AD-SUPPORTED STREAMING GREW IN FEBRUARY

Streamed viewing increased by ten percent last month, largely thanks to growth in FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) channels like Pluto TV, Tubi, and Roku Channel, and ad-supported paid services such as Paramount+. Pluto’s share increased by 10%, with Tubi and Roku growing by just over 8% each. Paramount+ increased by an astounding 24%–which becomes slightly less astounding when you consider they carried the Super Bowl. Still, growth is growth and time will tell how many of those viewers will remain subscribers. (MediaPost TV News Daily: Mar 19, 2024)

COMSCORE RECEIVES MRC ACCREDITATION…

In an important step toward achieving a standardized cross-media measurement, Comscore is now accredited by The Media Rating Council for both National and Local TV data. This comes amid a flurry of competition, as iSpot.tv and VideoAmp are also vying for the MRC’s blessing. These accreditations help to fill the gap left by Nielsen, whose Local measurement system lost accreditation in 2021 and has not yet won it back. (Next TV, Mar 20, 2024)

…BUT WE’RE NOT THERE YET

Despite Comscore’s MRC approval, competing services may have existing contracts with clients, agencies, and media vendors. If an advertiser would rather work with iSpot, for instance, the network may have to work with that currency instead. Accreditations and approvals notwithstanding, we’re still quite a way off from having one agreed-upon metric. (MediaPost TVWatch, Mar 15, 2024)

PEEP THIS (Get it?): EASTER SPENDING

Consumer spending this Easter is expected to reach its second-highest level since the National Retail Federation began its survey. By March 31, a projected $22.4 billion will be spent on food, clothing, and gifts.  Candy could reach $3.1 billion, with flowers at $1.6 billion. Discount and department stores will see the greatest sales, though local businesses and specialty stores should also benefit. These figures do not include candy and gifts from the Easter Bunny, whose data is typically not reported. (NRF: Mar 14, 2024)

THIS WEEK IN VIDEO HISTORY

March 24, 2005 – The US version of The Office debuts on NBC. Viewers were introduced to the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company during a six-episode first season that was much different from the show that viewers came to love in the eight seasons that followed.

In this incarnation, Michael Scott (Steve Carell) was more acerbic and less sympathetic, now-adored characters like Kevin and Creed were kept in the background, and the overall tone was more cynical and less of the silly satire that the show became starting in season two.