Spots N Dots
The Daily News Of TV Sales
October11, 2017
VIEWERS ‘BUSY’ DURING COMMERCIALS BREAKS
MULTITASKING BECOMES THE NORM
Many people use another device, primarily a smartphone, while simultaneously watching TV. And for the most part, they do so during commercial breaks, according to a June 2017 study from Adobe Digital Insights (ADI), and reported by eMarketer.
Out of the 1,000 internet users surveyed, many were more likely to reach for another device when a commercial break came on as opposed to doing so while watching a TV program.
For example, when a commercial came on during a TV talk show, nearly half of respondents said they reached for another device. While watching the actual show, only 38% said they use another device. The pattern was similar for other types of programming as well.
The study from ADI echoes previous reports about consumers’ multitasking habits while watching TV.
A March 2017 survey from Tremor Video and Hulu— looking at the various activities U.S. connected TV users perform while watching TV—found that across the age spectrum, most tend to check their social media accounts.
When it came to other activities, like texting or gaming, younger respondents (ages 14 to 21) were more likely to participate than their older counterparts.
Another March study, this one from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), also examined how multidevice users behave while watching TV. Generally speaking, their behaviors didn’t vary that much, whether the device they used to multitask was a computer, a smartphone or a tablet. Most respondents used these devices to browse the internet, check their email or to check social media.
PRIME VIEWING DOWN IN NEW TV SEASON
Just two weeks into the new TV season, prime-time network programming is down double-digits.
Between September 25 and October 8, NBC led in the 18-49 demo with viewers (Nielsen live program ratings plus same day of time shifting), averaging a 2.0 rating/8 share, down 17% from the same two weeks a year before. CBS is next at 1.7/7 (down 11%); ABC, 1.3/5 (off by 13%); Fox, 1.2/5 (down 14%); and The CW, 0.2/1 (slipping 33%).
Total viewer numbers were better with CBS in the lead, totaling 9.1 million viewers -down 8%; NBC numbers declined 10% to 7.6 million. Total viewership for ABC was down 8% to 5.6 million; Fox, 3.8 million, slipping 9%, and The CW , with 958,000 viewers was off 13%.
Mediapost reported the numbers and says that network executives believe looking at a broader time period - time shifted viewing through three, seven, 14 and 30 days, will show an increase in the viewship.
ADVERTISER NEWS
Chain Store Age reports Ross Stores has now completed its expansion plans for the current fiscal year after opening 30 Ross Dress for Less locations and 10 dd’s Discount stores in 22 different states in the past two months. The company now operates over 1,400 stores in 37 states but sees an eventual roster of 2,000 Ross stores and about 500 dd’s……In a related note, Moody’s Investors Service has issued a new report saying off-Price retail like Ross (and chains such as T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s and Burlington) will continue among the best performers of retail segments in the next year to year-and-a-half, and the gains will continue to come at the expense of traditional department stores. Moody’s also notes that while apparel sales still is the primary contributor to sales at off-price stores, sales of the higher-growth and less competitive home products category grew almost 10% at off-price retailers last year, outpacing the overall stores’ performances…… Pizza Hut is highlighting a new system it says will be able to deliver pizzas up to 15 degrees hotter than in the past, with materials in the pizza pouch including the same technology used in ski jackets, astronauts’ space blankets, and insulation used in homes……Perfumaniahas won bankruptcy court approval for its reorganization plan. The chain will close underperforming stores but will continue to operate as a privately-held company……Costco is now offering two choices for grocery delivery. Customers can get two-day delivery of nonperishable foods and other items with free shipping for orders of $75 or more and delivery coming from UPS. And Instacart White Label is now available at close to 400 stores with about 1,700 SKUs of shelf-stable and fresh groceries available for same-day delivery……The supermarket business used to be a relatively quiet one, but that has changed in a big way, particularly on the highly-competitive and “overstored” East Coast. We had previously reported on the soft debut of Lidl—inMarketnow says that chain started with a 2.6% share of customer visits in the markets where it operates in June, but those shares fell to 2.3% in July and 1.7% in August. And Supermarket News suggest Sprouts’ expansion into the mid-Atlantic region will face challenges as its goes into “more densely stored and higher-cost operating areas”……BestBlackFriday.com says the first preview ads for the big day will start to appear on November 9 and it projects total online sales for the day will be $3.5 billion, up 5.4% from last year (following about $2 billion in online sales on Thanksgiving Day itself). Discounts are expected to average about 36%, with Walmart the heaviest discounter.... CoverGirlis getting its biggest makeover ever. BusinessInsider says the beauty brand is dropping its signature “Easy, Breezy, Beautiful” tagline and is betting a new logo, tone, updated packaging and new product design.
NETWORK NEWS
CBS has ordered 13 more episodes of Ransom for a second season. The drama stars Luke Roberts as crisis and hostage negotiator Eric Beaumont, who understands criminals better than they do and uses his insight into human behavior to resolve the most difficult kidnap and ransom cases. The premiere date has yet to be announced. Last year, the series debuted in midseason on New Year’s Day and then moved to its regular Saturday time slot on January 7th……Fox Broadcasting Company is having to defend itself in a $30 million lawsuit brought by Muhammad Ali Enterprises. The two-count complaint filed in Federal Court in Illinois claims that Fox had no right to depict Ali in a promo that aired on February 3rd just before Super Bowl LI. Ali passed away on June 3rd, 2016. “MAE brings these claims for false endorsement and violation of the right of publicity against Fox for damages caused and profits unjustly gained by Fox for its unauthorized use of Muhammad Ali’s identity” according to the complaint. Fox has not responded to media outlet requests for comment on the case……Recall,another crime drama with a sci-fi twist is in development at CBS. The project comes from CBS TV Studios and the team behind the 2015 series Limitless. The show revolves around an assembly of investigators hired by the NSA to use the agency’s new tool. It’s a machine that lets the user to get direct access to the memories of witnesses, victims, and suspects. Limitless writer Craig Sweeny is on board to write the pilot for Recall with Marc Webber directing. The pair will join Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin of the CBS TV Studio-company Secret Hideout as executive producers……The CW launched its fall lineup Monday night and the Nielsen ratings for the younger-skewing network were less than stellar. Supergirlstarted its second season on CW with a 0.5 adult 18-49 rating in the Live +Same Day numbers and posted a total of 1.9 million viewers. That delivery was tied with the series lowest rating and was off from its Season 2 average and finale. CW’s new military soap Valor managed a 0.3 demo rating and 1.2 million total viewers. Valor’s performance was below the network’s new series premieres from last season…... ABC has issued a put pilot commitment to a new one-hour family drama from the writers of Galavant. Kat Likkel, John Hoberg, and Jeremy Hall are writing the project entitled Heartland. It’s described as an unconventional family drama about a couple who adopts a new baby and the baby’s teenage birth mother.
THIS AND THAT
CKE Restaurants, parent of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, has long been known for envelope-pushing advertising and marketing and while the company has said it would scale back some of those tactics, Carl’s Jr. started a Twitter campaign on Monday suggesting to Amazon it should buy Carl’s Jr. next. In a day long series of tongue-in-cheek tweets, some of its suggestions included a self-driving restaurant, a tablet that you could eat off of as well as read, and a VIP parking spot in front of every restaurant for Jeff Bezos.
ACCOUNT ACTIONS
Last week the Serta mattress brand changed agencies (to Leo Burnett), this week sibling brand Beautyresthas selected Anomaly as its lead creative shop. The account will move from Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners. Both brands are part of Serta Simmons Bedding LLC.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CAR SALES?
As we’ve reported, the automotive seasonally adjusted annualized selling rate for September reached 18.6 million, the best rate for that measure since July 2005. According to Automotive News, carmakers and analysts cite a combination of many factors coming together in the month, including post-hurricane replacement demand, catch-up deals after August purchases were delayed by storms, higher fleet sales, a five-weekend sales month, new products and incentives aimed at clearing out 2017 models as 2018s were due to arrive. The month was strong enough that Toyota and Honda, both of which had been down year-to-date through August, were able to move into positive territory through nine months. But as to what will happen for the rest of the year, analysts are restrained. An analyst from Kelley Blue Book says replacement sales will provide a modest boost for a couple of months, but not enough to change his previous yearly sales prediction of 17.1 million sales (down from last year’s 17.6 million). And Autotraderexecutive analyst Michelle Krebs warned “It will be a short-lived party. We saw a lot of replacement demand in September. We’ll see more in October and only a little bit in November.” After that, however, “The only way we get any lift in December will be if incentives go crazy.”
BETTER ADS, BETTER RESULTS?
Is there an idea in here for TV or TV websites? Many publishers believe consumers would pay more attention to online ads - if they were better ads. Fusion Media Group has a new system that rewards advertisers that make the most engaging ads by giving them bonus impressions.
The Univision-owned digital media company, whose 12 sites include Gizmodo, The Onion and Jezebel, is implementing the new approach by licensing advertising technology from ad-tech firm Performance Pricing LLC. The technology, called Impressions Per Connection, gauges the quality of ads by monitoring the number of user clicks and mouse-overs. Bonuses are doled out on a sliding scale: The ads with the highest engagement rates get higher bonuses, which are capped at 20% of the total impressions purchased.
One radio station owner is also trying to get advertisers to produce better ads. Adult contemporary station 101.1 MORE FM (WBEB), Philadelphia chairman Jerry Lee has announced an advertising effectiveness program designed to help radio clients get better results from their radio ad investment. Lee will offer free effectiveness testing of radio commercials to every Philadelphia-area advertiser that spends $12,000 or more a year on radio ads. Hershey Entertainment and NRG Energy already use the service, and confirm its effectiveness.
BUSINESS BYTES
A report from the Thasos Group says that Walmart customers accounted for about 24% of Whole Foods’ new customers after its takeover by Amazon, the largest percentage of shoppers coming over from competitive stores. Kroger and Costco also provided the largest number of new shoppers, but in percentage of their own customers defecting, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, and Target were the biggest losers.
Pfizer is considering a sale or spinoff of its Consumer Healthcare division, which only produces about 6.4% of the company’s total revenue despite having some major brands including Advil, Centrum and Emergen-C. A final decision on what direction should be taken will be made next year.
AVAILS
NBC7 San Diego is looking for a Local Sales Manager to lead a team of AEs. The successful candidate will work with the VP of Sales to formulate sales strategies to grow station revenue and share. The LSM will supervise a team of AEs who will develop a solid understanding of our ad products and have strong consultative selling skills to be able to best develop solutions to meet client needs and close deals. Minimum of 5 years of previous broadcast/ radio/print advertising experience. CLICK HEREto apply. EOE.
WRGB (CBS) and WCWN (CW 15) in Albany, NY seeks an enthusiastic, highly motivated Sales Marketing Consultant. We’re looking for someone who can connect with clients and help them achieve business objectives through effective TV and digital advertising. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills, have an enthusiastic and outgoing personality, and a drive to succeed. Most importantly, we are looking for a hard-working salesperson who wants to have FUN at work, make money, and help local businesses grow. CLICK HEREto apply. EOE.
WGAL, Hearst Television’s NBC affiliate in the Harrisburg-Lancaster, PA market is seeking a skilled Account Executive. Best candidates are driven to make a difference and possess an insatiable desire to help businesses grow. Media sales experience is desired with a skill in negotiating win-win solutions. Accelerate your media sales career by joining a prominent broadcast station with a progressive portfolio of resources to fuel your success. CLICK HEREfor more info or to apply now. EOE
Cox Media Group’s KIRO, the CBS affiliate in Seattle, along with KIRO7.com, and other digital services seeks a National Sales Manager. The NSM must identify and drive national sales strategies in order to achieve, then exceed, revenue and share goals while balancing overall station revenue and share goals with the LSM and DSM. The NSM will work with CoxReps to accurately forecast revenue and share – weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually. 2+ years of sales management experience or 5+ years established television sales experience required. CLICK HEREto apply. EOE.
WBTW, Nexstar’s Coastal South Carolina CBS affiliate, is looking for a seasoned and experienced Account Executive with a proven track record of success in generating revenue from agency, new business and digital accounts as well as growing local direct business. The AE works to increase sales volume with assigned accounts, aggressively seeks new customers for both TV and eMedia business, from our Florence, SC sales office. Get more info or apply now at: Background check required. EOE.
WSLS 10, the Graham Media Group-owned - NBC station in Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA seeks a seasoned marketing professional to serve as its Research Director. The successful candidate will create an information flow so WSLS can achieve revenue budgets and increase market share for its broadcast and digital stations. The Research Director will work with all departments and play a key role in utilizing research to grow and develop ideas for sales, news and promotions. More details HERE. To apply, email resume to: Bill Norris: . No calls please. EOE.
FOX 5 Atlanta (WAGA) seeks an Account Executive. The AE is responsible for maximizing share on established television and digital accounts as well as developing new accounts by converting marketing dollars from competitive TV stations and alternative advertising platforms. The AE will service established agency accounts as directed by sales management, and establish direct client contact while maintaining cooperative relationships with the agencies. CLICK HEREfor a full job description. Please include your resume and salary requirements when applying. EOE.
I’m trying to binge-watch all of the Geico commercials. I’m up to season 117.–Conan O’Brien
Just got my flu shot. Took three nurses and a guy from the gym–Conan O’Brien
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SPOTS N DOTS
The Daily News Of TV Sales
October11, 2017
Phone: 888-884-2630