• TNS To Pitch Role In Nielsen's Commercial Ratings, Data Reveals Cable Concerns by Joe Mandese

    The most interesting presentation at today's special Advertising Research Foundation forum on Nielsen's new commercial ratings won't be made by Nielsen, broadcast, cable or even ad agency executives. It will come from Jon Swallen, senior vice president-research at TNS Media Intelligence. Swallen will reveal new data showing the duration and composition of TV commercial breaks and how they may or may not impact audience ratings. He also will make a case for why TNS, which is 100% dedicated to monitoring commercials, might be a better source than Nielsen for reporting that component of the new ratings. ...Read the whole story

  • Aegis Sets 'Extraordinary' Meeting, Asks Shareholders To Reject Bollore -- Again by Joe Mandese

    Aegis Group today announced it will hold an "extraordinary general meeting" of its shareholders on Nov. 22 to consider the request of its largest shareholder, Vincent Bollore, to give two of his hand-picked appointees seats on the Aegis board. Aegis' management team also called on its shareholders to reject the request to give the appointees, Philippe Germond and Roger Hatchuel, seats on the board, citing the same reasons the management team and Aegis shareholders rejected them when they were first submitted in June. ...Read the whole story

  • Disney Looks Past Station Rules, Eyes Nontraditional Platforms by Wayne Friedman

    The FCC has asked for comments on media regulations--but Walt Disney Co. isn't interested in playing ball. IThe company has 10 TV stations, but its focus is nontraditional media for content delivery. In fact, it's looking to divest a large number of radio stations and is reportedly in discussion with telephone companies about a content streaming network. The vice president of BIA Financial Network says Disney marches to the beat of its own drummer. ...Read the whole story

  • Cable Opts Out, Some Call It A Cop Out by Wayne Friedman>, <Author: Joe Mandese

    On the eve of yet another industry summit to discuss Nielsen's plans for reporting TV commercial ratings, the cable industry announced it is opting out - for now. The decision, based on a recommendation by the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau, puts cable networks in an awkward position, making them look like hold-outs in an era of increasing accountability. Moreover, while cable networks have legitimate methodological reasons for withholding their commercial ratings data, their decision to opt-out creates other dilemmas. ...Read the whole story

  • Web Gains Promo Mojo: Fox Airs 'OC' Online Before TV Premiere by David Goetzl

    The time is rapidly approaching when the following is no longer news: Network opts for online premiere. Fox brought that day a bit closer Tuesday, when it announced it will make the fourth-season premiere of drama "The OC" available on MySpace.com and the Web sites of its 24 owned-and-operated stations a week before the network launch. The tactic functions as both a promotional and an ad tool. ...Read the whole story

  • Turner's Koonin Expands Entertainment Portfolio, Adds Court TV, TCM by David Goetzl

    Steve Koonin, the former Coca-Cola marketer who switched to the creative side as head of TNT and TBS, will add oversight of Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and the newly acquired Court TV as the new president of Turner Entertainment Networks. Placing Court TV under the same executive who runs TNT and TBS is another sign that Turner intends to focus on building its prime-time offerings. ...Read the whole story

  • NBC's Flexible Scheduling Should Boost Prime Time by David Goetzl

    Flexibility pays off. NBC's flexible scheduling option for Sunday night NFL broadcasts allows it to snag a game from Fox featuring teams from two of the three top markets. Under the NFL's new $3.6 billion contract, NBC picks which game it airs in weeks 10 through 15 (and 17) of the NFL season. Afternoon games scheduled for Fox or CBS can then be shifted into prime time. Flexible scheduling is a boon to NBC--it helps ward off ratings drops. ...Read the whole story

  • Porter Novelli, Rose Group Strike Strategic Alliance, Form New Unit by Tom Siebert

    Public relations agency Porter Novelli has struck a strategic alliance with L.A.-based entertainment and lifestyle experiential marketer The Rose Group to form Porter Novelli Entertainment. The branded entertainment unit will seek out opportunities to develop marketing programs and brand-driven entertainment properties that are magnified through PR campaigns. Porter Novelli Entertainment, which has offices on both coasts, is committed to novel approaches to marketing. ...Read the whole story

  • NBC Takes Monday Night, CBS In Close Pursuit by Wayne Friedman

    Coupled with another steady performance from "Deal or No Deal," NBC eked out a Tuesday night overall victory: a 4.6 rating/12 share over CBS' 4.5/11. This was NBC's fifth Monday victory in six weeks. "Heroes" is on an upward trajectory, but it couldn't help "Studio 60." ...Read the whole story

  • The New Yorker Wins Top Cover Honors by Erik Sass

    PHOENIX -- The New Yorker took top honors in two categories of the American Society of Magazine Editors' first best cover contest, with the results announced Tuesday afternoon on the last day of the American Magazine Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The magazine won in the cover of the year (best cover overall) and news cover categories, with two cartoons attacking the Bush administration. ...Read the whole story

  • Direct Response: New And Improved! by Carl Langrock

    On New Year's Day 2006, one of the largest advertising campaigns in the history of television broke nationwide. The "Your World, Delivered" campaign for SBC's ... ...More

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