Showbiz Sandbox 297: Television Networks Brace For Media Measurement Mayhem
October 5, 2015
In the digital age the viewership of television content has been difficult to track across multiple platforms and devices. The announcement of a game-changing merger between web analytics firm Comscore and the TV and box office data outfit Rentrak suggests a much needed solution for cross-media ratings may soon be available.
The combination of Comscore and Rentrak would finally create a company with the deep pockets and technical expertise to legitimately take on Nielsen, the uncontested reigning king of television ratings for the last several decades. The industry welcomes such competition at a time when advertisers are clamoring for accurate audience measurement across all screens, including mobile devices.
Thanks to the increase in delayed viewing, television ratings have become near impossible to report in a timely manner. Overnight ratings have long been the standard for touting a television program’s success (or failure), but now such numbers can represent less than half a show’s total audience once DVR data is counted. This has made keeping track of who watched what when and on which devices extremely confusing.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including the plans to the former hit series “MacGyver” a makeover, “Ghostbusters” gets animated and some of the unnecessary recipients among this year’s MacArthur Genius Awards.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Martian’ Opens To $44.6M, Will Pass $100M Worldwide
http://deadline.com/2015/10/martian-tops-100-million-55-million-international-box-office-the-walk-1201566927/
‘The Martian’ Opens With Strong $55 Million Weekend
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4110&p=.htm
Vin Diesel Confirms Final ‘Fast & Furious’ Trilogy
https://variety.com/2015/film/news/fast-and-furious-trilogy-vin-diesel-1201603871/
Hasbro Exec Confirms 4 More ‘Transformers’ Sequels
https://variety.com/2015/film/news/transformers-5-sequels-four-more-movies-1201609828/
Taika Waititi in Negotiations to Direct ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ for Marvel
http://www.thewrap.com/taika-waititi-in-negotiations-to-direct-thor-ragnarok-for-marvel-exclusive/
Spider-Man Producer to Present NYC Lab of Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell Musical
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/spider-man-producer-to-present-nyc-lab-of-jim-steinmans-bat-out-of-hell-musical-364819
Sony Pictures Television Producing Russian ‘Roseanne’ Adaptation
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/sony-pictures-television-sells-roseanne-for-russian-adaptation-1201607163/
MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’ Winners for 2015 Are Announced
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/arts/macarthur-genius-grant-winners-for-2015-are-announced.html
‘Westworld’ Actors Warned About Graphic Sex Scenes
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/sag-aftra-westworld-explicit-scenes-1201605884/
Animated ‘Ghostbusters’ Film in the Works at Sony
http://variety.com/2015/film/news/ghostbusters-animated-movie-sony-1201607981/
French Film Company Wild Bunch Launches TV Division
http://variety.com/2015/tv/global/wild-bunch-launches-tv-division-1201603412/
‘MacGyver’ Reboot in the Works at CBS With Director James Wan
http://www.thewrap.com/macgyver-reboot-in-the-works-at-cbs-with-director-james-wan/
Nonesuch President to Step Down After 32 Years
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/nonesuch-president-to-step-down-after-32-years/?_r=0
Facebook Launches New Bid to Steal TV Advertising Dollars
http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/facebook-tv-advertising-total-rating-point-1201603758/
Trevor Noah’s ‘Daily Show’ Premiere Draws 3.5 Million Across Viacom Networks
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/trevor-noah-daily-show-premiere-draws-3-5-million-1201604218/
Trevor Noah’s ‘Daily Show’ Live Ratings Aren’t Thrilling — But That’s Not What Matters
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacksonmchenry/2015/09/30/trevor-noahs-daily-show-live-ratings-arent-thrilling-but-thats-not-what-matters/
ABC’s TGIT Dramas, NBC’s ‘Heroes Reborn’ Gain Big in Delayed Viewing
https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/ratings-tgit-heroes-reborn-gain-in-delayed-viewing-1201604898/
USA’s ‘Graceland’ Canceled After Three Seasons
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/usas-graceland-canceled-three-seasons-821843
Measurement Firm ComScore to Acquire Rentrak
http://www.wsj.com/articles/measurement-firm-comscore-to-acquire-rentrak-1443557042
Media Measurement Madness: Can ComScore-Rentrak Go Toe-To-Toe With Nielsen?
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/media-measurement-comscore-rentrak-nielsen-1201606166/
The latest episode of Showbiza Sandbox? The free podcast about the entertainment industry that’s priceless? Sign me up! Wait, I’m actually on the show. And really, aren’t studios exhausting us in advance with all these announced movie projects? Three more Fast & Furious? Four more Transformers? A dozen Star Wars movies when the first (new) one hasn’t even come out yet? I’m worn out just thinking about it.