Insights & Insanity: Colbert Goes After Low-Hanging Fruit, Apple TV A Hit in Spain by David Goetzl

In this month's "Insights & Insanity," Stephen Colbert's Super PAC gets a demerit for an ad about the folly of the NBA lockout. The target was too easy. Hopefully, Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow will stick with the ludicrousness in Washington, not including the NBA's Wizards. Meanwhile, while Apple TV hasn't exactly taken off in the U.S., it appears to have a following on the Iberian peninsula. ...Read the whole story

  • food Lindor Refreshes Packaging, TV Approach by Karlene Lukovitz

    The new TV ad, scheduled to run through the holidays and the first half of next year in the U.S. and 28 other countries, continues to feature the "Do You Dream in Chocolate?" theme and Lindt's "Master Chocolatiers." ...Read the whole story

  • McDonald's Launches McTV, DOOH Network by Erik Sass

    The world's largest and most-recognizable fast-food chain is bringing entertainment, news, sports and video content to diners, creating a substantial advertising platform in the process. McDonald's is launching McTV in partnership with ChannelPort Communications. ...Read the whole story

  • Canoe Issues Guidelines For iTV Symbol by David Goetzl

    Canoe Ventures has issued guidelines for networks, operators and advertisers as it looks to tip viewers off to an ad with interactive capabilities. Under Canoe's plans, spots will include an "ExpandTV" logo on the screen, signaling that the remote control can be used for further engagement. The ExpandTV tipoff is intended for both advertising and programming. ...Read the whole story

  • Despite Political Ads, Gannett Revs Sink by Wayne Friedman

    Non-political TV advertising revenues were 4.7% higher in the third quarter versus the same period in 2010. Overall Gannett TV revenues sank $10.8 million in the period -- a decline mostly attributable to political advertising, which dropped $18.4 million. ...Read the whole story

  • Gannett Registers 10% Digital Gains by Gavin O'Malley

    Despite C-suite changes and an uncertain ad market, Gannett Co. on Monday posted a 10% digital revenue gain for the third quarter of the year. At the end of the quarter, Gannett had about 120 domestic Web sites affiliated with its local publishing and television markets. ...Read the whole story

  • U.S. Hispanics To Dominate Critical TV Demo by Wayne Friedman

    Young-skewing TV networks might take note about big changes in four years: U.S-born Hispanics will command a dominant share of a key young TV viewing group. Viacom-owned Tr3s: MTV, Msica y Ms, says young Hispanic-Americans will make up 65% of all 18-29 viewers by 2015. ...Read the whole story

Extreme Sport: TV Entrepreneurship by Mark Lieberman

Operating an entrepreneurial business in the television industry -- as many of us do -- has a lot in common with playing extreme sports. After all, when you're breaking new ground in TV or in sports, you're dancing with a porcupine: You never know how it's going to turn out. Entrepreneurs and extreme athletes blaze the same course. You hone your skills, develop your team (of investors, strategic partners, staff), and rally support (financial and other). You build trust in your team and partners and measure the competition. You train hard, put in the hours, and then leap off the ...More

  • AT&T U-Verse Launches Interactive TV App Suite by Steve Smith

    With nearly a third of us regularly consulting our cell phones for TV-related information during our TV viewing hours, cable and satellite providers are scrambling to catch up to consumer behavior with apps that enhance the first-screen experience without losing the customer to third-screen brands. AT&T's U-verse TV service is partnering with TV app makers to offer customers a suite of mobile services that are now labeled "U-verse Enabled" in the apple App Store. ...More

  • Cable Operators, Who Once Railed About A La Carte Programming, May Need To Go On A Diet by Wayne Friedman

    All roads are heading toward a very busy entertainment financial intersection of rising cable program costs meeting networks and content providers always searching for the next big thing. The thing: distribution. ...More