| Today's Top Stories | | #1 | NBCU, Comcast Introduce Addressable Advertising Opportunities
| | | Called "NBCU+ Powered by Comcast," the suite of new ad products is designed to increase the effectiveness of media buys through advanced analytics and targeting. They will allow advertisers to enhance their media plans by matching their own consumer data and third party data with Comcast subscriber data to optimize national campaigns across the NBCU portfolio on linear television and target consumers by household on VOD.
Why This Matters: At this point, satellite distributors DirecTV and Dish have been among the leaders in letting marketers address their ads to targeted viewers down to the individual household level. But being able to use parent company Comcast's cable data will put the linear TV networks of NBCU on equal competitive footing with their satellite competitors.
A Take: B&C
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| | #2 | YouTube Earning Big Ad Bucks From Marketers' Pre-Super Bowl Promotions
| | | Google is not saying how much revenue it has earned via YouTube in connection to the Super Bowl, but Ad Age says its "safe to say every prereleased ad, teaser and video promo—55 so far this year—includes a YouTube ad budget.
Why This Matters: The shift in marketer tactics to share their Super Bowl commercials before they air in the big game has brought a windfall of new ad dollars to YouTube. Lucas Watson, VP of sales and marketing, says, "It is a huge business-driver for us; the most meaningful in first quarter."
A Take: Ad Age |
| | #3 | Facebook: Ad Revenue Continues Growing (Still Mum On Teen User Declines)
| | | Facebook in fourth-quarter 2013 reports revenue of $2.6 billion, up from $1.6 billion for the same quarter a year earlier. Of that total, $1.8 billion or 89% was from advertising, and mobile ads accounted for 53% of fourth-quarter ad revenue. But while Facebook is on a roll, it did not address its declining teen user base, which had negatively impacted the company's stock prices when its third-quarter earnings were reported.
Why This Matters: Teens are the future, and if they are not embracing Facebook then its current success at some point is going to be tempered and it could become a less desirable place for advertisers. While that may be down the road, it's something the social platform has to address rather than skirt.
Three Takes: Ad Age | WSJ | MediaPost |
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|  | • 17.8
Percentage increase in paid search ad spending in the Americas in fourth-quarter 2013, according to a study by digital marketing technology company Kenshoo.
– Reported by eMarketer
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| | MBPT Spotlight | Twenty-two Things That Will Make the New Generation of News and Information Companies Successful By Lee Abrams, Cofounder, Chief Content Officer, TouchVision
Many traditional news and information companies are in trouble. Newspapers and magazines are going under at a depressing rate. Audiences for TV news shows continue to decline year after year. While the economics of the mobile and Internet age have much to do with it, I contend that the cultures of many "news" organization are stuck in the part and need new thinking to attract younger, more affluent audiences that have largely tuned them out.
Resizing, rethinking, reinventing are all parts of the equation, but to accomplish any of these ingredients, it takes a culture—call it a new attitude—to pull it off. Here are a few characteristics that you'll see in most, if not all, of the digital/mobile game changers (and certainly what we want to strive for at TouchVision):
1. Freedom From Politics: Almost impossible on a scale of a big company, but strong new-generation companies are surprisingly short on infighting, fear and political nonsense.
2. Youthful Thinking: That doesn't mean young as much as young thinking. Steve Jobs, who was no young guy himself, out-thought the music industry and reinvented music distribution. You cannot design the future without understanding the past—while also living in the future.
3. Hunger: There's not a lot of hunger at the big companies as their lives are padded with history and security—or paranoia.
4. Saying To Hell With What the Experts Think: If outsiders or competitors are appalled, but you think you're doing the right thing, then do it—or suggest a better idea. In today's blog society you need thick skin to cut through the sharp criticism and do what you believe. It's all about what real people think.
5. Mental Diversity Encouraged: Different kinds of people, different POVs: All viewpoints coming together create newer and more relevant programming. Veterans, newbies and everyone in between should be contributing. Break down the ivory tower!
6. Spirituality: Not in a traditional religious sense, but in the idea that you're simply not doing a "job." This adventure is a higher calling. We're on a mission.
Why does Abrams suggest that simply being passionate about a brand, message or product is not enough? And why does he believe that "multi-dimensional stimulation is critical in today's environment"?
For more, click HERE
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| | Fates & Fortunes | • ADAM SHLACHTER was promoted to head of media activation at DigitasLBi. This comes according to a MediaPost report. Shlachter was previously senior VP, media. He reports to Baba Shetty, DigitasLBi chief strategy officer. In other promotions, PAUL DALTON was named national media planning lead. He was previously senior VP, media, New York. COLLEN WHITNEY was named national video lead. She was previously senior VP, media, Chicago and San Francisco. And TAMARA BOUSQUET was named national programmatic lead. She was previously senior VP, media, Boston.
• HOWARD KURTZMAN was promoted to president, business operations, at 20th Century Fox Television. He was previously executive VP. He will have expanded responsibilities covering production units Fox 21 and Fox Television Studios and will continue to oversee business and legal affairs operations. And HOWARD PEARSON was named executive VP, brand management and digital media. He was previously senior VP. He will continue to oversee the studio's brand management, strategic marketing, research and music operations, with emphasis on digital media. • GAIL BERMAN is leaving BermanBraun, the media company she cofounded with Lloyd Braun in 2007. In a statement announcing her departure, Berman said, "There are several unique opportunities I am considering and intend to make an announcement about my decision very soon." Prior to starting BermanBraun, she was president of Paramount Pictures. Prior to that, from 2000-2005, she was entertainment president at Fox Broadcasting.
• MARK TATUM was appointed NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer. He is a 15-year NBA league office veteran who is currently executive VP, global marketing partnerships. He will succeed Adam Silver who becomes NBA Commissioner on Feb. 1. Prior to joining the NBA, Tatum held marketing and sales positions at The Clorox Company, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo. and Major League Baseball. Three other league executives were also promoted. BILL KOENIG, was named president, global media distribution. SAL LaROCCA was named president, global operations and merchandising, and DANNY MEISELES was promoted to president and executive producer, content. |
| | What They're Watching | BROADCAST RATINGS
'Idol' Down Slightly From Last Wednesday Fox's American Idol dipped 5% from last Wednesday's broadcast. But the two-hour Idol was once again the top rated show on broadcast for the evening. Fox was the top network for the night. Three hours of dramas lead NBC to second place. Revolution declined 13% from last week, tying its series low. Law & Order SVU and Chicago P.D. each gained 6%. ABC ran a mix of originals and reruns, finishing third. Suburgatory declined 17%. Super Fun Night slid 24%. Nashville grew 7%. CBS aired the special Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials 2014, which was followed by drama reruns. For the CW, Arrow and The Tomorrow People each gained one tenth.
For more, click HERE
CABLE RATINGS
SOTU Ratings: Fox News Leads Cable In Both Viewers and Demo Fox News was the clear leader among the cable news networks for Tuesday night's State of the Union address, according to Nielsen. FNC averaged 4.72 million viewers for President Obama's speech from 9:14-10:20 p.m. ET. That was followed by MSNBC with 2.29 million and CNN in third with 2.08 million. In the adults 25-54 news demo, FNC led as well with 1.19 million viewers, but CNN edged out MSNBC for second with 762,000. MSNBC averaged 752,000 in the demo. Compared to the 2013 State of the Union, FNC rose 28% in total viewers and 24% in the demo. CNN tumbled 47% in both measures from last year and MSNBC dipped 24% and 27%, respectively. Last year saw the cable networks splitting coverage between the SOTU and the standoff with murder suspect Christopher Dorner. Overall, the State of the Union averaged 33.3 million viewers (slightly down from last year's 33.5 million) across 13 networks—CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, Azteca, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Al Jazeera America, Galavision and Mun2. Univision aired the speech on a tape delay.
For more, click HERE
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| Overnight Ratings: Wednesday, January 29
| | 8 PM | | NET | SHOW | A18-49
Rating | TOTAL VIEWERS
(MILLIONS) | FOX
| AMERICAN IDOL
| 3.5
| 11.7
| CBS
| SUPER BOWL'S GREATEST COMMERCIALS 2014
| 1.9
| 9.5
| ABC
| THE MIDDLE (R) (8:00)
SUBURGATORY (8:30)
| 1.5
1.5
| 5.8
5.0
| NBC
| REVOLUTION
| 1.3
| 5.1
| UNIVISION
| POR SIEMPRE MI AMOR
| 1.2
| 3.1
| CW
| ARROW
| 1.0
| 2.7
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| | 9 PM | | NET | SHOW | A18-49
Rating | TOTAL VIEWERS
(MILLIONS) | FOX
| AMERICAN IDOL
| 4.0
| 13.0
| NBC
| LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
| 1.9
| 7.5
| ABC
| MODERN FAMILY (R) (9:00)
SUPER FUN NIGHT (9:30)
| 1.9
1.3
| 6.0
3.9
| UNIVISION
| LO QUE LA VIDA ME ROBÓ
| 1.5
| 3.7
| CBS
| CRIMINAL MINDS (R)
| 1.3
| 6.6
| CW
| THE TOMORROW PEOPLE
| 0.6
| 1.6
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| | 10 PM | | NET | SHOW | A18-49
Rating | TOTAL VIEWERS
(MILLIONS) | NBC
| CHICAGO PD
| 1.7
| 6.9
| ABC
| NASHVILLE
| 1.5
| 5.2
| UNIVISION
| QUÉ POBRES TAN RICOS
| 1.2
| 2.9
| CBS
| CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (R)
| 1.1
| 6.4
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| | TOMORROW'S BIG RATINGS STORIES TODAY | | • Is 'White Collar' Getting the Collar? The veteran USA Network drama starring Matt Bomer as a con man gone somewhat straight concludes its fifth season on Thursday night at 9 p.m. The series premiered this season with 2.5 million viewers and a 0.6 18-49 demo rating, and has averaged 2.4 million with that same 0.6 demo rating for the season overall for a pretty consistent audience. In the past three weeks, since it returned from a short hiatus, White Collar has averaged 2.8 million viewers. The upshot: The series has drawn solid audiences for USA, down just slightly from the 3 million it averaged in season four. It has always aired on Thursday nights against some tough broadcast network opposition. The fact that it has not been renewed for season six is a bit perplexing. |
| | • 'SNL' Takes On Sports Challenge NBC will televise a Saturday Night Live two-hour special on Thursday night at 9 that will feature a compilation of fan favorite sports-related sketches from vintage SNL telecasts. The special will be hosted by SNL cast member Seth Meyers, who will be taking over for Jimmy Fallon in NBC's late-night telecast next month when Fallon succeeds Jay Leno as Tonight Show host. SNL has had numerous sports guest hosts over the years including Peyton Manning who is quarterbacking this year's Super Bowl participant Denver Broncos. The upshot: NBC's Thursday night ratings for its regular programming are pretty low, so why not air a sports special three days before the Super Bowl? Viewership for SNL primetime specials vary. Some sketch compilation shows drew as little as 2.7 million while others draw more than 7 million. Thursday is a competitive night, but most of the broadcast shows skew female. This special could draw lots of men. |
| | • 'Appalachian Outlaws' Capturing Viewers This new History reality series which focuses on the battle in West Virginia over the growing and sale of the ginseng plant, has averaged 2.7 million viewers and a 0.9 18-49 demo rating during its first three weeks on Thursday night at 10. With "woods-grown" ginseng selling for as much as $1,000 per pound the battle among the backwoods ginseng growers is fierce and cutthroat, and this slice-of-life reality series gives off the feel of a scripted drama. The upshot: History did right by this series, giving it the lead-out time period following its hit reality series Pawn Stars. With Pawn Stars pulling in between 4 million and 5 million over the past three weeks between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursdays, Appalachian Outlaws has a good base to draw from. Last week's episode drew its biggest audience yet—2.9 million, with a 1.0 18-49 rating. Looks like another reality hit for History—so far. |
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