US ad spend was flat in Q1
Total ad spend in Q1 declined 0.1% from a year ago and finished the period at $30.2 billion, according Kantar Media. Local Radio was down 1.0%; National Spot Radio was up 5.7% and Network Radio was down -15.2%. Television turned in mixed performances. Cable TV spend rose 5.2%, aided by an increase in the volume of ad time and by stronger demand from restaurants and auto manufacturers. Spanish Language TV spending increased 13.5%, its seventh consecutive quarter of double digit growth – a strong result although lower than 15% annual growth rate seen in 2012. The Spanish Language segment continues to be driven by gains among national broadcast networks.
Cool cars for the budget-conscious
We all think about getting bang for our buck, and when it comes to vehicle purchases, one kind of bang is the coolness factor of the vehicle. For consumers who want maximum cool while keeping the expense lid at no more than $18K, Kelley Blue Book has some advice.
Calendar blamed for fewer July 4th travelers
In 2012, Independence Day fell on a Wednesday, which the American Automobile Association says created a six-day holiday period for many. This year, it...
Record attendance at NJBA Conference
The 66th Annual New Jersey Broadcasters Association Conference this week in Atlantic City was the biggest yet. Led by NJBA Chairman Dan Finn and...
The Me Generation meets Generation Me
From their money to their media, Boomers and Millennials exhibit vastly different behaviors and habits. Yet, despite being born 30 years apart, these two...
NAB calls for restraint, bright lines from FCC on indecency
Children these days have access to multiple content-unrestricted entertainment platforms, says the
Summer travel plans up from 2012
A Harris Poll survey finds that the sluggish economy is still feeding into sluggish vacation plans. However, despite the fact that about a third...
Wheeler meets with Congress
Whenever we’ve heard a hearing with a nominee to the FCC, the answers are usually short of specifics
Top ten family-friendly beaches named
Looking to bring in some tourism advertising? If you are within driving distance of any of these locations, then you might want to contact...
NJBA conference starts 6/24
The 66th Annual NJBA (New Jersey Broadcasters Assn.) Conference and Gala will kick off Tuesday evening with an opening reception in Caesar’s Diamond Club...
Another report of incremental economic improvement
A wide variety of economic surveys, taken from a variety of angles, have been showing a moderate upward trend, and we can now add the Deloitte Consumer Spending Index to the list. Three of the four indicators it watches improved in May.
Retail spending picks up in May
There was a small uptick in consumer spending (excluding cars, gas and eating out) from April to May – but looked at YOY, there...
Global ad revenues to grow 6% in 2014
Magna Global predicts the global ad market to grow by 3.0% this year, to $486 billion, thus slowing down from 2012 (+3.9%), and then accelerate by 6.1% in 2014, to $515 billion. Compared to its previous forecasts, published in December 2012, this represents a small downgrade for 2013 (-0.1%) and a small increase for 2014 (+0.1%). Magna’s analysis covers ad market conditions in 73 individual markets, adding three new markets this time: Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Kenya.
Hiring plans on the rise
The latest report from Manpower Group shows the most positive outlook on increasing employment since before 2009, just after the financial implosion. More than three times as many companies are looking to increase rather than trim staff – with the majority in a holding pattern.
Greek state media closure causes strikes
Greece's two largest labor unions have called a 24-hour general strike 6/12 to protest the government's move to close state-run TV and radio as...