TV ratings are a lot like politics: whether you’re winning or losing, the other side is always doing it wrong and, even in the worst situations, you can always try and spin things to make it look more positive than it really is.
For months the New Zealand tech retailers have been displaying a range of iPad paraphernalia for sale in their stores and, as of today, they actually get to sell the object all that paraphernalia is associated with. But after all the hype, all the talk of publishing revolutions and all the feverish Tweetbooking about Jobs Almighty and his newest hero product, there seems to be a surprising dearth of local applications available on the day of the iPad’s release in New Zealand.
Wise New Zealand marketing oracle Michael Carney peers into his crystal ball for this week’s installment of Marketing Week. Analogue TV is either dead or on death’s door overseas. How long has it got to live here? How to catch the elusive black swan. Are you overlooking the oldies? The paywall prognostications come thick and fast. So how is Rupert faring? What people really think of advertising? The social media horse is starting to bolt. And there’s still time for marketers to try and mount this difficult beast. Tips and tricks for post-recession category management.
The economy seems to be moving slowly in the right direction, the marcomms job market is picking up and judging by figures from the New Zealand Television Broadcasters’ Council (NZTBC) based on returns from TVNZ, MediaWorks TV and Sky (including Prime), the broadcast advertising dollars are following suit.
As broadcasters around the world increasingly focus on the internet to distribute their news and content, as print media invests in additional video and audio assets to enhance its online offerings, and as previously separate mediums seem to become more and more alike, the quest for media convergence means many of these outlets are being forced to cut each other’s lunches and create content that can be used across different platforms. And, despite stellar ratings for its traditional free-to-air news and current affairs shows in recent months, TVNZ is preparing for this new digital frontier with what it says are the biggest changes in 20 years.
Television ratings, much like the make up of sausages, are a fairly mysterious realm for those outside the marcomms industry, and, after asking around a bit, it seems they’re also a fairly mysterious realm for many within it.
Diana: pipped
At last, a rival to match the spectacular unifying experience that was Diana’s funeral: All Whites v Slovakia.
Ever since TV3’s Sunrise and ASB Business bit the dust back in April, the Mediaworks press releases about news and current affairs viewer numbers seem to have dried up. Not surprisingly, NZI Business and Breakfast have reaped the benefits after the departure of its main competition, but there’s also been some significant ratings increases for Te Karere and Q+A over the last year and ONE news has also held firm.
As it nears the end of its first season, the signs are auspicious for The Ad Show: it’s taken the channel’s top spot for download numbers, the studio audience members are “hanging from the rafters”, a few extra episodes have been commissioned and there are high hopes that the hand that feeds will commission a second season.
This newsy concoction is light and frothy on the nose, with undercurrents of naivete, overcurrents of aniseed, cassis and forest floor and aftercurrents of squash changing room. Can be served either brucewarm or lukewarm.
Mobile marketing company Run The Red, KHF Media and TVNZ are popping a few corks today after the interactive online drama Reservoir Hill it developed was awarded New Zealand’s first ever International Digital Emmy in Cannes, France.
Today sees the launch of New Zealand’s first 100 percent local content channel, TVNZ Heartland, which features a mix of old classics and new gems and will be shown on the Sky platform. And, according to TVNZ’s head of digital Eric Kearley, we can expect to see more of these types of channels on the pay-TV platform in the future.
TVNZ Ondemand is coming to a PlayStation3 (PS3) near you, with gamers now able to watch TVNZ programmes through their consoles in their living rooms, rather than through their computers in a dark hovel surrounded by empty chip packets and coke cans.
The geeks inherited the Earth (well, the StopPress comment wall) after the nzherald.co.nz announced a “strategic change in direction by moving away from page impressions as a predominant measure of a site’s success and towards metrics that provide greater transparency to advertisers”. The comments flowed, the debate raged and the acronyms came thick and fast. A few doubts were raised about the motivations behind the site’s new approach to measurement, but the Herald also had plenty of friends, including a few in high places, like the national broadcaster.
Starcom MediaVest group executive vice president Paul Maher, who has had a long history with the company having been general manager TVNZ agency sales around ten years ago and being involved in late 2006 in helping develop the company’s strategic plan, “Inspiring New Zealanders On Every Screen”, has been named TVNZ’s head of sales and marketing.
TVNZ has released its ratecard for the July – September 2010 period, with TV ONE rates rising by two percent and TV2 up six percent on the back of improved numbers. But not everyone appears to be on the same optimistic page as the national broadcaster, if the apparent stoush with media agency OMD is anything to go by.
Virgin sacrifices on the rise in Auckland
Whether it took place in the McDonalds carpark, behind the bikesheds or on your wedding night with candles, rose petals and Kenny G, the first time is a big occasion. And TVNZ’s new online social experiment aims to find out a little bit more about the nation’s sexual history by getting users to plot the location where they lost (or perhaps misplaced) their virginity.
There’s nothing quite like a very public dog-fight to garner attention. But not an animal dog-fight mind you.
On Sunday, Colenso BBDO launched another clever visual spectacle on public eyes with a re-enactment of a WW11 dogfight in honour of the epic new TV ONE miniseries, The Pacific. The ten-part mini-series focuses on the stories of three marines during America’s battle with the Japanese in the Pacific during World War II.
Aside from these, this, and this, StopPress loves nothing more than data. And we’re particularly fond of hard data. Of course, the brilliant thing about data is that it can be used selectively to show how good you are, and how bad other things, like competitors, are. And there’s almost no better example of this than the tit for tatting that is news ratings data in New Zealand.
TVNZ and SKY are showing they have plenty of heart when it comes to local television content, with the announcement of a new television channel.
Kiwi online teen-esque drama Reservoir Hill has been nominated for an Emmy at this year’s International Digital Emmy® Awards – a New Zealand first.
Jason Paris has spoken out about his new appointment as chief executive of TV3 and C4.
In an interview with StopPress, Paris describes the move as exciting and a natural career progression.
Breaking news: Jason Paris, the TVNZ marketing director, has announced he’s leaving TVNZ – for TV3. In an email to “commercial partners” TVNZ says:”He has accepted the position of Chief Executive of TVWorks, the owners and operators of TV3 and C4.
We are all delighted for him, but are …
Who it’s for: TVNZ’s launch of Masterchef NZ
Why we like it: A dash of culinary arrogance and head shaking from the judges, a pinch of sweaty anguish from the competitors and slow motion shots of exploding blenders and flaming pans makes for a top notch …
An essential element of TV One’s new show Hung can now be seen in 3D, but only if you cop a glance (or, for committed violators, a feel) of the rather risqué billboard, which was recently erected on Victoria St in Auckland in an attempt to get mass market penetration.
Those fortunate enough to still be at home watching television every weekday morning will have a new face to contend with in 2010 after it was announced Hadyn Jones will replace Steve Gray as co-host of Good Morning, joining Sarah Bradley and Brendon Pongia on the couch to discuss things like gardening and emotions.
With the new news year unofficially restarting today and the A-list hosts from both networks back punching the clock, it’s the perfect time to delve into the murky depths of 2009’s news ratings data.
Annoyed by the dearth of commercials on TVNZ7? Well, be annoyed no more ad lovers, because Top Shelf, the production company behind Media 7, is remedying the shortage by making a show that focuses on the advertising industry.
First there’s a press release from TV3: “November has seen Nightline pull away from its competitor TV ONE’s Tonight in all key demographics.”
Then there’s one from TVNZ: “The latest news numbers show Sunrise lost a quarter of its audience in November while NZI Business and Breakfast continued to edge ahead.”
Last week, Matt Blomfield, Hell Pizza comms manager and co-owner of Pitch Televsion, told StopPress a new reality TV show that pitted young advertising creatives against each other in a series of pitching battles had been commissioned by TVNZ and would screen on Saturday nights at 7.30pm starting in May.