May & June Prime Looks Better Now.. July Still Empty on APT

When NBC makes a scattershot wide-reaching primetime programming change announcement as they did last night, it's tough to see what it really means until you have it all in a grid.  After all, there were 19 different changes for May and June announced on APT in the last 16 hours.

Friday Night Update:

June changes already published to RDRx March clients include SVU in Monday's last hour, Grimm filling Tuesday's and a lot more America's Got Talent encores on Sundays and Tuesdays.

All clients will find an updated Second Quarter Prime and Specials planner saved As Avail for use as a template for your modification of existing schedules already purchased.

More June & July Prime Announced

America's Got Talent gets lots of Sunday airings, while Off Their Rocker gets extended before it even gets started, SVU fills Monday at 10pm, and Grimm takes Tuesday at 10pm.

This plus much more was released after COB today, so who knows what might follow Friday morning.

Live 30 Rock Should Boost April 26th Audience

http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/networks/nbcentertainment/pressreleases?pr=contents/press-releases/2012/03/29/nbcs30rockwillp1333040403027.xml

All Clients Are Updated

Clients in both Eastern and Mountain Time Zones all have February data installed, along with Second Quarter audience estimates ready for use the same day the ratings arrived.

After 20 hours of work in the last two days, I'm glad to take a break.

East Coast NBC Clients Have Feb Based Estimates

On Sunday, both Jacksonville and Chattanooga DMA market data arrived.  On the same day, NBC stations in those markets got updated audience estimates based on that data.

Premium clients get a new book-based Master Planner on the same day, as well.

Today, Albuquerque data has arrived, and work continues there.

Will You Be Working This Weekend?

For some Midwest markets, Nielsen's February sweep data will be available tomorrow morning, Saturday March 24th.  Here's a link to ODI's client notification about data.

Variety: NBC's Post-Olympic Prime Schedule

"NBC declined comment."

More Feb 2012 Sweep Data: For Friday, March 23

Here's where you can find out about Nielsen data available on Friday, March 23 for OneDomain clients.

February Sweeps Data Begins..

Click here to see if your market's February 2012 Nielsen data will be available on March 22nd.

Chevy's Greatest NBC Olympic Moments : Sat, July 21@8p

Air Date: 07/21/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: 30 GREATEST NBC OLYMPIC MOMENTS PRESENTED BY CHEVY is booked. Please advise clearance.

 From APT.  Now, if we just knew what was airing on May 28-29th.  And in July.  And after the Olympics... but I digress.

NBC Finales Begin To Appear...

Before leaving for the weekend, the folks at NBC have tweaked May prime again and have several "finale" broadcasts scheduled.


Weekend Update: Eastern Time Zone clients have finales updated already, and Mountain Time Zone will be updated on Monday morning.   Monday Update:  All clients have been updated, with dozens of specials airing between now and the Olympics.

Ryder Cup Preview Shows Added

APT is beginning to show some add-on for the Ryder Cup.

A word to the wise AE: most of these pre-golf shows have not generated good demos in most markets I've seen.  In my opinion, these are used by NBC to maximize their Golf Channel investment, not to help local stations.

Keystone State Hockey Fans Will Be Happy, Again.

Posted: 03/16/2012 10:25:27 AM
Air Date: 04/01/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 12:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Duration: 02:30:00
Type: Announcements
Message: Team match-up this day will be Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh. Please see updated contingencies.

Seems like there's a lot of this match-up going around on NBC.

Real Summer Programming Trickles Out Tonight

All NBC clients have been updated.

Insomniac Investors Without Cable, Rejoice! Jim Cramer repeats @ 3am

Posted: 03/14/2012 06:13:51 PM
Air Date: 03/19/2012 Monday
Start Time: 03:00:00 AM [ET]
Show Name: MAD MONEY - ALL NIGHT
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: MAD MONEY WITH JIM CRAMER - AN is booked 3/19/12 thru 9/21/12.

I would imagine the audience for this will be impacted by the time zone..  pre-dawn in Pacific Time, one might choose to watch live CNBC's coverage of the Opening Bell rather than day-old entertainment.

Update: If you do sell this, know the spots you sell will run in the back half only:

 Show Name: MAD MONEY - ALL NIGHT
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: Format
Message: Format adjustment effective 3/19/12 - UFN: Local Avails have moved to pods 4 and 6 (previously in pods 3 and 5). Please see format tabs for further details.

30 Rock Shuffle Next Thursday Night, 3/22

Office gets bumped for an original 30 Rock.
All RDRx clients have been updated with inventory and revised estimates published.

By the way, unless there's a lot of Live Plus viewing done to Fashion Show in the next few days, I'll be lowering estimates for the rest of its run.  For those AE's who thought it would be a return to Victoria's Secret special on CBS-like demos...  what were you thinking?

In competitive moves, CBS surprises no one by returning to time-tested programming next year.  Media buyers can actually make CBS prime time buys based on Program Averages for 4th Quarter of 2012 and 1st Quarter of 2013.  

NBC?  It's your move.

ALMA Awards on Friday, September 21

Friday night, 8-9p EDT.

Read Between The Lines.. This Saturday's Firm Is Bumped.

No matter what it says in the TV listings in your Sunday paper, you won't be watching The Firm this coming Saturday, March 17th.

Read between the lines.

This Week, I'm Motivated..

ODI's Birmingham office reminds me I have so many roll-over days of vacation and personal time from 2011, I should really just take the rest of the month of March off.  However, with all of the NBC changes being made, it's been tough to take off any time thus far.

But this week, I'm getting ready for the release of February Sweeps data with an additional motivation.

Where's The Summer Programming?

It's a realistic question from those who purchase primetime advertising on local television more than 10 weeks from now..  and from those who sell it.  The latter group are my primary clients, but I try to think like their clients, too.

So, everyone wants NBC to have something to sell.  But...

Even those websites who faithfully track the press releases and spin from the networks have no real clue.

In multiple markets, the variety of suggested replacement programming provided by local stations in the absence of real schedules is jaw-dropping.  But for researchers, it's really tough trying to come up with realistic audience estimates for a multitude of possibilities both on NBC and other networks.

Perhaps there is less time pressure on NBC for summer prime programming now that Olympic Trials are filling 14 hours in June and July, and everyone hopes for Games 5, 6 and 7 of the Stanley Cup.

How is your station handling the sales of summer prime when you have no idea what it is you are selling?

Next Two Saturday Night Prime Changes.. Maybe More?

Posted: 03/09/2012 05:19:38 PM
Air Date: 03/17/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: FASHION STAR
Duration: 01:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: FASHION STAR is booked.

---

Posted: 03/09/2012 05:17:27 PM
Air Date: 03/24/2012 Saturday

Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: FAIRLY LEGAL
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: FAIRLY LEGAL is booked.

---

Posted: 03/09/2012 05:16:28 PM
Air Date: 03/17/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 10:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: BETTY WHITE`S OFF THEIR ROCKERS
Duration: 00:29:30
Type: New Booking
Message: BETTY WHITE'S OFF THEIR ROCKERS is booked.

Glad I looked up Fairly Legal's review in the NYTimes.

5:20pm PT Update: Eastern Time Zone clients have been updated and published.
Monday morning update: KPNX was updated on Saturday, but KOB has been offline since Friday.
KOB has been notified, and once I can connect, I'll update them.

Oh, NBC Announces Miss USA for June 3rd.

Yawn.

Here's the information from two weeks ago.

Saturdays Change March - May

Posted: 03/08/2012 12:16:48 PM
Air Date: 03/31/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: ESCAPE ROUTES
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: ESCAPE ROUTES is booked on Saturday 3/31 thru 5/5.

 I'll be updating all NBC clients again today with Escape Routes.

More Changes To NBC Monday and Tuesdays Through May

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – March 7, 2012 – NBC will commence live episodes of “The Voice” on Monday, April 2 (8-10 p.m. ET) and will expand the hit singing competition series to a second night with live elimination rounds beginning on Tuesday, April 3 (9-10 p.m. ET).

In addition, “The Voice’s” last live performance episode will be on Monday, May 7 (8-10 p.m. ET), with the season’s winner announced in the two-hour live finale on Tuesday, May 8 (8-10 p.m. ET).

“America’s Got Talent” – NBC’s top-rated summer series -- will then debut its new seventh season the following week with two-hour episodes on Monday, May 14 (8-10 p.m. ET) and Tuesday, May 15 (8-10 p.m. ET). The show’s return will feature the first appearance of new judge Howard Stern, who joins fellow judges Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne. The series then resumes in its regular day and time on Monday, May 21 (8-9 p.m. ET) and on Tuesday, May 22 (9-10 p.m. ET).

NBC’s new Tuesday night lineup starting on April 3 will be “The Biggest Loser” (8-9 p.m. ET), “The Voice” (9-10 p.m. ET) and the new “Fashion Star” (10-11 p.m. ET). “Fashion Star” debuts Tuesday, March 13 (9:30-11 p.m. ET).

Looks like Biggest Loser is shedding an hour for now.

Friday Update:  All stations have updated inventory and estimates, including changes announced on Thursday as above.

Obama Bumps "Days" Today; MT/PT Stations Must Fill Hour Themselves

Posted: 03/06/2012 09:24:00 AM
Air Date: 03/06/2012 Tuesday
Start Time: 01:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: Feed
Message: President Obama is scheduled to hold a Press Conference today. The anticipated start time is 1:15p ET.

Note: feeds 3, 4, 5 and 6 of DAYS are preempted today and feeds 1 and 2 of DAYS tomorrow are cancelled. Today's episode of DAYS will be rescheduled to tomorrow. 

PLEASE PROVIDE ALTERNATE PROGRAMMING LOCALLY.

Hmm... Tiger Did Go!

"Tiger Woods Drives Honda Classic Final Round To Best Overnight Rating In A Decade."

Who would have thought?

3/11/12: Appears Tiger has injured himself in PGA play, so we'll see if he returns to future NBC airings.  I tell ya, it seems injuries related to golf (and golf clubs) are his worst enemy..  after himself.

Affiliates Get A Choice About 2012 Olympic Zone Clearance

Posted: 03/02/2012 06:27:00 PM
Air Date: 07/28/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 07:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: OPTIONAL NETWORK OFFERING
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: We are happy to announce that THE OLYMPIC ZONE will once again be offered to all NBC affiliates for the 2012 London Olympics. The program will start on Saturday, July 28th and air Monday through Saturday, with the final episode on Saturday August 11th. Please see contingencies on the following dates for further details: 7/28, 7/30, 7/31, 8/1, 8/2, 8/3, 8/4, 8/6, 8/7, 8/8, 8/9, 8/10, and 8/11. In addition, a program offer will be available in the Report Center. Please see separate What's New message. Please advise clearance.

This is a tough one for non-metered markets to sell (and then post). My diary-only clients are selecting to skip this, which is why I didn't just install these over the weekend, but the fastest of my HH metered markets to reply says "Go for it."

NBC Research: We Win February Sweeps, But Only If You Use Our Numbers

From NBC's press release claiming a win in the Feb 2012 sweep for A18-49 year olds.

February sweep figures are "most current" averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

I wonder how many times they had to run the numbers to make the SuperBowl and the SB-led Voice give them this win. Doesn't really matter, because no one but Rock Center (and rep firms furiously producing big number one-sheets) thinks this is anything but BS PR.

*By the way, NBC, the most current version really would be Live Plus 7 for all days except those that only have Live Plus 3 available. Not Live Plus Same Day for half of it.

Oh yeah, proud as a Peacock they are.

Wait.. the NYTimes explains this all. Seems like some folks at NBC have staked their careers on The Voice.

NHL: Philadelphia Vs Pittsburgh on 3/18

NBC stations in the Keystone State might do well with this.

Posted: 03/02/2012 09:24:02 AM
Air Date: 03/18/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 12:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Duration: 02:30:00
Type: Announcements
Message: Team match-up announced: Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia.

By the way, I normally don't post each team listing for previously booked sports events, but since my family originally came from PA, you get this one.