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.

NBC: Kickoff Game Moved To Different Date

Posted: 02/28/2012 09:17:16 PM
Type: New Booking
Message: The 2012 NFL Kickoff night is booked on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, including the NFL Kickoff Special at 7:30pm ET and the NFL Kickoff Game at 8:30pm ET, live across. See contingencies on this date for details available at this time. Please advise clearance.

And a total of 13 changes announced yesterday, as per the post below. I'll start working on NBC clients now.

Update: all clients have been updated for applicable changes.

Changes To 2nd Quarter Sports Appear

Lots of little programs getting cancelled, none of which anyone will really miss.

They're still dripping them onto APT this afternoon, so I'll begin when it appears they've stopped.

Plus, you'll not hear this from NBC for a while:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL says it will open the season Wednesday, Sept. 5, to avoid a conflict with President Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention the following night.

The season usually begins on a Thursday night, but Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the change for this season on Tuesday.

The Super Bowl champion New York Giants will host the season-opener at MetLife Stadium against a team to be announced at a later date. Starting time is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST.

I'll change the above date in full-service client inventories when I delete the Golf Center Lives, etc. Look for an addition to this post when all have been updated.

Robin Leach Answers Questions About Miss USA Pageant

Since APT doesn't have any information, and web rumor mills have been filled lately with.. rumors, TV stations have no idea what or when to sell.

Expect an official announcement this week that the 2012 Miss USA Pageant will air as always planned on NBC from Planet Hollywood on June 3. Additionally, NBC will announce this year’s pageant hosts within the next 48 hours.

Confusion about the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants being dropped by NBC began with a false report from obscure Indonesian website Missosology.com. “Totally fake -- absolutely untrue,” blasted Miss USA Pageant President Paula Shugart. “It’s very difficult being in business negotiations with many people -- including those in Las Vegas -- that totally incorrect reports of network problems went global.”

The false story, however, developed even further as it was reported elsewhere and then by pageant fans on Twitter. It prompted a flurry of calls around the world as Planet Hollywood officials had to be calmed by executives for Donald Trump, who owns both pageants in partnership with NBC.

NBC Shuffles 2Q Prime Again.. Many Changes Coming

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/21/community-returns-march-15-at-8pm-premieres-for-bent-best-friends-forever-and-betty-whites-off-their-rockers/121031/

"Bent” will premiere on Wednesday, March 21 (9-9:30 p.m. ET) followed by a second episode (9:30-10 p.m. ET). The series will continue with original back-to-back one-hour blocks on Wednesday, March 28 and April 4 (9-9:30 p.m. ET and 9:30-10 p.m. ET both nights). Following the season finales of “Whitney” and “Are You There, Chelsea,” “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers” premieres on Wednesday, April 4 (8-8:30 p.m. ET) followed by “Best Friends Forever” which also debuts on Wednesday, April 4 (8:30-9 p.m. ET).

“Community” returns on Thursday, March 15 (8-8:30 p.m. ET) as NBC re-sets the night with “30 Rock” shifting to 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) followed by “The Office” (9-9:30 p.m. ET) and “Up All Night” (9:30-10 p.m. ET). “Parks and Recreation” comes back on Thursday, April 19 (9:30-10 p.m. ET) to finish its season after “Up All Night” has ended its 24-episode original season run in the time period.

“Rock Center with Brian Williams” will also move one hour later on Wednesdays (to 10-11 p.m. ET) starting March 7 for five weeks and then return to 9-10 p.m. (ET) on April 11. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” returns with original episodes on Wednesday, April 11 (10-11 p.m. ET) leading to its season finale on May 23rd.

Nothing yet in APT.. but I'll bet there are press releases galore.

Update @ 13:26PST on 02/21/12, APT now shows the changes. RDRx clients are being updated now.

Update @ dawn on 2/22/12, all RDRx clients in Eastern and Central Time Zone were updated and published last night. LPM metered clients in Mountain Time Zone were updated and published last night as well. HH metered clients in Mountain Time Zone are being finished this morning and will be published by Noon, local time.

All RDRx clients now have updated inventory. Exit the application and re-enter to see information updated recently.

Smash Estimates Going Down; Voice Estimates Going Up

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/another-dip-in-the-ratings-for-nbcs-smash/

Based on what I've seen from the LPM and HH metered markets I work with each day, I'll be easing back expectations of GRP delivery for future episodes of Smash, and will unleash a few more of the horses under The Voice's quite capable hood.

IMO, the country influence of The Voice is reflected in my southern markets over-indexing those reported in the national media regarding national NTI numbers.

Networks Keep Explaining Why Ratings Are Low

Well, if it's not because of a TV listing issue, maybe it's because there was a President's Birthday last week... really?

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/across-the-board-lower-ratings-have-networks-asking-why/

Update: And from the people who say ratings are both currency AND public speech, there's this reason:

Finally, there was what might be called the Lincoln exception. Nielsen executives pointed to the fact that some schools in a few states – Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts — still close for Lincoln’s actual birthday and perhaps families (some with Nielsen boxes) take vacations then. This would be in addition to what is expected to be some natural falloff in ratings next week when the official Presidents’ Day holiday is celebrated by the nation at large.
That a horde of viewers may have abandoned television this week in honor of Abe seemed unlikely, but, if true, it could cause elevated concern about some other coming dates: Andrew Jackson’s birthday is looming on March 15, James Madison on March 16 and Grover Cleveland on March 18.

This Sunday Night Prime Changes Again

Posted: 02/15/2012 05:36:50 PM
Air Date: 02/19/2012 Sunday
Start Time: 07:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: THE VOICE
Duration: 02:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: THE VOICE is now booked. Please see schedule for format details.

Sunday Newspapers will be carrying TV listing books with a 2 hour Dateline because of the late date of this announcement. Traffic departments will have to tear apart Sunday's prelim log and begin again. Sales people who take responsibility for their clients' spot placement will work extra hours on Thursday for this.

All for something which will generate less than a 5 HH share.*

But at least four NBC stations have updated inventory and estimates if they wish to do the work.

(*By the way, you may wish to compare your own market's delivery of HH share when you get your own Feb2012 PAV info.)

Go, Tiger!

What NBC Sports needs this year is a return of Tiger Woods to his old audience appeal.

Here's how CBS benefited just this past weekend.

Last Hour of March 6th Finally Announced

APT has had this block set aside as TBA for several months. Clearly, NBC had plans for this time slot. Why did they delay notifying local stations so long? Is this another NBC News Special On/Off/On event like the GOP debate?

And did they really just figure this out at 7:35pm last night?

Posted: 02/13/2012 07:35:03 PM
Air Date: 03/06/2012 Tuesday
Start Time: 10:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC NEWS SPECIAL
Duration: 00:59:30
Type: New Booking
Message: DECISION 2012 (LIVE) is booked. Please see contingencies on this day for further details.

Yep, NBC News is apparently running prime scheduling again. Let's count how many times this changes in the 23 days until the event. Who wants money on the last date of a change? My money is on Friday, March 2nd, at 7:35pm.

Posted: 02/13/2012 07:48:37 PM
Air Date: 03/06/2012 Tuesday
Start Time: 07:00:00 PM [MT]
Show Name: THE BIGGEST LOSER 13
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: Format
Message: Due to the live broadcast of Decision 2012 on this night, BIGGEST LOSER will now air as two 1 hour episodes (Part 1 = 7:00-8:00pm MT, Part 2 = 8:59:30 – 9:59:30pm MT). Please see contingencies and updated format tabs for further details

.

Using 1996 Actuals for Summer Olympics?

Oh, man... some rep firms are selling spots as if it were 1996, with the broadcast shares of a generation ago, and local affiliates are likely to be paying for it all 4th Quarter.

A reminder: the 1996 Summer Olympics were held in Atlanta, GA. There were no digital video recorders or HDTV or even streaming video. All events were shown live.

This is not the world we live in today. Big numbers are not always repeatable.

But... it's easy to sell big numbers when you have no responsibility for their outcome.. ask any mortgage broker from the peak of the housing boom.

Massive Updates to 2nd Quarter Prime Released Late Friday Night

Beginning after 5pm on Friday, NBC began to post what seems to be the draft version of some of their second quarter changes. There are typos and mis-matches in the APT2Go updates, like this one. There are so many changes, the APT2Go site can't display all of them, so unless you have access to APT itself this weekend, you're SOL.

Posted: 02/10/2012 06:39:45 PM
Air Date: 04/06/2012 Friday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: GRIMM
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? is booked on Friday 4/6 thru 5/18.

Sunday AM Update: All RDRx inventories and estimates have been updated to reflect the Second Quarter Prime programming announced, as well as the replacement of much of early evening prime with Olympic Trials in late June and early July. These trials will be the only snapshot diary and meter/diary market stations get of 2012 Olympic audience compositions, so let's hope these do well.

NBC: Rating Would Have Been 1.5 If.......

From TV By The Numbers

Ratings for the February 2 telecast of "30 Rock" were apparently impacted by an episode description that matched the description of the prior week's 9 p.m. telecast, resulting in some DVRs failing to record the program though it was correctly listed as an original.

NBC Research estimates that had the telecast received the level of time-shifted viewing seen in the time period over the prior three weeks, its "live plus same day" adult 18-49 rating likely would have been a 1.5 rather than last night's 1.3.

NBC Research and Scheduling say correct information was issued by the network but technical issues caused some listings to inaccurately carry the same episode descriptions for January 26 and February 2.

really?

Tomorrow Night and Saturday Night Prime Changed Again

From APT2Go late last night:

Posted: 02/07/2012 08:17:39 PM
Air Date: 02/11/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 10:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: SMASH
Duration: 00:59:30
Type: New Booking
Message: SMASH is now booked.

Posted: 02/07/2012 08:16:36 PM
Air Date: 02/11/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: THE VOICE
Duration: 02:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: THE VOICE is now booked.

Posted: 02/07/2012 08:15:34 PM
Air Date: 02/09/2012 Thursday
Start Time: 10:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: THE VOICE
Duration: 00:59:30
Type: New Booking
Message: THE VOICE is now booked.

In the last 5 days, three different programs have been scheduled for the last hour of prime on Thursday. First, The Firm. Then, after The Firm was quietly cancelled, the first of 3 Grimm reruns were scheduled for tomorrow night.

Then, after all affiliates other than in Hawaii and Alaska had gone home for the night, they pull Grimm and replace it with The Voice. Did they not plan for this encore earlier? Again, I'm sure the O&O's are taken care of.

Update

As of 12:42pm PDT, all RDRx NBC inventories and estimates have been published. To see the new programs and estimates, you may need to close and re-open MediaOffice.

Intermittent Posts For a Few Days

With two brand new RDRx clients as of this morning, I'll be playing catch-up and may not see NBC changes quite as quickly as usual. Next week, things should be all caught up.

Update: Having brought the two new clients to RDRx standards, service has returned to normal.

NBC Prime Changes for March, Plus Sports Changes

RDRx clients have been updated..

*All* APT2Go Posts About GOP Debate Vanish

12 Step Programs have a great suggestion: "Restraint of tongue and pen." In my case, it needs to be updated to include computer keyboards.

There are times I type before I think. Sometimes, white-hot text ends up being published here on NothingButChange.com, but only before it gets deleted from public view when I realize how silly/angry/useless my frustration on behalf of NBC local sales is. But it's never because I'm embarrassed about the decisions I've made; it's about how I said them.

Who knew that NBC would do a revisionist history regarding Monday night's GOP debate scheduling fiasco? I'm sure it's not about the coverage; it's about how they handled the On/Off/On/ItNeverHappened communication with affiliates.

NBC ReSchedules GOP Debate for Monday, Jan 23

No, this is not an old post. Yes, on Wednesday, NBC told the world the GOP debate would air, then on Friday, it cancelled the debate, restoring Fear Factor and Rock Center to Monday's prime, but too late for most traffic departments to deal with the change without working late.

Then, after the mess has been all cleaned up and the curses aimed towards 30 Rock are barely off traffic department lips... and Saturday afternoon, NBC changes Monday night prime, again.

Posted Saturday afternoon, NYC time:

Posted: 01/21/2012 12:13:50 PM
Air Date: 01/23/2012 Monday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC NEWS SPECIAL
Duration: 01:59:30
Type: Announcements
Message: The NBC News Republican Candidates Debate on a Special Edition of Rock Center will air on Monday, 1/23 at 9p-10:59:30pm ET/PT and 8p-9:59:30pm CT/MT. Please see schedule for format details and updated contingencies.

Update: Several hours later, all postings on the public APT2Go website regarding the On/Off/On made in the last 24 hours have been deleted. Like it never happened.

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.