The amount of television watched hit an all-time high with Americans spending four hours and 49 minutes a day on average in front of the TV.

Advertisers are aiming to reach the value-minded consumer with creative advertising executions that deliver recession-themed messaging.

The notion that teens are too busy texting and Twittering to be engaged with traditional media is exciting, but false. To develop the best strategy around teens and media, start by challenging popular assumptions about teens.

Advertising spending around the world dropped 7.2 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, according to Nielsen’s Global AdView Pulse.  European countries were hit the hardest, with ad spending down in Spain 28.2 percent, Ireland down 21.2 percent and Italy down 19.1 percent.  The U.S. recorded a decline of 12.7 percent.  Ad spending in Asia Pacific was down just 2.3 percent in the first quarter.  Indonesia actually recorded growth of 19.1 percent due largely to the elections there, while China’s growth slowed to …

In the U.S., high definition TV penetration has climbed steadily in the last year.  In December 2007, 13.5% of U.S. households HD TV sets — by this November that percentage had grown to 23.3%.
Who are these HD TV adopters?  According to a new study released Monday by Nielsen PreView, these HD equipped homes tend to be upscale, college educated, and have younger heads of household.  Sixty percent of HD homes also own DVR machines — compared to 24% of all homes in Nielsen’s National People Meter sample.  Nielsen Preview also …

The penetration of U.S. households completely unready for the transition to digital television dropped from 7.4% in November to 6.8% in December, Nielsen reported Friday.
Non-Hispanic households continue to be more ready for the transition than Hispanic households, but the rate of Hispanic readiness is picking up. After seeing no change in unready Hispanic households from October to November, that percentage dropped from 12.4% to 11.5% in December.

RANK
PROGRAM
NETWORK
# OF OCCURRENCES ON PROGRAM

1
AMERICAN IDOL
FOX
4,636

2
BIGGEST LOSER (NBC)
NBC
4,364

3
DEAL OR NO DEAL
NBC
2,122

4
EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION
ABC
1,776

5
APPRENTICE
NBC
1,646

6
HELLS KITCHEN
FOX
1,596

7
BIG BROTHER 9
CBS
1,514

8
ONE TREE HILL
CW
1,308

9
AMERICAS NEXT TOP MODEL (CW)
CW
1,259

10
LAST COMIC STANDING (NBC)
NBC
1,206

Source: The Nielsen Company (January 1, 2008 – June 30, 2008)

Chart includes data for the following broadcast TV networks: ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, MNT, NBC

RANK
BRAND
CATEGORY
# OF OCCURRENCES ON TELEVISION

1
COCA-COLA SOFT DRINKS
SOFT DRINKS
2,990

2
24 HOUR FITNESS FITNESS CTRS-CLUBS
FITNESS CTRS-CLUBS
1,765

3
CHEF REVIVAL APPAREL
APPAREL
1,308

4
AT&T TELEPH SVCS-WIRELESS TEXT MESSAGING
TELEPH SVCS-WIRELESS
701

5
PUSSYCAT DOLLS LOUNGE NIGHTCLUBS
NIGHTCLUBS
602

6
NIKE SPRT FTWR
SPORTING FOOTWEAR
575

7
FREEMOTION FITNESS EXERCISE EQUIP
EXERCISE EQUIP
409

8
CHICAGO BEARS FTBL TM
FOOTBALL TEAM
383

9
NIKE APPAREL
APPAREL
378

10
PRECOR EXERCISE EQUIP
EXERCISE EQUIP
374

Source: The Nielsen Company (January 1, 2008 – June 30, 2008)

Chart includes data for the following broadcast TV networks: ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, MNT, NBC

The Los Angeles Times reported that advertisers and broadcasters are countering the ad-skipping tendencies of TiVo owners by boosting the number of paid product placements in shows. The story noted that, according to Nielsen, NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” featured the most product placements (3,977) during the first quarter of this year.
In a separate story, ABC News reported that the increasing use of product placement on TV and radio has caught the attention of the Federal Communications Commission. ABC’s story cited Nielsen data showing prime-time product placements on broadcast …