Wednesday’s Social TV Must-Reads
American Idol, fueled by a $36M budget for new judges, returns to television screens tonight, and, of course, to the second screen — as one of the most-buzzed-about shows on TV.
What else is good at the confluence of social media and TV? Check out our daily noon report of must-read news stories. Let us know what you think!
TV Highlights
The season premiere of “American Idol” in New York on Fox at 8, new episode of “Modern Family” at 9 on ABC and a new episode of “Nashville” on CBS at 10. In sports, NC State plays Maryland in a classic ACC matchup on ESPN2.
- Read the article, via LA Times http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-wednesdays-tv-highlights-the-neighbors-on-abc-20130115,0,3935226.story
- Read the article, via NY Times http://seattletimes.com/html/television/2020137111_tvpicks16xml.html?prmid=head_main
TV Ratings
‘Carrie Diaries’ Gives ‘Gossip Girl’ Numbers, CBS Block Hits Highs
The CW freshman opens low, CBS’ Monday lineup returns strongly without competition from “The Voice,” and NBC’s “Deception” drops in week two.
Read the article, via THR http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-carrie-diaries-gives-412646
Notes
- BSkyB names Holler agency to handle social for Now TV
The Leo Burnett-owned agency wins UK account after competitive pitch.
Read the article, via Campaign Live http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/1166971/now-tv-appoints-holler-social-media-account/
- Twitter Launches Oscars Watch
Twitter has launched a new Twitter Index that will measure and rank conversation about the nominated films and actors in the six weeks running up to the Oscars ceremony.
Read Twitter’s blog post http://blog.twitter.com/2013/01/tracking-oscar-buzz.html
- Facebook Rolls Out Graph Search for Pathetic Souls
[SNARK: It’s Pathetic search]Examples of this search were outlined at the press event and it will go something like this: “What TV shows do my friends love?” In other words, the Pathetic Soul is looking for something to watch on TV and will happily go along with groupthink.
Read the article, via http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2414330,00.asp
- Graph Search: Zuckerberg hopes Facebook’s ‘third pillar’ will halt user decline
Nate Elliot, a social-media analyst at Forrester Research, said the graph search announcement was part of Facebook’s ambition to keep users coming back to its site. “Facebook’s worst nightmare is a static social graph,” he said.
Read the article, via Guardian (UK) http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jan/15/facebook-graph-search-google-user-decline
Programming
HSN Relaunches Digital Platforms
HSN re-launched its Web portal and mobile applications, saying it has improved the customer experience by making the retailer’s platforms faster, more efficient and involving social media more extensively. The network said a comprehensive, multi-platform digital redesign has been in development for more than a year.
Read the article, via Multichannel http://www.multichannel.com/content/hsn-relaunches-digital-platforms/141230
Hardware
Samsung To Double 2012 TV Profits On Sales Of 51m Flat-Screen TVs
South Korean daily MK News reports that with just one week until the consumer electronics behemoth officially announces its figures for the fourth quarter of 2012, Samsung is likely to reveal a record-breaking year profits-wise, based on its estimated £33 billion worth of sales over the last three months. A large part of this is thought to be due to Samsung’s enormous television business, which sold more than 53 million units, amassing an operating profit of some 2 trillion Korean won (approximately £1.18 billion) in 2012.
Read the article, via HD TV Test http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/samsung-double-tv-profits-201301162586.htm
Sports
Football recruiting changes on NCAA’s agenda
There also would be no limits on private messages or social media contact between the parties, although public messages to recruits would not be allowed on Facebook and Twitter.
Read the article, via Star-Telegram http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01/15/4550407/football-recruiting-changes-on.html
Texas A&M’s AD has a chat with Johnny Manziel about Heisman responsibility
Last week, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops made a comment on a radio show that [Texas A&M freshman Johnnie] Manziel could win more Heisman Trophies if he stayed out of jail and off Twitter.
Read the article, via Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/texas-m-ad-chat-johnny-manziel-heisman-responsibility-202119698–ncaaf.html
Terry Francona: Sox image-conscious
NEW YORK — The owners of the Boston Red Sox were preoccupied with sagging TV ratings and hired marketing consultants who urged the team to place a greater emphasis on “good-looking stars” and “sex symbols,” according to an excerpt from a book co-authored by former Red Sox manager Terry Francona.
Read the article, via ESPN http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/8846898/terry-francona-book-describes-boston-red-sox-owners-image-conscious
Latin Market
Latino Football Star Keeps Promise He Made in Afghanistan
“It was pretty crazy. A great feeling not having played football in over six years and in your first game back you’re playing Auburn in the Georgia Dome,” Daniel Rodriguez said. “It was a pretty wild environment.” Rodriguez, who had been awarded a Bronze Medal for Valor and a Purple Heart, was honored at the BCS championship with a Discover Orange Bowl Courage Award.
Read the article, via Fox Latino http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2013/01/16/latino-football-star-keeps-promise-made-in-afghanistan/
