www.spotsndots.com Subscriptions: $350 per year. This publication cannot be distributed beyond the office of the actual subscriber. Need us? 888-884-2630 or [email protected] The Daily News of TV Sales Thursday, March 9, 2017 Copyright 2017. CONSUMERS LESS WILLING TO PAY FOR TV TIVO STUDY FINDS LESS NFL VIEWING ADVERTISER NEWS Price is again the main reason for cord-cutting in the Q4 Yet another apparel retailer is going out of business: 2016 Video Trends Report from TiVo. 80% of people who’d Fargo-based Vanity Shop, with 137 stores in 27 states, canceled their pay-TV service in the past 12 months cited has already started to liquidate all stores. The COO of the “too expensive” as the reason. group conducting the liquidation commented the decision But a surprising finding in the report is what survey to close all stores is “emblematic of the pressures facing respondents are now willing to pay for a “skinny bundle” mall-based specialty apparel retailers in the wake of ever- of their 20 favorite channels. U.S. respondents said they increasing competition from big-box ‘fast-fashion’ chains would pay an average of $28.87 per month—a and e-commerce sites.” And there’s more huge drop of 12.3% from the monthly charge ominous news--The New York Post reports of $32.92 that they were willing to pay in the Gander Mountain could file for bankruptcy Q4 2015 survey. “With so many video content protection this month, and Payless Shoes options now available to consumers, is could also be filing in April……A different linear TV’s value dwindling due to increasing apparel retail warned of sales and profit choices?” the TiVo analysts asked. shortfalls: Express comps were down 13% due People without a pay-TV subscription now to “challenging mall traffic and a promotional account for 17% of the survey participants. retail environment”……Despite Of course, that means that 83% still pay for Mattress MVPD service. Of the people who dropped Firm no longer selling its products, Tempur their service in the previous 12 month, 48.3% Sealy said it had a very good Presidents Day said they use an Internet streaming service— weekend and sales to retailers other than such as Netflix, Hulu or Video— Mattress Firm are up 10% so far this year…… and 18.5% said they like to use a streaming Michaels quarterly numbers reflected many service to binge-watch and entire season of a TV series. of the same trends retailers in other segments have been Only 11% said the bulk of their TV viewing was of original seeing: same-store sales down 1%, total transactions series on their streaming service, such as “Orange is the down, and a small increase in the average sale. But total New Black” or “House of Cards.” sales were up (partly due to an acquisition early last year) The (sort of) good news for broadcasters is that 27.2% and profit was up 6.3%...... Even convenience stores report of the recent cord-cutters said they use an antenna to get customer traffic declines—Casey’s General Stores noted basic channels on their TV. ABC, CBS and NBC continue that in its quarterly report, even though it attained same- to be among the top-five “must have” channels that store merchandise sales of plus 3%. The growth engine for respondents would want in an a la carte pay-TV package, c-stores has been “prepared food & fountain” and Casey’s joined again by Discovery Channel and History. All were recorded same-store growth of 5.8% in that department...... cited by over 50% of survey respondents. But, as noted Dick’s plans to drop about 20% of its vendors in favor above, respondents have lowered the price they’d be of expanding private labels in apparel and sports gear, willing to pay for that a la carte package. introducing some new in-house brands later this year. It 84.7% of people surveyed still watch live TV on a daily expects to open 43 new Dick’s stores, nine Golf Galaxy basis. Many, however, are also watching OTT/streamed locations and eight Field & Stream units this year… Famous video on a daily basis—64.7%, which is up by 3.6 Dave’s says it could close more units this year, after already percentage points from the previous quarter. having closed two since January. The chain currently Noting lower ratings for the 2016-2017 NFL season, consists of 35 company-owned stores and 123 franchised TiVo’s survey found that 18.2% of respondents were locations… (Continued on page 3) watching fewer NFL games than they did one year ago. What prompted this decline? While the top three answers were no surprise (36.1% - my schedule is busier this year; 25.9% - games are not as exciting this season; 21.3% - too many commercials), 23.0% answered “other.” Of the “other” responses, 46.5% wrote that they changed their NFL game viewing habits because of political issues such as kneeling during the national anthem. NETWORK NEWS AVAILS ABC has announced that Fred Savage will host an WSVN-7 FOX/Miami-Ft. Lauderdale is looking for a upcoming game show on the network called Child Support, dynamic individual for an Account Executive position. starring Ricky Gervais. In the hour-long show, contestants Need to have the ability to thrive in a fast paced, will be asked to answer 10 questions correctly to win. If they competitive, multi-media environment. We are looking for answer one incorrectly, they can be saved by a panel of a creative person to generate revenue by prospecting and 10 children ages six to nine, who will be asked the same selling for television and a variety of digital opportunities. question by Gervais. Both Gervais and Savage will serve Responsible for attracting new clients, proposal as executive producers on the project……Cristela Alonzo preparation and presentations as well as maximizing (Cristela) has been cast opposite Jason Ritter in the new revenue on existing account list. Please send resume to ABC drama pilot The Gospel of Kevin. This is the first Kim Witker at [email protected]. EOE. pilot for Alonzo since her 2014 sitcom WLBT, the Raycom-owned NBC and on ABC. She appears regularly on Bounce affiliate in Jackson, MS has a Conan and The View, and is featured rare opportunity for a dynamic General on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham I don’t homeschool my kids Sales Manager. Candidates should and Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand cause the only historic battle have experience coaching, training and Up Revolution……Cody Bell (Burn I know is the one between leading team members to consistently Notice) will star in the untitled Marvel Biggie and Tupac. grow market share and new revenue action-adventure pilot at Fox. He will join streams. Three years television sales a cast that includes Stephen Moyer and management experience preferred; Amy Acker. Bell will play a weathered @Onefunnymummy college degree preferred. This is an man who quietly wrestles with the excellent opportunity to work for a moral ambiguities of a job that regularly great station and company. Please requires cold-blooded, calculating efficiency on a day-to- apply online by CLICKING HERE and send a cover letter, day basis……The CW’s freshman series Riverdale has resume and references. No calls please. EOE-M/F/D/V picked up a season two renewal just six weeks into its first ABC6 in Providence, Rhode Island is looking for a season. The Archie Comics drama has excelled in delayed sales professional with sales experience to join this and digital viewing, particularly in the younger demos. The growing ABC affiliate as an Account Executive. We need decision to renew reflects the CW management’s faith an enthusiastic, accountable individual to work with local in the creative strength of the show, and another vote of and regional clients– at the agency and local levels. confidence for producer Greg Berlanti……Dallas Roberts This position is a great opportunity for someone looking (The Good Wife) has been cast in the lead of the new CW for a move into a top 60 market. Please send resume to drama pilot Insatiable. Roberts will play Bob, a handsome, [email protected]. No calls please. EOE. immaculately dressed married father of two teenagers. HOI-ABC in Peoria, Illinois seeks a dynamic Locals Sarah Colonna has been cast in the project playing a Sales Manager. Are you ready to lead an aggressive sexy, alcoholic single mom of a teenager played by Debbie team instead of generating reports and spreadsheets? Are Ryan……The new ABC comedic one-hour pilot The Trustee you ready to work with broadcasters who has cast Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black) opposite respect the station as more than an ATM? Meghan Rath. Cox was most recently on the CBS prime Are you ready to coach a team to make drama Doubt which was pulled by the network after two recommendations based on client needs airings……. Alan Dale (The O.C., , 24, ) has rather than Wall Street dictates? If these been added to the cast of CW’s Dynasty reboot. Dale will ideas appeal to you, we’re ready to talk to you! Send your play the role of the butler, Anders. The network previously cover letter, resume and references to: Pete Russell, GSM: announced that Grant Show (Melrose Place) will join the [email protected]. EOE. cast as Blake Carrington……Fox’s reboot of the 2001 war NCC Media in New York seeks an Automotive movie Behind Enemy Lines has added Nestor Carbonell Marketing Associate. This person will develop account (Lost, The Dark Knight) and Colm Feore (Bates Motel) in specific and industry marketing presentations and the cast of the TV pilot. Carbonell will play a career Navy collateral materials for NCC Media’s Automotive Marketing man and Feore will portray undersecretary of state David Team. Work alongside the sales, marketing, promotions Alexander, husband to Navy Admiral Bobbie Decker played and research teams to create advertising proposals by Marg Helgenberger. that include television and digital media across multiple devices to help drive revenue from national, regional, and ECONOMIC NEWS local automotive advertisers to our cable affiliates in all Payroll-processing firm ADP says the country added 210 local markets across the US. To apply, send resume 298,000 private-sector jobs last month, the most since to [email protected]. EOE April, 2014. And the report says many of those jobs were in higher income fields, such as construction and professional DONE DEALS and business sectors. Even manufacturing added 32,000 The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has jobs. The official government employment data from the named Scott McDonald as president and CEO. A PhD Labor Department for February will be released tomorrow. with more than 30 years of experience, McDonald has held senior research positions at Time Inc., Time Warner and Conde Nast. 3/9/2017

The Daily News of TV Sales @ www.spotsndots.com PAGE 2 SALES PER AUTO FRANCHISE ARE DOWN BUSINESS BYTES There was just a small increase in the number of car Although many apparel retailers—especially those dealerships in the country last year but the increase in perceived as full-price retailers as opposed to chains such sales was even smaller, resulting in a 1.3% decline in as Marshall’s and Ross—have been reporting negative “throughput” during 2016, according to Automotive News’ same-store sales, the NPD Group finds that total apparel dealership census. The franchise count rose 1.8% to sales grew by 3% last year to $218.7 billion. The analysis 32,305 nationally, but dealerships (defined as buildings, as takes in all three major apparel segments, Women’s, opposed to brands sold within) were up just 183 from 2016 Men’s, and Children’s. As with most retail segments, online to 18,251. At the pre-recession peak in 2007 before GM shopping continues to grow and take share from bricks- and Chrysler pulled hundreds of franchises during their and-mortar locations—with just 11% of total apparel sales bankruptcies, there were over 21,000 dealerships in the five years ago, online purchasing has country. Because there have always grown to account for 19% of the sales been (and still are) more stores for activity last year. NPD’s Marshal Cohen the Detroit 3 manufacturers, unit sales commented on the study saying, “The Fun thing to do today. Go up per franchise are tilted heavily towards apparel industry is being pushed and to your wife/husband/parent/ import brands. Toyota (including Scion) pulled by consumers who are demanding remained the best-seller per franchise boss and say, “Drop the attitude.” Then walk away. something different and looking to less last year with an average of 1,711 traditional buying channels to find it… new vehicles per franchise, although Amidst all the change there is one that was down 1.8% from 2015. in apparel sales performance— rest of the top ten were Honda (1412 Jim Gaffigan the apparel industry isn’t delivering a vehicles per franchise), Lexus (1,398), product experience that will compel Nissan (1,323); Mercedes (996), consumer to increase their spend.” Subaru (980), BMW (922), Hyundai (918), Kia (837) and Ford (804). Honda, Nissan, and Subaru dealers showed He also added, “Teens are showing a lack of passion for significant gains in throughput on a year-to-year basis, up fashion”……We all know primetime spots cost more than 4.7%, 5%, and 5.2% respectively. daytime spots, but here’s an industry starting to use what it calls “daypart pricing” that may surprise you: Convenience ACCOUNT ACTIONS Store News says 30% of fuel retailers now use daypart PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has chosen pricing, which it defines as “the execution of scheduled Interpublic’s R/GA, New York, as its new creative price changes during set windows of time throughout the agency, succeeding Deutsch, also an Interpublic agency, day/week to maximize margins and volume.” CSN adds according to Adweek. The review, which began in Monday, Thursday and Friday are the most common days February, is unrelated to the embarrassing Oscars mix-up the fuel retailers execute daypart pricing with 2 cents the blamed on PwC accountants. It reportedly also involved average change. 38% of survey participants said they the media account, with no word yet on that outcome. change price twice daily with most saying pricing can go up or down. THIS AND THAT Azteca America has added three additional Entravision TUESDAY NIELSEN RATINGS - LIVE + SAME DAY Communications stations as affiliates. The San Diego station will begin carrying Azteca America programming on March 15 and the multicast affiliates launched in February in Laredo, TX and Yuma, AZ/El Centro, CA……Demand for power mowers is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 3.2% to $4.2 billion in 2021, according to a forecast from The Freedonia Group. That’s down from the pace of the U.S. economic rebound of 2006-2011. The report notes a gain in market share for electric-powered mowers, but says they remain a niche product overall.

ADVERTISER NEWS (Continued from page 1) .....Doing somewhat better is Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza, where 2016 sales were up 83% in the company’s fifth year. YTD same-store sales are up 5% through February. Blaze expects to be at 250 units by the end of this year…… Some interesting side notes to Lowe’s recent earnings report: While there was just a 1% increase in comparable transactions in the fourth quarter, the chain recorded a 9% increase in the number of transactions above $500. All 14 of its regions showed positive comps in the quarter and growth at lowes.com was 25% year-over-year.

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