Spots N Dots
The Daily News Of TV Sales
October 12, 2016
BMW, HYUNDAI HAILED FOR IN-VEHICLE TECH
SAFETY FEATURES TOP NAVIGATION
Bragging rights in the first-ever J.D. PowerU.S. Tech Experience Index Study go to Hyundai and BMW, which each have two models that rank highest in overall customer experience with vehicle technology in their respective segment. Power says the inaugural study measures a vehicle owner’s experiences, usage and interaction with driver-centric vehicle technology at 90 days of ownership. The major technology categories analyzed in the study include collision protection; comfort and convenience; driving assistance; entertainment and connectivity; navigation; and smartphone mirroring.
Collision avoidance technologies—such as blind spot warning and detection, lane-keeping/centering and back-up camera/warning systems—are collectively part of the collision protection category, which has the highest overall satisfaction among the five groups of technologies included in the study index scores, with a score of 754 on a 1,000-point scale. In contrast, owners are least satisfied with their navigation systems (687).
Back-up camera/warning and blind spot warning and detection are the most often used technologies, with at least three-fourths of owners saying they use the technology every time they drive. Additionally, they are the most in-demand technologies, with 96% of current owners of the technologies saying they want each of the features in their next car.
Some people, however, are paying for new vehicle technology and pretty much ignoring it. “The dealer plays a critical role in whether or not a technology is used,” says Power researcher Kristin Kolodge. “When the dealer takes the time to explain the technology or provide a demonstration, it not only makes the owner aware they have the technology, but also helps them understand how to use it, which means they are more likely to use it, continue to use it and, because they see the value, want it in their next vehicle.”
By segment, the Hyundai Genesis (pictured) ranked highest for consumer tech satisfaction in the Midsize Premium group and Hyundai Tucson for Small cars. BMW claimed the top spot in Compact Premium with the 4 Series and Small Premium with the 2 Series. The Kia Forte was the winner for Compacts; Chevrolet Camaro for Midsize; and Nissan Maxima for Large cars.
Power surveyed 17,864 vehicle owners and lessees and based the awards on responses from the 13,269 consumers who purchased or leased a new 2016 model-year vehicle in the previous 90 days that had been considered an all-new or redesigned vehicle within in the past three years. The study was fielded from February through August 2016.
ADVERTISER NEWS
Analysis from Morningstar Credit Ratings finds that 45% of the 1,035 major malls in the country have weak sales, decreasing occupancy, and one or more anchor-store vacancies, with 53 in default and another 24 not making enough money to pay their debt. Sales at these locations go as low as $345 per square foot while at the top-producing malls, many with Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue or Nordstrom as anchors, sales are at $470 per square foot or better…….Rent-A-Center issued preliminary numbers for the third quarter and those numbers aren’t good: Same-store sales are expected to be down 12% with the Acceptance Now financial subsidiary revenue projected to be essentially flat. In its commentary, management admitted the implementation of a new point-of-sale system experienced performance issues larger than expected. The company owns over 2600 stores and franchises another 225……Tyson Foods, the largest seller of meat in the country, is taking a small stake in a company called Beyond Meat which sells plant-based burger patties that replicate the taste of ground beef. The Wall Street Journal reports that Whole Foods has started to place the product in the meat section at many of its stores, and that has produced much better sales than when positioned with other veggie-burgers……In what it’s calling its biggest product launch in more than ten years, Papa John’s is introducing pan pizza this week as a permanent menu option. Advertising will continue to use Peyton Manning as spokesman in new commercials……Logan’s Roadhouse now expects to emerge from bankruptcy in November after renegotiating leases and closing 34 locations of the 256 that were operating before the bankruptcy filing. Traffic had been down 9% for the first half of the year……Having spun off its China business into a separate company, Yum Brands says its next move to drive growth will be to become a “pure play” franchisor by refranchising company-owned locations of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. Currently franchisees own 77% of units of those chains and deals in progress will take that number up to 93% this year and 98% by the end of the next fiscal year. Yum says shedding the stores will give it “laser-like focus on our key strategies to drive same-store sales and new unit growth”……Hardware + Building Supply Dealer reports Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores are going through a “refresh” with emphasis directed towards the sale of appliances. More than half of floor space is designated for appliances in remodeled stores. Along with Sears’ own brand Kenmore, products from Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid and Samsung are also being highlighted.
NETWORK NEWS
Sourcesare reporting thatNBCis negotiatingBilly Bush’sexit fromNBC News. The news follows the release of a video tape betweenBushand presidential nomineeDonald Trump, in which Trump made lewd and misogynistic comments about women.Carson Dalyfilled in for Bush during the 9 AM (ET) hour ofThe Today Show……JarradPaulandAndyMogel, creators ofThe Grinderfrom last season, have been given a put-pilot commitment fromFOXto create a new single-camera workplace comedy. The untitled series will focus on an office culture thrown into disarray when an un-PC CEO is pitted against a newly hired ultra-PC sensitivity specialist.PaulandMogulwill serve as executive producers on the project……Lynda Carter, star of theWonder Womanseries from the 1970’s, will play U.S.presidentOliviaMarsdinin the October 24thepisode ofSupergirlon theCWnetwork.Carter will make her debut in an episode titledWelcome to Earthin whichSupergirland thedepartment of Extra-Normal Operations protect the president after she’s attacked……ABChas given a cast-contingent pilot commitment to a new untitled comedy from writerJeremy BronsonandHamiltonco-starDaveedDiggs. The comedy centers on a struggling hip-hop artist who runs for mayor to promote his mixtape—and wins.JamieTarses,ScottStuberandDylan Clark’s BluegrassFanFarewill be working withABC Studioson the production….ABCis also developing a new comedy, tentatively titledAll Together Nowfrom writersDan HernandezandBenjiSamit.The series is inspired by Hernandez’s ownfamily history.It centers around a free-spritrock and roller who, in an attempt to be a better provider, gets his first real job working at a music store.Sony Pictures TVwill be the studio for the project……CBS Television Studioshas formed a new unscripted programing development department.GhenMaynard, an unscripted format veteran, has been named senior executive vice president of alternative programming.Maynard’sresume includesmajorcontributionstoSurvivor,Big Brother, The Amazing RaceandAmerica’s Next Top Model……FOXhas given a put-pilot commitment to a new drama dealing with a timely topic.Controversy, described asan investigative thriller drama,deals with the hot-button issue of college rape. The series will be written bySheldon Turner, co-writer ofUp in the AirandX-Men: First Class.FOXis developing another drama dealing with the controversial topic of police shootings calledShots Fired.
MONDAY RATINGS
The network Monday night Nielsen ratings for A18-49 are flat to down from last week, however the bright spot of the night belonged to the CW with Supergirl scoring a 1.1 rating in the demo. The rating was a big improvement in the time period from last season. Supergirl is the second best performing program for the network, just behind The Flash. For CBS, both The Big Bang Theory (3.3) and Kevin Can Wait (2.1) were off a tenth of a point from last week. The season premiere of Two Broke Girls posted a 1.7 demo rating. Scorpion was the number two 10 PM (ET) drama with a 1.3 rating. Timeless on NBC won that time slot with a 1.5, off by three tenths of a point from its series premiere. The Voice was essentially flat week-to-week with a 2.9 demo rating. Dancing with the Stars pulled a 1.7 and Conviction managed a 0.9 for ABC, while the two FOX dramas, Gotham and Lucifer both posted a 1.1 in the demo.
MORNING BATTLE UPDATE
Good Morning Americacontinues as the number one morning show for the week of October 3rd. GMA averaged 4.67 million viewers for the week withNBC’s Today Showcoming in a close 2ndwith 4.5 million.CBS This Morningis still third with 3.56 million, butshowed year over year growth, especially in the A25-54 demo, with a plus 13% improvement. In the ad-friendly demo of W25-54, theCBSprogram jumped up 22% over the same week last year……
NPD: GLAD TIDINGS FOR RETAILERS
The NPD Group is the latest research company to say that retailers should have plenty to be thankful for in the coming holiday season. Its2016 Holiday Purchase Intentions Survey finds that consumers plan to spend an average of $636 on holiday-related expenses, up 3% from what they anticipated last year.
When questioned more broadly, 14% of consumers plan to spend “more” than they did during last year’s holiday season and 17% say they’ll spend “less”—virtually unchanged from 2015 results. Consumers are also less concerned about the economy spoiling their holiday fun: when asked how the state of the economy will influence their holiday purchases in 2016, the 12% saying it will have a “significant impact” is down from recent years (14% in 2015, 19% in 2014).
“All signs point to a holiday retail season that will outperform last year’s,” saidMarshal Cohen,NPD’s chief industry analyst.“The unvarying holiday spending intentions expressed by consumers are a sign that even this year’s intense election cycle has done little to dampen consumer confidence going into the holiday season, which we forecast to grow moderately.”
Retailers with online purchase channels stand to gain, as consumers plan on shopping more through online channels this year. On average, shoppers plan on doing 38% of their holiday shopping online (up from 33% last year and 29% in 2014).
Two in 10 consumers have already started their holiday shopping and NPD says earlier shopping correlates with bigger spending. 27% of heavy spenders (those planning to spend $750 or more) have already started shopping; this drops to 24% among midlevel spenders ($300-$749) and 17% among low spenders (below $300).
AD BUYING GOES ACROSS VIDEO PLATFORMS
Cross-platform video advertising is emerging as the new norm as buyers distribute ads across a growing range of devices and content platforms. However, a new eMarketer report says significant hurdles remain before industry stakeholders can maximize the business opportunities in an always-on, multiscreen world.
Well over half of U.S. Internet users multitask with smartphones or computers while watching TV. eMarketer estimates that the share of Internet users who will use smartphones simultaneously with TV at least once per month will reach 68.0% in 2016 and increase to 79.1% in 2018; the share of those who will use computers with TV will be 52.1% and 52.8% during that same time. Multitasking with tablets and TV is not as prevalent, likely owing to the lower penetration of tablets compared with smartphones and computers.
Within the multitasking group, however, only about a quarter consume digital content that relates to the linear or digital programming on their TV set—much to the chagrin of programmers, who would prefer that second-screen clicks pertain to what’s on TV. This percentage is expected to increase to 26.4% in 2018, eMarketer estimates—not a dramatic difference from 2016 levels.
The relatively low incidence of related content is less of a challenge for advertisers, the report says. As long as people are using connected devices while watching TV, the relationship between the program and the digital activity becomes secondary. The main point is consumers are using the devices in huge numbers, so as long as marketers can reach them, eMarketer says it doesn’t necessarily matter whether there’s a contextual link between the TV show and whatever the users are browsing on their smartphones and tablets.
The share of U.S. ad budgets spent on buys combining linear TV with digital video has increased over the past two years, from 29% in 2014 to 35% in 2016, according to a report earlier this year from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).
THIS AND THAT
A Reuters report says CBS Corporation CEO Les Moonves is insisting on a free hand if Viacom and CBS are again merged and he is put in charge. People close to the discussions say Moonves is seeking to capitalize on his decade of success at the helm of CBS to have as much autonomy as possible if the two companies are put back together. Both are controlled by the Redstone Family through National Amusements, Inc…….Nielsen research finds that 53% of global consumers say they feel anxious when their mobile devices are not close at hand. Two-thirds (56%) can't imagine life without mobile devices, and 70% say their mobile device makes their life better. Two-thirds of global respondents (66%) agree that face-to-face interactions are being replaced with electronic ones, but that might not be a problem as almost half (47%) say they prefer texting to talking anyway……Auto dealer groups and financial industry groups are celebrating a federal appeals court ruling that the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is unconstitutional. Auto dealers have wrangled with the CFPB over rules for car loans……Samsung has permanently halted production and sales of itsGalaxy Note 7 smartphones.
AVAILS
A fantastic opportunity awaits at the top media outlet in the “#1 City in The World”- Charleston, SC. WCSC- TV (CBS) is looking for a multi-platform account executive to sell our TV, Web, Mobile and Multicast properties. Ideal candidates should have 2+ year’s media sales experience and a proven track record of developing and selling broadcast and digital solutions for new and existing customers. Qualified applications should CLICK HERE to apply. EOE-M/F/D/V.
WCSC-TV, 2126 Charlie Hall Blvd, Charleston, SC 29414.
KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau, MO has an immediate opening for a Local Sales Manager. College degree and experience in coaching and training AEs preferred. We want a manager who is team oriented and can work toward budget achievement for multiple platforms. Must be organized, have exceptional time management skills, a minimum of five years of television advertising sales, and be proficient in selling and managing digital platforms. Experience with Matrix, One Domain, and Wide Orbit is a plus.CLICK HERE and attach your resume when applying. EOE M/F/D/V.
Media General's KRON4, the San Francisco Bay Area's Local News Station, seeks a Research Director. This person must have the ability to create and deliver quality presentations and research materials utilizing Power Point, Excel, Photoshop, Abode, Emerging tools, etc. Must have the ability to differentiate our brand in the marketplace by working with a team of salespeople to develop custom advertiser solutions/marketing pieces and packages utilizing the latest research data. CLICK HERE for more information or to apply now - look for ID RON-000089. E.O.E. M/F/V/D.
Account Executive - Jacksonville FL: WFOX-TV has a rare opening for a top-billing account list at one of the most sought-after companies in the business, COX Media Group, and one of the fastest-growing markets in the country. Live in a great market with beautiful beaches, an incredible climate, NFL team, major sports and entertainment events and home to 80+ Corporate Headquarters and 3 military bases!Minimum 2+ years of media sales experience required, television experience preferred. CLICK HEREfor more info or to apply now.EOE.
Account Executive:How would you like to work for the best sales team in California? KMPH FOX 26 and KFRE CW 59 in Fresno, CA have an immediate opening for a highly motivated, results driven, Account Executive.TV and digital sales experience will give you an edge, but most important is the drive to succeed and win!Are you that person? Do you have what it takes? CLICK HEREfor more information or to apply now.EOE.
If Columbus knew America would end up like this, he would’ve just turned that boat around.
--Chelsea Handler
Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a pair of socks from 2,000 years ago. In other news, Larry King is missing a pair of socks.
--Larry the Cable Guy
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SPOTS N DOTS
The Daily News Of TV Sales
October 12, 2016
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