by Wayne Friedman on May 29, 3:19 PM
While many things have radically changed in the TV/media content world, at least one fact is certain: TV advertisers still have no problems leaving what they deem "inappropriate" programming. The latest network to deal with this plight, TLC, has seen some advertisers publicly disclose their intent to stop media buys of the reality show "19 Kids and Counting" because the oldest son of the Duggar, family, Josh, had admitted to child molestation as a teenager.
by Wayne Friedman on May 28, 12:00 AM
FIFA, the worldwide organizing body for global soccer sports play, has been hit with a massive suit against its senior officials on 47 counts that include charges of bribery, fraud and money laundering.You have to wonder about the impact on marketing dollars for the sport -- sponsorship and TV advertising -- as well as where future license fees for U.S.-based TV networks will head.
by Wayne Friedman on May 27, 1:17 PM
In light of Charter's announcement of its purchase of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, the next big cable TV question should be: What will Charter bring to the table now that Comcast couldn't, in terms of new digital video services?
by Wayne Friedman on May 26, 12:05 PM
You've got to hand it to Apple -- always looking for that extra media wrinkle. The company isn't just looking to relaunch Apple TV as a plain-Jane stand-alone digital TV service; it wants to feature live programming from local TV stations as part of a package, according to "industry executives familiar with Apple's plans," reports Re/Code's Peter Kafka. If that's correct, Apple's local TV effort would be similar to what it did for music labels under the iTunes Store: in part, giving somewhat underserved companies some positive backing and a new delivery method of their content.
by Wayne Friedman on May 22, 2:47 PM
Comcast Corp. says its cable business need better customer service -- way better. So now the company will offer customers an "on-time" guarantee for service and a $20 credit if service personnel shows up late.
by Wayne Friedman on May 21, 2:53 PM
Cable TV operators -- now facing stuff competition from new digital platforms -- might find their job easier if a new Federal Communications Commission proposal goes through, according to a report in Bloomberg. Not only would cable companies be free of regulatory pricing constraints, but cities, states and other localities would lose regulatory purview over basic programming packages. Additionally, providers might be free to jettison TV stations from the basic cable package.
by Wayne Friedman on May 20, 2:54 PM
In the '90s, the broadcast networks wanted to start up their own advertising lobbying organization to combat cable TV, which was viewed for many years as the main competition. That organization -- the Network Television Association -- didn't last long. The membership roster was slim, after all. Another reason for the group's short life: It was around this time that those same broadcast networks starting buying big cable networks. Today all broadcast networks and their media holding companies have some cable network assets. So it makes sense then that the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau now becomes the Video Advertising Bureau: a …
by Wayne Friedman on May 19, 3:02 PM
A Nielsen study measured average Twitter activity for new episodes of 457 English- and Spanish-language prime-time series programs. It found that eight program characteristics - whether a show was broadcast or cable, drama or non-drama, etc. -- "proved to be statistically significant" in determining "the average volume of program-related Tweets sent each week for any given program," according to the study.
by Wayne Friedman on May 18, 1:48 PM
Upfront trends aren't poised to change much this year: Another down market is forecast. But one thing that has changed in the just-completed upfront presentations: Network executives are not touting efforts to include more time-shifted traditional TV viewing and expand to the C7 metric (average commercial ratings plus seven days of time-shifted data) from the current C3 (with three days of time-shifted data).
by Wayne Friedman on May 15, 12:50 PM
Big TV viewing still revolves around well-known brand names: "Big Bang Theory," "Scandal," "The Voice," and "Modern Family." But will they or others translate to digital platforms of the future?