Archive for December 10th, 2007

NBC has begun doling out cash back to advertisers who are not happy about NBC’s reliance on reality programming.

NBC cannot offer makegoods - advertisers would prefer to get their ads on the air before Christmas - because the network has none to offer, writes Adweek. Media buyers say the network is averaging about $500,000 per advertiser.

The CW has been issuing makegoods for the last month and is now out of holiday spots. CBS, ABC and Fox have also been issuing makegoods, primarily for the first quarter.

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NEW YORK MTV Networks Entertainment Group has created customized 60-second interstitials for Toyota, the main sponsor for Pros vs. Joes, a show that pits regular people against former professional athletes in competitions. This is the second year Toyota has sponsored the show, which, in January, will enter its third season. It is both an on-air and online media buy. “Last year the focus was more on product integration and prizing for the ‘last Joe standing,’ but this year it is more about co-branded, thematic interstitials,” said Dario Spina, MTV’s svp, integrated marketing. The automotive company is the lead sponsor for the first six of the show’s 10 episodes, from mid-January through March, to coincide with its promotion of the new Sequoia vehicle.

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T’S been almost seven years since BMW Films invented the concept of arty films by A-list directors as a new form of advertising. Now, there’s a sequel of sorts to that effort, but it’s not from BMW.

Freixenet, the sparkling wine brand, announced last week it was releasing a 10-minute film by Martin Scorsese via JWT, Barcelona. The film was designed for the Internet and in-theater distribution but could show up as TV or DVD content in some international markets and later the U.S.
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NEW YORK Audi will be an advertiser on Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl XLII. Toyota, which advertised during this year’s game in February, will also return.

Audi will feature the sporty R8 roadster in a 60-second spot that will air during the first quarter.
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ONLINE VIDEO SPARKS EXCITEMENT IN the minds of marketers clamoring to participate in some form or fashion. Why? Because, the mantra heard at all marketing/advertising tradeshows over the last 18 months has been: “A huge move to video is coming and if you don’t get onboard, you’ll miss the train!” As a result, marketers have developed interactive departments in droves, and everyone is getting up to speed quickly with how to incorporate online video advertising in their overall ad mix. We all know that the drive to video advertisement online is the result of video demand in general by consumers — and broadband penetration, which has given almost everyone the ability to view video. Read the rest of this entry »

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MARRAKECH — The Marrakech Intl. Film Festival opened with a flash of stellar energy Friday evening as Martin Scorsese bestowed the event’s Golden Star on Leonardo DiCaprio.DiCaprio has been in Morocco for the past three months shooting “Body of Lies,” the Ridley Scott helmed pic about the war in Iraq.

Moroccan filmmaker Mustapha Derkaoui was also given a Golden Star at the ceremony. His family joined him on stage for a moving tribute.

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Here’s the new poster of Indy IV. Not sure what the product placement will be when it’s released but I can only imagine how many cross promotional deals will come with the release. Think Star Wars/Pepsi, etc. I’d love an Indy ringtone. In any event, enjoy the poster. Love the air brush job they did with Mr. Ford, who’s 6o-something. Seriously, can’t wait to see it.

- JC

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Due to the writers strike, key upcoming broadcast premieres look as if they’re going to get a clearer shot than usual this winter at finding viewers .

Last week CBS and NBC announced their revised midseason schedules, joining Fox which set its slate last month. While ABC’s unannounced lineup is a key unknown and highly competitive factor, the current grid shows that many originals have gained some competitive breathing room.

The Writers Guild of America strike is dragging into its sixth week and few signs of accord with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers are emerging. That’s forcing a scheduling scramble.

By the time “Jericho” returns to CBS on Feb. 12 in the network’s “death slot” of Tuesdays at 10 p.m., the show likely won’t have to face originals from time period ruler “Law & Order: SVU.”

Likewise NBC’s “Medium” will only face a few originals of time-period-dominating “CSI: Miami” when it returns Jan. 7 before the CBS procedural runs dry.

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BERLIN — Looking eager to expand its pay TV operation abroad, Canal Plus is eyeing leading German and Spanish feevee broadcasters Premiere and Sogecable.While the French entertainment group has declined to comment on press reports that it was weighing investments in Germany and Spain, such a move would be in line with comments by Canal Plus prexy and CEO Bertrand Meheut regarding the company’s strategic growth.

Meheut told the Financial Times earlier this year that there could be opportunities to buy or partner with pay TV operators in other countries and has expressed optimism about Canal Plus’ possible forays into markets outside of France.

According to German weekly Focus, Premiere has opened its books to interested investors, among them Canal Plus. Execs at the pay TV broadcaster remain tight-lipped about a possible sale and have declined to comment.

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In the first six months of this year, Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) was mentioned on network television 3,054 times in product placements, according to Nielsen data cited by the New York Times.

Think about it: every time Paula Abdul gulps down a Coke — at least that’s what it says on the can — on American Idol, that’s put on the tab of the Atlanta-based company. Neither is it coincidental when a brand is mentioned on shows like Big Love, American Dad or Scrubs.

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