Spots N Dots
The Daily News Of TV Sales
September 13, 2016
VIEWERS DROP SHOWS FOR COST, DIFFICULTY
CORD-SHAVING MORE LIKELY THAN CUTTING
A new survey by TiVo, updating one last year by merger partner Rovi, finds that while consumers continue to consume significant hours of entertainment content daily, theirviewership is becoming potentially more transient. More and more viewers are “show dumping”—giving up on shows they love because it became too difficult and/or costly to access them.
37%of global viewers have stopped watching a show they previously enjoyed because it became too difficult to access the content. Shows most cited as ones which respondents had stopped watching are ones that generally require a premium pay-TV package, are only available through paid OTT and/or are unavailable on OTT services that aggregate content. In many cases, that means cord-shaving or cord-cutting.
On average,11%of all global respondents say they are extremely likely to downgrade their service (cord-shaving) instead of canceling, while8%say they are extremely likely to cancel their pay-TV service (cord-cutting) in the next 6 months. Not surprisingly, the results in the U.S. were significantly higher than the global average. A staggering21%stated they are extremely likely to cord-shave and downgrade their pay-TV service, while only13%are strongly considering cutting the cord all together.
With cord-shaving more predominant than cord-cutting, TiVo found that consumers are supplementing their services with subscription OTT and streaming media devices. Multiple points of access for OTT is now the norm with58%of respondents reporting they already pay for more than one subscription streaming video service and45%reporting that theyhave more than one streaming media device in their home. Of people who subscribe to a streaming service, 81% in the U.S. report paying for Netflix, while 50% have Amazon Prime Video.
ADVERTISER NEWS
August was the third consecutive month of declining same-store sales for the restaurant business as a whole according to the Restaurant Industry Snapshot done by Black Box Intelligence. A slightly more optimistic way of looking at the numbers, however, was that the 0.6% decline in sales was significantly better than July had been and was the second-best month since April. Same-store traffic was down 2.7%, which was also an improvement over the 3.9% decline from July, and the average guest check was up 2.3% compared to August, 2015……International fast casual restaurant Burgerim is looking to expand rapidly beyond its U.S. base in Los Angeles, and has signed franchise deals to open in Texas, South Florida, and Tennessee. The chain highlights customized burger creations and offers delivery services directly to customers……Anheuser-Busch InBev is acquiring Boathouse Beverage, creator of SpikedSeltzer, a carbonated-water beverage with 6% alcohol by volume. The product is currently only available in 14 states but A-B InBev will expand that by moving it into its network of more than 500 distributors nationally. Marketwatch notes the acquisition is considered to be a craft brewery—A-B InBev has already bought eight craft brewers in the last five years……For a company that expects to lose one of its partners in the near future, MillerCoors is staying active in expanding its product lines. The Chicago Business Journal reports it is releasing a new alcoholic beverage called Zumbida, inspired by a Mexican drink, aguas frescas. The fruit-flavored drink with carbonation and 4.2% alcohol by volume is now in limited distribution mostly in the Southwest……Luxury home furnishing retailer RH (Restoration Hardware) had an interesting reversal in quarterly results: the percentage of sales from bricks-and-mortar units actually rose while online sales contributions fell to 43% from 47% in the same quarter last year. Overall, however, “comparable brand revenues” were down 3% in comparison to a 16% increase last year……Toyota USA’s senior VP for operations told Automotive News he believes the big drop in midsize sedan sales is primarily due to a lack of freshened vehicles, which is making utility vehicles more enticing in comparison. Bob Carter said the upcoming 2018 Camry will provide that needed excitement, reversing the current trend that has Camry sales down 8.6% for the year’s first eight months……And Jose Munoz, chairman of Nissan North America, is concentrating on trucks to get his company up to a 10% market share in the U.S. The Automotive News Data Center calculates through August Nissan has an 11.8% share of the car market, but just a 7.2 share of the truck market. New Pathfinder and Titan models went on sale last month.
NETWORK NEWS
When Saturday Night Live kicks off season 42 on October 1st, viewers will see some new faces in the cast. Micky Day, a writer on the show since 2013, has been added along with Alex Moffat and Melissa Villasenor. Day was the head writer and cast member on Maya & Marty, a limited run SNL type show on NBC this summer. Day also is a member of the Groundlings, a famed L.A. comedy troupe that produced SNL all-stars Will Ferrell and Kristin Wiig...... CBS has cut back on the number of hours for its miniseries about the JonBennet Ramsey case. The production of The Case Of: JonBennet Ramsey wrapped earlier this month and producers and network executives came to the decision that, given the material gathered, the miniseries would make more sense as a tighter four-hour series rather than six hours spread over three nights. The move frees up prime time on Sunday September, 25th, the night previously reserved for the final two hours of the miniseries. CBS will use the time to expand the season premiere of NCIS: LosAngeles with two back to back episodes starting at 8:30 PM (ET). The network plans to finish the final hour of the night with reruns……NBC has renewed American Ninja Warrior for a sixth season, according to a report in Variety. It was also reported that the program was renewed for its run on Esquire cable net as well. American Ninja Warrior has averaged a 2.1 Nielsen rating and 7.2 million overall viewers and has just finished its most-watched season ever.
SUNDAY RATINGS
NBC’s first Sunday Night Football of the season delivered a 7.5 A18-49 rating and 20.7 million total viewers, down from a 9.2 rating for the first game last year, according to Nielsen. The game featured the New England Patriots and the Arizona Cardinals and pulled a 14.8 overnight household rating from the metered markets. The Patriots were playing without superstars Tom Brady and Ron Gronkowski and their absence may have contributed to the reduced ratings….Fox premiered its new series Son of Zorn with a strong 2.4 rating, certainly benefiting from The OT lead-in. On ABC,Miss America was down from last year by two tenths to a 1.5 while Celebrity Family Feud had its best number of the season with a 1.3 rating.
SYNDIE SNIPPET
Wheel of Fortune has kicked off its 34th season with "Teacher's Week." All the contestants on the show this week will be teachers spinning the Wheel and solving puzzles for cash and prizes.The new season will also mark the regular appearance of the show's newest addition, the "Crossword Puzzle Round." During these rounds, words will appear intertwined horizontally and vertically across the puzzleboard. At the beginning of the round, host Pat Sajak will present a "clue," rather than a category, that ties all the words together in some way. Contestants will play the game normally until they solve the puzzle by reading all of the words in any order.Wheel is produced by Sony Pictures Television and distributed by CBS Television Distribution.
GUIDELINES COMING FOR AD DISTRIBUTION
Eight leading trade associations serving the advertising, marketing, and video technology industries are joining forces in a bid to create new guidelines for simplifying the distribution of digital video ads throughout the ad production sector. The plan is to come up with recommendations aimed at advertisers, agencies, and production houses engaged in the production of digital video on computers, smartphones and tablets, along with “traditional television, which is increasingly becoming a digital medium.”
The trade groups taking part in the initiative include: The Association of National Advertisers (ANA); Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Technology Laboratory; American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's) AICE (The North American post production industry trade association); Digital Production Partnership Ltd (DPP); North American Broadcasters Association (NABA); Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM); and Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE). Three joint working groups will focus on File Delivery Specifications; Advertising Metadata; and Audio Specifications and Best Practices. It is hoped that early drafts of recommendations will be completed by the end of this year.
“This is a momentous event in our industry whose time has come and is, in fact, overdue,” said Harold S. Geller, Chief Growth Officer of Ad-ID LLC, a joint venture of the 4A’s and ANA. The web-based system is a central, secure source for the industry’s asset identification information and ensures that all assets are delivered correctly to media and consumers. Ad-ID serves more than 2,600 advertisers of all sizes and most advertising agencies in the United States.
ZENITH UPS U.S. TV FORECAST
Publicis Groupe’s Zenith has gotten more bullish on U.S. television advertising for this year. Its revised forecast is for Network TV to be up 1% in 2016, rather than down 1.5%. Zenith is holding steady on its Local Spot forecast of 3% growth in 2016. It says political advertising remains on track to top $3 billion, with Senate and Gubernatorial races in key battleground states driving local TV spending to an all-time high.
TWITTER GETS READY FOR THE BIG GAME
Twitter has a lot on the line this Thursday night as it begins live streaming of NFL games. The Wall Street Journal says streaming the first of 10 Thursday Night Football games is a “crucial test” for the social media company as CEO Jack Dorsey seeks to retain support from advertisers. Budweiser and Bank of America are among the big marketers who have signed on for ads on the Twitter delivery via its mobile app and website. The live game feed comes from CBS and will also be on NFL Network.
SALES CHIEF EXITS FOX NETWORKS
Less than two years after being made head of ad sales for all Fox Networks Group, both broadcast and cable, Toby Byrne is existing the company where he made his career for over two decades. Variety reports that he was unable to come to terms with the company on a contract renewal. Bryrne will be exploring other options and Fox Networks is looking for a successor—with Fox Networks Group president and COO Randy Freer overseeing ad sales in the interim.
AUTO BRANDS HOT FOR NFL ADS
Spots on NFL game broadcasts are higher than ever, but Ad Age reports that auto brands are stepping up to pay the price. For the sixth year running, the most valuable unit in primetime is a :30 in NBC's Sunday Night Football. Marketers are said to be paying $717,375 per unit, with late scatter buys and slots in marquee matchups like the September 8 NFL Kickoff game fetching appreciably higher rates. Ford, Kia, Mercedes, Jeep, Chevrolet, Toyota, Volkswagen and BMWall ran spots.
AVAILS
WWCP-TV/FOX 8 and WATM-TV/ABC 23 is looking for a strong General Sales Manager to help guide their local and national sales efforts for two network affiliated stations in the Johnstown/Altoona/State College, PA market. This position requires an individual who possesses strong leadership skills and can direct a local sales team in selling new business and creating revenue streams. Must have a successful track record in sales management, staff recruitment and developmental skills. Cover letter/resume to Frank Quitoni: o phone calls please.EOE.
Raycom Media owned WMC-TV NBC in Memphis, TN, WMC-TV Digital and BOUNCE-TV has an incredible opportunity for an experienced LSM that is ready to move up to our open Sales Manager position in the 50th market. Must be a team leader with a clear focus on New Business and Digital development providing client advertising solutions across multiple sales platforms. Well-developed coaching and team building skills and the ability to plan and achieve sales objectives are imperative. Qualified applicants, CLICK HERE to apply. EOE.
KOIN 6, Portland OR, is seeking an experienced Local Sales Manager to lead an experienced sales team. The LSM is responsible for managing, training, and motivating the sales team, and growing local revenue through new business and existing accounts. A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of three years of sales management experience including local and digital sales required. Must be well organized, display a professional demeanor, exude high energy and show attention to detail. CLICK HERE to apply, search using requisition # 16-01278.EOE.
Creative Services Director: WDBJ7, the dominant CBS affiliate in the Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA market, seeks an innovative thinker to lead our promotional efforts. Job one is to enhance our message across all platforms, create opportunities for new revenue streams, develop strong relationships within the building and get involved with the community and its leaders. If you can lead, motivate and grow your people, send your resume and reel to . EOE. WDBJ/Gray Television Group, Inc. is a drug-free company and requires pre-employment drug testing.
WCVB, the ABC-affiliate in Boston, MA, has an opening for an Account Executive. The AE will generate new and service existing local and multi-platform accounts, ensuring all financial goals of TV station are being exceeded, while developing and maintaining relationships with agencies and clients. Qualified candidates should possess experience in media sales/media management with two to five years of sales experience with a prior radio or television background preferred.Draw + commission.CLICK HERE to apply.EOE.
WTVT, FOX O&O, in Tampa, FL is seeking an Account Executive. This opening at the top rated station in Tampa requires the servicing of existing transactional accounts along with the development of new broadcast and digital business. Candidate must be highly motivated and possess strong presentation and prospecting skills. Position requires prior broadcast sales experience, preferably in an LPM market. College degree is preferred. CLICK HEREfor more information or to apply for this position, or to apply now. EOE/M/F/V/D
KCLO-TV in Rapid City, SD is looking for an Account Executive. The successful candidate will be an aggressive, self-starter with excellent communication skills, solid presentations skills; the ability to close sales and have a winning attitude. Must be creative and demonstrate enthusiastic sales attitude for “getting the job done”.Emphasis for this position will be new business development for both television and internet sales.Apply online at - Job ID #CLO-000002. EOE/M/F/V/D Background check and drug screen required.
WREG-TV, #1 CBS affiliate in Memphis, TN, is seeking an Account Executive to represent the station and all of its properties, both broadcast and digital. Work with the most tenured management team in the market and under the umbrella of the largest broadcast group in the country, Tribune Media. Must have prior sales experience and be able to get out of the office and develop new, direct business accounts. Must have a solid understanding of Nielsen and comScore. CLICK HERE for more details or to apply now. EOE.
According to new research from the CDC, middle-aged parents are more likely to smoke marijuana than their teenage kids. In other words, your mom finally made weed uncool like she did to Myspace.
--Jimmy Kimmel
A man in Texas rode his horse into a Taco Bell restaurant—but, weirdly, he left alone.
--Seth Meyers
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SPOTS N DOTS
The Daily News Of TV Sales
September 13, 2016
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