Oscars still top draw for advertisers despite fickle ratings

The number of people who watched Sunday's Oscars was down and the critics were less than impressed, but Hollywood's biggest night is still a top draw for television advertisers.

This year's telecast - which producers believed could build off 2014's big audience of 43.7 million - attracted its lowest audience in six years and the oldest demographic ever with a median age of 53.

Despite a 15 percent drop in viewership to 37.3 million, however, it is still worth the price tag for advertisers and broadcaster ABC, analysts said.

"It's definitely a showcase place to be, and they (ABC) never have a problem selling it out year to year," said Steve Kalb, a director at ad agency Mullen.

This year's telecast hosted by actor Neil Patrick Harris commanded $1.9 million for 30 seconds of advertising time, up from last year's $1.76 million, the highest among awards shows.

Last year's Ellen DeGeneres-hosted ceremony reaped $95 million in ad revenue, according to Kantar Media. This year's figure is not yet available.

ABC pays $75 million annually to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for TV broadcast rights, said Brad Adgate, the research director at Horizon Media. The contract with Walt Disney Co's ABC and the Academy runs through 2020.

However, the search for a way to attract the younger viewers that advertisers prize most leads many to believe the Academy might have to make long-term changes to the ceremony.

Criticism this year focused on lack of diversity among acting nominees, clunky jokes and the perennial complaint that it is too long. The show clocked in at three hours and 40 minutes and went past midnight on the East Coast.

It also hurt that it was a lackluster year at the box office, and only one film that Americans went to see in droves, "American Sniper," was in the running for best picture.

"It's up to the Academy to change it," Adgate said. "It's up to them to make this awards show more compelling."

The Academy selects the show's producers and host, and its 6,100 members choose winners on merit. The biggest recent change was expanding the best picture nominees from five to up to 10 for the 2010 ceremony in an effort to boost interest.

"As we do each year, the Academy will meet in the coming months to evaluate not only the telecast but also our awards season in its entirety," an Academy spokesperson said in a statement.

ABC declined comment.

Although the Academy might be taking a long view on how to keep the show relevant in a world where TV viewership is on the decline, advertisers are not likely to complain. They like the Oscars reach, prestige and loyal viewers, particularly among women, said Kalb.

One-fifth of Oscar viewers this year said ads increased their likelihood to purchase a product, three times greater than the Super Bowl's audience, according Extreme Reach, a distributor of video advertising.

"It's sort of the Super Bowl for women," Kalb added.

(Editing by Mary Milliken and Andre Grenon)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Cristine reiterates apology to Ara, asks public to withhold judgment

Cristine Reyes reiterated her apology to Ara Mina on Wednesday after the public apology she issued in a live interview on “The Buzz” on Sunday had failed to appease her elder half-sister.

“Sana magkaayos na kami ni Ate. Medyo matagal na po ang issue at marami nang nadamay. Kaya nagpapakumbaba na po ako para humingi ng tawad sa ate ko,” the actress said in a statement.

Ara filed charges of libel and grave coercion against Cristine in April after receiving a series of offensive text messages from Cristine over a financial dispute involving the sharing of payment for a property they had bought for their mother.

Ara had told media that she filed the case to teach Cristine a lesson and only a sincere public apology from the latter would make her withdraw it.

On Monday, Ara questioned the sincerity of Cristine’s apology on “The Buzz” and said she did not see enough remorse to reconsider her case.

Cristine, whose full name is Ara Marie Cristine Reyes, said she is very sorry that their feud has gotten out of hand.

“Nakakalungkot pong isipin na lumaki ng ganito ang misunderstanding namin ni Ate,” she said. “Nung una pa lang gusto ko nang mapag-usapan namin ang issue para makapag-explain at magkaintindihan.”

Cristine said she has sent several text messages to Ara requesting for a private meeting so she can apologize personally.

Cristine said Ara has not responded to any of them. ”Hindi pa po siguro siya handa na makipag-meet sa akin in private para subukang maayos ang mga bagay-bagay,” she surmised.

Nevertheless, Cristine remains hopeful that the feud will be resolved amicably soon. She also expressed remorse for hurting other members of her family who have been caught in the crossfire, especially their mother.

“Sorry na may ibang mga taong nasaktan at patuloy na nasasaktan dahil sa conflict,” she said.

Cristine is aware of the negative public perception the controversy has brought upon her. She is appealing for understanding and asking people to withhold their judgment until the issue has been resolved.

“Nakakalungkot na may humuhusga na sa akin, lalo na sa pagiging sincere ko. Wala naman po sigurong tao ang ayaw na nagkakasundo ang kanyang mga mahal sa buhay, lalo na ang sariling pamilya,” she said.

source: interaksyon.com

Cyndi Lauper calls on world not to forget Japan

TOKYO - US pop legend Cyndi Lauper on Monday called on the world not to forget Japan's northern region, a day after the first anniversary of the country's quake-tsunami disaster.

"I just want to say to the world, please don't forget about Japan, it's very traumatic," Lauper told the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo.

Lauper, best known for 80's hit songs including "Time after Time" and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", was in Japan for a concert tour and to visit areas affected by last year's natural disasters, which triggered the world's worst nuclear accident in a generation.

The 58-year-old entertainer said a woman in disaster-ravaged northern Japan gave her a piece of candy, promising it was not contaminated by radiation.

"And I'm thinking 'Oh my God' and this is the thing, nobody goes up north at all," Lauper said.

"Those people can't be isolated and cut off... They could have radiation issues but I don't think you can catch radiation by shaking somebody's hands and giving them a hug.

"The only way to get back up again is to include them."

On Sunday, tens of thousands rallied near Japan's crippled Fukushima plant demanding an end to nuclear power, while thousands more around the world protested against atomic power.

Lauper had arrived in Tokyo for an earlier tour when the disasters struck on March 11 and decided to continue performing.

"I talked to my crew... I said I'd like to stay because I felt it would be a good distraction (for people) and if music is truly healing then let's see, put it to the test here," she said.

source: interaksyon.com

50% of Web sales via social, mobile apps by 2015

By 2015, companies will generate 50 percent of Web sales via their social presence and mobile applications, according to research firm Gartner.

Vendors in the e-commerce market will begin to offer new context-aware, mobile-based application capabilities that can be accessed via a browser or installed as an application on a phone, the analyst firm said.

As the number of mobile phones overtakes PCs, customers will use mobile browsers and applications as the main points of interaction, it added.

“E-commerce organizations will need to scale up their operations to handle the increased visitation loads resulting from customers not having to wait until they are in front of a PC to obtain answers to questions or place orders,” said Gene Alvarez, research vice president at Gartner.

“In time, e-commerce vendors will begin to offer context-aware mobile-shopping solutions as part of their overall Web sales offerings.”

“Customers are clamoring for new and easy ways to interact with the organizations they deal with, and no company should think itself immune to this new business dynamic,” Alvarez said.

“As more people use smartphones, they will expect an extension of their customer experience to be supported by this kind of device while demanding that social aspects of the Web be intertwined with this experience.

“At the same time, organizations are looking toward new countries and regions for growth. As a result, it is time to take a fresh look at your organization’s Web sales capabilities to ensure that social software, mobile technology and globalization are part of your organization’s online future.”

Industries such as entertainment, software development/publishing and media are being driven by fast-moving changes in their businesses, such as mobility, and the increasing number of mobile devices available to their buyers.

Others are finding that sales of additional services and products can be added to their customer-service-focused websites. Due to consumerization, sites in all industries are being impacted by customer experience delivered in the retail space, as customers continue to use their online experiences as the benchmark by which to evaluate all others.

Gartner predicts that by 2013, 80 percent of North American and European online sellers will expand into Brazil, Russia, India, Africa, Japan or China.

Organizations based in North America and Western Europe are already launching website-based sales operations in new countries, in the hope of expanding to new markets.

These organizations believe that untapped countries can spur growth by enabling the enticing of potential customers who have never purchased from the organization, but who have a desire for its products.

“The increasing availability of access to the Internet via PCs, laptops and mobile devices is creating new sales channels in countries, because entry barriers are lowering, thereby increasing the number of online shoppers,” said Alvarez.

“By entering these countries via an Internet sales model, organizations can establish a presence in locations without having to create a physical sales location.”

E-commerce managers in Type A (leading) organizations and industries, such as travel, hospitality, retail, consumer electronics, media and entertainment, will begin to take advantage of GPS location services enabled by phones to push personalized, location-based content to mobile devices for users who have subscribed to these services.

This content will be created via the use of customer patterns and their link to driving sales.

These organizations will also have connected (via Web browsers and mobile applications) to many social communities, enabling the organizations to tap into the social networks of customers and leverage the wisdom of the crowd.

Source: http://newsbytes.ph/2011/10/19/firms-to-make-50-of-web-sales-via-social-mobile-apps-by-2015/

ABC announces final season of 'Desperate Housewives'

LOS ANGELES - ABC on Sunday said it is ending "Desperate Housewives" when the current, eighth season wraps up in 2012, sending the popular ladies of Wisteria Lane packing into TV history.

ABC made the announcement to television critics, calling it an "iconic show" for the network.

"Desperate Housewives," which stars Felicity Huffman, Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria among its ensemble cast, tells of the secretive lives and loves of women residing among the not-so-quiet confines of a suburban street, Wisteria Lane.

The show was hugely popular after it first began airing in 2004, winning numerous awards and gaining audiences overseas. But as with all TV shows, its popularity has waned as the show has aged.

Creator Marc Cherry said on Sunday he wanted the show to end on a high rather than limp along on for several more years.

"The only thing harder than creating a hit show is knowing when to end, especially when you have one of most amazing casts in the history of television," Cherry told reporters.

"I am very aware of people overstaying their welcome ... I wanted to got out while the network still saw us as a viable show, while we were still a force to be contended with."

Cherry said he had spoken with most of the cast about the decision, which he says was not entirely unexpected.

"I think you are going to find they are smart enough to just be grateful," he said of the lead actresses' reaction. For his own part, Cherry said, "I have nothing but gratitude."

ABC entertainment president Paul Lee called the program "an iconic show."

"We are desperately proud of it. I wanted to make sure that the show that got this network on the map had a victory lap," Lee said at a gathering of TV critics in Los Angeles.

For this last season, ending in May 2012, ABC promises much intrigue for the main characters including guilty feelings about a murder and problems with disintegrating marriages, love affairs and sexy new neighbors. — Reuters

source: gmanews.tv