Trash Talk TV Overtaken by Reality TV

Jerry Springer, Jenny Jones, and Ricki Lake are all down significantly in the ratings. Seems as though low brow TV viewing has shifted from "I Slept With My Teenage Daughter's Son's Father's Mother" to "Please Watch Me Humiliate Myself by Eating Bugs So You Will Marry Me".
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Dan Weiden to Lend Reality to Cannes

Weiden, president of Weiden & Kennedy and president of judging for film, print and posters for the upcoming Cannes International Advertising Festival wants to see the festival look forward rather then backwards. He wants winning work to be "a sign of where things could be going, the antenna to indicate a new landscape. I hope that's what we can focus on."

He thinks too much attention is given to television executions over other forms and wants everyone to know advertising place in the world. "We're not solving geo-political issues," Weiden says. "It's just advertising and we're having a lot of fun." [via Ad Age]
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Ten Marketing Tips to Reach the College Age Demo

In a just released study from Harris Interactive and Youth 360, college students do like humor in advertising but more important is price. They are loyal to their parents brands, care about global issues, and are not couch potatoes.
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African Amercians Do Not Like Reality TV

Black viewers want sitcoms and have no interest in the current glut of reality programming. BBDO just did a study that found reality shows like 'American Idol' and 'Joe Millionaire' do not resonate with with African Americans. The study indicates that none of the reality shows fall in the top 20 most watched shows in black homes.

"There's not a whole lot going on in terms of diversity in those [reality] shows, particularly in 'Joe Millionaire,' " said Doug Alligood of BBD&O.

"Even if minorities are involved, the whole positioning of those shows - they've got somewhat of a demeaning element to them. Blacks are very sensitive to people being embarrassed - they've had enough of that themselves."
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Avertising Headline Round Up

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Kmart Launches 'Urban Direct'

In a dramatic shift away from the traditional FSI, struggling Kmart will launch a lifestyle newspaper supplement called Urban Direct that will be inserted into newspapers in nine markets.

Editorial will include interviews, articles and �product offerings that resonate within urban communities.�

�We approach this as a �Parade� type of concept that will allow us to reach the customers located in those markets with information that matters to them,� said Kmart spokesperson Susan Dennis. �It�s built into our ad plan.�
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Sony Says Consolidation Leads to Bland TV

Sony Pictures and MediaCom claim that it is over consolidation that has led the glut of "bland" programming such as the latest fad of reality shows.

Sony and MediaCom are part of the Coalition for Program Diversity. The Coalition for Programming Diversity will ask the FCC to require that 25% of all prime time network programming be independently produced.

"Reality programming targeted for youthful demographic audiences has become the preferred form of low-budget network programming," said the CPD in the FCC filing.

CPD wants a return to the "fin-syn" rules which governed the networks financial interest in syndicating originally produced series.

"In this unregulated environment, the commission's goals of promoting diversity and competition are being trumped by the networks' obsession with increased profit margins," wrote the coalition.

"Predictably, the blandness and sameness of that programming attracts smaller audience shares -- and that in turn forces the broadcast advertiser to pay more for less audience reach. Ultimately, this nexus results in a double negative for both the advertising industry and consumers," the CDP filing stated.

If this does anything in the way of reducing the plethora of reality television, I am all for it.
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MarketingFix Online Advertising Headlines

From MarketingFix: Internet marketing and media news aggregation and analysis from dozens of sources provided with insight, brevity and occasional sarcasm.

New York Times Digital to Offer Premium Targeting Tool
Most People Don't Watch TV Advertising
Overture Lands ESPN.com
A Good Use of Rich Media
Direct Marketing Leads the Way Online
Broadband to Rise 40% in 2003
Increase in Fortune 500 Companies Advertising Online
Tech Solutions for Online Advertising
Ads Focusing on Pop Culture Win Through
Internet Played Key Role in Post Superbowl Advertising Buzz
TV Time Lost to the Internet

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Broadband Access to Increase 40% in 2003

Get your rich media online programs ready! According to Strategy Analytics, over 70% of US Internet homes will have broadband access by the end of 2008. Cable will be the leader over DSL as the providing technology.

This will allow for a greater acceptance of rich media creative execution on the Web (or whatever the web morphs into over the next few years).
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Reebok's Terry Tate to Spoof Nike's Streaker

Reebok has created an ad that will spoof the Nike Streaker ad. Paul Fireman, CEO of Reebok came up with the idea and Reebok's ad agency, Arnell Group, shot the spot last weekend.

In the spot, the Nike streaker does his usual thing running across the field and in the stands until, suddenly, Terry Tate springs across the screen and tackles him. Terry tackles the Streaker and, in essence, Reebok tackles Nike.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
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