Posted on 03/15/2015 7:15:25 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
February was another heartbreaker for the $65 billion television ad business.
Commercial ratings the viewing currency that determines what advertisers pay for TV time cratered across broadcast and cable networks, marking the fifth straight month of double-digit declines for the industry.
Its clear the downward spiral in TV ratings continues with no end in sight, media analyst Michael Nathanson wrote in a research note on Friday.
Overall prime-time broadcast network ratings were off 12 percent last month compared to a year ago, while cable networks dropped 11 percent, according to his report.
Nathanson looked at so-called C3 ratings, which come in later than traditional ratings. They measure average commercial viewership in shows up to three days after the original air date via DVR playback.
While a couple of networks that carried the Super Bowl and the Olympics last year clearly suffered because of tougher comparisons, almost every channel was hurting.
Looking at total-day C3 ratings, only three networks boosted their audience: HGTV, Discovery and TBS, while TNT, History and Nickelodeon fell the most.
Typically, TV ad sales executives can increase prices to compensate for a ratings decline, citing scarcity. But Nathanson said seismic changes are pressuring networks to hold the line on pricing.
Although some of the ratings declines can be blamed on changes to Nielsens measuring methods, among other changes, we believe these terrible ratings trends are also indicative of changing viewership habits, he wrote.
The numbers underscore the rapid changes in how TV viewers are consuming content.
Americans are increasingly watching TV shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon streaming and other services. Some 40 percent of households now have subscription video service, Nielsen reported earlier this week.
Yahoo, Amazon and Hulu are among the bidders for the streaming rights to Seinfeld episodes, WSJ.com reported Friday.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
What most people don't realize is that "triple play" or "record 5 programs at one time!!!" means you get to pick ONE and the scammists pick the other 2 or 4... network channels that I NEVER watch!!
D'OH!!!
All the live pro-sodomy deviants will really miss you!
Ha ha ha!
Note that is since the end of football season.
I know what will solve this problem......More Fags!
"Triple play," as used by Verizon means getting your internet, your phone, and your TV from the same source, namely Verizon FiOS.
How many TV channels you (and your relatives and DVRs) can watch at once is a separate question which assumes you even have TV. Quintuple-play is a possibility, providing you have enough DVRs and the motivation to watch the dreck they record.
I don't have TV. Only internet (50 down and up) and phone. Phone is next to go, when I can motivate myself to pick a VoIP provider. Then all my comms will be strictly over the internet channel web, video, voice. And Verizon's investments in content providers will be moot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.