Cable Coalition Could Enrich NFL by David Goetzl

At some point in the next few years, the NFL will begin negotiating with DirecTV on re-upping the satellite operator's deal for the Sunday Ticket package. The opportunity to watch out-of-market games has proven to be an extraordinary brand differentiator for DirecTV since its early days in 1994. But, cable operators could place a joint bid that might dwarf the amount of money DirecTV could spend, hoping the Ticket will bring them new customers. ...Read the whole story

  • Lin TV Sees Q1 Gains In Local, Political Revenues by Wayne Friedman

    Lin TV Corp. witnessed stronger local and political ad revenues in the first quarter. Local revenues, which include net local advertising revenues, retransmission consent fees and TV station Web site revenues, gained 16% to $67.7 million. National spot advertising gained 4% to $23.1 million, and overall advertising sales rose to $104 million from $101.5 million. ...Read the whole story

  • DirecTV CEO: Sunday Ticket A 'Loss Leader' by David Goetzl

    As DirecTV offers another promotion for its Sunday Ticket offering, the company's top executive said Tuesday the NFL package is a customer attraction and retention device, not a profit center. "Given that the costs of the product are increasing, our view is use it as a loss leader, and we'll go from there," said CEO Michael White on an earnings call. ...Read the whole story

  • Lipton, 'Lady A' Share Positivity by Aaron Baar

    It's iced tea season, and Lipton has teamed up with country artist Lady Antebellum for a new marketing campaign that attempts to leverage the positivity of the band's persona with that of the drink. ...Read the whole story

  • Disney Q2: Higher Advertising, Lower Film Revenues by Wayne Friedman

    Strong advertising revenue growth continues for the likes of Walt Disney's cable networks, as well as its broadcasting network for its fiscal second quarter. And more is coming. "We are anticipating a strong upfront," says Bob Iger, president and chief executive officer of Walt Disney. Current scatter activity at ABC network is showing cost-per-thousand viewer prices [CPMs] up 20% over upfront. ...Read the whole story

  • Vitrue, NBC Sports Expand Social Media Relationship by David Goetzl

    Social marketing firm Vitrue said it has expanded its relationship with NBC Sports, which will give it a role in facilitating social media operations related to the Olympics this summer. The company began working with NBC Sports on the NHL earlier this year. ...Read the whole story

  • CRE Looks To Improve Diary Measurement by David Goetzl

    The Nielsen-funded Council for Research Excellence (CRE) said it will look at ways to upgrade the diary measurement process - which continues in small markets -- by using comparisons with larger markets that use advanced Nielsen technology. So the research will at least partly turn Dallas and Albuquerque-Santa Fe into diary markets. ...Read the whole story

  • Horizon's Adgate Illuminates National TV Supply And Demand by David Goetzl

    In an Advertising Research Foundation presentation Wednesday, Horizon Media's top researcher Brad Adgate illustrated just how much ratings and costs have been moving in opposite directions, citing Nielsen data. ...Read the whole story

The 'Myth' Of Commerce-Enabled Interactive TV by Cory Treffiletti

Is it possible the concept of truly commerce-enabled interactive television is nothing more than a myth? From my perspective -- specifically that of a consumer -- I'm starting to think that's the case. ...More

  • From A 50,000-Foot View, More TV Ad Inventory May Not Be So Bad by Wayne Friedman

    Marketers aim to pick the right video advertising inventory. In that regard, Nielsen says the amount of national TV inventory rose 14% in 2011 over the previous year. Decades ago, one might have viewed this added "glut" of TV ad inventory as a problem. Now there are other pressing problems such as time-shifting, viewer erosion on broadcast, and an even bigger concern: not enough hoarding shows on cable. ...More

  • 'America's-Got-Stern' Protests Benefit NBC's Marketing by Wayne Friedman

    The show isn't on the air yet. Yet there are protests in anticipation of Howard Stern's stint as a judge on NBC's top-rated summer show, "America's Got Talent."If you are an NBC executive, you might say privately, "Thank you!" Marketing-wise, this is a plus for NBC, which has already been touting the show. ...More

  • Episode 508: Exploding Skis, And 'He's Not Just A Boss, He's The Head Of Desserts!' by Barbara Lippert

    Last week's jaunty episode, "At the Codfish Ball," got its name from a Shirley Temple movie in which the pint-sized star struts her stuff. Whereas this week's opus, "Lady Lazarus," refers to a Sylvia Plath poem about suicide and the Holocaust. Hello, Mad Men! ...More