- Nielsen released its 2009-10 universe estimates on Friday. The total number of U.S. television households has increased from 114,456,650 million households to 114,866,380 — the smallest increase in television households in the past ten years. Among the changes: Seattle is now the nation’s #13 market, bumping Tampa Bay to #14. Denver jumped two spots, to the #16 market, while both Miami-Ft. Lauderdale and Cleveland-Akron dropped to #17 and #18, respectively.
- CBS has sold 65% of its ad inventory for next February’s Super Bowl XLIV. By comparison, NBC had already sold 85% of its inventory by the comparable point last year. 30-second ads during the game are selling “in the range of $2.7 million-$2.8 million per spot” — down slightly from last year, but up slightly from two years ago. General Motors, which declined to advertise during Super Bowl XLIII, “is considering advertising during the game.” (via TV By the Numbers)
- Holograms are not just for CNN anymore. ESPN is developing “virtual set technology” that will allow individuals to “appear as holograms on-screen.” ESPN demonstrated the technology at this week’s ESPN Media Workshop, having Bob Ley appear via hologram with Chris Berman and ESPN EVP of technology Chuck Pagano. Ley’s appearance was described as “remarkably realistic, without the significant image blurring seen in hologram technology used by CNN on Election Night last fall.”
On the Air: John Sterling and the bond between baseball radio voices and fans
On the latest "On the Air," Armand Broady examines the bond between baseball radio voices and fans in the...
