NBC Cancels GOP Debate In Prime for Monday Night

You know, I have no words for this. But I'll bet there are more than 200 traffic departments in America who have very harsh words for this kind of scheduling.

Posted: 01/20/2012 12:51:41 PM
Air Date: 01/23/2012 Monday
Start Time: 10:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: ROCK CENTER WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS
Duration: 00:59:30
Type: Announcements
Message: Prime Time reverts to original schedule on this night. Rock Center with Brian Williams is booked at 10pm ET. Please see updated schedule.

Posted: 01/20/2012 12:50:25 PM
Air Date: 01/23/2012 Monday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: FEAR FACTOR
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: Announcements
Message: Prime Time reverts to original schedule on this night. Fear Factor is booked at 9pm ET. Please see updated schedule.

I guess if the O&O's can deal with this, everyone else can, right?

The above was accurate all Friday. For example, look at the press release NBC sent out late Friday afternoon at TheFutonCritic.

While it still exists on the NBC Press Release website, here are the details for the Fear Factor episode.

You would think that would end the matter regarding Monday's primetime, right?
Wrong.

See the post from Saturday, January 21 above.

Fear Factor & Brian Williams Pre-empted Next Monday

For the GOP Primary Debate:

Posted: 01/19/2012 04:31:37 PM
Air Date: 01/23/2012 Monday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC NEWS SPECIAL
Duration: 01:59:30
Type: New Booking
Message: NBC NEWS SPECIAL: REPUBLICAN DEBATE is now booked.

All RDRx clients have been updated and published.

Now, it's up to local sales to move all of the spots already sold in FF and Rock Center W BW, and up to traffic to rebook them.

At least ODI readers here know about it before most, and all my clients have already gotten emails from their servers tonight.

Next day comment:

Found this on FutonCritic.com before dawn Friday morning:

[01/20/12 - 06:03 AM]
NBC to Air Florida Republican Presidential Primary Debate on Monday, January 23 at 9:00/8:00c
The event, taking place at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, is being sponsored by NBC News.
[via press release from NBC]

"NBC NEWS SPECIAL"

(X) "REPUBLICAN DEBATE"

01/23/2012 (09:00PM - 11:00PM) (Monday) :

Betty White, All Over Again This Saturday Night

Posted: 01/17/2012 05:38:39 PM
Air Date: 01/21/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 09:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: BETTY WHITE'S OFF THEIR ROCKERS
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: BETTY WHITE'S OFF THEIR ROCKERS is booked.

Posted: 01/17/2012 05:37:28 PM
Air Date: 01/21/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPECIALS
Duration: 01:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: BETTY WHITE'S 90TH BIRTHDAY: A TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S GOLDEN GIRL is booked.

Hmm.. not much time for local stations to turn this around and sell it. Saturday's logs should be done in 48 hours. Ah, well.

NAACP Image Awards on Friday, 2/17

Air Date: 02/17/2012 Friday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NAACP IMAGE AWARDS
Duration: 02:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: NAACP IMAGE AWARDS is booked.

This plus other changes to First Quarter NBC Prime have been published to RDRx Gold clients, and is being changed now on Silver clients' MediaOffice systems.

They should see updates later today.. it helps they are in Mountain Time Zone, at least this month.

Sunday Nights Change in February

Including an OTO of Fear Factor on February 12th..

RDRx clients will find these changes in inventory on Tuesday.

OneDomain offices will be closed on Monday for the federal holiday.

Ryder Cup Booked

Ryder Cup (Golf) (9:00am-7:00pm ET)
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Ryder Cup (Golf) (12:00n-6:00pm ET)
Sunday, September 30, 2012

Oooohhh... and new MLS bookings in 3rd and 4th Quarter.
Things are getting very busy, and look promising.

Part of the problem with updating NBC sports is before an RD gets done with the hundreds of individual lines of inventory, each with their own audience estimates, NBC moves things around.

But efforts like the transparent labels on Sports Specials do give me hope.

All RDRx NBC Stations should have updated Sports by early next week.. I have a feeling there's more to come from 30 Rock between now and Friday at 6pm.

Attention: NBC Stations.. There's Good News In Nov11 PAVs

Because I've been working with NBC Sports and Nielsen ratings for the past 13 years, I've had to accept the convention NBC used to title their sports specials for Nielsen use. You know, the ever so helpful

"NBC SPT SP 4/24
"NBC SPT SP 5/8B..."

Back when I was the RD for a group of NBC stations, I told NBC that no other broadcast network hid the content of their required weekend programming in this way, and it made the accurate planning, purchase and posting of these sports specials virtually impossible.

Like nearly everything I do, I pleaded for a change with such a passion, Maria Enriquez said "Wow, you're really angry about this."

Well, starting in October of 2011, NBC changed, and for the good.

Here are some of the NBC sports specials titles as submitted to and used by Nielsen for October and November:

GYM-WRLD-10/15
SKATE AMR10/22
AUTMN-KEEN-NBC
GYM-WRLD-10/16
RUGBY-CUP-NBC
RUGBY-FNL-NBC
DIAMND LGE-NBC
ISU-FG SKT11/5
NBC SKT SP11/6
ISU-FG SKT11/13
NBC SK SP11/13

Now, isn't this a little easier to understand?

2012 Notre Dame Broadcasts Booked on APT

Air Date: 09/08/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 03:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
Duration: 03:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: The 2012 Notre Dame Football package is now booked for the following dates: 9/8, 9/22, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 11/3 and 11/17

Good timing! I'm updating all my NBC clients this week with sports inventory and estimates, as per the last few posts here.

NBC Sports Updates Continue for Clients

At this point, it looks like about 212 NBC sports events and specials in 2012, not including the 2012 Olympics and the threatened onslaught of Olympic Trials in prime this summer. (Hey, it's cheaper than coming up with real prime programming!)

As you might imagine, coming up with reasonable and fair audience estimates for hour-long OTO weekend events is difficult at best. Some of my clients have several years of back-data, while others have almost none, so each station's estimates have to be built entirely for them, one by one.

This is why most stations don't bother with these programs in inventory, and they end up being sold as part of fire-sale rotators, or a dumping ground for rookie traffic employees. There's a huge difference in audience composition between these events, but after 12 years of handling them, I've got a pretty good idea of how they perform in various markets.

But in times where corporations are making budget cutbacks without real-time awareness of what harm they do, gleaning a thousand extra local spots a year, with full audience estimates and rationale listed in MediaOffice for sale, probably isn't a bad idea.


NBC Sport Updates continue for clients in Phoenix and Albuquerque this week.

Lots Of Sports Specials Changes for Third Quarter

Posted: 01/06/2012 01:29:22 PM
Air Date: 07/01/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 02:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 01:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: THE 2012 3RD QUARTER NBC SPORTS SPECIAL PACKAGE is now booked on the following dates: 7/1, 7/8, 7/14, 7/15, 7/22, 8/18, 8/19, 8/25, 8/26, 9/1, 9/15, and 9/16. Please see contingencies on these dates for further details and impact to other dayparts. Please advise clearance.

My job would be much easier if I enjoyed watching sports on television.

It's Time for Massive NBC Sports Specials Updates

With Comcast renaming Versus to NBC Sports Network, local NBC stations might see the nature of their own sports special scheduling changing this year. Versus has featured huge Tour D'France coverage for years, and cycling events are more likely to show up now on NBC.

Air Date: 05/06/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 02:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: Title Change
Message: Program title changed to GIRO D'ITALIA (CYCLING).

Each year, the first two weeks of January are devoted to updating the hundreds of tiny NBC Sports Specials coming in 2012 that most stations simply don't have the time to track and list, one by one.

Although this is our most expensive type of service offered, RDRx NBC Sports clients can opt for various levels of sports inventory and estimates; each one done by hand, using multiple years and overnights, market by market, by me and no one else.

Saturday's Playoff Teams Announced

Air Date: 01/07/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 04:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Duration: 03:00:00
Type: Announcements
Message: NFL Wildcard Playoffs 1/7/12: Team match-ups have been announced: GAME #1: Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans; GAME #2: Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints. Please see updated contingencies for further details.

2012 Starts With A Program Change

Posted: 01/01/2012 10:21:03 PM
Type: Announcements
Message: Please see updated schedule and operating conditions for Monday, January 2nd: Due to warm weather conditions, NHL Winter Classic is being delayed to approx 3pm ET. "NBC Sports: A Storied History" will air at 1pm ET for approx 2 hours and will include live updates from the site of the Winter Classic in Philadelphia.

The last time I was in Philadelphia in winter, it got warmer later in the afternoon, not colder. Hey, who knows?

End of Year Plans

OneDomain's Birmingham HQ will be closed early Friday afternoon and will re-open on Tuesday, January 3rd.

I'll be offline for a good portion of this weekend, as I'll be changing the cooling fluid in the RDRx Supercomputer. (Really!)

The photo to the left is 2 years old.. see the bright green color of the tubes?
You know it's time to change the coolant in your supercomputer when your cat begins to sit on top of it instead of the heated catbed next to it.

Notice the brackish color of the cooling fluid in the computer below Cobi?

Hartford & Springfield Get November Data

The following 2 NSI markets will be released in Local Monthlies today (Tuesday, December 27, 2011) between 9:00pm - 11:00pm ETZ.

133 Hartford & New Haven
143 Springfield-Holyoke

They are the 209th and 210th market to get November Sweeps.

New Year's NFL Teams: Dallas Cowboys @ NY Giants

Air Date: 01/01/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 08:15:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Duration: 03:15:00
Type: Announcements
Message: Teams announced for this night: Dallas Cowboys @ NY Giants. Please see updated contingencies.

KPNX+: First Draft of 1Q2012 Estimates Completed

When my new clients at KPNX+ come into work on Tuesday morning, senior sales management will find a 22 page PDF of the newly revised audience estimates awaiting their approval. Once given, I'll publish the new selling book for sales use.

While I have a moment, here's something to give new clients a head start.

RDRx client stations are best served when ODI Research has access to the following station information:

* A copy of the Media Kit sent out to all agencies and rep firms. Oh, and I wear XL t-shirts with logos of my clients proudly.

* A copy of your current rate card, with the actual rates removed. We only handle currencies from Nielsen and Rentrak, not the US Treasury.

* A listing of all regional and local specials, such as pageants, parades, telethons, etc. I probably don't know about the Pet Parade or Miss Mudd City.

* If your RDRx service includes sports, a listing of all your local/regional/syndicated sports events, specials or programs, as well as sources for updates of teams/times/dates.

* Please add us to traffic email lists that include urgent alerts about changing programming, but if you copy us with everything, it's possible we might miss something you know is important, but we don't.

* Give Maria a call in New York City and ask her to add your station to OneDomain Research's encrypted APT account. This is essential if you are not in Eastern Time Zones in a state that uses Daylight Savings Time.

* Ask your station IT department to share a document folder on the MediaOffice server with the desktop computers of senior sales management, so they can access all reports and planners created for their station by RDRx with ease.

* Remind your sales staff that RSS alerts are available from NothingButChange.com, notifying them via PC, iPhone and Android smartphones each time this website is updated.

Santa Delivers Nice Ratings for Christmas Night NFL

NBC says:

NEW YORK – December 26, 2011 – The Packers secured home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with their dominating 35-21 victory over the Bears at historic Lambeau Field on Christmas night on Sunday Night Football. Last night’s game earned a 12.6 overnight rating and a 25 share, according to overnight data released today by The Nielsen Company.

Bears-Packers produced the highest overnight rating for a game played on Christmas night since 1995 (Cowboys-Cardinals, 14.0/28 on ABC). The 12.6 for last night’s game is one percent higher than the last game played on Christmas night (Eagles-Cowboys, 12.5/29 on Christmas 2006 on NBC), and 19 percent higher than the Christmas night game in 2000 (Cowboys-Titans, 10.6/21 on ABC). Last year’s Week 16 game (Vikings-Eagles, 15.2/24) was an anomaly, played on a Tuesday night due to a snow postponement.

TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR BEARS-PACKERS:

1. Milwaukee, 45.8/73
2. Chicago, 29.2/55
3. New Orleans, 20.7/32
4. Las Vegas, 18.5/33
5. Minneapolis, 17.9/37
6. Nashville, 17.3/28
7. Albuquerque, 16.6/29
8. Greenville/Spartanburg, 15.5/25
9. Norfolk, 14.8/26
10. Richmond, 14.7/25

Holiday Hours for RDRx

OneDomain's HQ in Birmingham will be closed at Noon today, and will re-open on Tuesday, December 27th.

This is only the second year since 1998 that I've not had clients still waiting for November sweep results on Christmas Eve, and the first time ever it's been completed days before.

However on December 26th, RDRx will begin work on KPNX inventory and estimates, so when their sales team returns to work on Tuesday, we'll have a head start on Fiscal Year 2012.

May the spirit of Peace and Kindness be with you. I'm going to spend part of Christmas listening to Amahl and The Night Visitors for the last time.

GOP Primary Debate on Meet The Press on January 8th

Air Date: 01/08/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 10:00:00 AM [ET]
Show Name: OPTIONAL NETWORK OFFERING
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: MEET THE PRESS will host a Republican primary debate from Concord, New Hampshire on 1/8/12. The debate will be 90 minutes in duration with the first hour airing nationally on Meet The Press. The final half-hour will be available to NBC stations on an optional basis. All inventory in this optional half-hour has been reserved for your local inventory. Please review the format for this optional half-hour. Please advise clearance.

Based on the ratings I've seen for GOP debates thus far in December 2011, the local spots in the optional half hour should be valuable.

RDRx clients will get this updated on Thursday morning.

State of The Union Address Takes Tues 1/24 Prime

Posted: 12/19/2011 03:38:59 PM
Type: Announcements
Message: NBC News will provide live coverage of the STATE OF THE UNION address on Tuesday 1/24/12. Scheduling details to be announced by approximately 12/22/11.

Chattanooga, Here It Comes!

In about 8 hours, ODI computers in Birmingham will complete the transformation of Chattanooga DMA November 2011 data provided to third-party vendors by Nielsen into encrypted MediaOffice data files, then transferred overnight to my client.

By tomorrow evening, WRCB will have a draft copy of a Master Planner with November 11 based shares for review and approval. Once sales management approves my estimates, the results will be published for use by sales.

Later this week, WRCB sales will have not only WRCB's thousands of estimates updated, but will find the ABC, CBS and Fox station competitive updated and a master planner created for each.

It's an honor to work with gentlemen like Ralph Flynn.

NBC's After 5pm Christmas Bonus To Stations

Posted: 12/16/2011 05:00:09 PM
Air Date: 12/21/2011 Wednesday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPECIALS
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: A MICHAEL BUBLE CHRISTMAS is booked.

(and a lot more)
By the way, take a close look at the Press Release copy regarding this announcement. Look carefully at the date and time listed in the copy:

UPDATES-NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE - Wednesday December 21, 2011 - Friday January 6, 2012

"NBC SPECIALS"

(X) "A MICHAEL BUBLE CHRISTMAS"

12/21/2011 (09:00PM - 10:00PM) (Wednesday) : A MICHAEL BUBLÉ CHRISTMAS - Michael Bublé will host his first holiday variety show in a star studded special airing on Tuesday, December 6th from 8-9 pm ET. The multi-Grammy Award winning Canadian will sing songs from his new Christmas album including such classics as "White Christmas, "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Feliz Navidad," and "Jingle Bells," and will be joined by guest stars Justin Bieber, Kellie Pickler, Thalia, Oscar the Grouch, The Puppini Sisters and Naturally 7. The special will also include comedy shorts featuring Bublé and NBC stars Tracy Morgan and Ed Helms. "A Michael Bublé Christmas" is produced by Brad Lachman Productions and Electus.

Pre-Show Scheduling Spreads

Posted: 12/14/2011 01:19:31 PM
Air Date: 01/22/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 03:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: DEW TOUR COUNTDOWN is booked. Please see format tab for further details. Clearances assumed based on previously advised clearances for this time period, unless otherwise notified.

Posted: 12/14/2011 01:18:20 PM
Air Date: 01/22/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 03:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 01:30:00
Type: Time Change
Message: PROGRAM TIME AND TITLE CHANGE: Winter Dew Tour (orig. sked 3:00-5:00pm ET) moves to 3:30-5:00pm ET. Also, the title changes to WINTER DEW TOUR: PANTECH INVT'L. Please see show details for duration change and format tab for revised format. Clearances assumed based on previously advised clearances for this time period, unless otherwise notified.

There are others slowly emerging from Rock Center this week. RDRx Gold clients are being changed now.

November Sweeps Data Arrives This Week

Diary markets get their first look at how they did in November Sweeps this week. While HH metered markets have a clue, and LPM markets have nearly all the data, all the time, diary measured markets must wait until the full Sweep data is released.

If you are an NBC station in a diary market, you know how important it is to turn the Sweeps data into usable, marketable estimates as soon as possible.

RDRx Gold clients get updated Master Planners based on new sweeps data the same day as data arrives. Even if your competition has a full-time RD, it's unlikely they will beat you to the streets or bragging rights.

For more information about RDRx, please visit RDRx.TV

NBC Sports "Pre-Game" Shows Expand To Winter Dew

If you've seen the ratings for the "pre-games" airing before NBC golf and Dew Sports this summer, you might let rotators fill this inventory.

Posted: 12/13/2011 04:56:42 PM
Air Date: 12/18/2011 Sunday
Start Time: 02:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: WINTER DEW TOUR PREGAME is booked. Please see format tab further details. Clearances assumed based on previously advised clearances for this time period, unless otherwise notified.

Please note the amount of advance notice.

NFL Honors Booked 2/4

NBC has just replaced two hours of the night before the Superbowl with an NFL special. In addition, they've changed their plans to use the Pro Bowl the week before as a lead-in to Up All Night.. so that OTO event has been removed from client inventories as well.

From publication on APT to the inventory and estimates being updated on RDRx client servers.. less than 20 minutes.

RDRx Clients Have 2Q Golf Inventory & Estimates

Posted: 12/07/2011 04:34:12 PM
Air Date: 05/12/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 01:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: GOLF
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: THE 2012 SECOND QUARTER GOLF package is booked on the following dates: 5/12, 5/13, 5/26, 5/27, 6/14, 6/15, 6/16, and 6/17. In addition, Golf is possible on Monday 5/14 and Monday 6/18 if the tournaments scheduled for the Sundays preceding these dates is not completed or ends in a tie.

Second Quarter Golf Appears Slowly in APT

The printer here is getting a workout this week from all of the sports changes NBC is making to Contingencies.

I did get a chuckle out of one item listed this morning... listed "TENT".

French Open Returns.. despite no Wimbledon on NBC.

05/27/2012 Sunday 12:00:00 PM [ET] FRENCH OPEN TENNIS 03:00:00 New Booking
The 2011 French Open Tennis package is now booked on the following dates: 5/27, 6/2, 6/3, 6/8, 6/9 and 6/10. Please see contingency plans for details and impact to other dayparts. Please advise clearance.

Thursday Prime for 12/29 and 1/5 Posted

The hour vacated by Prime Suspect will be filled with Office and Up All Night encores.

RDRx clients have already been updated.

Many Changes to Winter/Spring Sports Specials

Looks like someone got a signed contract back from Red Bull..

" [ 25 New Message(s) Today ] "

The nice folks at NBC are still dribbling out these changes, so I'll wait till it stops, then catch up for my clients in two time zones.

Getting To Know A New Market By Numbers Alone

While I'm not exactly like "Tank" from "The Matrix," thirty plus years of studying broadcast ratings allows me to see things in Nielsen data that others may not.

Every market gets a "bad book" from time to time.. bad geographic distribution of diaries, etc. But if you have the ability to look back at 40 or so sweeps, it's pretty hard to come up with excuses or blame for long-standing trends.

2012 Summer Olympics Booked in APT

Posted: 11/22/2011 07:07:07 PM
Air Date: 07/27/2012 Friday
Start Time: 07:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: 2012 OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES
Duration: 04:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: THE 2012 OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES package is now booked Friday 7/27/12 through Sunday 8/12/12. Please advise your clearance status for the entire 2012 Summer Olympics program package as scheduled to the attention of your Clearance Representative in Broadcast Operations at NBC. Be advised that it is IMPERATIVE that you review each day’s contingency report for impact to other dayparts including feed pre-emptions, adjustments and non-standard durations.

Looks like I've got my work cut out for me in the next few days. RDRx Gold clients will find their inventories and estimates ready by Monday morning.

Prime Suspect To Be Replaced By Grimm on Dec 8th

Posted: 11/21/2011 07:58:54 PM
Type: Announcements
Message: GRIMM replaces PRIME SUSPECT on Thursday, December 8th at 10pm. Details to be loaded in APT tomorrow.

Already changed in RDRx client inventories.

NBC Encores Fill TBA Slots In December

Posted: 11/18/2011 04:44:46 PM
Air Date: 12/14/2011 Wednesday
Start Time: 08:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: WHITNEY
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: WHITNEY is booked on Wednesday 12/14 and 12/28. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information.

Air Date: 12/31/2011 Saturday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: GRIMM
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: GRIMM is booked. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information.

Air Date: 12/17/2011 Saturday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: GRIMM
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: GRIMM is booked on Saturday 12/17 and 12/31. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information.

Despite NBC waiting until the last minute for these significant changes, RDRx clients will have updated (fourth time this week) NBC Prime and Specials inventory and estimates when they come into work on Monday morning.

Prime Suspect Gets Post-Sweep Axe

Prime Suspect cancelled.

How quickly things change.
http://rdrx.blogspot.com/2011/10/prime-suspect-gets-pre-sweep-push.html

12 Days Of Sports Specials in 2Q Booked

11/15/2011
06:24:12 PM 04/07/12
Saturday 03:00:00 PM [ET] NBC SPORTS SPECIALS 01:30:00 New Booking THE 2012 2ND QUARTER NBC SPORTS SPECIAL PACKAGE is now booked on the following dates: 4/7, 4/29, 5/6, 5/20, 6/2, 6/3, 6/9, 6/10, 6/16, 6/23, 6/24, and 6/30. Please see contingencies on these dates for further details and impact to other dayparts. Please advise clearance.

Almost missed this amidst the avalanche of time-delayed APT postings about yesterday's press release.

RDRx clients will be updated tomorrow, have been updated and published.

38 Changes To Prime Posted To APT Tonight

My usual technique is to reprint the non-password protected programming information summarized by What's New in APT, for those without the time or skills to get it themselves. But you'll have to get all of these yourselves this time.. it's a major overhaul of 1st Quarter Prime, which for many local stations will be hot for political and issue advertising. Buyers should care about program content when purchasing such ads, and we can help those who do.

Premium RDRx clients with next-day service got 40 pages worth of brand new 4th and 1st Quarter inventory and estimates last night, 20 hours before NBC updated APT to match.

If your NBC station would like to be kept current, please contact your OneDomain representative.

NBC Makes Huge Changes In January

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – November 14, 2011 – NBC today announced its new mid-season 2012 schedule which features the premieres of four new series in “Smash” (February 6), “The Firm” (two-hour premiere January 8, time slot premiere January 12), “Fashion Star” (March 13) and “Are You There, Chelsea?” (January 11). The new lineup also includes the return of “The Voice,” “30 Rock,” “The Celebrity Apprentice” and “Who Do You Think You Are?”

In addition, there are day and time period changes for “Whitney,” “Up All Night,” “Rock Center with Brian Williams” and “Harry’s Law.”

Following are night-by-night details:

Mondays:

Last spring’s hit vocal competition series “The Voice” returns even louder with an hour-long season debut following Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, February 5 (10-11 p.m. ET, time approximate) and then resumes in its regular day and time on Monday, February 6 (8-10 p.m. ET). Following “The Voice” is the much-anticipated musical drama “Smash” which premieres Monday, February 6 (10-11 p.m. ET).

Tuesdays:

“Fashion Star” – the new reality competition series hosted and executive-produced by Elle Macpherson – will premiere with a two-hour episode on Tuesday, March 13 (9-11 p.m. ET) and resume on Tuesday, March 20 (10-11 p.m. ET). “The Biggest Loser” will open a new edition on Tuesday, January 3 (8-10 p.m. ET) followed by “Parenthood” (10-11 p.m. ET) which continues through its season finale on February 28.

Wednesdays:

The freshman comedy “Whitney” (8-8:30 p.m. ET) moves into a new day and time beginning January 11 followed by the series debut of the new comedy “Are You There, Chelsea?” (8:30-9 p.m. ET) on January 11. “Rock Center with Brian Williams” (9-10 p.m. ET) also joins the Wednesday lineup starting February 8. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” remains at 10-11 p.m. (ET).

Thursdays:

The new drama “The Firm” moves into the Thursday lineup (10-11 p.m. ET) beginning January 12 following its two-hour premiere the previous Sunday (January 8) from 9-11 p.m. ET. The first-season comedy “Up All Night” will also move to Thursday nights at 9:30 p.m. (ET) on January 12 which is also the night that multiple Emmy Award-winning “30 Rock” returns for its season debut (8-8:30 p.m. ET). “Parks and Recreation” (8:30-9 p.m. ET) and the Emmy-winning “The Office” (9-9:30 p.m. ET) remain in the same time periods.

Fridays:

The returning series “Who Do You Think You Are?” makes its season debut on February 3 (8-9 p.m. ET). “Chuck” will have its two-hour series finale on January 27th (8-10 p.m. ET). “Grimm” (9-10 p.m. ET) and “Dateline NBC” (10-11 p.m. ET) remain in the respective time periods.

Sundays:

“The Celebrity Apprentice” returns on Sunday, February 12 (9-11 p.m. ET). “Dateline NBC” begins on Sundays (7-9 p.m. ET), on January 8. “Harry’s Law” moves to the 8-9 p.m. (ET) time period on March 4 and “Dateline NBC” will return to 7-8 p.m. (ET) on March 4.

The premieres of the new January-March program schedule follow in a grid (all times ET); new series are capitalized.

MONDAYS

8-10 p.m. -- “The Voice” (season premiere Sunday, February 5; series resumes February 6)

10-11 p.m. – “SMASH” (beginning February 6)

TUESDAYS

8-10 p.m. -- “The Biggest Loser” (beginning January 3)

10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood” (through February 28)

10-11 p.m. – “FASHION STAR” (beginning Tuesday, March 13, 9-11 p.m. ET with two-hour premiere; one-hour broadcasts resume March 20)

WEDNESDAYS

8-8:30 p.m. – “Whitney” (beginning January 11)

8:30-9 p.m. – “ARE YOU THERE, CHELSEA?” (beginning January 11)

9-10 p.m. – “Rock Center with Brian Williams” (beginning February 8)

10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”

THURSDAYS

8-8:30 p.m. – “30 Rock” (beginning January 12)

8:30-9 p.m. – “Parks and Recreation”

9-9:30 p.m. – “The Office”

9:30-10 p.m. – “Up All Night” (beginning January 12)

10-11 p.m. – “THE FIRM” (two-hour premiere Sunday January 8; Thursday time period premiere January 12)

FRIDAYS

8-9 p.m. – “Who Do You Think You Are?” (beginning February 3)

9-10 p.m. – “Grimm”

10-11 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”

SATURDAYS

8-9 p.m. – “Harry’s Law” (encore broadcasts)

9-10 -- “THE FIRM” (encore broadcasts)

10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encore broadcasts)

SUNDAYS

7-9 p.m. – “Dateline NBC” (beginning January 8)

8-9 p.m. – “Harry’s Law” (beginning March 4)

9-11 p.m. – “The Celebrity Apprentice” (beginning February 12)

For embeddable clips from the NBC shows please visit: http://www.nbc.com.

There are so many changes here, NBC stations will be working the remainder of the week on moving and rescheduling spots. I'll be creating new inventory and estimates for RDRx clients based on this re-scheduling of NBC prime tonight, but will not finish until sometime on Tuesday.

NBC Moves Sports Specials on December 18th & 1Q

Posted: 11/10/2011 11:14:52 AM
Air Date: 12/18/2011 Sunday
Start Time: 04:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 02:00:00
Type: Time Change
Message: SKATING SPECIAL: BRIAN BOITANO SKATING SPECTACULAR (orig. sked 2:00-4:00pm ET) moves to 4:00-6:00pm ET. Clearances assumed based upon previously advised clearances for this time period, unless otherwise notified.

Posted: 11/10/2011 11:13:02 AM
Air Date: 12/18/2011 Sunday
Start Time: 02:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 02:00:00
Type: Time Change
Message: WINTER DEW TOUR (orig. sked 4:00-6:00pm ET) moves to 2:00-4:00pm ET. Clearances assumed based upon previously advised clearances for this time period, unless otherwise notified.

Added an hour later: Changes continue; NBC is moving a lot of first quarter sports specials around. Clients are being updated now.

American Giving Awards Sat 12/10 on NBC

Air Date: 12/10/2011 Saturday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPECIALS
Duration: 02:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: THE AMERICAN GIVING AWARDS is booked. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information.

Premium clients now have this item in inventory, with TP demos pending more info about this program.

2012 NHL Playoffs Scheduled

Looks like Comcast/NBC is doubling up on several NHL Playoff weekends, with doubleheader games on April 15th and 22nd.

Also, NBC has confirmed Dateline, Parenthood, L&O:SVU, Chuck and Grimm schedules for first quarter.. no surprises except for Grimm's return, in my opinion.

RDRx clients already have these changes in their MediaOffice inventory and estimates.

The Peacock's New Feathers

Here's a great article from The New York Times about how Comcast has managed NBC.

Even CBS can't resist picking on NBC lately.

New Reality Hour Gets 5 Nights in Dec; 4 in January 2012

Posted: 10/31/2011 07:10:49 PM
Type: New Booking
Message: WHO'S STILL STANDING is booked 8:00-9:00pm ET/PT, 7:00-8:00pm CT/MT on following dates: 12/19, 12/20, 12/21, 12/22, and 12/26/2011; 1/2, 1/9, 1/23, and 1/30/2012. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information.

plus

Air Date: 12/19/2011 Monday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: FEAR FACTOR
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: FEAR FACTOR is booked on Monday 12/19/2011 thru 1/30/2012. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information.

All of these changes have already been made in RDRx Premium client inventories, with estimates and rationales updated and new versions published to RDRx servers.

Snowstorm Blanks Ratings for Weekend in NYC

NYC and Philly Sat and Sunday overnight ratings vanish with the snowfall.

Sorta.

Grimm & Chuck Get Do-Overs Saturday Night

Man, sucks to be Grimm tonight, trying to compete with Game 7 of The World Series.

NBC apparently figured that out this afternoon.

Posted: 10/28/2011 01:46:16 PM
Air Date: 10/29/2011 Saturday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: GRIMM
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: GRIMM is booked. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information.


Posted: 10/28/2011 01:44:48 PM
Air Date: 10/29/2011 Saturday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: CHUCK
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: CHUCK is booked. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information.

Saturday AM Note: Since Chuck finished fourth in the first hour of prime and Grimm finished third last night in NYC, my guess is 30 Rock will be busy with spin on Monday.

Murdoch-Owned Wall Street Journal Hammers NBC Prime Ratings

Ouch.

2012 NFL Pro Bowl Finally Booked for 1/29

Posted: 10/21/2011 05:45:49 PM
Air Date: 01/29/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 07:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS
Duration: 03:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: 2012 NFL PRO BOWL is booked. Please see contingencies for further details and impact to other dayparts. Please advise clearance.

Changes Already To Holiday Movie Schedule

Bee Movie (which just aired on USA-HD recently)gets shortened to run an encore of "The 85th Anniversary of The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" special. No, this isn't the parade. From what little I can tell from APT thus far, it seems to be a televised retrospective on the unique marketing event over the years.

The original airing of this special (likely sponsored on NBC by Macy's, wouldn't you think?)will be Thanksgiving night at 10pm; just hours before Black Friday.

Oh, and NBC is shifting Biggest Loser to one hour later on Tuesdays in December to make way for all the holiday specials announced in the last few hours. Parenthood gets the silent hiatus treatment.

Four Holiday Specials Added To NBC Prime

I'm not sure what it is with Nicolas Cage and November weekends on NBC, but they are back together again this year on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

APT also notes three other specials for Tuesday nights in December, all of which have already been added to inventory with customized audience estimates in RDRx client systems.

Fear Factor in December and January

Posted: 10/19/2011 01:53:39 PM
Air Date: 12/12/2011 Monday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: FEAR FACTOR
Duration: 02:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: FEAR FACTOR is booked 12/12/11 through 1/30/12. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information

RDRx clients already have inventory and estimates published.

NBC Folds "Heads Up Poker Tournament" for 2012

Sponsored by the same folks as the recently bust Poker After Dark, this comes as no surprise.

Premium RDRx clients, who have had these NBC Sports Specials individually listed for several years, are now being updated to remove these time-tested demographic producers.

Prime Suspect Gets Pre-Sweep Push

Late Friday night, NBC decided to shelve episodes of Parenthood and L&O:SVU in late October and replace them with more Prime Suspect encores in the last hour of prime.

Unless your RD has updated your inventory and estimates today, your 4th Quarter Prime and Specials avails are out of date.

How soon will your station be able to address the preemptions of spots you've already sold? RDRx clients can begin first thing Monday morning, as their MediaOffice inventory and estimates have already been published to their servers.

Added 3 days later: First Web notification of this change.

Want An Extra Hour of Xmas@Rock in Prime Access on 11/30?

Posted: 10/14/2011 05:56:05 PM
Air Date: 11/30/2011 Wednesday
Start Time: 07:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: OPTIONAL NETWORK OFFERING
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER (OPTIONAL HOUR): NBC is pleased to offer an additional hour of Christmas in Rockefeller Center to all stations. This optional hour will consist entirely of local inventory and lead directly into the scheduled Network "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" program in all time zones. See contingencies and format tab for details. Please advise clearance.

Unless you have incredible programming in this time period, it's hard to believe that NBC's warm-up won't do better than your current programming in potential audience delivery during this key marketing week. That's geek-speak for "do it."

NBC: November and December Holiday Programming Booked

Posted late yesterday in APT, and already in premium RDRx client inventories and estimates, including a return to Wednesday night for the annual Rock Center Tree Lighting special and a new offering, Horton Hears A Who.

All Night Tonight Show Starts Off Women Only

I've taken a look at the Live Plus Same day (not much same day left at 3am) ratings from New York City for the premiere airing of Today Show @ 2am last night.

No male viewing at all. Female viewing focuses on 35-49. Local stations get 4 minutes of spots per hour.

First impression: Not bad at all.

In Wine Country Corked; Vintage Today Shows Air @ 2AM TFN

Posted: 10/11/2011 10:29:55 AM
Air Date: 10/12/2011 Wednesday
Start Time: 02:05:00 AM [ET]
Show Name: TODAY - ALL NIGHT
Duration: 00:59:00
Type: New Booking
Message: TODAY-ALL NIGHT is now booked Wed 10/12 through Friday 10/21 (note....balance of season will be booked later today). Please see format and feed tab for complete details. Clearance will be assumed based upon stations current clearances for 'In Wine Country-A' and 'In Wine Country-B'.

RDRx clients already have these changes in inventory, with new estimates based on an entirely different audience from those of IWC or PAD.

New Fall Season Projections Arrive With September Data

This weekend, PAVs with full demographics with 2011-2012 network prime programming (although just premiere week) will be available for projection purposes. Those of us with access to this September 2011 Sweep data will find comparing our previous estimates to actuals very helpful.

But Wait.. There's More!

Parks and Rec moves to Friday 830pm thru 10/21..
Office moves to Friday at 8pm..
UAL moves to Wednesdays @ 8:30pm during November sweeps and after..

In other words, all the avails you've sent out prior to now are outdated.

RDRx clients will start their Friday mornings with updated inventory, estimates and rationale.

Actually, if they are working past 5pm their time, they'll find them already published within 15 minutes of the APT posting.

Whitney Encores Fill Free Agent TP TFN

Although NBC hasn't notified stations yet, a number of online sources report the Free Agent time period on Wednesdays will be filled with yet more Whitney encores.. she's now on three different weeknights out of five.

Here's some insider gossip about how these decisions are made.

Free Agents Cancelled

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/10/06/nbc-cancels-free-agents/106350/

APT still shows FA booked, and I see no announcements at this time about replacement programming.

Sports Changes for November 5th

NBC adds NFL Turning Point, moving ISU Grand Prix Skating (Canada) an hour earlier.

Already changed and published to premium client inventories.


After 5pm@30Rock update: A couple of sports specials in January changed time periods. Clients will see those in inventory tomorrow.

Rock Center w/BW Premieres 10/31; Airs Thru January

10/04/2011
03:19:57 PM

10/31/2011 Monday 10:00:00 PM
[ET] ROCK CENTER WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS 00:59:30 New Booking ROCK CENTER WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS is booked on Monday 10/31/11 thru 1/30/12. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information

.

Both the premiere episode on 10/31 and regular prime airings are already in RDRx Premium client inventories with updated audience estimates.

If your station's avails show Playboy Club and don't show Rock Center, you might need our help. Please visit RDRx.TV for more info.

Playboy Club Dead; Prime Suspect Fills TP

Posted: 10/04/2011 03:08:24 PM
Air Date: 10/10/2011 Monday
Start Time: 10:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: PRIME SUSPECT
Duration: 00:59:30
Type: New Booking
Message: PRIME SUSPECT is booked on Monday 10/10 thru 10/24. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information.

UAN & Whitney Picked Up

Up All Night and Whitney will last at least one season.

TV By The Numbers

This explains why they are running encores of these two shows each Friday night until November Sweeps. Hmm.. I notice no reruns of The Playboy Club.

Weekend Changes in October for NBC

Looks like a Harry's Law Marathon on October 15th, as well as Friday night changes for October 21st.. officially pushing Chuck and Grimm premieres to the Halloween weekend following.

RDRx premium clients already have updated inventory and audience estimates for these changes.

Full Tilt Poker Out Of Business

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/30/alderney_pulls_gambling_licence/

This isn't a moral issue about gambling, or even about internet gambling. Apparently, there's a big hunk of player money missing.. Madoff for the middle class gambler.


As a Las Vegas local, I'm concerned about TV production jobs lost due to PAD shutdown, as I'm sure no local TV person was part of the financial operation mentioned above.

One More Minute For The Playboy Club Monday

The following is pure conjecture, and is not based on any firm information.

Based on news reports yesterday about PTC protests and national advertisers cancelling spots in The Playboy Club, I'm not surprised to see a comment in APT this morning about giving local stations an additional minute of local spots in Monday's airing.

My guess is NBC Network couldn't sell the spots that were cancelled quickly, and perhaps couldn't even give them away, so they've dropped them in local stations' laps. After all, I'm guessing NBC is busy trying to figure out how to sponsor 5.5 hours of network programming a week.

Don't count on this being a regular thing.. I'm guessing the Brian Williams news hour may well take this time slot in October.

UAN/Whitney Friday Encores Extended Again

Now extended to October 14th.

Already changed in RDRx client inventories.

Poker After Dark Officially Removed TFN

This is just the latest update about NBC's quiet decision to stop airing the Full Tilt Poker-funded Poker After Dark which filled 5.5 hours of NBC network programming each week.

Posted: 09/27/2011 11:08:04 AM
Air Date: 10/08/2011 Saturday
Start Time: 01:32:00 AM [ET]
Show Name: IN WINE COUNTRY
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: IN WINE COUNTRY (B) is booked on Saturday effective 10/8/11 - 12/17/11 and 1/7/12 - 9/22/12 and replaces second half-hour of TBA (previously Poker After Dark). Please see updated format and feed tabs for complete details. Until a permanent replacement is announced, two episodes of ‘In Wine Country’ will replace ‘Poker After Dark’, until further notice. Clearances for this time period to be assumed based upon previously advised clearances for Poker After Dark unless otherwise notified.

In my demographic opinion, advertising buys aiming at a young male audience on PAD might not be best served by airing in "In Wine Country."

NBC Sports in First Quarter Earn New Estimates

With both the SuperBowl and Olympic trials in 1Q2012, NBC's regular pattern of winter sports has been adjusted more than usual. Professional RDs are likely to adjust estimates and rationale whenever applicable.

Today, I'm updating both the "Gold Standard" LPM market maintained here for Internal Use Only, as well as premiere RDRx NBC clients, like WRCB.

What do your station's 1st Quarter Sports Avails look like? If you would like our assistance, please visit RDRx.TV

NBC Sports Specials & Golf for 1Q2012 Booked

Posted: 09/23/2011 02:11:24 PM
Type: New Booking
Message: The 2012 First Quarter NBC Sports Specials package is now booked on the following dates: 1/1, 1/8, 1/14, 1/15, 1/21, 1/22, 1/28, 1/29, 2/4, 2/11, 2/12, 2/18, 2/26, 3/3, 3/10, and 3/17. Please see contingencies on these dates for further details and impact to other dayparts.

Posted: 09/23/2011 03:50:54 PM
Air Date: 01/15/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 01:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: GOLF
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: The 2012 FIRST QUARTER GOLF package is booked on the following dates: 1/15, 2/25, 2/26, 3/3, 3/4, 3/10, 3/11, 3/17, 3/18, 3/24, 3/25, 3/31, and 4/1. Please see contingencies on these dates for further details and impact to other dayparts.

RDRx premium clients will find their existing inventories updated when they next fire up MediaOffice.

All-American Bowl Gets APT Listing

Posted: 09/22/2011 06:24:37 PM
Air Date: 01/07/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 01:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN FOOTBALL
Duration: 03:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: 2012 U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL is booked. Please see contingencies on this date for further details and impact to other dayparts. Please advise clearance.

My question about their timing of these announcements.. this game has been scheduled for years, and NBC has carried it for at least 5 years in this exact time period. Does NBC wait until the sponsor has signed the contract? Really, I'm curious. Because if stations only sell what is listed in APT, this game wasn't in most inventories until today.

In contrast, RDRx clients have had this game in their inventory non-stop for years.. just like the Macy's Parade and Tournament of Roses Parade. So, if this isn't in your inventory today, you need our assistance.

Poker After Dark Vanishes on Saturdays, Too

Dawn update: Saturday night's PAD has now been replaced.

I'm going to guess that Heads Up Poker might also not come back next year, but I've yet to see anything to confirm it.

Wondering why this is all so hush hush and sudden? Full Tilt Poker, the sponsor of PAD, is not only being investigated for federal internet gambling practices, but in just the last 48 hours, the US government has claimed FTP is a "Ponzi scheme", with most of the cash players left in their accounts and thought was in reserve having been used for personal purposes by some at FTP.

Until Roberts&Company can figure out to whom they will sell 5.5 hours of NBC time per week, wine snobs can fill up their DVRs with In Wine Country reruns. I'll keep a close eye on APT, as NBC isn't going to be making any noise about this on their own.

Poker After Dark's Future Uncertain @ NBC

Looks like "In Wine Country" is going to see a lot of air time for a while.

Posted: 09/21/2011 03:06:37 PM
Air Date: 09/21/2011 Wednesday
Start Time: 02:05:00 AM [ET]
Show Name: IN WINE COUNTRY
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: IN WINE COUNTRY (A) is booked and replaces first half-hour of POKER AFTER DARK effective Wednesday 9/21 through Friday 9/23. Please see updated format and feed tabs on these dates for complete details. Clearances for IN WINE COUNTRY will be based upon previously advised clearances for POKER AFTER DARK unless advised otherwise

Wednesday - Friday's airings of PAD on NBC have been replaced by encore episodes of the grape-centric feature in RDRx inventories already.

Whitney & Up All Night Friday Encores Extend Into October

Client inventories were changed within 10 minutes of APT publication.

SuperBowl Sunday Schedule Surfaces

APT reports NBC's plans for February 5th, including a special Jimmy Fallon show after late local news.

RDRx clients have updated audience estimates already published to their MediaOffice inventory.

New Sports Special In Three Weeks

Posted: 09/14/2011 11:15:43 AM
Air Date: 10/09/2011 Sunday
Start Time: 04:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: DIAMOND LEAGUE TRACK & FIELD is now booked.

From what it seems, the Sunday airing of Diamond League is the second portion of coverage that began on September 10th. LPM Live+Same demos I saw were mostly Men 50+.

2012 Golden Globes Booked in APT; Check Your Specials Inventory

If these programs aren't already in your MediaOffice inventory, your station might need our assistance.

Posted: 09/09/2011 02:58:26 PM
Air Date: 01/15/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPECIALS
Duration: 03:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: THE 69TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBES AWARDS is now booked. Please note: This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual air date for updated information. Please advise clearance.

Posted: 09/09/2011 02:57:36 PM
Air Date: 01/15/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 07:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPECIALS
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: THE 2012 GOLDEN GLOBE ARRIVALS SHOW is now booked. Please note: This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual air date for updated information. Please advise clearance.

4th Quarter Sports Specials Changes

Maybe it's the old retailer and LSM in me, but if I was selling to my favorite local retailer with targeted customers of Women 25-54 for the Holiday season, I would be all over the NBC Skating Specials in 4th Quarter. In every market, in every November sweep, these specials deliver consistent, bankable audiences.

Premium RDRx clients are being updated now that APT seems to have finished for the day.

This Saturday Night Prime Changes

Posted: 09/06/2011 06:03:41 PM
Air Date: 09/10/2011 Saturday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: BEST OF NFL KICKOFF SPECIAL 2011
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: BEST OF NFL KICKOFF SPECIAL 2011 (working title) is now booked. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information. Clearance is assumed based upon previously advised clearance for the 8pm "Who Do You Think You Are".

And Who Do You Think moves to 9pm.

POTUS Pushes Prime, Late News and Late Fringe Back Thursday Night

NBC and NFL are trying to make sure the game doesn't get over-run by the President and the GOP reply scheduled for Thursday. So, they're extending the run of the game time for another half hour, pushing everything back, including your local newscast.

Posted: 09/06/2011 04:16:07 PM
Air Date: 09/08/2011 Thursday
Start Time: 11:29:30 PM [ET]
Show Name: LOCAL TIME
Duration: 00:35:00
Type: Time Change
Message: Due to expanded NFL Kick-Off game, Local News begins at 11:29:30pm ET this night. Please see contingencies for further details and impact to other dayparts.

Obama Squeezes Between GOP & NFL Next Thursday Night

Posted: 09/02/2011 04:09:47 PM
Type: Announcements
Message: NBC News will provide a Special Report covering the President's Address to Congress beginning at 7:00pm ET, LIVE to all stations. Coverage will end as soon as possible. Transition to NFL programming will be seamless. Network operations will inform stations of any impact to commercial pods in the NFL Kickoff program via Urgent Messages on Thursday evening. Revised contingencies to follow on Tuesday 9/6.

This means the longer the POTUS speech and GOP rebuttal, the fewer spots (you've already sold) run. If you've got clients running spots in the pre-game special, make-good plans should be on your mind when you get into the station on Tuesday morning. Remember, lag kills.

Friday and Saturday Night Changes This Month

There are several of these changes; see APT for the details.

Here's just one:

Air Date: 09/23/2011 Friday
Start Time: 08:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: WHITNEY
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: WHITNEY is now booked on 9/23 and 9/30. This booking overrides all previously issued bookings, formats, and details. Please see individual airdate for updated information.

RDRx clients have already been updated, a bit later than normal due to a dentist appointment yesterday afternoon. But you won't find this change listed on any of the consumer sites yet. You *do* go to APT several times a day, don't you?

If your NBC station's Prime and Specials inventory hasn't been updated since Wednesday, it's wrong.

Need help? Contact your OneDomain Regional Sales Representative, or click on the box to the right for a Google Voice connection to me.

Christmas Eve 2011 From The Vatican; No SNL After

Posted: 08/26/2011 12:30:58 PM
Air Date: 12/24/2011 Saturday
Start Time: 11:29:30 PM [ET]
Show Name: CHRISTMAS EVE MASS
Duration: 01:30:30
Type: New Booking
Message: CHRISTMAS EVE MASS FROM ST. PETER'S BASILICA is now booked. Please see contingencies on this day for further details and impact to other dayparts. Please advise clearance.

Looks like Santa won't be seeing Saturday Night Live, Poker or In Wine Country (on TV sets between chimney and tree still playing NBC) on The Night Before Christmas.

This program runs at this same time in each time zone.

APT Books Bayou Classic

Posted: 08/25/2011 05:35:36 PM
Air Date: 11/26/2011 Saturday
Start Time: 02:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: BAYOU CLASSIC: SOUTHERN VS. GRAMBLING
Duration: 03:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: THE 2011 BAYOU CLASSIC: SOUTHERN VS. GRAMBLING is now booked.


Here's the advance notice from a few weeks ago:
Nothing But Change...: Bayou Classic (not in APT) Scheduled for 11/26

NBC Stations: What's In Your Inventory?

Sorry for the awful "Capital One" headline, but it's a real question.

Compare the next two months of NBC's Prime Schedule on APT with what's in your station's current inventory. (Yes, we have access to APT here.)

If you aren't happy with what you see in your MediaOffice inventory, or don't even want to look because you know already, it may be time to call a fellow broadcaster who can help.

It's not your fault. Look to the right and see how often NBC changes Prime programming schedules. Hundreds of times each year, NBC moves your inventory around with little time or notice in advance.

You almost need someone whose full-time job it is to watch your back. But you can't afford that, can you?

Yes, you can.

Chattanooga Data Arrives...

It's too soon to tell for sure, but this might be the best July book in years for the RDRx premium client in Chattanooga, WRCB.

While creating new July-based selling book estimates to be used during what remains of this summer and for all of next summer, I'm also tweaking September prime and specials audience estimates and triple checking hiatus dates.

Premium clients of RDRx services get competitive Master Planners, including customized audience estimates in quarterly selling books with rationale. These planners include specials and hiatus dates.

If you're a MediaOffice TV station, and you would like this kind of assistance, just click on the Google Voice icon over to the right.. I'm at my desk right now.

NHL Day After Thanksgiving: Detroit @ Boston

Air Date: 11/25/2011 Friday
Start Time: 01:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Duration: 03:00:00
Type: Announcements
Message: Teams announced for Exposure #1: Detroit @ Boston.

Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve Specials Officially Booked

NBC has repeated the same basic schedule for these days for the past 7 or so years, so there's no mystery about today's official booking in APT.

OneDomain RDRx premium clients have had these programs in inventory since last year.

Basic NBC Prime and Specials Inventory Listings Now Available

If you're a regular here, you know RDRx Premium clients use the RDRx service as an outsourced replacement for a full-time Research Director. But for those stations without any kind of research staffing, internal or otherwise, there are still times the MediaOffice system must be maintained by the client.

Four times a year, even the smallest TV station has to update their ratings when sweeps data is released. During the remainder of August, Nielsen subscribing stations in nearly all DMAs will be installing July 2011 survey data, which has just started to be released on August 13th.

MediaOffice NBC TV station clients who would like a current version of either the Eastern or Central Time Zone versions of NBC TV primetime shows and specials should contact their OneDomain Regional Sales Managers.

For DIY stations, this information is at No Charge through August. There are nearly 100 lines of prime programs and specials, including Fall Premiere dates and special events.

If you want this inventory installed on your station's MediaOffice system, customized service is available at extra cost. And, if you want Selling Book estimates, we provide those as well.

Labor Day Prime Changes

L&O:CI and Harry's Law are replaced by a two hour AGT and a Dateline special.

Clients have already been updated and published.

Tournament of Roses Parade on January 2nd

With New Year's Eve falling on a Saturday night, those who party too much will have two days to recover. If they sleep through New Years Day and wake on Monday morning, they'll find the Rose Parade on NBC.. (and lots of other places, too)

It's live to all time zones, so those who are on PST will be watching at 8am.

Air Date: 01/02/2012 Monday
Start Time: 11:00:00 AM [ET]
Show Name: TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE
Duration: 02:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE 2012 is now booked

October Sports Specials Change

NBC began posting a series of changes about 20 minutes ago, but it may continue this afternoon. I'll make these changes on RDRx Premiere client inventories later today.

Kickoff Special on 9/8 Extends 30 mins, adds 14 Local Avails

The NFL Kickoff Special on Thursday 9/8 is expanding by 30-mins and will now start at 7:30pm ET. Stations will receive 14 local units in this incremental half-hour plus 3 local units in both NFL Pre-Season games (8/21 & 8/28) at the end of the 1st Quarter of play (note: format tab for these 2 games will be updated by 9:30am this morning).

Clients being updated now.

Versus Becomes NBC Sports Network On Jan 2

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2011/08/01/comcast-to-rebrand-versus-as-the-nbc.html

Smash and The Voice in Inventory

NBC has officially booked these programs, although they've not told us what will run in those time periods in January. Already in inventory.

Bayou Classic (not in APT) Scheduled for 11/26

http://www.nola.com/bayouclassic/index.ssf/2011/07/nbc_to_broadcast_bayou_classic.html

NBC Sports announced Tuesday that it will broadcast the State Farm Bayou Classic college football game between Southern University and Grambling in the Superdome through the 2012 game. This year’s contest will be played on Saturday, Nov. 26.

As part of the agreement, State Farm has extended its title sponsorship of the game.

NBC has broadcast the Bayou Classic, that takes place annually on Thanksgiving weekend, since 1991.

Partial NHL Schedule Announced

After COB on Friday, NBC posted the first batch of NHL games, including a brand-new event scheduled the day after Thanksgiving.

Premiere clients are being updated now.