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sales@spotsndots.com Copyright 2018.The Daily News of TV Sales Wednesday, April 10, 2019

KANTAR: IT HELPS IF SPOTS ARE ENTERTAINING DVRs and ad-blocking software make it easier than ever for consumers to skip past advertising. But a new survey suggests most Americans don’t really mind ads, and the number of those who do dislike commercials has shrunk slightly during the past year. Kantar Media’s 2019 Dimensions report — its annual study into advertising and brand communication — shows 12 percent of those surveyed in the U.S. say they generally like advertising, agreeing it can be “enjoyable” to consume. That’s the same as a year ago. Where marketers scored improvements was in the mid-tier response: 57 percent say ads don’t bother them. That’s up six points from last year. As a result, the number that say they don’t like ads now stands at just under a third (32%). Of course, ads should entertain. When they do, one-third say they enjoy watching ads on a TV set. That’s the same number as those who enjoy seeing a great out-of-home ad or one in a printed magazine. “Ads in online media forms are often less popular than ads in their offline equivalents,” the report says. The data backs that up, showing only 27 percent of people say they like ads in online publications. Kantar notes that connected consumers remain “apathetic” to ads in general, with just under half neither liking nor disliking advertising. “Something working well offline won’t automatically be as effective online,” the report adds. “Ads need to be tailored to the medium in which they’re seen.” Modern-day consumers are savvier about marketing, according to the report, with a majority saying they consider sponsorships and product placement the equivalent of a spot. The data shows 65 percent say sponsorship of TV and radio programs are the same as a traditional commercial. And 62 percent say product placements and brand appearances that are included in TV shows and films also count as ads. “Media and communication professionals may distinguish between sponsorships, native, product placements, editorial support and straightforward advertising — but most consumers don’t. It’s all just advertising,” the report says. Media buyers and advertisers may love the targeting capabilities that digital tracking and campaign fine-tuning allow, but so far they haven’t had a big impact on consumers. Kantar says 74 percent think advertisers are doing a better job of communicating to them than in the past. That’s one point higher than two years ago. Better news comes in how consumers rate the creative. A third (32%) say advertising is changing for the better, while 23 percent say it’s getting worse. Thirty-eight percent say it’s on par with the past, while 7 percent haven’t noticed. U.S. results in Kantar’s 2018 Dimensions study are based on survey data collected from 1,000 Americans aged 18 and older on October 9-24, 2018. It also fielded surveys in the U.K., France, Brazil, and China. Download the full report HERE.

ADS AREN’T AS DISLIKED AS YOU THINK, SURVEY FINDSADVERTISER NEWS UBS expects that roughly 75,000 stores, excluding restaurants, will close if online sales grow to 25 percent of the retail industry’s total by 2026, CNBC reports. The investment firm estimates that 21,000 clothing stores, 10,000 consumer electronics stores, 8,000 home furnishing stores and 1,000 home improvement stores will be among the total shutter their locations in the years to come... Walmart is expanding

its use of robots in stores to help monitor inventory, clean floors and unload trucks. The Wall Street Journal says the move is part of the retail giant’s efforts to control labor costs as it spends more to raise wages and offer

new services like online grocery delivery. The largest private employer in the U.S. said at least 300 stores this year will add machines that scan shelves for out-of-stock products. Autonomous floor scrubbers will be deployed in 1,500 stores to help speed up cleaning, after a test in hundreds of stores last year. And the number of conveyor belts that automatically scan and sort products as they come off trucks will more than double, to 1,200... The New York Post says you shouldn’t get too excited about recent price cuts at Whole Foods. The newspaper, citing a Wall Street analyst’s report, says Amazon’s price cuts last week — which claimed discounts of 20 percent on hundreds of items — amounted to a measly drop of 1 percent in the total bill for a typical shopping trip. That’s despite Amazon advertising a slew of deals for its Prime members, including slashing the price for a pound for organic strawberries to $2.99 from $5.99, and cutting the price of a pound of Pacific cod fillets to $9.99 from $12.99. The big catch: Amazon has meanwhile hiked prices on a slew of other groceries, mostly beverages, dairy staples and packaged goods... The Women’s National Basketball Association has revealed a new logo and a multiyear sponsorship deal with AT&T that will mark the first time a non-clothing brand will have its logo displayed on the front of every jersey in the 12-team league. The partnership also includes AT&T content on the WNBA’s site, social properties, app, NBA TV and ESPN... New Balance’s campaign for its Fresh Foam shoes includes programmatic in-app gamified ads on Instagram and Snapchat to target younger, worldwide consumers, Glossy reports. The animated game “Cloud Jumper” features a bunny bouncing on branded items and when players lose they can either visit the brand’s mobile commerce site or play again... Eddie Lampert’s ESL Investments has offered $2.25 a share to buy back the stock it does not currently own of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, the Chicago Tribune reports. Lampert, ESL and its affiliates own around 59 percent of the company, which was spun off by Sears Holdings in 2012... REI is looking to build on a record year, Forbes reports. Total sales rose 6 percent to a record $2.78 billion in 2018. The retailer’s same-store sales grew 4.8 percent and its online business achieved growth in the teens. Online now represents about 30 percent of REI’s total.

PAGE 2 The Daily News of TV Sales @ www.spotsndots.com

AVAILS WYFF 4, the Hearst Television NBC affiliate in beautiful Greenville, S.C., seeks a superstar Account Executive. We are looking for an experienced sales professional who can excel with some of the top accounts on the station while achieving goals across all platforms. Do you have a commitment to excellence, the ability to own transactional business, a track record of New Business success, and like to have fun? Then come work at one of the best television stations and best cities in the country. Google “Greenville, SC Top 10” and see why everyone wants to live here! Click

HERE to apply. EOE. The Networks of Mid-Missouri, ABC 17 KMIZ, FOX 22 KQFX, MyZouTV and Me-TV, is looking for a Director of Sales to oversee all revenue for its broadcast and digital properties in the Columbia/Jefferson City, Mo., market. We need a highly motivated individual who is a dynamic leader with a track record of multimedia sales success to manage the rapidly changing landscape of broadcast and web revenue generation. APPLY

ONLINE and be prepared to provide cover letter and resume. NPG of Missouri, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KITV, an SJL, Lilly Broadcasting-owned ABC affiliate in Honolulu, seeks a dynamic Director of Sales. We are looking for a sales leader with a proven track record of success to direct the local sales team for KITV, MeTV among other digital channels and online platforms. The Director of Sales will lead our local Account Executives to exceed goals through communication and negotiation with local clients and agencies; developing new business; and providing direction, leadership and support to our sales team. Interested candidates should email cover letter and resume to jhagiwara@kitv.com. EOE. KIRO TV, Cox Media Group, Seattle, seeks a Digital Sales Specialist to work with the media sales team to grow digital revenue by accompanying the media sales team in the field to conduct customer needs analysis and present client-facing solutions. The Digital Sales Specialist must understand all CMG Local Solutions digital product offerings and how to leverage them to meet the client’s strategic objectives. Digital assets include all kirotv.com core products and platforms inclusive of display advertising, streaming media, and native advertising. CLICK HERE to apply.

See your ad here tomorrow! CLICK HERE for details.

NIELSEN CEO COMPENSATION PACKAGE: $19.8M Nielsen, which is under pressure from shareholders and conducting a strategic review that could lead to the sale of some or all of its businesses, paid its new CEO David Kenny more than $19.8 million last year. Mitch Barns, who resigned from the CEO post, got total compensation of $10.785 million in 2018. In a proxy statement, Nielsen called 2018 “a challenging year” that resulted in top executives getting zero in their longterm performance-based compensation. Kenny’s compensation package for 2019 includes a base salary of $1.3 million, annual incentive pay of $1.925 million and a long-term incentive of $7 million.

NETWORK NEWS The final numbers for Monday night’s NCAA men’s basketball final — a win for the University of Virginia over Texas Tech — are in, and they’re a mixed bag for CBS. Compared to last year’s Michigan-Villanova title game, this year’s championship was up 23 percent in viewers, with 19 million tuning in for the 85-77 overtime decision. However, compared to CBS’ airing of North Carolina’s 71-65 win over Gonzaga on April 3, 2017, Monday night’s game took a nearly 15 percent dive in total sets of eyeballs. The contest peaked with 23.5 million viewers in the overtime of the 11:30–11:45 PM (ET) slot... The new six-part ABC docuseries 1969, which features first-hand accounts of how major events came together at the same dizzying, chaotic time. 1969 premieres Tuesday, April 23 at 10 PM. The premiere episode includes accounts from the unsung women who helped make the moon landing possible... The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) have announced that the 25th annual Critics’ Choice Awards will air live on The CW on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020 from 7-10 PM (ET). The show, which will again take place in Santa Monica, Calif., will continue its combined film and television awards format, honoring the finest in both cinematic and televised/streaming achievement... CBS’ The Talk creator/EP Sara Gilbert announced at the top of yesterday’s broadcast that she’s leaving the daily show at the end of the season. The news comes little more than two weeks after ABC announced it has ordered a second season of Roseanne spinoff The Conners. ABC did not reveal number of episodes ordered, but it’s expected to be around 13.

FOX OFFERS ‘FAST BREAK’ COMMERCIAL PODS Fox wants to make some of its commercial interruptions so short that viewers can’t run out on them, Variety reports. Executives representing the Fox broadcast network have been discussing a commercial pod they call a “Fast Break” during recent development meetings with media buyers, according to three people familiar with the situation. The pod would appear as the first in a particular program broadcast and contain just 60 seconds of national commercials, these people said. They will contain no more than three different ads lasting 15 seconds to 30 seconds. Just before the break comes on the air, viewers would be told the ad interruption will be shorter, according to one of these people. Fox isn’t the only network working to cut back on the dozens of commercials for air fresheners, gadgets and allergy medications flung at couch potatoes every hour (NBCUniversal has been trying the same), but it has been among the most ready to test new methods. Earlier this TV season, Fox rolled out a concept known as a “JAZ Pod,” or a two-commercial break that has aired during episodes of The Orville and in programs on certain Sunday broadcasts. The new ad format isn’t being offered on Fox Sports 1, Fox News Channel or Fox Business Network, according to one of these people, and is designed to accompany traditional scripted series.

4/10/2019

Jimmy Fallon

McDonald’s will no longer serve Filet-O-Fish sandwiches

after midnight. If you’re someone who’s eating Filet-O-Fish after midnight, this might be a good time to re-evaluate

your life choices.

The Daily News of TV Sales @ www.spotsndots.com PAGE 3

EXECS: AI ‘COMPETITIVE NECESSITY’ IN RETAIL Between automated pickup stations, shopping via smartphone, cashier-less shopping and more, artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) are revolutionizing retail. While there is a lot of hype surrounding tech in e-commerce, retail executives are now relying on AI to lead business initiatives, according to a new Oxford Economics report. The report surveyed more than 300 executives in the U.S. to determine the state of AI adoption in retail, TechRepublic reports. Momentum is continuing to build, with 72 percent of

retailers saying AI will be a “competitive necessity,” in the next five years, the report found. Retail executives are realizing the importance of using multiple technologies to achieve business goals, the report found. The AI tools retailers are using most are chatbots or virtual agents (41%), followed by robotic process automation (RPA) (40%), and machine learning or predictive analytics (36%).

The rise of e-commerce has threatened the relevancy and longevity of brick-and-mortar retailers, forcing many physical stores to invest in new technologies to keep doors open. These stores are using AI to improve customer experiences, personalize marketing campaigns, and automate supply-chain logistics and inventories, the report found. More than half (55%) said AI has substantially improved the value on speed of customer complaint resolutions, and more than half reported increased revenue growth from AI initiatives, the report noted.

THIS AND THAT Gartner predicts a variable future for the global device market but believes foldable smartphones will account for 5 percent of high-end phone sales by 2023. This year, however, phone shipments are expected to ease 0.5 percent to 1.8 billion, though they will pick back up to 1.2 percent growth in 2020... Twitter is reportedly fighting “platform manipulation” by deleting 6 million to 7.5 million accounts weekly, says Yoel Roth, head of site integrity. The social platform is also reducing the number of accounts users can follow in a single day from 1,000 to 400.

4/10/2019

Funny Tweeter

As the parent of a 5-year-old boy, I can name all of the

dinosaurs and none of my co-workers.

MONDAY NIELSEN RATINGS - LIVE + SAME DAY

U.S. RETAILERS ARE GOING BIG ON BOPUS Last year, the number of locations offering “buy online, pick up in-store” (BOPUS) nearly doubled among leading U.S. grocery retailers. Walmart (and various third-party partners), Target/Shipt, Kroger/Instacart, Ahold and Albertsons brought their collective number of click-and-collect locations from 2,451 in January 2018 to 5,800 in December 2018, per data from CommonSense Robotics. The competition is expected to heat up this year. In January, Walmart announced plans to expand its efforts in the digital grocery space with Walmart Grocery Pickup. It also announced that the program would be available in 1,000 additional locations by the end of the year. Last month news broke that Amazon plans to open a new grocery chain that will be its own distinct entity separate from Whole Foods, which it acquired in 2017. Target is also keen on BOPUS. The company announced in January that its store pickup and “Drive Up” programs grew more than 60 percent year over year in 2018. With BOPUS and the expansion of similar offerings, big-box retailers will be able to bring in greater revenues over the next two years. Curbside grocery pickup will be a $35 billion business in the U.S. by 2020, according to estimates from research firm Cowen and Company. “The popularity of BOPUS has been a key accelerator behind the growth in e-commerce transactions over the past couple of years,” eMarketer principal analyst Andrew Lipsman said. “The availability of in-store and curbside pickup has filled a key need for flexible fulfillment. Consumers are always looking to save time shopping. But, for a variety of reasons, they may feel more comfortable picking up items in person, whether it’s for security or because they need that order today.”

JOB OPENINGS DOWN BY 500,000+ IN FEBRUARY Job openings fell in February to the lowest level in nearly a year, a sign that demand for workers eased modestly during a month when hiring fell sharply. There were a seasonally adjusted 7.09 million unfilled jobs on the last business day of February, the Labor Department said yesterday. That was down by more than 500,000 from January’s near record, to the lowest level of available jobs since March 2018. “Like the rest of the economy, the labor market is not perfectly steady on its feet — it’s prone to the occasional wobbly month,” said Josh Wright, chief economist at iCIMS Inc., a maker of employee-recruiting software. “As the economy slows, we should see a few more wobbles over the course of 2019.” The smaller number of openings came during a month when hiring slowed to a crawl. U.S. employers added 33,000 jobs to payrolls in February, revised data released last week showed. That was the smallest net job gains since September 2017, and one of the weakest months in the 102 straight months of improvements, dating back to 2010. But iCIMS, which separately tracks job opening figures, sees a healthy rebound in available positions in March.