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• CBS Reports Strong Advertising For TV, Radio, OOH by Wayne Friedman

  Despite overall U.S. economic malaise, current fourth-quarter advertising business is healthy for CBS. There have only been a few last-minute cutbacks on season-long TV advertising deals made in June. Plus, its global business is burgeoning. ...Read the whole story

• Audit Finds Nielsen's C3 Ratings Hurt Advertisers by Steve McClellan

  A provocative new analysis of the so-called C3 ratings system by media audit firm Ebiquity argues that it almost forces broadcasters to game the system -- to the potential disadvantage of many advertisers ...Read the whole story

• Comcast CFO: NBC Needs Turnaround Time by David Goetzl

  The day after NBC had an uninspiring first night of the season, Comcast CFO Michael Angelakis reiterated that the company believes it will take a while for the fourth-place network to move up the charts. ...Read the whole story

• Netflix's Double Take: Debuts Qwikster As DVD Service by Wayne Friedman

  Netflix now admits to messing up. But it won't change its pricing plan -- just a product name. Its big DVD-by-mail service will now be called Qwikster, and compete with its own management. ...Read the whole story

• financial services Ally Bank Launches 'People Sense' Campaign by Tanya Irwin

  Ally Bank is launching its first new ad campaign in almost exactly one year. Creative centers on the concept of "people sense" -- or on the financial institution's goal of doing right by its customers, because it also makes good business sense. This is the first new work for Ally in almost exactly one year. ...Read the whole story

• ION Taps Sternberg To Head Sales Research by Wayne Friedman

  Longtime TV programming analysis executive for media agencies, Steve Sternberg has been named senior vice president of sales research for ION Media Networks. ...Read the whole story

• Kutcher Brings New Sheen To 'Men' by Wayne Friedman

  The big buildup for CBS' "Two and a Half Men" didn't disappoint for viewers and advertisers: It grabbed a monstrous Nielsen preliminary 10.3 rating/24 share among key 18-49 viewers. ...Read the whole story

• TiVo Future Focuses On TV Software Packages by Steve McClellan

  For TiVo, the future will be less about DVRs and more about creating advanced TV software packages for cable systems and other pay TV operators that integrate all forms of on-demand content. It will also defend its 600 high-tech patents. ...Read the whole story

Soap Opera's Swan Song Is Good For Women Who Refuse To Settle by Patricia Leavy

With the end of the television version of long-time serials "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" on the heels of the demise of "As the World Turns" and "Guiding Light" (the longest-running program in the history of television), it is time to look at what these changes signify. While the latest casualties of the soap opera bloodbath are getting a respite thanks to a groundbreaking licensing deal that allows new episodes to be broadcast on the Internet, it is clear the genre is on its last legs. ...More

• 'Mutual Fund' Media Planning Allows Buyers To Spread The Risk by Wayne Friedman

  Not too long ago, some media buyers would revel in the excitement of picking a dark-horse show to do well. Buy low; sell high. A show's 'overdelivery' -- getting higher than expected viewership -- rarely enters the media jargon any more, and for good reason. Few, if any, expect shows to give more than what is promised -- let alone make it into a second season. ...More

• Football, TV & The Ad-Edit Ratio by Mark Lieberman

  Football is a funny thing in the TV world. It drives ratings through the roof and audiences to sofas across the country for hours at a stretch. It's a powerful mix, and one that brings out the best advertisers have to offer. And yet, here's the kicker, so to speak: There's actually not much football action to watch during a football game. In the three-plus hours it takes to broadcast a supposedly 60-minute football game, do you know how much time the teams actually spend playing the sport? Not quite 11 minutes! ...More

• Both Advertisers And Viewers Look For Media Efficiency by Wayne Friedman

  Media waste is something TV advertisers talk about it when it comes to their media buys, especially these days. But what about consumers who are increasing looking improve their media efficiency -- in other words, paying for programming and channels they actually watch? ...More