G4's ANW Hits NBC on 8/22

With Fear Factor coming back to NBC, G4's own take on reality-show machismo will see some Peacock NBCU time on Monday, the 22nd of August. Earlier episodes of American Ninja Warrior will be running on G4 between now and then.

Dew Sports Specials Skate Around Summer Schedule

Lots (sixteen different programs)of changes in July, August and September for NBC Sports Specials, announced late last night and early this morning.

Clients are being updated now.

WRCB: Local Television News Done Right

What happens to a local news audience when an "Act of God" life-changing event like tornadoes and floods first hit, then the community begins to recover in the first weeks, then gains it's feet and moves on in life?

My client WRCB now has the opportunity to examine the fruits of their own news-gathering labors during a time of great difficulty. On the eve of the first day of May Sweeps, storms ripped through their community. The weeks of recovery following fell within the May Sweeps, giving us this unique view.

Even after a quarter-century of looking at diary-based results, I was shocked to see the huge increase in young adult viewing SHARE increases for WRCB. Other stations in the market lost this share.

Normally, I have little use for July Sweeps, as stations know they are not kind to network prime and will be used against them in negotiations. But this year, the July 2012 Sweep will provide invaluable data on how WRCB can keep those new, young viewers.

May 2011 Data Arrives

Working on client server now.

Weekend Changes for NBC Prime

NBC changed Saturdays in August and September again, and once I find the May2011 data on WRCB's server, I'll include that in their update.

Well, Nielsen Changes Their Mind Again

Yep, Chattanooga data will be released late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

My premiere client, WRCB, will have full updates for their own inventory, and for competitive stations, within 8 working hours of that time.

Many Southern Markets Data Delayed By Nielsen

After we asked Nielsen yesterday why we weren't getting certain markets as scheduled, we were told yesterday by Nielsen that "on June 2nd, notice was posted.." etc.

This delay is obviously because of the horrific weather that ripped through the deep south in the first week of the May Sweeps. Diary-based research doesn't work when the mailbox is gone, and the postman doesn't come by anymore.

Well, my clients were just told on Friday. That's not June 2nd. I found out yesterday.

Speaking with sales managers yesterday in both Birmingham and Chattanooga, I discovered some stations in Birmingham may not want the book issued at all, and Chattanooga has been told to wait at least 10 more days for data.

This huge delay is what gives me the ability to offer the beta special below.

Stanley Cup Game 7 Tomorrow Night!

In what should be the highest rated NHL game of the year, Wednesday night will see the final game in the Stanley Cup.

Although neither the game nor future Wednesday night programming are mentioned in APT, I'll be "hiatusing" regular prime for this Wednesday, and RDRx clients will find Game Seven already in Specials Inventory... only this time, it won't have a Question Mark in the name.

11:30a Update: Affiliate traffic and sales will be preempting next Wednesday's SVU encore with an AmGtTalent hour. RDRx clients already have updated inventory and estimates in their MediaOffice systems.

NBC Summer Changes for Friends With Benefits

Just announced in the last few minutes on APT2Go, Friends With Benefits appears on Friday nights in August, even though they announced just yesterday it would run on Saturday.

More changes still coming.. I've seen new stuff three times today.

Every single local NBC station now has to make programming grids, inventory lines and audience estimate changes, now, again.

If you don't have a full time Research Director and you subscribe to MediaOffice, I can make those changes for you. Just call.

Added several hours later: Here's FutonCritic's coverage.

NBC/Comcast Buys Olympics Through 2020

NY Times article

Stanley Cup Game #5 Friday Night

Bruins won last night, so a Game 5 will be needed this Friday night.

What does your station's MediaOffice inventory say?

Minute To Win It Replaced In Late June

Yep, that first hour of prime on Wednesdays has changed.

RDRx clients already have replacement programming in their MediaOffice inventory and new estimates... which are much easier to sell than MinToWin.

The Voice Gets Post SuperBowl Slot @ 2/5/12

Posted: 05/31/2011 03:45:37 PM
Type: Announcements
Message: NBC will broadcast a special hour-long episode of "The Voice" following the network's exclusive coverage of Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, February 5, 2012 (10-11pm ET; time approximate). Program scheduling information and format details will appear in APT at a later date.

Late Summer Appears in APT2Go

Perhaps someone was trying to get out of 30 Rock early for the three four day weekend, because late last night, NBC posted a good number of previously unconfirmed summer reruns. After I have another cup of coffee, I'll see exactly if this has any effect on existing inventories.


Added several hours later:
Whew.. there were a lot more changes than I thought.. July and August prime look much different than they did yesterday. Happily, RDRx clients already now up to date with all announced NBC summer and fall programming.

If you're an NBC station using MediaOffice, I could be helping you, too.

Love In The Wild Pushed Back To June 29th

Well, this is interesting.

Wed 10pm on June 8th: AGT rerun hour.
Wed 10pm June 15-22, L&O:SVU returns for a swan song of CM.
Now, the premiere for Love In The Wild is June 29th.

NBC : NHL & Prime Changes Next Week

With a little breathing room for traffic and sales!

Game 1: Wed 8-11p EDT.

Game Wednesday blows out previously scheduled Min To Win, AGT hour and Love In The Wild* premiere.

*APT still shows episode 102 airing on June 8th, but I think that will be changed to 101.

Already published to inventory and estimates of client RDRx stations.

Stanley Cup: First Game Monday or Wednesday?

Posted: 05/25/2011 09:48:01 AM

Message: NHL STANELY CUP FINALS REVISED MOVE UP SCENARIOS (AS OF 5/25): Last night, Vancouver closed out San Jose with a win in double OT. As such, we will know the Stanley Cup Final schedule at the conclusion of the game tonight. If Boston wins, Game 1 will be Monday in Vancouver. If Tampa wins, Game 1 will be Wednesday in Vancouver.

Christmas Day NFL Game Confirmed

From APT posting late last night:

Football Night In America (7:00-apx. 8:15pm ET) (LIVE ACROSS); NBC Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers (apx. 8:15pm -11:30pm ET) (LIVE ACROSS) **FLEX WEEK** Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas Night in Green Bay? Oh baby, it's gonna be cold there.

Dick Ebersol to Leave NBC Sports

From The New York Times:

Ebersol’s departure raises immediate questions about whether Comcast will be less aggressive about acquiring the rights to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, which will be negotiated in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June. He said that he would not attend the auction, at which ESPN and Fox are expected to be bidders, and that he intended to stay at NBC until the end of June.

Stanley Cup Schedules Still Preliminary

NBC Sports and the NHL are finalizing the Stanley Cup move-up scenarios. We anticipate releasing details by the end of the week. As of now, the earliest possible start date of the Stanley Cup Finals (Game #1) is Sat. May 28th on NBC. That would require both East and West Conference Finals to be concluded in 4 games. More information as it becomes available.