Arbitron's PPM
gets a wireless makeover
Other shorts: New Yorker sells all ad pages to Canada
By Louisa Ada Seltzer
Jun 22, 2010
Arbitron's PPM gets a wireless makeover
Arbitron’s Portable People Meter is a huge advance over the diary system for tracking radio listenership, in no small part because it is portable, thus able to pick up radio listenership in bars, offices and other venues outside the home. Now the PPM is about to get even more portable. Arbitron is testing a new model, the 360, that is truly wireless, capable of sending data back to Arbitron as if it were a cell phone. The current model requires that the user dock the device in a special transmitter at night that then sends the data back to Arbitron via landline. The new PPM will also enable Arbitron to send users messages, which will appear on a screen. The new device is smaller and sleeker, but perhaps a bigger advantage for Arbitron is that it will be simpler to send out an install, without the docking station. Once testing is complete, which should be in several months, Arbitron will start distributing the new 360 to panelists.
New Yorker sells all ad pages to Canadians
For its latest issue, The New Yorker is changing its tune from "New York, New York" to "O, Canada." Every single ad in the issue that came out yesterday was purchased by a Canadian enterprise, be it business-, tourism-, government- or education-related. It's believed to be the first time in the magazine's 85-year history that every advertiser has shared one trait, though you won't find mention of the phenomenon in the magazine itself. The 20 pages of buys are tied to this weekend's G-8 and G-20 meetings being held in Ontario. One features a picture of the Canadian men's hockey team, which beat the U.S. in the gold medal round of the Olympics a few months ago, above the caption "We’re world champions now … Not just in hockey." According to Toronto's Globe & Mail, about 26,000 of the New Yorker's 1 million subscribers are Canadian.
Coming at you next month, NASCAR in 3D
NASCAR auto racing is the latest sport to make the move to 3D. The July 3 Coke Zero 400 will be the first NASCAR race to air in 3D, with TNT's three-dimensional feeds available through NASCAR.com and DirecTV. As with all 3D broadcasts, viewers need a 3D-enabled TV or computer along with 3D glasses to enjoy the full effect; those without the equipment will be able to view the race in standard format on TNT. Movie theaters have embraced 3D technology in recent years, and TV manufacturers followed suit this year by introducing sets that allow 3D viewing at home. Sporting events have been relatively quick onto the bandwagon as well, with ESPN launching a 3D network earlier this month and airing World Cup matches. Later this year the network will air 3D versions of the Summer X Games, Major League Baseball’s home run derby, college basketball’s Old Spice Classic and Jimmy V Classic, and the ACC football championship. Next year it plans to air the BCS National Championship game and the Big East college basketball tournament in 3D.
Programming notes: HBO eyes more 'Blood'
The vampire craze will continue for a while, at least on HBO. Just two weeks into its third season, the vampire drama “True Blood” has received a fourth-season order, with HBO ordering 12 episodes of the Sunday 9 p.m. series. The season three premiere averaged 5.1 million total viewers last week, up 38 percent from the season two premiere. Meanwhile, in other programming, MTV will premiere the third season of the game show “Silent Library” on June 28, with the first of 20 new episodes airing at 5 p.m. On July 11 at 11 p.m. Comedy Central will roll out “Russell Simmons Presents Stand-Up a the El Rey,” a comedy show that features up-and-coming comedians. Logo will premiere “RuPaul’s Drag U” on July 19 at 9 p.m., in which the famous drag queen will coach three women each week, culminating with a musical performance in front of their families and friends. TV actresses Dawn Wells, Charlene Tilton and Erin Murphy will all appear on the season finale. Planet Green is set to launch the second season of “Reel Impact” on Aug. 28 at 10 p.m., with the film series highlighting a different documentary each week. And on broadcast, ABC has taken its low-rated drama “Happy Town” out of the Wednesday 10 p.m. timeslot, swapping in a Jimmy Kimmel “Twilight” special tomorrow and a “Castle” rerun next week in the time period. The network will burn off the final two episodes on Saturday nights in July.
Now you can be 15 and sing on 'Idol'
Most people expect Fox will introduce its new "American Idol" judge during next month's Television Critics Association summer press tour. But in the meantime, the network is, as promised, making some tweaks to "Idol" following a season in which ratings fell to their second-lowest level ever. Producers of the show have lowered the minimum age requirement for contestants from 16 to 15, the lowest in the show's history, for the auditions that kick off next month in Nashville. A few years ago, producers increased the maximum age of contestants from 24 to 28, bringing new maturity to the singing show. While this latest change could draw new viewers to the show who want to see the potential highs and lows of young teens competing, the much bigger factor in the 10th season's success will be who replaces Cowell. Dozens of names have been bandied about, but there doesn't seem to be a clear frontrunner. With Cowell's exit to concentrate on launching "The X Factor" on Fox next year, Randy Jackson will be "Idol's" only remaining original judge.
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