Clear Channel's "Blinks" Becoming Successful in Major Markets

The definition of a Blink is a 2-3 second advertisement that appears on the radio and is a combination of a quick sound followed by a tag line. Have you heard one?

Odds are yes if you live in a major market. Clear Channel began testing their "blinks" over a year ago and the testing period is about over and the success stories can begin to be written.

Most recently The Simpsons Movie utilized blinks. The ads went something like this: "D'oh, The Simpsons Movie Starts July 23rd."

These advertisements are quickly becoming known as mini radio ads and are highly cost effective because they are priced at 20% of the typical 30 or 60 second radio ad.

Click here to read the entire article at the LA Times.com.

NFL Creates Ad Campaign To Help Tarnished Image

The NFL has had a busy off-season. It began with the half year suspension of WR Chris Henry, then the year long suspension of Pacman Jones, and how could we forget about Michael Vick. There were several other incident this off-season which made Commissioner Roger Goodell cringe. However the NFL has decided to try and save their image by hiring ad agency BBDO Worldwide to create a campaign that shows the positive side of the NFL.

Click here to read the article and see the spots.

NBC Cancels iTunes Deal

NBC announced today that they have cancelled their deal with iTunes to sell content. NBC's content accounts for almost 40% of iTunes video revenue and the deal will be sure to sadden many iTunes customers.

We have to assume that this has something to do with NBC and NewsCorp's venture Hulu. Click here to read the article at Advertising Age.com.

NBC Extends The Today Show To 4 Hours

NBC announced last week that they will extend the Today Show to a total of 4 hours. NBC just extended the show less than two years ago to three hours after running two hours for several years. The move is obviously due to the fact that the show has been extremely successful for a number of years. Although lately Good Morning America has been riding closely on the heels of the Today Show, however many believe that they will never have the dominance of Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira.

Click here to read the entire article at MSNBC.com.

Wrap Your Car With An Advertisement

Are you interested in wrapping your car with an advertisement? If so, it could net you $800 per month. Click here to read the article.

TV Households Grow By 1.3%

Nielsen Media Research is reporting this week that the number of TV households has grown by 1.3% year to year. Click here to read the entire article.

Funny Advertisement in The Seattle Market

Anchorwoman Pulled After One Episode

So much for a second chance. Fox announced today that they have pulled "Anchorwoman" off the air after just one episode ran on Wednesday night. According to Nielsen Media Research, an estimated 2.7 million people tuned into watch. Not enough for Fox to continue.

Click here to read the full article at CNN.com.

Are networks really that impatient that they have to pull a new show after only one episode?

Julie Roehm's Lawsuit Dismissed By Michigan Judge; Unclear If Lawsuit Will Continue

A Michigan judge dismissed Julie Roehm's law suit this week and it is inclear whether the case will continue. The judge ruled that the case should be tried in an Arkansas court, closer to where the case took place. Of course for those of you who are a little behind in this story, I urge you to get ahead and Google Julie Roehm's name. The short story of it is, she was hired as the CMO, then fired shortly after for acting inappropriately according to Wal-Mart standards. Inappropriately means getting a little too close to vendors, and one of those just happened to be Howard Draft(Draft FCB); something about an Aston-Martin can do that to anyone. Does that make you want to read the full story?

Anyways, click here to read about Julie Roehm's latest drama.

Local TV Stations Using Mobile Applications To Reach YOU

Local TV stations are now beginning to use mobile applications to reach their audiences. The only question remains is how can it be monetized? Click here to read the full article at Mediaweek.com

Many of the stations are toying with the idea of using a subscription model for an average of $2.99 per month or using an advertising model to profit.

I applaud local tv stations for being innovative and looking at new revenue opportunities. I still have a hard time believing that this is going to be successful outside of the top 15 markets. I don't even know if it will be successful outside of the top 10 markets. Mobile applications are great for the consumer who spends a significant amount of time commuting via bus, ferry, and of course subway, but as we know it is only the major markets where the majority commute this way.

So if I wake up and watch the AM News, then get into my car and drive less than 20 minutes to work; why do I need a mobile application to watch the news or other local content? By the time I reach my desk I can just log onto the local tv stations web site.

So you can see why I'm skeptical of the idea of mobile applications.

Post your comments here and tell me your thoughts as to why mobile applications for local tv stations may be successful.

YouTube Gets Ad Makeover Courtesy Of Google

Google is looking for a return on their $1.65 Billion investment by placing advertisements on YouTube. There are over 130 Million registered users on YouTube and Google believes they have the model to generate revenue.

Investors stayed away last year when Google was hot on the trails of YouTube due to the fact that many believed the site couldn't be monetized. Videos are being shared and posted every day but there is no real revenue driver behind the site.

Click here to read the article from the LA Times.

Video Game Advertising Industry Fails To Live Up To the Hype

Video Game Advertising, which was supposed to be the next best thing since sliced bread has failed to live up the expecations set forth earlier this year. The term being thrown around is less than "dynamic" due to the fact that creative options are not available. Click here to read the full report from MediaWeek.

Simpson's Marketing Experiment Turns To Ebay

Fans came out in droves to see the 7-11's turned Kwik-E-Mart's but now the memorbilia can be found on Ebay after what I call the most successful "out-of-the-box" marketing experiment. Click here to read the article on New York Times and go to Ebay to see if you can win some Buzz Cola or a copy of Radioactive Man.

Commercials As Entertainment?

Marketers are seeing an odd change in viewing habits of their precious commercials; we actually want to watch them. At least that is what the New York Times is reporting. Oddly enough, it's true. These days we log onto YouTube to watch a spot that everyone is discussing at the water cooler. You may even have a funny commercial sitting in your inbox right now. The internet is giving marketers a growing medium to boadcast these commercials. And the best thing about it is, it doesn't cost them anything.

One commercial that you may have seen on this blog is the "Swear Jar" commercial that become a YouTube hit as well as one of the first success stories on Bud.tv. This spot never ran on television but the recall rate would probably be labeled higher than several of the spots Budweiser has run this year. The success can be attributed solely to the internet and viral marketing.

Click here to view the article at the New York Times.com.

Will Advertisers Come Back To Imus?

Don Imus reached a settlement with CBS Radio yesterday and it appears the shock jock may be on his way back to doing radio soon. The question remains, will advertisers come back to Imus? This is a rather large gamble that WABC radio appears to be interested in taking.

Click here to read the article.

My answer to this question is yes, advertisers will follow because they are as fickle as they come. If they believe that Imus can create a show with strong ratings again then there is no doube in my mind that the blue chips will be lining up at the sales door. This shows you that in this day and age, all that matters is ratings.

Happy Butts Not Allowed In Times Square

What sounds like something that should end up on Page Six in the New York Post, ended up on Advertising Age.com when Toto Washlet was slapped with an injunction. Last week, Toto Washlet had to do a quick change on their creative for their high-tech toilets campaign which is running in Times Square. The reason, well of course, someone had to complain that it was offensive. Rev. Neil Rhodes of the Times Square Church apparently found butts to be offensive since they were pointed at his church so all of a sudden a eye catching and original advertising campaign has to be changed. The campaign is in line with their home page, click here to see their web site.

To see the full article and the outdoor advertisement that caused a stir, click here.

Gap Brings Back Old Style Advertising Campaign In An Effort To Increase Revenue

Gap, which has struggled as of lately with quarterly profits has re-visited a marketing campaign in an effort to increase profits. Click here to read the article from the New York Times and be sure to watch out for the new spots.