Don't Adjust Your Set: You See Gray

O'Brien lowers median age of Tonight viewers by 10 years

(NEWSER) - In just one month, Conan O’Brien has lowered the median age of the Tonight Show audience by 10 years, from 55 to 45, the New York Times reports. Conan has radically reshaped the demographics of the program by drawing an unprecedented number of new viewers aged 18 to 34—and losing many older viewers. The shift may change the way NBC sells the show to advertisers. More»

Sponsor spots to appear in 'Nature' and 'Nova' this fall

(NEWSER) - The days of uninterrupted programming at PBS may be numbered. Officials have notified member stations that PBS plans to start placing corporate sponsor spots and promotional messages in breaks during certain programs instead of between them, reports the New York Times , which notes that break-free programming has been one of PBS' most distinctive selling points for decades. The new model—which some fear will cause viewers and supporters to rebel—will be tested starting this fall in the science series Nova and Nature. More»

ESPN prepares to roll out 3D sports channel

(NEWSER) - ESPN has persuaded three advertisers to join it on the post-Avatar 3D bandwagon, but there may not be many more following anytime soon. Pixar, Sony, and Procter & Gamble will air 3D ads on ESPN 3D when the new channel launches tomorrow, in time for the World Cup, reports the Wall Street Journal . Creating the ads isn't cheap, however, and ad execs say it's going to be a struggle to convince the industry to adopt the new technology while the number of 3D TV sets out there remains limited. More»

'Two and a Half Men,' '24' also rake in the bucks

(NEWSER) - TV shows are judged by ratings, but ratings don't always reflect how much cash a show actually brings in. The biggest moneymakers are longstanding hits with broad appeal, Kantar Media found in a survey of TV's most popular programs. The winner, unsurprisingly, is a show that practically defines mass appeal: American Idol, which takes in $8.1 million per 30-minute block, Forbes reports. More»

A look at what demographic advertisers think you're in

(NEWSER) - Advertisers trying to reach customers via a smartphone have a pretty good idea what each smartphone user looks like. Here’s how Advertising Age breaks down the demographics of each phone:

• Blackberry: The typical user is a “salt-and-pepper businessman” who uses the phone primarily for email and messaging. He doesn’t surf the web much, and doesn’t use many apps, save a few utility programs.