Matt Lauer's Future At NBC?

[DToTheJ]

The same argument could be made for the networks' nightly newscasts, which these days are mostly laden with pharma sponsors (translation: upper demos a.k.a. advertiser undesirables).

 

[FredLeonard]

The same argument could be made for the networks' nightly newscasts, which these days are mostly laden with pharma sponsors (translation: upper demos a.k.a. advertiser undesirables).

Which again raises the question: All these TV shows and multiple cable channels clearly target the geezer demo and are filled with spots. Yet radio stations drop standards and oldies, and now talk stations are starting to fall, because radio people claim they can't sell the same audience to advertisers. Gee, just have an intern sit and watch morning shows, dinnertime news, oldies TV and some of these cable channels and make a list of advertisers. Of course, they'd have to buy 60 minute spots on radio in order to read off the side-effects warnings.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Which again raises the question: All these TV shows and multiple cable channels clearly target the geezer demo and are filled with spots. Yet radio stations drop standards and oldies, and now talk stations are starting to fall, because radio people claim they can't sell the same audience to advertisers. Gee, just have an intern sit and watch morning shows, dinnertime news, oldies TV and some of these cable channels and make a list of advertisers.

OK. Sponsors on "Today" in the 7:30 half-hour:

NATIONAL:
Toyota
Disney World
M&Ms
Viva paper towels
Purina
Les Miserables (now on DVD)
Burger King
Home Depot
CoverGirl
Walgreens
Transitions Lenses
Stanley Steemer
Admission (new film)
Vaseline
Truvia sweetener
Centrum Silver
Choice Hotels (x2)
Daisy Sour Creme
Claratin D
Target (Justin Timberlake)
Kibbles and Bits
V8
Werther's
Revlon
McDonald's
Enbrel
Capital One

LOCAL:
Local public library
Local home-improvement store
Local Toyota dealer
Indiana State University
Local Mercedes dealer
Arm & Hammer

Now: ask yourself when the last time was you heard a radio ad for Daisy Sour Creme or Werther's. Then ask yourself if its worth the time for an account executive at WQQQ in Anytown to try and wrestle a couple thousand radio dollars out of Werther's. Doesn't matter if WQQQ is running CHR or polka, Werther's will almost certainly not be interested.

 

[tvradiogeek]

i saw cancel them and give the time back to the affiliates

 

[TheBigA]

Which again raises the question: All these TV shows and multiple cable channels clearly target the geezer demo and are filled with spots. Yet radio stations drop standards and oldies, and now talk stations are starting to fall, because radio people claim they can't sell the same audience to advertisers.

The agencies have determined that older audiences react differently to TV advertising than radio. That's why they spend nothing on radio, and divert their money to TV. So you can pitch the advertisers all you want. They've already made their decision.

 

[FredLeonard]

i saw cancel them and give the time back to the affiliates

That is the best idea so far. CBS tried it for a while 10 or so years ago. Their stations got the best ratings CBS affiliates ever got in that time period. But the network news division's ego couldn't stand the fact that they didn't have a full-time morning show like the other two. That ended the experiment.

 

[TheBigA]

There's a reason why stations become network affiliates: To get free programming. Giving the time back to the affiliates may seem like a great idea, but then the affiliates would need to hire a bunch of staff, and it would cost a lot of money. The other choices are run syndicated shows or off-net reruns. If you've ever programmed an indie TV station, you know the drill.

 

[KeithE4]

There's a reason why stations become network affiliates: To get free programming. Giving the time back to the affiliates may seem like a great idea, but then the affiliates would need to hire a bunch of staff, and it would cost a lot of money. The other choices are run syndicated shows or off-net reruns. If you've ever programmed an indie TV station, you know the drill.

I thought at least some of the (smaller?) affiliates were being forced to buy the network shows instead of getting them for free. And didn't the networks pay the affiliates in years past?