Spots n Dots



Spots N Dots

The Daily News Of TV Sales

October 25, 2016

AUTOMAKERS ADJUST TO CHANGING TIMES

PRODUCTION SHIFTS AS TASTES CHANGE

General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles report their third quarter earnings this morning, with Ford Motor Company to follow on Thursday. We already know from their monthly sales reports that the U.S. auto market has leveled out—albeit at a pretty high level. Investors will be watching to see how well the automakers are handling inventory levels and incentives to maintain profits as the industry adjusts to the end of the post-recession boom.

According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Three are sending mixed signals with recent production shifts. As we reported last week, Ford has temporarily idled two car plants in Mexico and two U.S. plants in Louisville, KY and Kansas City, MO—the latter being one of the plants producing the F-150 pickup. At the same time, though, the Free Press notes, GM has been running so much overtime at the Flint, MI truck plant—where the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 are assembled—that temporary workers have been brought in to give the regular crews an occasional two-day weekend.

Industry growth in 2015 and 2016 has been powered by pickups and SUVs, so the manufacturers have been cutting back on cars, with Ford moving more car production to Mexico and FCA looking to outsource production of smaller cars—so far without finding a partner for such a deal. However, in an interview with Automotive News, Ford CEO Mark Fields insisted that the company isn’t giving up on cars, like the 2017 Ford Fiesta ST (pictured). But he also said Ford won’t be piling on incentives “unnaturally” to move cars while customer tastes are moving to pickups and SUVs. The story noted that cars still account for 28% of Ford sales so far this year, although that’s down from 37% in 2006.

The story is quite different for Honda, which is seeing its U.S. plant capacity strained by demand for its vehicles. CEO Takahiro Hachigo told Automotive News the company may have its plants in Japan produce more CR-Vs or Civics for export to the U.S., since Honda is expecting to increase sales in the U.S. in 2017 even as the market flattens.

GM is expected to post Q3 profits in line with a year ago. FCA actually posted a loss a year ago as it took a charge for future recalls, so it is pretty much certain to have better news for investors today. Ford has warned Wall Street that its Q3 profits will be down from a year ago and the lowest for any quarter this year.

ADVERTISER NEWS

Automotive News reports that Buick made Consumer Reports’ ranking of the top three most reliable brands—a feat no American brand has accomplished since the organization began tracking brand performance in the early 1980s. Buick’s 75-point score put it in third place, up from No. 7 last year. Lexus came out on top with an 83 (out of 100) while Toyota was #2 (78). Rounding out the top five are Audi (71) and Kia (69)…..Weak demand for denim and sportswear is cited as the cause for apparel maker VF Corporation to trim its revenue projections this year. The maker of brands like Wrangler, Timberland and North Face now anticipates its revenue to increase only 2% this year, compared to previous projections of 3%-4%......Restaurant Brands International Inc. said same store sales at its Burger King unit rose 1.7% last quarter, compared to 6.2% for the same period last year. The company’s Tim Hortons donut chain sales rose 2%, compared to 5.3% last year. Restaurant Brand CEO, Daniel Schwartz said in the company earnings call that Burger King has installed timers at its drive-throughs to speed service at its U.S. locations.……HNA Group plans to purchase around 25% of Hilton Worldwide Holdings from Blackstone Group L.P. for $6.5 billion. The deal is the latest move into American real-estate assets by a Chinese firm……Two leaders in the retail stock trading business have announced a merger deal. TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation has reached an agreement to buy Scottrade Financial Services for $4 billion. Scottrade Founder and CEO, Roger Riney will join the TD Ameritrade board when the deal closes in early 2017......Community Bank System Inc., based near Syracuse, NY has agreed to acquire Merchants Bancshare Inc., with locations in Vermont and Western MA. Community Bank currently has locations in upstate New York and northeastern Pennsylvania……Adidas saw a massive increase in the number of men’s running shoes listed on Foot Locker’s best-seller list in October. The sportswear brand had only two shoes on the list in September, and that number jumped to 13 the following month. The category leader, Nike dropped to 46 units, down six from September. Under Armour dropped off the list completely going from one unit to none……Amour Specialty Marketing has partnered with Ardent Mills to introduce Ultragrain Pasta to food manufacturing and foodservice channels. The companies are positioning Ultragrain Pasta to offer the health benefits of whole wheat pasta, while avoiding the drawbacks that have made pasta less appealing to customers……Nestle announced a downgrade to its organic-growth target for 2016 to 3.5%, down from last year’s 4.2% growth rate. As recently as August, company management had predicted that the growth rate was expected to remain the same as 2015……The Joint Center of Housing Studies at Harvard University’s Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity is projecting that the annual growth in home improvement and repair expenditures will continue to increase, surpassing 8% in the second quarter of 2017, before moderating somewhat later in the year. The report notes that the activity is encouraged by rising home values.

NETWORK NEWS

CBS will develop a new drama from the producers of Scorpion. Sentinels will be produced by Rob Pearlstein, Nick Santora and Nicholas Wootten. The new series will be centered on the world’s worst news team, that works under cover for a secret government program that has highly trained spies masquerading as hapless reporters……ABC has picked up a new multi-camera comedy from ABC Studios and Amblin TV. The untitled series will feature reality stars Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and Justine Simmons. Joseph Simmons, under the stage names Rev Run and DJ Run, is a founding member of the iconic hip-hop group Run-D.M.C., and is a practicing minister……ABC is also developing a new single-camera comedy with Faking It creators Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov. The project follows four friends at different stages in their lives and explores what it means to be a woman in 2016.....FOX has given a script commitment to a new comedy from writer/producer Patty Breen. The series follows the sexy and scheming heirs of a wealthy mining mogul as they battle to become the next head of his fracking business……Token White Male is another project in development by FOX. This hour-long dramedy comes from Life in Pieces executive producer Jason Winer, Faking It showrunner Carter Covington and writer Robin Schiff. Token White Male revolves around a fun-loving, low-rent lawyer who becomes the first male associate at a groundbreaking all-female law firm……Mike Tirico will host the 2016 Breeders Cup for the first time on November 5th. Tirico, who has covered football, basketball, golf and The Olympics in his career, joined the network in July……The 1992 feature film starring Robert Redford and Ben Kingsley, is being rebooted by NBC as a possible series. The network gave a script order to writer Walter Parkes and his wife and producing partner, Laurie McDonald for Sneakers, as a possible TV series……The unscripted summer slate at The CW has been renewed by the network. Whose Line is It Anyway, Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Masters of Illusion will all return to the summer network primetime line up in 2017.

SUNDAY RATINGS

NBC’s Sunday Night Football bounced back after some weaker ratings performances. The Nielsen 18-49 rating for the Cardinal-Seahawks game came in at 5.3, up from last week’s 4.5, while the SNF pregame show, Football Night in America posted a 3.4. For FOX, a Simpsons rerun and an original Bob’s Burgers each pulled a 1.6. A new Simpsons at 8 PM only managed a 1.6 and Son of Zorn dropped to a 1.0, while Family Guy got a 1.2. Finally, Last Man on Earth garnered a 0.9. On CBS, 60 Minutes started late due an overrun by the NFL, but got a solid 3.2 rating anyway. As for the dramas, NCIS: Los Angeles posted a 1.7, Madam Secretary a 1.1 and Elementary only got a 0.8. ABC’s struggles continued with America’s Funniest Home Videos posting a 0.8 in the demo, Once Upon a Time was not much better with a 1.0 and Secrets and Lies and Quantico both doing only a 0.7 demo rating.

NIELSEN MEASURING OUT-OF-HOME TV

Nielsen announced plans to measure out-of-home viewing for national television clients. The ratings company will leverage its Portable People Meter (PPM) technology and panelists to measure TV viewing that takes place outside the home. Clients who subscribe to this service will receive audience estimates that combine in-home television viewing, based on Nielsen's National TV ratings panel, with out-of-home viewing based on its PPM panels.

"ESPN worked with Nielsen 20 years ago to pioneer the first iteration of out-of-home TV measurement. This new advancement using passive, real-time technology represents a significant leap forward," said Artie Bulgrin, Senior Vice President, Global Research & Analytics, ESPN, in the Nielsen release.

The service will provide both program and commercial ratings (C3/C7) for live through live + 7 days of time-shifted viewing. Nielsen expects to launch this new service in April 2017 with data effective January 2017.

The use of the PPM device, which panelists carry with them wherever they go, enables Nielsen to measure TV viewing that occurs in places like restaurants, bars, waiting rooms, and airports. The out-of-home viewing will be based on data from over 75,000 PPM panelists across 44 local markets, enabling Nielsen to project out-of-home viewing in over half of U.S. population.

REPORT: AD INDUSTRY MORALE DISMAL

The second annual Morale Study by the ad agency trade publication Campaign US finds that nearly half of agency employees say they suffer from low morale. 47% of ad industry employees rated their morale as either "low" (31%) or "dangerously low" (16%), according to the survey. That number is up a whopping 36% from 2015, when just 34% of employees said their morale was either "low" (26%) or "dangerously low" (8%).

One thing that hasn't changed is the cause. Asked to name the top three factors contributing to their low morale, respondents overwhelmingly chose "company leadership" (73%) as the top answer. Second was "lack of advancement" (45%), and third was "dissatisfaction with work" (38%).

Employees with high morale cited very different causes for their mood. Those who rated their morale as "satisfactory" (22%), "good" (20%) or "excellent" (12%) most often chose "work/life balance" (62%) as the prime reason. "Satisfaction with work" was second with 49% and "creative freedom" was third with 44%.

ACCOUNT ACTIONS

McCann New York announced that it has been appointed to handle all strategy and creative for Godiva Chocolatier's annual holiday campaign, its largest campaign of the year. Initiative will serve as media partner. Both are Interpublic Group agencies……Ben Bridge Jeweler has selected DNA, Seattle, as its agency, with new marketing and advertising initiatives set to roll-out in Q4. The goal is to introduce the 104-year-old luxury jewelry chain to Millennials throughout its Western U.S. footprint.

THIS AND THAT

Sting is set to receive The American Music Award of Merit when the award show airs on ABC. The award is only given to artist who have made truly exceptional contributions to the music industry. The American Music Awards will be presented on Sunday, November 20th at 8 PM (ET) on ABC……Raycom Sports announced an exclusive partnership with XOS Digital, under which XOS will provide archiving, enforcement, and content representation services for the entire Raycom Sports portfolio. Raycom Sports operates the ACC Network which distributes more than 500 live events through television and digital platforms each year.

AVAILS

KTXL Fox 40 in Sacramento seeks a sales professional to manage a transactional list and develop new revenues across all platforms. Sacramento is a growing capitol city, offering an exceptional quality of life. Tribune owned Fox 40 offers terrific benefits, a positive work environment, and opportunity for growth. If this opportunity sounds like something you would like to pursue, Apply at job id#2016-44442. Previous experience preferred, and a working understanding of Wide Orbit and other broadcasts systems ideal. EOE.

Account Executive: KELOLAND TV in Sioux Falls, one of the top CBS affiliates in the country, has an opportunity for an experienced, high performing, multi-platform media seller who is interested in a rare opportunity to join the best team and sell the best platforms in the KELOLAND market. Applicants should have previous sustained and successful experience in media sales (TV and digital media is preferred). PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook proficiency, a good driving record, valid license & proof of insurance required. Apply online HERE, search for job KLO-000046. EOE/M/F/V/D

Bright House Networks, Daytona Beach FL seeks an Account Executive. This position is responsible for developing local advertising revenue by organizing, building and managing a customer base from direct local retail businesses. This position will work in a highly collaborative environment with other company management to implement revenue generating programs and opportunities. Top candidates will have a proven track record of overcoming obstacles, achieving goals and engaging a diverse range of personalities. CLICK HERE for more info or to apply now. EOE

Do you have a passion for promotions and a savvy mind for marketing? If so, you are the ideal candidate to join WCTV, the dominant CBS affiliate in Tallahassee, FL as our Promotions Coordinator. To promote this legacy station, candidate needs to be forward thinking with breakthrough ideas to enhance our established trusted brand. Inside the box thinkers need not apply. The ideal candidate will need to have a highly creative mind and the ability to bring ideas to life on an editor. Resumes, salary requirements and reels to: WCTV, 1801 Halstead Blvd., Tallahassee FL 32309. Or e-mail: michael.karmanos@. No calls please. EOE.

Media General in the Tri-Cities, TN market, (CBS, ABC), seeks a Sales Manager. We're looking for a highly motivated, creative thinking, success driven sales manager to oversee all aspects of national sales, and manage a 3-4 person local sales team. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s level degree and a minimum of 3-5 years of experience in broadcast television or at a rep firm, and a thorough understanding of the national sales process. CLICK HERE for more info or to apply, Look for Job ID: JHL-000328.No calls. EOE M/F/V/D

KTVO-TV (Missouri/Iowa) seeks a Local Television/Digital Sales Manager. The LSM will lead the local sales department to maximize all sales opportunities, with an emphasis on new business development. At least 2 years broadcast sales experience, with television/digital sales and management experience preferred. Will work with direct clients, train staff and help them exceed revenue goals for all platforms, and must have the ability to create plans that will help the station reach revenue goals. CLICK HERE for more info or to apply. EOE/Drug Free.

One time I wore my brother’s t-shirt, and my dad asked if I was dressing up as his favorite child for Halloween.

--Conan O’Brien

I get jumpy at Halloween. Last year somebody came over dressed as a zombie and without thinking I took his head off with a shovel!

--Larry the Cable Guy

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SPOTS N DOTS

The Daily News Of TV Sales

October 25, 2016

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