War Coverage Dominates the Networks

With war raging in Iraq, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has been faced with a dilemma. Should the producers postpone the show or should it proceed on schedule? In the best of Hollywood decisions, the producers have decided that the show must go on.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Frank Pierson said, "At a time when American culture and values are under attack all over the world, we think it is more important than ever that we honor those achievements that reflect us and America at our event."

Oscar producers noted, however, that world events could change things. "It's perfectly possible they may actually preempt it if something extraordinary is going on" said Pierson.

The show going on is good and bad news to ABC, the network that broadcasts the Oscars. The ratings for the Oscars are second only to the Super Bowl in terms of total numbers of viewers. ABC has been selling 30-second commercial spots for $1.3 million each. This revenue would be a shot in the arm to the troubled network.

Even if the show is broadcast in its entirety ABC, could still be in for a financial loss. If everyone were watching war coverage, and not the Oscars, ABC would be forced to refund much of the money advertisers paid to buy time on the Oscars. Failing that, the network would be obligated to give "make good" (i.e. free) commercial time to sponsors in order to make up for the lack of ratings on the Oscars. A postponement could mean more viewers would watch the show at a later date.

For up to the minute developments on the broadcast, check out the official Oscar site at http://www.oscar.com/

NCAA ratings no slam-dunk for CBS: War coverage is affecting CBS and its broadcast of the NCAA men's basketball tournament as well. The outbreak of war forced CBS to farm out much of their coverage of the early rounds. Fortunately for NCAA fans, ESPN was able to take up much of the slack.

The NCAA tournament is never a huge ratings bonanza along the lines of the Oscars, but it usually brings lots of young male viewers to CBS and that means advertising dollars. Not this year, however, at least not yet. Ratings for the initial rounds of the NCAA tournament are down considerably.

Ratings for first day games were down 62% over last year. Ratings for games on the second day of the tournament were down 38%. Conversely, ratings for cable news networks CNN and FOX were up a staggering 444% over this same time last year.

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