• Get Closer to TV: Take a Financially Aggressive Position for Favorite Departing Show
    Politicians do it, as well as business entrepreneurs. That is, raising money for causes necessary for the public good. Getting money from citizens and/or powerful and unpowerful special interests has been part of the fabric for the American way of life for years. Even some book authors have looked to pre-fund their books through "pledges" for their print efforts. Which makes me ask: How about a TV show? (Stay with me. This is brilliant).
  • Goldman Misses on Netflix, Credit Suisse Bullish Now
    Goldman Sachs may have some of the smartest analysts on Wall Street, but they missed badly on their predictions about Netflix's prospects back in March. Then again, they surely weren't the only ones and how can you fault them. Who knew a price increase would affect subscriber counts and a major content deal would apparently collapse? Now, Credit Suisse is bullish on the company as its strategy evolves.
  • NFL Network Makes Inscrutable Belichick More Accessible
    A superb NFL Network documentary about the puzzling and ostensibly standoffish Bill Belichick shows a whole new side -- make that sides -- of the New England Patriots head coach. The multiple Super Bowl winner is funny and emotional, deferential and hokey. Set the DVR.
  • Nike Tagline Should Lag in Race for Madison Avenue Greatness
    Nike's "Just Do It" has been widely lauded as a transcendent tagline, one that inspired so many athletes and took the brand to new heights. It's surely on any list of best branding catchphrases. Yet, the bet is the phrase didn't help Nike so much as Nike's marketing machine - all those ads with all those superstars - helped it. The tagline is a candidate to be inducted into the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame and doing well in the voting. It shouldn't be.
  • Fox Affiliates Have Bittersweet Week
    The collapsing Boston Red Sox and suddenly struggling Rick Perry may have had worse weeks, but the past seven days have hardly been uplifting for Fox affiliates. Ratings were disappointing and a new Fox distribution arrangement could cost them some viewers. They will get a cut of the revenue pie from Fox offering "The X Factor" on VOD, but the arrangement has to be bittersweet, maybe more bitter. And even more so if "The X Factor" fails to become a hit.
  • Rentrak CEO Pitches Stable, Reliable Data In Ad Effort
    With word breaking Thursday about Nielsen's hiccups with a particular data set, the topic inevitably came up at Rentrak in a routine executive meeting. Not long after, the competitor moved to capitalize. Enter a hastily created banner ad running Friday on MediaPost.com that looks to further Rentrak's case it offers the most stable, reliable TV measurement in the industry.
  • Marketers: TV May Get Too Much Attention, Though Not From Viewers
    Give three top marketers credit for admitting there's a problem. That's the first step towards recovery. Trouble is, they also conceded there may not be much that can be done to break the fix for a while, if ever. Even as TV audiences decline, advertisers continue to pay more. They would love other options that work as well, but TV continues to be the franchise player.
  • Fox Animation Network Better Than "The Simpsons" 24/7
    News Corp. has an opening to launch an exceedingly valuable Fox Animation network using its string of animation hits. The value of animation with its young male audience seems to be gaining in popularity. Fox has rights to not just "The Simpsons," but "Family Guy, "American Dad" and "The Cleveland Show." Letting syndication deals lapse and using them for a dedicated network could be immensely profitable.
  • Hispanic TV Market Brings Familiar Refrain
    When Hispanic TV executives gather for industry events, it can very quickly sound like a pep rally. The overarching battle cry hasn't changed in a while: advertisers aren't investing enough to reach Hispanic viewers! We deserve a percentage of their budgets more in line with the size of the population! Statistics show 16% of the U.S. population are Hispanics, but only 4.5% of ad dollars are spent targeting them. Will the gap ever close?
  • Rentrak Outlines Plans, Tries Not to Mention Competitor
    Rentrak, the upstart TV measurement entity, looked to convince investors last week of its viability and market appeal, while outlining differences with a competitor it tried to avoid naming (hint: rhymes with Neil's son). With its database and advanced demographics, the company believes it has the basis to become an accepted marketplace currency on both a national and local level.
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