Conventional broadcast TV
4.5 out of 5
Calgary fall airtime is long gone. Bookings are now into January through March and avails are already getting tight for many programs during that period. Nothing but crumbs and overpriced points between now and then.
In Ontario, October is selling out and November is already tight.
Specialty TV
4 out of 5
Business is buoyant and avails are tight but there is still room for last-minute activity. Retail and entertainment are hot categories.
Digital TV
2 out of 5
Digital is expecting some growth this fall.
Radio
3.5 out of 5
Calgary inventory is better than last year at this time, in part because of aggressive year-over-year pricing increases. New stations are spreading demand around and making extra inventory available.
Buying is brisk in Ontario with key stations extremely tight in October and November. Things are expected to heat up with Christmas activity soon.
Newspaper
3.5 out of 5
Some improvement in the marketplace but it’s not consistent or across all sectors.
Technology and recruitment are still not out of the doldrums. Automotive and real estate are strong, finance is improving. Retail is still a question mark for the rest of the year. Retailers say they need to see more consistent traffic before making big commitments to advertising.
Many newspapers that had pulled mutual fund special reports last year are starting to reinstate these sections as the stock markets recover.
Changes at some papers include the Hamilton Spectator relaunch this month with a new section entitled ‘Go’ that covers entertainment, lifestyle and fashion. Sports is now a daily tabloid pullout.
Meanwhile in Montreal, La Presse has just rolled out a major redesign that includes new sections, a new graphic look and better print quality.
New elements added to the paper include LP2, a weekly cultural guide published on Thursdays, a 64-page extension of the existing ‘Actuel’ section called Actuel Magazine published on Saturdays, and a new personal business feature called ‘A vos affaires’ on Sundays.
Magazine
3 out of 5
Status quo for September and October with spending pretty much on par with last year.
Out-of-Home
4 out of 5
Tight market in Calgary with not much available until December, and that’s already starting to move.
Zoom Media has expanded its McDonald’s network base beyond Quebec to Ontario, with plans to expand out West in 2004.
In Toronto, New Ad now has the washroom facilities in the Air Canada Centre.
Market Meter ratings are determined by a national survey of both buyers and sellers in each medium.
