NBC: EA Sports Special on Saturday, Nov 24th

More tweaking of Sports Specials..  the first two really only matter to NBC/Comcast and the outside production companies buying and programming those time blocks.  However, the third comes at a nice time, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.   Most young men won't be caught dead shopping this weekend and by Saturday afternoon, EA Sports might sound very appealing over turkey sandwiches.

Posted: 05/02/2012 12:43:37 PM
Air Date: 06/30/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 01:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 02:30:00
Type: Title Change
Message: Program title changed to USA SOCCER FRIENDLY: USAWNT VS CANADA

---

Posted: 05/02/2012 12:42:14 PM
Air Date: 06/16/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 01:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: Title Change
Message: Program title changed to RED BULL #7: NIKE LOWERS PRO (SURFING).

---

Posted: 05/02/2012 12:41:18 PM 
Air Date: 11/24/2012 Saturday 
Start Time: 01:30:00 PM [ET]  
Show Name: NBC SPORTS SPECIALS 
Duration: 01:00:00 
Type: New Booking 
Message: EA SPORTS SPECIAL is now booked. Please see contingencies for further details and impact to other dayparts. Please advise clearance.

This Saturday Night Prime Changes Again

Posted: 05/01/2012 07:34:49 PM
Air Date: 05/05/2012 Saturday 
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: THE VOICE
Duration: 01:59:30
Type: New Booking
Message: THE VOICE is booked.

And with that great lead-in from the Finale of Ford Escape Routes, I'm sure a rerun of The Voice will do better than another new episode of the critically acclaimed and secret ratings producer The Firm, right?

Update: Here's the first net posting of this change I found elsewhere. 

Monday morning update:

Here's what the website TVByTheNumbers reports:

Broadcast primetime ratings for Saturday, May 5, 2012:

9:00 CBS Person Of Interest - R 0.8/3 5.71 ABC Hancock(9-11PM) 0.8/3 2.82 NBC The Voice - R (9-11PM) 0.5/2 1.97 A18-49 Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2012 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved. Ford's Escape Routes finale had a 0.3 HH Rating, earning the lowest ratings of the night by any major network. If you've been reading this blog, you didn't sell that paid programming block to anyone expecting any real local demo delivery.
Also, I see some local TV stations bailed on this re-run and ran local movies instead.  NBC, when your moves cause local stations to preempt your Sweeps programming, something is very wrong.  Please see sick peacock above.

Best Friends Forever Episodes Burn Friday, June 1

Those missing episodes of Best Friends Forever that NBC silently cancelled last week have been scheduled to run on June 1st.

Posted: 05/01/2012 07:37:19 PM
Air Date: 06/01/2012 Friday
Start Time: 08:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is booked.

---

Posted: 05/01/2012 07:36:16 PM
Air Date: 06/01/2012 Friday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is booked.

---

Fourth Quarter Golf Schedule Posted

Posted: 04/30/2012 10:17:12 AM
Type: New Booking
Message: THE 2012 4TH QUARTER GOLF PACKAGE is now booked on the following dates: 12/1, 12/2, 12/8, 12/9, 12/15, 12/16, 12/29, and 12/30. Please see contingencies on these dates for further details. Please advise clearance.

Chattanooga and Jacksonville will have updated inventory and estimates today.

NBC Sports Specials for Fourth Quarter Appear in APT

Ah, it must be getting close to the weekend, as NBC is releasing bit by bit their schedule for 4th Quarter Sports Specials.  Must be still going on, as there's no notice in APT2Go yet.

Update:

Posted: 04/27/2012 06:16:31 PM
Type: New Booking
Message: THE 2012 4TH QUARTER NBC SPORTS SPECIAL PACKAGE is now booked on the following dates: 10/6, 10/7, 10/14, 10/20, 10/21, 10/27, 10/28, 11/10, 11/11, 11/17, 11/18, 11/25, 12/2, 12/8, 12/9, 12/15, 12/16, 12/22, 12/23, and 12/30. Please see contingencies on these dates for further details and impact to other dayparts. Please advise clearance.

Looks like I have several hours of work to do for each client station over the weekend, but my clients will have much fuller Sports inventory and customized estimates when they come in to work on Monday morning.

East Coast NHL Teams Play This Weekend

As seen on APT this morning:

Posted: 04/27/2012 11:32:24 AM
Type: Operating Conditions
Message: Sports Operating Conditions for Saturday 4/28 and Sunday 4/29 have been revised to include the NHL team matchups (Sat: Washington @ NY Rangers; Sun: New Jersey @ Philadelphia) and to update the program guarantee scenarios on both days. Please see contingencies on these days for complete details.

BFF Cancelled on Wednesdays; Awake Finale Resched?

Air Date: 05/17/2012 Thursday
Start Time: 10:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: AWAKE
Duration: 00:59:30
Type: New Booking
Message: AWAKE is booked on Thursday 5/17 and 5/24.

---

Posted: 04/26/2012 07:07:10 PM
Air Date: 05/17/2012 Thursday
Start Time: 09:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: COMMUNITY
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: COMMUNITY is booked.

---

Posted: 04/26/2012 07:04:17 PM
Air Date: 05/17/2012 Thursday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: COMMUNITY
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: COMMUNITY is booked.

---

Posted: 04/26/2012 07:02:43 PM
Air Date: 05/02/2012 Wednesday
Start Time: 08:30:00 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 on Wednesday 5/2 through 5/16.

 Chattanooga and Jacksonville have already been updated.

Update:  NBC waited a bit to let the press know about this change.

In Wine Country Dries Up In May; NBC4 Show Fills TP

Looks like In Wine Country's days are numbered:

 Posted: 04/25/2012 05:46:56 PM
Air Date: 05/05/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 02:02:00 AM [ET]
Show Name: OPEN HOUSE NYC
Duration: 00:28:00
Type: New Booking
Message: OPEN HOUSE NYC is booked on Saturday 5/5/12 - UFN. 

---

Posted: 04/25/2012 05:45:55 PM
Air Date: 05/05/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 01:32:00 AM [ET]
Show Name: OPEN HOUSE NYC
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: OPEN HOUSE NYC is booked on Saturday 5/5/12 - UFN. 

---

Posted: 04/25/2012 05:44:36 PM
Air Date: 05/05/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 01:02:00 AM [ET]
Show Name: 1ST LOOK
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: 1ST LOOK is booked on Saturday 5/5/12 - UFN. 

---

Posted: 04/25/2012 05:42:36 PM
Air Date: 05/04/2012 Friday
Start Time: 04:00:00 AM [ET]
Show Name: 1ST LOOK
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: 1ST LOOK is booked on Friday 5/4/12 - UFN.

Here's what I've learned so far:
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/open-house/

More about "1st Look" as I find it.

NY Times: Voice & Smash Ratings Recovery

From The New York Times:

Media Decoder: Minor Comeback for NBC on Monday, as It Faced Weaker Competition

By BILL CARTER

Published: April 24, 2012

There were signs of improvement for “The Voice” and its flagging drama favorite, “Smash.”

Finale Dates and May Changes Announced

Posted: 04/23/2012 03:42:45 PM
Type: Announcements
Message: The NBC 2011-2012 SEASON FINALES is now posted. To display, click on the "R" on this report or click on the report title under Affiliate Relations quick link

---

Posted: 04/23/2012 03:41:20 PM
Air Date: 05/08/2012 Tuesday
Start Time: 09:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: THE VOICE
Duration: 01:59:30
Type: New Booking
Message: THE VOICE is booked.

---

Posted: 04/23/2012 03:40:21 PM
Air Date: 05/08/2012 Tuesday
Start Time: 08:00:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: FASHION STAR
Duration: 01:00:00
Type: New Booking
Message: FASHION STAR is booked.

Gannett and Sarkes Tarzian stations have already been updated.

NHL MatchUps for Sunday Confirmed: PA, MA and DC Happy

Posted: 04/20/2012 10:49:11 PM
Type: Announcements
Message: The NHL schedule on NBC for Sunday April 22 is as follows: 12pm-3pm: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 3pm-6pm: Boston at Washington. Network schedule will be updated shortly to reflect these updates.

Obama Will Boost Late Night W/ Fallon Viewing on 4/24

I'll be noting this broadcast in specials for my clients, as it will have far greater viewing than normal.  There's not much inventory to be sold in this program, but local NBC stations can glean what they can.

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/20/obama-to-appear-on-late-night-with-jimmy-fallon/

Client stations have been updated, with inventory and customized estimates published.

Sunday Night Football Schedule for 2012 Announced

2012 SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Wed. Sept. 5 NFL Kickoff Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
Sun. Sept. 9 Week 1 Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
Sun. Sept. 16 Week 2 Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers
Sun. Sept. 23 Week 3 New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens
Sun. Sept. 30 Week 4 New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Sun. Oct. 7 Week 5 San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints
Sun. Oct. 14 Week 6 Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans
Sun. Oct. 21 Week 7 Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Sun. Oct. 28 Week 8 New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos
Sun. Nov. 4 Week 9 Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons
Sun. Nov. 11 Week 10 Houston Texans at Chicago Bears
*Sun. Nov. 18 Week 11 Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
**Thurs. Nov. 22 Week 12 New England Patriots at New York Jets
*Sun. Nov. 25 Week 12 Green Bay Packers at New York Giants
*Sun. Dec. 2 Week 13 Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
*Sun. Dec. 9 Week 14 Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
*Sun. Dec. 16 Week 15 San Francisco 49ers at New England Patriots
*Sun. Dec. 23 Week 16 San Diego Chargers at New York Jets
*Sun. Dec. 30 Week 17 TBA
*Flex Week ** Thanksgiving Night Game

Want Inventory & Estimates @ Your NBC Station?

Possible Match-Ups for NHL Dblhdr on Sunday, April 22nd Announced

Posted: 04/13/2012 05:33:34 PM
Type: Announcements
Message: Possible team match-ups for NHL Conference Quarter-Final Doubleheader on Sun. 4/22 are as follows with Game Times TBD: Boston at Washington-Game #6 and Pittsburgh at Philadelphia-Game #6

Pre-Season Games Semi-Scheduled For August Sundays

The NFL announced their pre-season schedule six days ago.  NBC instantly posted it..  not on APT, but here.

Great for fans who diligently read the NBCSports website; not so great for letting NBC affiliate stations know.  Especially when the games still weren't in APT earlier today.

Sigh.

This evening, NBC gets around to this:

Posted: 04/10/2012 04:15:28 PM
Type: Announcements
Message: The two (2) NFL 2012 Pre-season games on NBC are as follows: Sunday, August 19, Indianapolis @ Pittsburgh; Sunday, August 26, Carolina @ NY Jets. Details TBD.

Hmm...  no idea if the games are afternoon or prime, so to make all the salespeople happy, I guess I'll create versions of both.  Gotta love NBC Sports.

Update @2:35p PDT: Current clients have inventory and estimates for both daypart scenarios. 

A gentle reminder..  Local client MediaOffice users *must* close, then re-open MediaOffice on their desktop to see changes in inventories and estimates newly published by a station's RD or by RDRx service.

Seacrest: From CNet's 'Digital Domain' to NBC Olympics

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/for-seacrest-nbc-deal-includes-the-olympics/

June Sports Specials Change & Rename

RDRx clients have been updated already.

Prime Changes: Rockers/BFF Encore Bumps 'The Firm' Saturday

Posted: 04/02/2012 07:16:28 PM
Air Date: 04/07/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 09:30:00 PM [ET]
Show Name: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER
Duration: 00:30:00
Type: New Booking
Message: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is booked.

---

Posted: 04/02/2012 07:15:00 PM
Air Date: 04/07/2012 Saturday
Start Time: 09:00:00 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.

 Client inventory and estimates have been updated.

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

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

Friday Night Update:

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

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

More June & July Prime Announced

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

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

Live 30 Rock Should Boost April 26th Audience

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

All Clients Are Updated

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

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

East Coast NBC Clients Have Feb Based Estimates

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

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

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

Will You Be Working This Weekend?

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

Variety: NBC's Post-Olympic Prime Schedule

"NBC declined comment."

More Feb 2012 Sweep Data: For Friday, March 23

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

February Sweeps Data Begins..

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

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

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

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

NBC Finales Begin To Appear...

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


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

Ryder Cup Preview Shows Added

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

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

Keystone State Hockey Fans Will Be Happy, Again.

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

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

Real Summer Programming Trickles Out Tonight

All NBC clients have been updated.

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

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

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

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

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

30 Rock Shuffle Next Thursday Night, 3/22

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

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

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

NBC?  It's your move.

ALMA Awards on Friday, September 21

Friday night, 8-9p EDT.

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

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

Read between the lines.

This Week, I'm Motivated..

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

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

Where's The Summer Programming?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next Two Saturday Night Prime Changes.. Maybe More?

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

---

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

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

---

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

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

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

Oh, NBC Announces Miss USA for June 3rd.

Yawn.

Here's the information from two weeks ago.

Saturdays Change March - May

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

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

More Changes To NBC Monday and Tuesdays Through May

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

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

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

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

Looks like Biggest Loser is shedding an hour for now.

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

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

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

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

PLEASE PROVIDE ALTERNATE PROGRAMMING LOCALLY.

Hmm... Tiger Did Go!

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

Who would have thought?

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

Affiliates Get A Choice About 2012 Olympic Zone Clearance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh yeah, proud as a Peacock they are.

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

NHL: Philadelphia Vs Pittsburgh on 3/18

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

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

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

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.