and media buying companies and national brand managers. Editor's note: Vital points to book mark if you weren't there and if you were best focus on thse points: Upfront - TiVo and DVR/PVR's - Nielsen. If you missed it now read it. 04/16/04 TVBR #75

CBS's Les Moonves
confident of next TV season
"There are things wrong with one or 2 networks - thankfully we are not one of those 1 or 2,".. His spin on the upfront continued too. "This is the golden age of drama" of course CBS adds CSI New York in the fall. Just think if CBS also had Law & Order -"we'd be unbeatable." NBC had to buy Universal to protect themselves from CBS buying it. Editor's note: Moones secret weapon they have for the fall season - Radio. He stated that they have 183 radio stations that 2 weeks before the fall season kicks off will be running commercials promoting CBS TV programming every hour on the hour to promote their shows. Ta-Dum!
04/16/04 TVBR #75

Air America coming
back on in Chicago
Armed with an order from a New York judge, Air America should be back on this air at Multicultural's WNTD-AM Chicago. The court granted a temporary restraining, although the order does not apply to KBLA-AM Los Angeles, where Multicultural also pulled the plug on Air America. Editor's note: It would be nice to see the lease between the parties. Going to court doesn't seem to be a logical way to hold an affiliate's feet to the fire if it is Air America's desire is to build a true and pure radio network. Last we heard it was called good affiliate relations. For argument sake, say this was the last thing you read about Air America - going to court for custody. Now what is the next question you would ask yourself? 04/16/04 RBR #75

Light at the end of the DTV tunnel?
"We want to make this as seamless and painless as possible for as many people as possible." Those were the words of FCC Media Bureau Chief Ken Ferree. A possible new scenario for kicking off the digital television era - - as well as kicking back broadcast TV's analog spectrum into the federal auction storehouse. 04/15/04 TVBR #74

Moonves predicting double-digit upfront CPM increase
Let the posturing begin!!! CBS-TV CEO Les Moonves predicted double-digit CPM increases for his net in the upfront-likely more than any other network. Editor's note: Some may call it posturing but get real - it is called CYA and get out front for the TV upfront for that $9Billion+ that is soon to committed by agencies come May. 04/14/04 TVBR #73

Infinity in the FCC's crosshairs
Commission is turning its sights to the company that actually originates and syndicates the Stern show - - Viacom's Infinity. At three violations per station times $27,500, that works out to a likely fine of $1,485,000. TVBR observation: It's open season on broadcasters. The FCC has thrown away the rule book and is firing wildly. As erratic and unpredictable as the FCC's indecency enforcement was before, it's just gotten much worse. Hold on to your Hair and checkbook!
04/12/04 TVBR #71

People Meter ads a worry for COLTAM/COLRAM
Nothing worries researchers more than having publicity screw up research results. Big concern is about the radio and newspaper ads which ran in New York to protest Nielsen's now-postponed debut of Local People Meter ratings. TVBR observation: The problem, of course, is that the groups who ran the ads against Nielsen's Local People Meters were neither broadcasters, NAB members nor Nielsen subscribers. 04/12/04 TVBR #71