• Nielsen Weighs Plan To Make Internet Measurement Mandatory In TV Households by Joe Mandese

    The Nielsen Co. is considering a radical and potentially controversial plan to integrate measurement of online audience measurement with its conventional TV household ratings system. The plan, which comes as Nielsen prepares to merge with online audience measurement firm NetRatings later this month, is part of Nielsen's so-called A2/M2 (Anytime/Anywhere) measurement initiative, and would call for installing new meters and software in its existing TV ratings panel that would enable Nielsen to simultaneously track online usage in those households. ...Read the whole story

  • Upfront: Fox Negotiations Underway, All Nets' Volume Down From '06 by Wayne Friedman

    Late last week, Fox joined NBC and other networks in some upfront deal-making. "We've come to terms with many of our clients, and negotiations are underway with the rest," said a Fox rep. No financial terms were disclosed at press time, but movie companies are expected to bring the net increases in the 7% to 8% range. ...Read the whole story

  • Enterprise: Private Ownership Transforms TV Station Biz by David Goetzl

    Private equity firms are transforming the station business. The head of the Television Bureau of Advertising said one-third of its 600 member stations could be privately held by the end of 2008, up from zero a year ago. "That's a pretty startling and noteworthy pattern," said Chris Rohrs, TVB president. Part of their modus operandi is to buy companies that are potentially overlooked and undervalued--then use shrewd management to build their worth, without the pressures from Wall Street. ...Read the whole story

  • NAB To MusicFIRST: We Won't Pay For Radio Play by Fern Siegel

    The musicFIRST Coalition wants Congress to pass a law that requires compensation for performers whose music is played on the radio. The NAB calls the move a tax on U.S. radio stations, but musicFIRST's director accuses "corporate radio" of refusing to pay singers their due. ...Read the whole story

  • Brownridge, Quadrangle Buy Three Dennis Titles by Erik Sass

    In partnership with Kent Brownridge, former senior vice president of Wenner Media, Quadrangle Capital Partners has purchased Maxim, Blender, and Stuff from Dennis Publishing for about $240 million, the companies are set to announce this week. The sale to a private equity group is the latest deal in a year which has seen numerous properties changing hands in the magazine business, with many going to private equity firms. ...Read the whole story

  • Big Overlap In Online, Print Newspaper Use by Erik Sass

    A new study commissioned by the Newspaper National Network found a high degree of overlap in the use of online and print newspaper products, with 81% of respondents saying they regularly consumed both. For advertisers, the message is clear: Buy both online and print, since each aids the purchasing cycle. ...Read the whole story

  • Biggest Threat to Newspapers Is ... MySpace? by Erik Sass

    In addition to news aggregators like Google and Yahoo, newspapers need to watch out for online competition from a less obvious source--social networks. It's no surprise that new media cuts into old media usage. But the best strategy for newspapers may be to insert content within social networks, thereby kick-starting debate. ...Read the whole story

  • Crushed: NBA Ratings Sink To Lowest Ever by Wayne Friedman

    The NBA finals now join the respective NHL and Major League Baseball championship series with some dire TV-ratings performances. The San Antonio Spurs sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers will mean this NBA finals will sink to the lowest-ever numbers among all viewers, as well as key 18-49 watchers. ...Read the whole story

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