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 Friday, December 22, 2017 Copyright 2017. FCC ISSUES BIGGEST-EVER FINE OVER SPONSOR ID RULES

SINCLAIR CALLS IT A ‘SIMPLE HUMAN ERROR’ ADVERTISER NEWS In a warning to every television station airing paid John Schnatter, the founder of Papa John’s will step programming, the Federal Communications Commission down as CEO of the company. Schnatter got blasted last has proposed the largest-ever fine for a broadcast month for slamming NFL’s leadeship for the handling of the sponsorship identification rule violation. players’ protests during the playing of the national anthem - The FCC has tentatively concluded Sinclair Broadcast a problem that many believe has led to declining viewership Group should pay a $13,376,200 fine for 1,723 instances and declining interest in NFL games. Schnatter owns of failing to make required disclosures in connection with roughly 25% of Papa John’s and will stay on as chairman programming sponsored by a third party. That’s three- after stepping down as CEO in January. Chief Operating times larger than any other previous fine for Officer Steve Ritchie was named his a violation of the sponsorship identification successor effective Jan. 1, 2018. Ritchie rules. said new ads will come out next year, and “When a broadcast licensee fails to that the company had “no plans to remove disclose the sponsor of paid programming, John from our communications,” according it may mislead the public into believing to the Associated Press.... As we reported the paid broadcast material is a station’s earlier this week, Taco Bell is launching a independently generated news or editorial new advertising campaign to tout value via content,” the 18-page order said. “In addition, enforcement low-cost $1 menu items. The Yum Brands chain is launching of the sponsorship identification requirements protects a $1 stacker — which looks like beef and cheese in a folded competition by preventing sponsors from gaining an unfair tortilla — campaign this week, and will introduce 20 more advantage by paying stations to present commercial material $1 items in 2018.... Walmart’s NYC-based innovation as news or editorial content, while their competitors’ paid center is experimenting with a cashier-less store concept programming is properly disclosed as sponsored material.” called Project Kepler, Recode reports. Project Kepler The FCC’s investigation into Sinclair first began in April is in part aimed at creating a store that would feature no 2016 when an anonymous complaint alleged the company checkout lines or cashiers, using computer vision to detect had aired paid programming about the Huntsman Cancer which products customers leave the store with and then Institute during news programs but failed to disclose charge their accounts...Meanwhile, Retaildive.com says that the Huntsman Cancer Foundation had paid for the Walmart’s subsidiary Code Eight is in the early stages of stories to air. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau opened an piloting a shopping service aimed at allowing wealthy New investigation and found that Sinclair and the Foundation had York City moms to research and buy products via text, entered into an agreement under which Sinclair produced including using product photos, quoting Recode. The target and supplied programming to both 64 Sinclair owned customer for Code Eight are wealthy city dwellers, and the television stations and 13 other stations that the company service aims to offer free delivery of household products doesn’t own. The programming promoted the Foundation within 24 hours....Italian confectioner Ferrero Group is and the Institute and included 60- to 90-second sponsored close to scooping up Nestle’s U.S. candy bar business, stories made to look like independently generated news says the New York Post. The Ferrero Group, which makes coverage and 30-minute paid television programs on 77 Nutella as wells as the Ferrero Roche chocolate-and- different stations. hazelnut bon-bons, is poised to shell out as much as $2 “Because of the seriousness of these violations, we billion to win an auction of Nestle brands including Crunch, have taken the base forfeiture amount for each and every Butterfingerand Kit Kat, sources said. That’s on the heels apparent violation of our rules at issue here and adjusted of Ferrero inking a $1.25 billion buyout earlier this month of it upward,” FCC chair Ajit Pai said in a statement. If the Ferrara Candy, which makes Red Hots, Now and Later, base forfeiture amount had been used to calculate the Jujyfruits and Super Bubble.... Acura’s RDX, the top- proposed fine Sinclair would have been on the hook for a selling luxury compact crossover in the U.S. as recently as much smaller $6,892,000 penalty. 2015, is undergoing its most extensive redesign in more Sinclair said the violations were the result of “simple human than a decade as it squares off against a wave of new error” and in a statement called the fine “unreasonable” rivals, says Autonews.com. The 2019 RDX will be the first since no viewers were harmed from the mistake. “We Acura model to be completely overhauled since designer disagree with the FCC’s action and intend to contest this Jon Ikeda took over as general manager of Honda Motor unwarranted fine,” the company said. Sinclair will have 30 Co.’s luxury brand in 2015. The third-generation RDX will days to respond to the FCC after which the Commission will be revealed during the 2018 Detroit auto show in January, then review any additional before it finalizes the penalty. Honda Motor Co. executives said Thursday.

NETWORK NEWS AVAILS The Good Doctor on ABC and CBS’ Young Sheldon There’s a great opportunity in Topeka, Kansas for a are the standouts for the new 2017 Fall broadcast TV sales leader that always manages to get “more than season. Both shows are heads and shoulders above the your fair share” and is looking for career growth. KSNT other freshman competition as the season winds down. is looking for a National Sales Manager Both shows rank among the top programs in both the to be responsible for directing the national adults 18-49 demographic and in total viewers, according sales efforts for the NBC/ABC/FOX & CW to Nielsen’s most recent data, which includes Live+ 7 stations while working in concert with our Day for September 25th through November 26th and Live sales management team to grow overall + Same Day data for November 27th through December revenue. Full details HERE. If this sounds 10th. The Good Doctor averaged a 3.5 rating in the demo like your next challenge, we want to hear for the season, tying for 10th place from you! Send cover letter, resume overall with ABC’s other medical drama and references to [email protected] Grey’s Anatomy. Young Sheldon was Somebody actually released EOE/M/F/D/V in eleventh place with a 3.3 demo rating. a naked picture of me on the WTAT FOX 24 in beautiful In the total viewers ranking, The Good internet last year. The weird Charleston, SC has an immediate Doctor finished fifth overall with 16.08 thing was, it came from one opening for an experienced Account million viewers, while Young Sheldon was of those overhead traffic Executive with a proven track record of sixth with 15.94 million. The remaining cameras. success. This includes a history of solid freshman class of new programs failed to negotiation, Digital and New Business crack the top 20……. The 35th season of development. Join a progressive Larry the Cable Guy Survivor on CBS finished on Wednesday company in one of the Country’s most night and the season finale was mostly desired markets. To apply, please send steady with the prior week’s performance and its previous resume to [email protected] and include “WTAT- two finales, according toNielsen. The two-and-a-half-hour Account Executive” in the subject line. No calls please. finale posted a 1.9 rating in adults 18-49 and 8.7 million WTAT-TV and Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation are total viewers. That was up just a few percentage points in proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug Free the demo compared to last week’s episode, but even in Workplace! total viewers. The 34th season finale, airing last May, drew WAFB, the Raycom-owned CBS affiliate in the Baton a 1.9 rating and 8.5 million total viewers. The 33rd season Rouge, LA market seeks a dynamic leader to serve as the finale also delivered a 1.9 demo rating and 9.1 million total Vice President and General Manager of a legacy station viewers……. Tonya Harding has been booked for a lengthy in a top 100 television market. A minimum sit-down interview with the ABC News docu-series Truth of 5 years’ experience successfully and Lies. The two-hour special will build off the interest performing in a senior broadcast media in the 1994 Harding-Nancy Kerrigan scandal spurred by management position, GM experience the movie I, Tonya, a feature film starring Margot Robbie preferred. Find out why this vibrant as Harding and Allison Janney as Golden. Truth and capital city and home of the LSU Tigers and Southern Lies: The Tonya Harding Story will explore the attack on Jaguars is a great place to work and play! CLICK HERE to Kerrigan plotted by Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly. apply. No calls please. EOE-M/F/D/V Kerrigan, Harding’s rival, was clubbed on the knee at the WFTV – Cox Media Group Television Station in Orlando, 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, weeks before Florida (Market #18) seeks an Account Executive. We the skaters were to compete in the Winter Olympics want passionate sellers that want to WIN. The winning in Lillehammer, Norway. Gillooly and others wound up candidate will have the skill set and drive to build a full serving prison time for the attack and Harding admitted pipeline of sales prospects and be responsible for closing to withholding information from police and received three the business and achieving their revenue goals. A minimum years’ probation and fined $160,000. She was banned for 2 years of prior broadcast TV and digital sales experience. life from the U.S. Figure Skating Association and lost her CLICK HERE for more info or to apply now. Cox Media 1994 U.S. championship title. Truth and Lies: the Tonya Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Harding Story will air on ABC Thursday, January 11th at 9 PM (ET)……The first week of January will feature series THIS AND THAT premieres for the broadcast nets. NBC will debut Ellen’s ESPN has reached an agreement with the National Game of Games on Tuesday, and Fox will premiere LA Football League that expands its live streaming of to Vegas. 9-1-1 starts up on Fox on Wednesday night Monday Night Football (MNF) for ESPN subscribers to with The Four: Battle for Stardom, Fox’s new singing mobile phones. The expanded mobile rights also include competition debuting on Thursday night of that week. NFL highlights and extend through the duration of ESPN’s ABC’s new game show called Child Support airs its first existing NFL agreement (conclusion of the 2021 NFL installment on Friday night……On Sunday night, January season).... Whole Foods’ 365 Everyday Value store 7th NBC will air the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards in a brand has racked up $10 million in sales on Amazon.com live special. Late-night talk show personality Seth Meyers since late August, according to a report from One Click will host the awards ceremony. Retail. The natural and organic brand, which sees 9% weekly sales growth on Amazon’s site, is now the number two best-selling private label line the e-tailer offers. 12/22/2017

The Daily News of TV Sales @ www.spotsndots.com PAGE 2 SURVEY: CUSTOMER SERVICE IMPROVES DONE DEALS Despite lots of venting on social media, the 2017 Customer Sinclair Broadcasting Group has announced the Service Barometer from American Express finds that appointment of Matt Bowman to the position of General U.S. consumers are actually happier than ever with the Manager of WCTI (ABC) in the New Bern/Greenville/ service that companies provide. The study found that Jacksonville, North Carolina market. Bowman will also 81% of Americans report that businesses are meeting or be responsible for the oversight of Sinclair’s provision of exceeding their expectations for service. That’s up sharply services to WYDO (FOX) under a joint sales agreement. from only 67% in the 2014 survey. 40% of consumers say The announcement was made by Steve Marks, EVP businesses have increased their service, a significant & Chief Operating Officer of Sinclair’s Television Group. increase in just three years—up from 29% in 2014. Additionally, Allison Aldridge has been named General “More companies are realizing that delivering great care Manager of Sinclair’s Greensboro/Winston Salem, North is not just the right thing to do; it also Carolina property. Ms. Aldridge will makes great business sense. Seven in 10 oversee the operations of WXLV (ABC) U.S. consumers say they’ve spent more My 7 year old has been and WMYV (MyNetwork). She joined money to do business with a company asking a lot of questions this Sinclair in 2004 as an account executive that delivers great service,” said AmEx Christmas season and I’m at WTAT/WMMP in Charleston, South EVP Raymond Joabar. worried that it might be the Carolina. Digital servicing options are helping to last year he believes Gray Television, Inc. has announced drive this uptick in servicing satisfaction, that Bitcoin is real. the appointment of veteran broadcaster as is improved person-to-person care. Jasmine Hatcher Hardin to the position More than two thirds of those surveyed of General Manager of WVLT (CBS) (68%) said that a pleasant representative FunnyTweeter.com and WBXX (CW) in Knoxville, TN. She was key to their recent positive service succeeds Chris Baker, who recently experiences, and 62% said that a representative’s announced his retirement after more than 20 years with knowledge or resourcefulness was key. Gray including 19 years as GM of WVLT. Currently, Ms. Americans continue to reward companies that get service Harding is the Station Manager of WVLT and WBXX, right. U.S. consumers say they’re willing to spend 17% and she served as General Sales Manager since 2013. more to do business with companies that deliver excellent She began her broadcast career with Gannett’s WBIR in service, up from 14% in 2014. As a group, Millennials are Knoxville and WXIA in Atlanta. She joined WVLT in 2006 willing to spend the most for great care (21% additional), as National Sales Manager. followed by men (19%). But there’s another side to that coin, too: poor service SPOTS N DOTS RETURNS DECEMBER 27TH is costing companies. More than half of Americans have We’ll miss you, but we have to scrapped a planned purchase or transaction because take a few days off to eat all the of bad service, and 33% say they’ll consider switching cookies and drink all the eggnog. companies after just a single instance of poor service. And someone has to finish the There’s a growing preference for self-service and digital shopping then start the online options on simple inquiries, specifically for online chat and returns. There’s no SND on Monday mobile apps. More than six in 10 consumers say their go-to (12/25) or Tuesday (12/26). We’re channel for simple inquiries is a digital self-serve tool such back on Wednesday, 12/27. Have as a website (24%), mobile app (14%), voice response a wonderful holiday break! system (13%) or online chat (12%). But, as the complexity of the issue increases, such as with payment disputes or WEDNESDAY NIELSEN RATINGS - LIVE + SAME DAY complaints, customers are more likely to seek out a face- to-face interaction (23%) or make a phone call (40%). More people than ever are also using social media to get help from businesses. In the past year, 35 percent reported reaching out in social channels, up significantly from the 2014 survey (23%) and double the percentage from 2012 (17%). Of those who have used social media for a customer service concern, 84 percent say they have received a response or resolution, up significantly from 65% in 2014.

MAYBE TV WILL BENEFIT Following a federal push for more disclosure, and amid investigations into Russian meddling into American elections, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will propose legislation next year to close legal loopholes in New York regarding political ads on the internet The goal is to pressure companies like Facebook to root out foreign-based interlopers in online campaigns. 12/22/2017

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