Those of us in New York City are still basking in the glow of our Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants — who defeated longtime rivals the New England Patriots – but most people around the U.S. (and world) are still basking in the commercials that air during the big game. Here are some of the standouts this year:
Honda may have gotten the most pre-game publicity for its take on “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and the commercial lived up to the hype. Matthew Broderick re-enacted his famous 1980s movie role as the hooky-playing fun-lover in “Matthew’s Day Off” , this time using a CR-V to take make the most of his “sick” day. Children of the 80s (like this writer) appreciated the nod to Bueller.
NBC’s The Voice used everyone’s favorite 90-year-old actress Betty White in a commercial promoting the next season of the Peacock’s singing competition. After a montage of Kung Fu-style scenes with all of the show’s judges, White shows up in a hotel room wearing a robe and, saying, rather ironically, “It’s about time somebody wanted me for my voice and not my body.”
The Acura NSX won’t be out until 2015, but the company used well-known car collectors Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno to build up anticipation for the car. The ad, which featured Seinfeld trying to bribe another buyer into giving him the first NSX car being sold, ends with the comedian being bested by Leno himself, who offers the man a jetpack that will get him from New York to L.A. in 20 minutes flat.
In the car commercial arena, there was also a clever Fiat ad in which a nerdy guy fantasizes about a beautiful and provocative Italian-speaking woman coming on to him. Then, it turns out, the object of his fantasy was actually a Fiat. The beautiful woman then delivers the company’s slogan: “Fiat: You’ll never forget the first time you see one”
The Doritos commercial where an old woman and baby exact revenge on a chip-hogging kid in a treehouse by slinging the baby toward the kid and stealing his bag of chips, is also getting a lot of attention. We don’t quite get the appeal, but hey, I guess people just like babies.
And dogs — people definitely like dogs, too. Another ad that’s garnering a lot of attention is the Volkswagen spot about a dog determined to get in shape to chase a 2012 Beetle. The end took a surprise detour, with a salute to the popular Volkswagen Star Wars-themed commercial from last year’s Super Bowl.
A more sinister pooch was the star of Doritos “Man’s Best Friend” ad, where the dog bribes a missing cat’s owner into keeping his mouth shut about the whereabouts of said cat (buried underground) with a bag of Doritos.
February 6, 2012
We know you’ve probably just unpacked from NATPE (and may be readying yourself to pack again for DISCOP Istanbul), but we thought we’d look ahead to the next really big market — MIP-TV, and give readers a sneak peek of what to expect.
The big news at MIP-TV this year is that the market will start on Sunday, April 1 — rather than its usual Monday — and run through Wednesday, April 4.
Supposedly, the move is because of Easter Sunday, which falls exactly one week after the market begins (and is preceded by Holy Week, which coincides with MIP). Plus, that Friday marks the beginning of Passover.
Other big news is that the U.S. studios presence as full exhibitors will continue to be limited to CBS and NBC Universal, due to MIP’s close date proximity to the L.A. Screenings. The fact that MIP dates are getting closer to where the major U.S. studios would prefer them to be (mid- or late-February) is not helping insofar as encouraging more U.S. studios’ full-fledged participation because, this year, the L.A. Screenings will began on May 17, a bit earlier than last year.
In addition to the usual bustling marketplace, this year’s MIP-TV will feature several special events. From March 30-31 — before MIP kicks off — MIPDoc will bring together international buyers, sellers, producers and commissioners of documentary and factual programs.
MipDoc’s online screenings represent the world’s largest international digital library of docs and factual programs, and the event also features a conference and networking program where commissioning editors, producers and industry talent discuss and debate market trends, financing, co-production and other issues of importance to the documentary side of the business.
There’s also the annual MipDoc International Pitch, a pitching competition for creators and producers of documentaries from around the world. It’s now open and crowd-financing is open now online.
Once the market begins, days one and two (Sunday and Monday), will see the Drama CoProXchange, a program for commissioners, producers and deal-brokers involved in international co-production. There will be a closed-door co-production summit, case studies
on successful international co-productions and interviews with major commissioners.
The Fiction Screenings will take place alongside Mip, from April 1-4, and include the exclusive red-carpet event, the World Premiere Television Screenings.
Days two and three of the market (April 2-3) will focus on Branded Entertainment, with case studies and screenings showcasing examples of the best in internationally branded entertainment. As part of the program, Jonathan Mildenhall, vice president Global Advertising Strategy and Content Excellence for The Coca-Cola Company, will deliver a keynote on April 2.
Also part of the branding program, the second “Brand of the Year Award” will once again recognize a global brand for its contribution to the development and production of branded entertainment programming.
On day 1 (April 1), there will also be a focus on kids and animation with the Global Animation Marketplace, where attendees can learn how to leverage co-production partnerships in global animation market. There will also be a spotlight on the best live-action series being produced for kids around the world.
Days 3 and 4 (April 3-4) will offer MIP guests the opportunity to screen the latest 3D programs and meet with major 3D acquisition companies to discuss the latest developments in that side of the business.
Josh Sapan, president and CEO of AMC Networks, will deliver a Media Mastermind keynote on April 2. AMC has debuted hit original series such as Mad Men and The Walking Dead.
As usual, VideoAge will be publishing its Monthly and three dailies, starting on Sunday.
January 31, 2012
NATPE was good ‘till the last drop, or, in our case, busy ‘till the last minute.If in the past NATPE was a one-and-a-half day market, well,
no mas. At this year’s NATPE, which ended yesterday, Wednesday, January 25, TV executives were busy with meetings up until 6:30 PM at the end of a very hectic three-day market (which in effect, started on Sunday, making it, albeit unofficially, a four-day market).
At his end-of-market press conference, an exuberant NATPE CEO Rick Feldman gave journalists a free lunch and answered with confidence even the most aggressive questions without being defensive: there were 5,000 estimated attendees, representing an 11 percent growth from last year.
To the local Miami Beach, Florida, economy NATPE represented what Feldman estimated as close to $10 million.
In terms of future growth, Feldman will have to estimate the breakthrough level before the venue becomes unresponsive (7,000 attendees may be the limit that the Fontainebleau locale could house).
The great weather and the healthy business environment contributed to the success of this year’s NATPE, and will surely bring more European buyers next year (the Latins are already maxed out).
Interestingly enough, at the free-lunch (this is a big event) press conference, Feldman stated that NATPE is more of a marketplace than a conference. “Anyone can organize a conference,” he said, “but not all can create a market.”
And for the first time since he took the reins at NATPE, the press congratulated him on a job well done and a succesful event.
Now on to some of the goings-on straight from the NATPE floor.
First things first, the heavily discussed elevator problem at the Tresor tower wasdefinitely alleviated this year, thanks to the fact that distributor suites were more spread out across the Fontainebleau’s several towers.
Outside of the hotel, attendees enjoyed visiting distributors — like Sony —which chose to rent yachts across the street from the Fontainebleau. The spaces were tidy, modern and offered a nice respite from the busy hotel. To make things easy to navigate, there was even a crossing guard and posters indicating where companies were (like a directory).
And though they can often be a dry, this year, the press conferences held at NATPE were unique. Telemundo held a press conference and luncheon that felt like a TV show, and an incredible party to follow up at night.
Disney had a lively press conference on Sunday to announce that Colombia’s Vista Production will produce the studio’s Spanish-language version of Brothers & Sisters. For a full report, check out the Day 3 Daily at
www.videoagedaily.com.
Another big piece of news that broke at NATPE was Venevision’s agreement to exchange documentaries with China’s
CCTV. CCTV’s Documentary Channel will air a Latin Week and Venevision’s owner, Cisneros Group, will secure a pan-regional channel in Latin America to air CCTV docs.
Starz had a big presence throughout the market, which included a Magic City screening on Sunday night for potential buyers and coffee with many Magic City stars on Monday morning around the Fontainebleau pool.
In terms of territories, we saw a good Turkish presence at NATPE, which bodes well for the upcoming DISCOP Istanbul conference (in which NATPE is a part-owner).
And in addition to all of the business going on at NATPE, there was plenty of opportunity for fun, too, with at least 20 parties going on (that we know of).
Among the stars that could be seen walking around the Fontainebleau were the infamous Charlie Sheen for Debmar-Mercury, Katie Couric, in town to promote her new Disney-ABC talk show and telenovela star Guy Ecker. For a full list of stars, check out the Day 3 Daily.
For full reports on NATPE, check VideoAge’s upcoming Discop Istanbul and MIP-TV editions.
January 26, 2012
With NATPE less than a week away, and everyone hurrying to get things done before they fly out to Miami, Florida, VideoAge decided to touch base with NATPE CEO Rick Feldman to see if there were any late breaking developments. Here’s what he had to say.
VideoAge International: What’s the final count for buyers/sellers?
Rick Feldman: To be honest, in terms of the final count for buyers, we won’t know until the last minute, but I’m going to say we’ll be somewhere between 600 and 750. In terms of distributors, we’ll have around 300 — in suites, on the floor, at meeting tables and at the marina.
We’re trending about the same as last year.
VAI: And there aren’t too many exhibitors in the Tresor Tower like last year [which led to unfortunate elevator delays]?
RF: People will be in all four towers. We took half the companies that were in the Tresor tower and spread them amongst the other towers and the marina, but the largest number of suites are still at the Tresor tower.
The elevator problem will be much alleviated, but you can’t avoid some waits. There are always waits for elevators at NATPE.
VAI: Any other logistical issues you’ve been focusing on?
RF: We’re trying to ensure that only people with badges who paid to register with NATPE get on the floor. We’re doing our best. We can’t keep people out of the lobby, but we do have more security to keep people out of the new Recharge Lounge and out of the bar area.
But part of the responsibility lies on NATPE participants. If sellers are asked by someone who doesn’t have a badge to meet outside NATPE, we would like them to say, “no, you have to register.”
It’s really immoral and disgusting for people to sneak in, and it only ends up stiffing the people who are paying.
It’s better in Miami than it was in Vegas. In Vegas, people were meeting everywhere. But even in Miami it’s still a problem. It’s a hotel and you can’t lock down a hotel.
VAI: How does the party scene seem this year?
RF: It seems to be the same or more than last year. I keep hearing about more parties. On Sunday, we have kick-off party at the Raleigh Hotel that’s sponsored by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. Monday night’s Opening Night Cocktail Party party is going to be at the hotel, sponsored by Reality Weekly, Venevision and Yahoo, Tuesday is the Tartikoff Award ceremony, and Wednesday’s the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce cocktail party at the Eden Roc.
January 17, 2012
Last week’s Watercooler covered the hottest U.S. midseason shows of special interest to VideoAge’s international buyers. Now it’s time to focus on the other big U.S. programs being introduced at NATPE – first-run talk shows, which are of particular interest to our U.S. TV station executive readers.
After some difficult years for the syndication business (and local stations), daytime and afternoon television is being inundated with new shows, headlined by big-name stars, signaling a revival of broadcast business.
Syndication time slots are up for grabs for several reasons — the departure of Oprah in 2011, Regis Philbin’s retirement from daytime TV, and the nearly across-the-board cancellations of soap operas. All of these elements are colliding to bring about one of the strongest years in first-run talk shows in recent memory.
Among the first-runs premiering at NATPE is Jeff Probst, starring the longtime Survivor host. The CBS Television Distribution talker has been sold to more than 80 percent of the country. “We feel the show will be an instant asset for stations,” said John Nogawski, president, CBS Television Distribution. “Stations have stepped up and spent what is necessary for us to produce a quality talk show,” he added.
Also new at NATPE is The Ricki Lake Show, from Twentieth Television. The series marks Lake’s return to daytime after 12 years, but unlike her Jerry Springer-esque former show, this one will be more general interest talk-show with a strong female focus. According to Paul Franklin, EVP & General Sales Manager at Twentieth Television, the reception to Lake’s return has been incredible. “We’re now creeping up on 90 percent clearance,” he said.
Katie Couric, former Today and CBS Evening News host is also headed to daytime with Disney-ABC Domestic TV’s talker Katie. The show has already cleared in 90 percent of the country, and at least 55 of the top 60 markets.
NBC Universal Domestic TV Distribution has sold hour-long talk show Steve Harvey in more than 80 percent of the U.S., including 40 of the top 50 markets. It has clearances with station groups including NBC, Fox, CBS, Hearst and Gannett. Set to premiere in Fall 2012.
Of course there are the returning talkers, too: including Andersoon Cooper’s Anderson, which is being distributed by Warner Bros. and has been renewed for season two and Debmar-Mercury’s The Jeremy Kyle Show, which has been granted it second stateside season (the show was originally British).
Even as programming for 2012-13 is being set into place, options for 2013-14 are developing. Queen Latifah has signed with Sony Pictures TV to host a talk-show that would be executive produced by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.
For updated news on new first-runs, pick up a copy of the VideoAge Daily at NATPE.
January 10, 2012
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