CBS: Jerking Us Around

Are you listening, Moonves?
+++++++++++

"Analytics will be the new Intellectual Property. CBS looked at its own traffic and saw a trend of users “catching up” on what happened previously ahead of new episodes of Jericho and Survivor.

Building communities around content drives engagement. But content producers need to take a holistic view of what a show is. Its not just 8-9pm. When you consider joining groups on Facebook, catching up on previous episodes, reading blogs, etc., a show has a much longer, broader appeal than just its timeslot."



"Today I am launching a new company from the pulver.com Incubator, PrimeTimeRewind.TV. Amit Shafrir and I co-founded this company in 2007.

PrimeTimeRewind.TV provides one click access for consumers to watch the latest episode of their favorite Prime Time TV Shows (assuming the underlying TV Network has made the show available for free online viewing.)

The 2007/2008 television season is the first one in which each of the major US based TV and Cable networks embraced the Internet since the start of the TV season by offering complete episodes of most of their prime-time programs for free to people located in the USA. While this is an exciting development for USA based consumers (access to the online TV content is restricted by geography by each of the respective TV Networks), the discovery and viewing experience on each individual site continues to be rather challenging. Until today, there has not been any single platform available for watching all of the otherwise available Prime Time TV programs; each network requires visiting and hunting through a very different site and different user experience."

Leslie Moonves: Forget Jericho ?

"It is almost impossible to look at the history of this show and deduce that it has been handled anything but badly from the very beginning. Of late CBS has exhibited more poor decision making by placing the summer re-runs on a Friday night where they were almost certain to be preempted by pre-season football. These re-runs were supposed to introduce a whole new audience to the serial drama and the fans told their families, friends and whomever would listen to watch creating a troubling scenario."

"The promotional campaign for the Jericho Season One DVD was no more reassuring for the fans than the summer re-runs. In fact the release day came and went with very little fanfare prompting Cinemablend.com to ask the Question “Did You Forget Jericho”."



Many thanks to PaintedHors1 for this:

"Overwhelmingly, there is a feeling that CBS is not supporting Jericho. Several reasons were given, including; #1 lack of advertising at the corporate level for the Jericho DVD set. #2, Lack of input and update of materials available on this website (notice the re-airing dates are STILL here, and there has been no input from CBS corporate in regards to new material, direction, etc. #3, no official merchandising for Jericho. #4 will there be anything in way of a media blitz preceeding the start dates for the new episodes?

Taken individually, these are fairly random points of interest, but when you do the math here, it easily adds up to an overall lack of interest. From the very idea of only seven new episodes, which equates to only 1/3rd of a season) to no new corproate statements to Kid Nation having 100% more merchandise available from Jericho, you end up with a pretty dim picture.

It is the obvious offering to give CBS the benefit of the doubt, but considering the reletive comatose nature of the boards since the new episode annoucement, it is our belief that CBS needs to provide some information at this point. Using Nina Tasslers words, we the existing fanbase of been entrusted with the care and upkeep of growing the Jericho fan base and expanding on it. This is great, but with no input from corporate, we have a serious lack of tools available to us in order to proceed. CBS is much more in the catbird seat and could easily advertise Jericho all over the viewing schedule, and this is much more than our collective can achieve. In short, without direct input from CBS, we are spinning our wheels.

The new 7 episodes are most certainly a wonderful thing, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. 7e provides barely enough time to close existing story lines/arcs, and not nearly enough time to complete a new story line. This leads me and others to feel that perhaps this is set up to fail, with CBS now being able to say "see? we told you so".

I think I can comfortably say that we ALL feel differently. I think that it is also safe to say that we need some information and updates, in order to be ready should a media blitz for the 7 new episodes ever actually come. I do not personally feel that we need to know the specific sttart date just yet, but I do think we need to know CBS's advertising plans, so that we; the people the Nina entrusted; can act accordingly.

Please everyone, take this to heart. We are at a point in time here where we have lost steam, and I believe that CBS not only knows this, but expected this. We need to rally, get the intel we need to fight from CBS, and BE READY. Yes they might not have an official start date assigned yet, but even so, if they clue us in just a little bit into what they plan to do, we can ram the show home a lot more successfully than we could without CBS's input.

Please read this everyone. Talk to each other. Post comments here. Offer suggestions and/or additional questions. We need to get motivated and we need to be prepared. Our original effort was truly a wonderful thing in that we DID NOT let up our fight. I think at this time however, the 2nd round could easily be our undoing if we don't get organized NOW."

Jericho: How Do You Watch?

"There's been a lot of debate about how people prefer to get their video fixes and whether or not PC viewing is starting to cannibalize attention to the big screen. Not surprisingly, it varies widely by demo."



"Content remains king in digital age, says CBS chief"

We are striking back against the view that network TV is doomed in the digital age.”

That was the message from CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves at this year's Mipcom in Cannes, where he was named personality of the year.

He told an audience at a packed Salle Lumiere that content remains the critical issue in a digital age.

CBS “drives the global engine….Wireless is useless if you’re hitless,” he said.



On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

Blog Action Day is about MASS participation. That means we need you! Here are 3 ways to participate:

* Post on your blog relating to the environment on Blog Action Day
* Donate your day’s earnings to an environmental charity
* Promote Blog Action Day around the web

CBS and The Storm

" Moonves likes CBS in eye of storm"

“We need to push the envelope,” Moonves said during the Boston College Chief Executives’ Club lunch at the Boston Harbor Hotel. “If we’re not creating some sort of controversy, we’re probably not doing our job right.”



CBS chief says Rather claims are 'old news'

"Moonves spoke more freely about his company's plans to maintain its relationship with Apple Computer Corp.'s iTunes service, even as top competitor NBC pulled its content off the service last month. NBC wanted more control over the price of its shows on iTunes and ultimately made a deal to offer its shows via Amazon.com's Unbox download service. Yesterday, NBC said it will offer free downloads directly from its website, though consumers would not be able to move content to devices like iPods and could not skip commercials."



"For CBS, it's
sticking with what works"

** It's about time**

"But after several failed attempts, CBS is once again embracing its core audience when the new season begins on Monday. Its schedule remains largely unchanged from last season and firmly geared to 25-54s."



Jericho update

http://remote.lohudblogs.com/2007/09/21/jericho-update/

Where In Jericho Is Beau?

Announcing** New Blog Feature***

Have you seen or heard of Where In the World is Carmen Sandiego?

How about Where In Jericho Is Beau?

Every week on all 3 of my blogs you will find a picture of Beau ( Jake's dog). Find the picture,click on it and you will be taken somewhere in the Jericho Universe. It could be a blog, message board, website, whatever. Each blog will feature a different link.

Each selected site will, if they wish, be offered a graphic that says they have been featured.

Thanks to Openminded and Maybei for the idea.



Leslie Moonves Fans!!

"FirstCall/ CBS Corporation today announced that Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a question-and-answer session at the Merrill Lynch Media Fall Preview Conference on Tuesday, September 18, 2007. The session will begin at 8:45 AM, PT. An audio webcast of the session will be open to the general public on CBS Corporation's website.


Fast National ratings for Friday, Sept. 7, 2007.

"Nobody was really watching network TV on Friday night, but NBC had an edge in overall viewers, while ABC barely led the pack in the key young adult demos."


Selling my house so must sell a ton of stuff.
See it here.

Counting Viewers: CBS and Nielsen

"CBS, The TV Network For Oldsters, Tunes In To New Net Technologies"

As CBS chief Leslie Moonves put it during the company's second-quarter earnings call in July: "We're following our audience. We're putting our content where they already are, giving it to them in a way that they want to see it."

** BUT-are these viewers being counted? If so, is a true count? See
below.**


**What does this mean for Jericho?**

Problems found in Nielsen ratings to be used this Fall:

"...new evidence has come to light that the data being released by Nielsen has had some serious flaws, inaccuracies and omissions that could cause major problems when advertisers and agencies begin posting their media buys. The latest revelation came in the form of a letter circulated last week by Star Media Enterprises, a major re-processor of TV ratings for Nielsen clients, which asserts that there have been systemic problems with the new commercial ratings ever since Nielsen began releasing them in May."


"What is the 'Jericho' DVD Project?"

Jericho,Nielsen, and Martha Stewart

"The Baby Boomer Is Back -- Just Ask Martha"

"boomers were 78.2 million strong in 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and some estimates peg their spending at up to $2 trillion"

Pay attention, Les Moonves. Martha knows what you won't accept- there's money in those Boomers!



Speaking of Les, here's something else he won't like:

"Nielsen: "Drop in TV Ratings is Because People Are Watching Less TV"
* Nielsen found that households that have DVRs watch less TV now than before they got them.
* The decline in ratings is most pronounced in households that watch the most TV."


In more bad news for Les:

"Counting older folks in, CBS was once again the most popular network last week, Nielsen Media Research said."

These older folks love Jericho too so why won't you accept that?


Good luck, Martha. Would you do lunch with Les?

TV Has Changed: Les Moonves

"Nielsen: Number of TV Households up 1.3%
More Viewers Are Older, Which Means They'll Likely Watch More"

"Nielsen's numbers show the large generation of baby boomers migrating into older demographic groups. One of the fastest-growing categories was persons between the ages of 55 and 64, a group that grew 3.9%. The number of young adults, however, grew by just 0.3% from last season."


YooHoo! Les!! Look at this!! My goodness! Could you tell us again why you want 18-49? Look who's watching TV more. Seems to me you need to get with the program. It's a whole new TV world today.



"A Wish List: What Jericho Fans Hope For from CBS’ ‘Fan Central’"
Memless has done an excellent job of expressing what's good and what needs to be changed for Fan Central to become more for fans.


Get an episode of Jericho dedicated to GaTravelGal


A Lost Ranger: Jericho Fans Mourn the Loss of GaTravelGal


"'Jericho' Creates it's own Internet Buzz"
BuddyTV

Jericho,Taxes, and DVR's

Poor Les Moonves: I know now why Jericho's budget was cut.

Les, we would like to help you by offering you several opportunities to lessen your tax burden. How much would you like to contribute to DVD's for the Troops? How about some of your cuff links to auction off to buy prizes for the contests Rangers have come up with to help promote Jericho? You'd be amazed at all the ways we can tell you how to contribute.
Put those state and local taxes you don't pay into something worthwhile.

Moonves Likes DVR's?
"CBS's CEO Les Moonves jumped on the "we love DVRs" bandwagon, making the usual network argument: DVR owners watch more TV content than non-DVR owners."
What happened to watching "live TV only?"


Jericho starts in January??


Beautiful video from xrammy for GaTravelGal


I have enough subscribers to start my newsletter but I'd like suggestions on what you'd like to see. Now I don't know yet how to add pictures and I'm learning about HTML so nothing fancy please. I don't want it to be just a recap of my blogs although I would use a few things.
I'd like to get fan submissions like fan fiction or short articles-anything original.
Ideas? Suggestions? I'd like to mail out about Sept.1.
Email sweat1951@rock.com


The Watcher-Jericho Mention by Maureen Ryan

Jericho Sampler

Confusion For Fans About What To Do


Look What Money Can Buy CBS


Leslie Moonves


Please sign the petition asking CBS to count ALL viewers!!!!!!!!


Go Myles/Memles!!!!


"Nielsen Research Proves Less Than Engaging, Only A Third Of Viewers Recall TV Spots"


This is one of the best websites I've found with an easy explanation of Nielsen ratings. Some of the stories are a bit outdated but then so are Nielsen's.

Jericho Bites

"The Family Redstone: multibillion history of dysfunction"

"Filed in November by Michael Redstone, Sumner's nephew, and by the trustees of three trusts established decades ago by Sumner's father, Mickey, the suit alleges Sumner wrested control of National Amusements by secretly engineering a purchase of shares from the family trusts at low-ball prices in 1972 and 1984."

Since Sumner and his daughter are also at odds will Leslie Moonves end up in charge of it all?

Rich discusses how viral marketing affects the promotion of Jericho in his latest article at Copywrite Ink. It's a must read.

Exclusive Interview with Phillip Palmer, Production Sound Mixer for Jericho.

DragonCon and Jericho
Would you like to help with 2 Jericho Panels?

Please sign the Petition for Dresden File fans. They're voting for Jericho and encouraging others to watch for us.

Pass The Peanut Marathon

*** Just Arrived***

"Thank You Fans Reel" from Comic Con
MUST SEE!! Cast thanks fans.


PASS THE PEANUT PLEASE!!!!!!!!

We have the opportunity to make history again...As you know we Rangers are faithful voters in TV_Vote Poll for the best shows of all time..

* We average about 507 votes each day.
* We currently need 1,151 votes to make make the number 1 place in the Daily Top 40 poll.
* We will need 4,139 votes (as of today) to make it into the Top 40 shows of all time!
* Looking at our average totals we should hold the #1 Daily Top 40 poll by this weekend, and Jericho could hold a one of the spots in the top 40 best shows of all time in less than 2 weeks.

If we start a Pass the Peanut Marathon it might not only help with the numbers, but also add a bit of fun to the whole voting process!


Here are a couple of posts you might find of interest:

Moonves, Money, and CBS


CBS Announces Fan Central

Jericho, Kids, and Musings

New forum from MyTVMusings

Jericho on the forum

Jericho Update

http://www.myspace.com/jerichomonster
Please join me if you're on MySpace.

Photos of Jericho Cast at Comic Con!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


"Kid Nation': Fun and games?
New reality show appears to cross the line between entertainment, exploitation"

"Do you have a suggestion to make about a particular business, website, TV show, or political campaign? Maybe you've tried writing Letters to the Editor, complaining to your mother, and yelling at your dog--but it's not enough. Share your comments in a constructive environment at ZooWise.com. It's a place to make suggestions to businesses, and presumably these businesses will take advantage of the feedback and possibly even take it into account. ZooWise uses a blog format with a user rating system so that the highest rated comments are shown on the home page."
Check out the Jericho entries.


Article on Leslie Moonves and Quincy Smith

"Mogul stuck in his soap opera"
This story gets more and more interesting. It concerns Sumner Redstone whose entertainment empire he is among the world's largest, with CBS, Paramount Pictures, Showtime, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. He's only worth about $8 billion. He's having a feud with his family and it will be very interesting to see how this ends.

Fans Peeved About Pirate Master

A Message From Nina Tassler

Posted on the CBS Jericho board today:

Dear Jericho Fans:

I have some good news to share, which is due in large part to your aggressive and effective outreach on behalf of “Jericho.”

Although the ratings for the repeat episodes on the Network have been modest (not uncommon for the Summer), our preliminary research indicates that 23% of the viewers tuning in did not previously watch the show. This adds up to more than two million new viewers for "Jericho."

Just as encouraging, this research shows that one million viewers who left the show after the mid-season hiatus have returned this summer to catch up on the episodes they missed.

We still have a LONG way to go. But, I wanted to share this news and express our continued appreciation for your support of "Jericho." You have quickly and firmly established "Jericho" as the show with the most passionate and vocal fan community on television. Please keep spreading the word.

Sincerely,

Nina Tassler

President, CBS Entertainment

Jericho and Broken Ratings

Fri. night ratings:

The ratings are very odd this week. First, Nielsen had "technical difficulties" so the Fast Nationals weren't released until today. Secondly, it was reported by numerous people that their affiliates showed a movie instead of Jericho so who knows what the numbers really are?

I am in agreement with savejake who says,
"Don't you think those numbers are odd. It shows that even GW gains another 1/2 million for the end of the show. Then at 9PM all the networks lose several million viewers...only to see them all return at 10PM................???
So, do we turn our TV's on at 8:30, then off at 9, then back on at 10PM?
Is that the normal viewing pattern for our Nielsen Families? They watch only the end of a 60 minute show no matter what channel it's on...just to turn off the TV at 9PM. Then we sit down and watch TV from 10-11PM....on Friday night....!!!!!
Does anyone else find this strange or is it me? Eight to ten million people turned their television off for an hour............. ?"

While we're on the subject of ratings here's an interesting article that discuses the measurement of TV and online viewers and rates the quality and quantity of viewers for shows like Jericho, Lost, and The Black Donnellys. There are excellent charts too. The author says, " The TV ratings system is broken. Everyone knows it, but nobody wants to admit it."

That hits the nail on the head. Wake up Moonves.

Jericho Coalition

Let me preface this post from the CBS board by saying that some questions have been raised that will be answered shortly. I do want to clear up a couple of things:

1. jerichocoalition.com is NOT the new fan club site. It is where the various representatives will meet to coordinate a fan club.

3. This other board in no way takes anything from the CBS board. Yes, CBS said we need to keep this board active but they also said we have to find new viewers. They did not say to live at CBS. I cannot stay there all day and night and try to spread the word about Jericho at the same time.

"OK folks, the CBS message board gets to have 5 representatives for the Fan Club.

The job of the representatives will be to gather ideas from the members of the CBS board and relay them to the "Coalition of the Willing" Fan Club site. There the ideas will be discussed by the reps from all the different forums.

This way everyone gets a say in what YOU want you fan club to be like. Everyone will have a voice.

Sooo, since no one has opened up nominations for CBS board, I thought I would start. We can each post our nominations here - if we get more than 5 nominees - we will take a vote. The nominations will close on Friday the 27 at midnight.

(already nominated reps from other boards will not be eligible to also be a rep from the CBS board )

You can nominate yourself or another person. All nominations will need to have a second. (and the person needs to accept, lol)

I will keep the list of nominees updated here.