www.cablespots.net Published Daily For Subscription call 1-888-884-2630 Fax: 866-870-6989 [email protected] $250 Per Year Monday, October 17, 2016 Copyright 2016. DON’T PANIC OVER NFL RATINGS DECLINE ‘STILL THE ULTIMATE REALITY SHOW’ ADVERTISER NEWS Ratings for NFL games have been down by more The Commerce Department says retail sales rose than 10% this new season—which has the league and 0.6 percent in September, a rebound after sales slipped TV networks scrambling to understand what’s going on. 0.2 percent in August. So far this year, retail sales have But sports management and marketing experts at the increased 2.9 percent compared with 2015. Sales rose 2.4 University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of percent at gas stations, spending at restaurants improved Business say there’s no need to panic—that the NFL TV 0.8 percent, and auto dealers, building materials stores ratings lag is essentially a blip triggered by various factors, and furnishers notched monthly gains of 1 percent or from relative outliers like Clinton-Trump presidential more….Chinese automaker Geely has announced a new election drama and National Anthem demonstrations to auto brand. The company is launching Lynk & Company enduring trends like fantasy sports. to build “mid-market” cars, which will be Former AOL and NFL executive available first in China, then in the U.S. Derrick Heggans, now a professor in and Europe. It’s the first vehicle based UMD’s Department of Logistics, Business on the Complex Modular Architecture and Public Policy, says those eyeballs are (CMA) platform developed by Geely and coming back. “The NFL—and sports in Volvo, which Geely acquired six years general, but particularly the NFL—is the ago. There’s a website, (lynkco.com), ultimate soap opera,” he says. “It’s the but no pictures….Wells Fargo’s Q3 ultimate reality show.” The league knows profits were down by two cents a share this, he adds, and it “writes the drama as the banking giant continues to battle into its season, putting together a football outrage over its past sales tactics. CEO schedule to get the most return from the John Stumpf announced his retirement more-dramatic matchups and storylines.” last week as a result of the scandal…… Many observers have blamed the ratings disappointment Hershey president and CEO, John P. Bilbrey will retire on politics, noting that the first presidential debate between from the company on July 1, 2017. Bilbrey will assume a Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, on September 26, drew non-executive role as chairman of the Hershey’s board a record-setting 84 million viewers, stealing viewers from of directors after his retirement. The announcement said ESPN’s Monday Night Football. And that might explain that the board has organized a committee to hire and some of the lag, Heggans concedes. The second debate, new CEO……Vera Bradley, a women’s accessories on October 9, drew a more typical 66.5 million viewers. retailer, has revealed that payment systems at its brick- Coming days after the release of a scandalous 2005 video and-mortar locations have been hacked. The retailer said of Trump lewdly commenting about women, it’s possible that it was notified of a security breach on September 15th that the debate stole share from NBC’s Sunday Night by law enforcement officials. The investigation found that Football. Then again, it’s possible that the game—Green purchases done online were not affected. The retailer said Bay Packers vs. the New York Giants—stole viewers it does not know how many cards were compromised...... from the debate. The third and final debate this Wednesday Nordstrom customers can now “Reserve & Try On in won’t be a factor for the NFL. Store” items using a new app from the retailer. The feature The league’s missing star power might have also is now available for customers in western Washington dinged its ratings. The New England Patriots’ Tom store locations, including the Seattle Flagship. Customers Brady was sidelined for the first four weeks of the season can reserve up to 10 items and will have until closing the because of his “deflategate” suspension.Peyton Manning next day to visit the store to try on their selections……In retired, and Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Romo was benched an effort to enable an omnichannel shopping experience, with injuries. “If that’s a contributing factor, it’s a small houseware retailer Crate and Barrel is testing a new in- one,” says professor Hank Boyd, since star players leave store feature called Mobile Tote. Essentially, the customer every year. Then there’s quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s gets a store-provided tablet to carry around as they shop, much-publicized protest of the National Anthem. If it’s a using the device to scan barcodes to research the item contributing factor, it too looks to be minimal. online and add to a wish list if they want. They can then Cord-cutting could be a growing factor, with viewing on go to a specific Mobile Tote checkout line to have a sales mobile devices and Twitter increasing, particularly among associate gather the items for them. The retailer is working the NFL’s key demographic of 18- to 34-year-old men. with a company called CloudTags that launched a similar “The Nielsen ratings are simply PAGEincomplete. 1 We are in a program with Heals, a British home furniture retailer…… Continued on Page 2 Continued on Page 2 www.CableSpots.tv CABLENET CHATTER DISCOVERY EXPANDS DIGITAL CONTENT MTV has renewed Scream for a third season. The TV Discovery Communications is making a minority take on the horror-slasher film franchise from Wes Craven investment of $100 million and entering into a strategic and Kevin Williamson, will have six new episodes next partnership with Group Nine Media—a digital content season. No details about cast, location or production start company whose brands are now Thrillist Media Group, date have been made available……Mary Kills People is NowThis Media, The Dodo and Discovery’s digital network a new and provocative dark comedy about euthanasia, Seeker. Axel Springer will maintain its investment as the is coming to Lifetime in 2017. Caroline Dhavernas of second largest shareholder, but Discovery will have a future Hannibal has been cast in the role of Mary Harris, an ER option to become the majority owner. Ben Lerer, CEO of doctor by day and underground angel of death by night. Thrillist, will become CEO of Group Nine Media. Mary Kills People will be paired with the Peabody-winning “The merger of these assets will bring together best- drama series, Unreal, a primo slot in the in-class management, led by Ben and Lifetime primetime lineup……Shaleen his team, expertise in data analytics Desai has been named vice president, technology and global reach to create scripted programming at CMT. His Hillary Clinton campaigned one of the world’s largest digital-first duties will include looking for new in Florida with Al Gore. content companies attracting young ideas for the network as they gear up You’re making Al Gore go passionate enthusiasts that advertisers for a bigger push toward more scripted back to Florida? That’s so want to reach,” said David Zaslav, programming. Desai will be based in cruel. That’s like making Joe Discovery president and CEO. Los Angeles and will report to Jayson Frazier go back to Manila. With the partnership, Group Nine Dinsmore……Syfy has renewed the Media will expand Discovery’s push action-horror series Van Helsing for Seth Meyers into the digital network space targeting second season. Writer and showrunner millennials, which began with the 2012 Neil LaBute said “I think this is a world acquisition of digital network Revision3 and a story that can be sustained for and the subsequent acquisition in 2013 many years and I am inspired to do so, thanks for Syfy’s of Philip DeFranco’s portfolio of online video channels obvious trust and commitment in the storytellers, cast and and ventures, DeFranco Creative. Now called Seeker and crew.” Van Helsing’s second season is expected to debut SourceFed Studios, these entities will become part of in January 2017……SundanceTV and FremantleMedia Group Nine Media. Discovery also led rounds of funding in International announced that Deutschland 83, the Peabody The Dodo in 2014 and 2015. Award-winning Cold War series, has been renewed for a second season. The story picks up three years after the end DON’T PANIC OVER NFL RATINGS DECLINE of season one and will be renamed Deutschland 86......An Continued from Page 1 adaptation of the H.G. Wells 1898 book, The War of the multiscreen world,” said Heggans. Worlds, is being developed for a contemporary TV drama by Together ESPN, NBC, FOX and CBS spend roughly MTV. The writer on the project is Teen Wolf scribe Andrew $5 billion a year for the rights to broadcast NFL games. Cochran. Jeff Davis, the creator of Teen Wolf will serve as The expense has long been justified because the games executive producer on the new project. The most notable draw a big devoted audience who will sit through the recent adaptation of the book is 2005’s Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Cruise……The Discovery Channel will sport’s many advertising breaks, Heggans says. And debut the second season of Treasure Quest on Friday, outside live sporting events, “that kind of appointment- November 4th at 10 PM (ET). The new installment is called viewing audience is hard to come by,” as people use Treasure Quest: Snake Island and will follow the treasure DVRs or streaming services like Netflix.