“Fourth-ranked broadcaster NBC has quietly begun reimbursing advertisers an average of $500,000 each for failing to reach guaranteed ratings levels, the first time a network has taken such a step in years, media buyers said,” Reuters reports.
“Among the Big Four networks, NBC has the most serious ad shortfall, as its primetime ratings are down most dramatically. Meanwhile, none of its new series this season have caught on with viewers. Compounding buyers’ angst about NBC is the network’s plan to schedule more reality shows, including ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ and ‘American Gladiators,'” Reuters reports.
MacDailyNews Take: Two more pieces of crap for which we won’t bother firing up Transmission.
Reuters continues, “‘We’re trying to understand NBC’s recent moves,’ Starcom Entertainment exec vp Laura Caraccioli-Davis said. ‘We are concerned that it might be thinking about adopting a programming strategy like some of its sister cable networks. ‘American Gladiators’ and even some of the shows they have in development, like ‘Knight Rider,’ are remakes being dusted off rather than coming up with new creations. NBC used to be the upscale, quality network.'”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: All The Wrong Moves. Starring Jeff Zucker. So, how much longer will GE CEO Jeff Immelt let Zucker run NBC Universal into the ground?