“Online is getting to the point where it may be more important than the 30-second TV spot.” - VP of Marketing at car manufacturer XYZ

I hope this is a quote from the era of enlightenment–otherwise known as the period that ushered in Joe Jaffe (circa numerous years ago). If it isn’t, then I just might be retired before these major co’s ever shake the old media.

Filed under: Rants, Television, Politics, The Future, Television Ads

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You’ll likely remember the stink that was raised when CBS’ Kid Nation hit the waves. Accusations of child neglect though couldn’t stop it from being one of the most riveting television shows I’ve ever seen. At the end of the day it was a great sociological experiment.

Can 40 kids survive for 40 days without parental supervision and furthermore keep an old deserted desert town afloat? Could they create a functional society? With a bit of guidance from more mature kids and the town council, coupled with prodding from the storyline setup by CBS, I would argue that the experiment was indeed successful.

There was a lot of tension at times. Crying too. Less than a handful of kids ultimately packed up and went home before the shows end but the majority braved the conditions and came out appreciative of the experience. The honesty of these kids ranging from 8 to 16 combined with an appropriate amount of common sense truly made the show feel at par in terms of sophistication than any other reality show that I’ve had the displeasure of viewing.

At the end of the day, it’s not everyone’s idea of an hour well spent. That said, those like myself with a curiosity about human behaviour will very well enjoy the psychology on display.

But the best scene came from the finale, when the crew torched the kids’ job board. There were four teams, each divided by class which dictated their weekly pay and job duties in the town. The rules went out the window. The kids went absolutely nuts and looted the general store, hauling buckets of candy and goods back to their bunks. It was a shining example that left with a pack mentality and to our own devices that sometimes the world can turn itself on its head. After following the rules for 30 something odd days and then falling to temptation was certainly a low point but certainly very insightful. I can certainly only hope that chaos doesn’t reign in on a larger societal scale.

Props CBS.

Filed under: Television, Funny

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While we all support the striking writers, folks like myself in the online business of advertising are hoping for less than swift negotiations. First, the web needs more top content producers. Second, more marketers need to shift their budgets online. While it may not sound like a decisive blow to television in the long-term, it’s at least an opening for the digerati.

As highlighted by this AdAge article though, there are more important markers of success in 2008 that we should be on the lookout for…

“We predict internet advertising to pass three milestones over the next three years,” ZenithOptimedia’s forecast said. “We expect it to overtake radio advertising in 2008; to attain a double-digit share of global advertising in 2009; and to overtake magazine advertising in 2010, with 11.5% of total ad spend.”

Although, even the title of the AdAge article (”Forecast for ‘08 Is OK, but Only Online Shines”) presents a less promising outcome for other ad sectors. Factors like the Presidential Election, the Olympics, and Soccer will boost spending but where will the economy chime in this time? Recession? Depression?! Likely the former, hopefully neither.

Whatever the case, let’s raise our glasses to those who weather the storm in 2008. Fixion Media will be at the table tooth and nail.

Filed under: Media Planning, Television, Politics, The Future, Print Magazines, Radio

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As an old-schooler circa early ’90s internet user, it’s tough at times to wrap my head around the sheer speed at which consumers of media users are integrating the web into their daily lives. In this AdAge article it is reported that 16% of households watch television online, which is twice as much as the previous year. Mandatory advertising and small screens aren’t going to stop this train anytime soon! On the flipside, the message for content producers is that there is money to be made:

“Over the next few years, the growing popularity of viewing TV episodes/shows online is going to have a huge impact on the way brands and advertisers communicate with viewers,” Shari Morwood, exec VP of technology, telecommunications and media at TNS, said in a release. “If advertisers can effectively leverage the online video platform, we should see much more interactivity and emotional connection between brands and the online TV viewing audience.”

I haven’t had an emotional connection with a brand since I fell in love Grey Goose’s intoxicating smoothness last weekend. But I digress. The point is well taken.

Filed under: Publisher Side, Media Planning, Television, Online Video

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