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sales@spotsndots.com Copyright 2017.The Daily News of TV Sales Monday, September 25, 2017

HEAVY DEBT DOES IN ‘TOYS R US’NEVER PAID BACK WHAT IT OWED In its seventieth year of operation, an icon of American retailing once seen as a “category killer” was forced into bankruptcy. As with many large retail chains that have run into life-threatening financial conditions in the past few years, a private equity buyout in its past may have been structured in a manner that made success impossible. In Toys ‘R’ Us’s case, competition from the growing big box stores such as Walmart and Target started to erode its market share in the late ‘90s and first half of the 2000 decade. Its spin-off Babies ‘R’ Us banner also faced growing competition from chains like Bed Bath & Beyond’s Buy Buy Baby and Amazon after its acquisition of Diapers.com. Meanwhile, Walmart passed TRU to become the leading seller of toys in 1998. Publicly-owned, its stock had declined almost by half from its high-water mark in the early 90’s. In 2005, a time when “club deals” involving multiple partners were in vogue, three partners, Vornado Realty Trust, (whose origins trace back to the Two Guys discount chain), Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and Bain Capital (which has bought and sold dozens of companies) bought up the stock and took the chain private. But like most deals that were made at that time, the buyout was heavily funded by debt placed on the purchased company—in TRU’s case, more than $5 billion. The Wall Street Journal reports TRU has never been able to pay back that debt, having shelled out almost $6 billion since being taken private including about $910 million due in 2016 and 2017. In the first quarter after the deal closed twelve years ago, TRU’s net debt was 7.2 times its EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). At the end of this year’s first quarter, the leverage ratio was actually 7.8 timeS EBITDA. “The $400 million a year in debt service was really constrictive as they were trying to compete,” a finance professor at Georgetown commented. In the court papers filed last week, the company admitted it had been hampered by its “significant leverage” and added “the company has fallen behind some of its primary competitors on various fronts, including with regard to general upkeep and the condition of our stores, our inability to provide expedited shipping options, and our lack of a subscription-based delivery service.” The chain apparently knows what’s been wrong, but has never had the money to fix its problems.

ADVERTISER NEWS A merger of T-Mobile and Sprint may be developing more quickly than had been expected—Reuters says the two companies are close to agreeing to deal terms and if a deal is to be made it should be finalized by next month……CarMax comp store used unit sales grew by 5.3% in the quarter that ended on 8/31 and its total used unit sales were up 11.1%. The numbers were just minimally affected by Hurricane Harvey with six Houston market stores closed for part of the last week of the quarter. The average selling price during the quarter was $19,667, just 0.7% ahead

of the $19,530 average recorded last year. The company added three new stores during the quarter……Volvo will enter the premium compact crossover segment with the XC40, designed to compete with similar vehicles from Lexus, BMW, and Audi. Automotive

News reports the vehicle will also be the launching pad for subscription service Care by Volvo which covers costs such as maintenance, insurance, tire changes and more. Volvo will start taking orders for the crossover this month, with shipments to dealers to start in next year’s first quarter……Mitsubishi, which is now under the control of Nissan after the Renault-Nissan Alliance bought a 34% stake in the company, will increase its spending on marketing and has hired Butler Shine Stern & Partners as its new agency. Mitsubishi is actually up 5.4% in sales so far this year and has introductions coming up for a new Eclipse compact crossover and a plug-in hybrid version of the Outlander……The athletic footwear retail segment has been tough recently, and The Finish Line ended its second fiscal quarter with a net sales drop of 3.3% and same-store sales down 4.5%. Surprisingly, perhaps, was a 5.6% increase in same-store sales at Finish Line’s in-store shops located in Macy’s stores—a result Macy’s itself undoubtedly wishes it could produce with its own departments……Rue21 has completed its financial restructuring and has emerged from bankruptcy after closing hundreds of stores…

PAGE 2 The Daily News of TV Sales @ www.spotsndots.com

NETWORK NEWS CBS is developing a drama series based on real-life attorney Carrie Goldberg, according to an exclusive report in Variety. The project revolves around a young lawyer in Brooklyn who opens her own firm to fight on the front lines defending victims of crimes in the age of the internet where the law is trying to catch up with technology. The untitled drama will be written and executive produced by Jennifer Cecil, showrunner for Private Practice. Goldberg will also executive produce along with Michelle Sy, Sophia Chang, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steven Tisch……Two new projects are in development at The CW from executive producer Greg Berlanti (Riverdale, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl). The first project is titled Hold Fast and is described as an epic love story told in two timelines following an injured Union soldier in the Reconstruction-era South who awakens reincarnated in present-day Charleston. The second untitled project is inspired by the life of NFL football player Spencer Paysinger. The untitled project will follow a rising high school football player from South Central L.A. who is recruited to play for Beverly Hills High……Fox has placed a script order for a drama series based on the book Our Kind of People: Inside America’s Black Upper Class by Lawrence Otis Graham. In the non-fiction book, Graham interviewed members of some of America’s most prominent black families. The TV project is described as a multi-generational family drama that chronicles a Chicago dynasty of an upper-class black family with a dark secret threatening to rip it apart. Wendy Calhoun will write the script and executive produce along with Ben Silverman and Montrel McKay……NBC has bought two high-profile new projects from Mike Schur, executive producer, and creator of The Good Place. One is an untitled musical Schur is producing along with Josh Siegal, Dylan Morgan, and Hamilton producer Jeffery Seller. The other is an untitled comedy that centers around a woman that runs an unlicensed bar out of her backyard. Josh Malmuth (Superstore) is working with Schur on that project……Fox has given a pilot commitment to a single-camera project from Danny Zucker (Modern Family), Trevor Engelson (Snowfall), Jake Kasdan (New Girl) and Dan Farah (The Shannara Chronicles). The untitled project revolves around the divorce and sharing custody with the British Royal Family. The comedy is fictional but it’s fair to say that the show was inspired by the real-life romance of actress Meghan Markle and Britain’s Prince Harry. KANTAR PREDICTS POLITICAL WINDFALL IN ‘18 Kantar Media predicts $2.4 billion will be invested in political ad dollars next year, a 14% increase over the $2.1 billion spent on the 2014 midterm elections. The forecast calls for TV to get the biggest share - 62% of the ad dollars. Cable should get around $850 million, a 41% gain over 2014 and a 22% share of the total spend. Kantar predicts digital will take a 16% share, or $600 million. Just last Friday, Kagan estimated $2.58 billion will be spent on political ads next year.

AVAILS Digital Sales Manager: KSAT and KSAT.com, the ABC affiliate and media website in San Antonio seeks an integrated media solutions leader. The ideal candidate must have the ability to excel in a collaborative environment with a driven team of managers working toward a common goal. If you are a proven sales leader ready for your next step, prepare your best pitch and submit your resume showcasing your skills and qualifications to Ashley Parker, General Sales Manager: aparker@ksat.com. No phone calls please. EOE.

The FOX affiliate in Kansas City, WDAF Fox4, seeks an experienced and highly motivated Multi-platform Account Executive to grow our core broadcast business, interactive platforms and digital TV. The AE must develop new business across all platforms. The AE will negotiate rates, prepare and present avails and sales packages to agencies and direct advertisers. Use of Wide Orbit, Excel, Microsoft Word, Power Point and other

technology is a plus. Media sales experience and college degree preferred. CLICK HERE to apply (job # 2017-46257). EOE M/F/D/V Are you interested in working in the “It City” of Nashville, TN? WKRN, Nashville’s fastest growing television station and #1 News website, is actively searching for an account executive to implement marketing strategies, develop new business and grow market share on existing accounts. WKRN is home of the CMA Awards on ABC, the Tennessee Titans Pre-Season, as well as the Nashville Christmas Parade, the local 4th of July and New Year’s Eve celebrations. CLICK HERE for more info or to apply now. EOE. If you’re thinking of getting into an exciting and lucrative industry, then we may have the opportunity for you. THE KUBE / TV 57 – Houston’s fastest growing television station is looking for Sales Associate. We want positive, self- motivated, passionate person that want to join a highly motivated sales team and enjoy being part of a growing company. Prior media experience in TV, radio or cable is not required. Send resume, references and cover letter explaining why you are the right candidate to jobs@kube57.com. EOE. FOX35 O&O WOFL / WRBW Orlando and WOGX Gainesville are looking for results-driven Account Executives to join our all-star team! If you have a proven track record in growing revenue, managing an established account list and have experience in closing custom multi-media packages, we want to hear from you! Experience with new business development preferred. If you thrive in a team environment, are detail-oriented, ambitious, and motivated by the win CLICK HERE to apply. EOE/M/F/Veteran/Disabled.

CLICK HERE to place a job in Spots n Dots! 9/25/2017

Seth Meyers

Eighty years ago today, J. R. R. Tolkien’s book

“The Hobbit” was released. To give you an idea what 80 years feels like, watch

the movie.

The Daily News of TV Sales @ www.spotsndots.com PAGE 3

ICSC HOLIDAY FORECAST The yearly holiday season spending forecast from the International Council of Shopping Centers says the average consumer will spend $728.40 on gifts and other items this year with an overall gain of 3.8% in sales for the season. Of course this organization wants to emphasize the importance of physical stores and it says “Our…findings demonstrate…that physical retail remains a cornerstone of the holiday season” and “the more agile retailers are in meeting consumers’ demands for the seamless convergence of physical and digital shopping, the more success they will see.” It adds that 40% of shoppers will take advantage of buying online and picking up in a store with 81% of those people making additional purchases while in the store. ECONOMIC NEWS - The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Indicators increased again in August, a 0.4 point increase to 128.8 following a 0.3 point gain in July and a 0.6 point increase in June. Among the components included in the index are average weekly hours for manufacturing, weekly initial unemployment claims, manufacturers’ new orders and building permits for new private housing. “The August gain is consistent with continuing growth in the U.S. economy for the second half of the year, which may even see a moderate pick up,” the Director of Business Cycles for the Board said, adding that despite the hurricanes, “the underlying trends suggest the current solid pace of growth should continue...” - Analysis from First Data shows the impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma on spending in the affected regions—as you’d expect, the toll was massive. In the week Harvey hit Houston, retail spending in that area fell by 58.7% versus the prior week and 43.7% on a year-to-year basis, while a week later in Florida, total retail spending fell by 55.7% versus the prior week and 39.1% versus the same week last year. Online spending was similarly impacted, down 41.4% in Houston and 39.3% in Miami while those markets were being struck. A First Data analyst commented, “Our data shows that consumer spending in both impacted regions followed a similar trajectory. Spending increased the week before the hurricanes with people stocking up on key items like gasoline and groceries, and dropped significantly during the storm. After the worst of the hurricanes, consumer spending rebounded as people began to rebuild.”

ADVERTISER NEWS...(Continued from Page One) ……After starting Taco Bell Cantina in just Chicago and San Francisco two years ago, the chain now expects to have 300-350 Cantina locations serving wine, sangria, beer and alcoholic smoothies operating in the next five years. Major urban markets are being targeted—New York alone could get at least 50 units……Speaking of alcohol, Nation’s Restaurant News reports TGI Fridays will begin delivery of food and alcohol in the next couple of months and is even considering sending bartenders to customers’ homes. The test will begin in the Dallas and Houston markets with a systemwide rollout planned for next year.

AVAILS WUSA-TV, the TEGNA owned, CBS affiliate in Washington, DC, is seeking an experienced Transactional Account Executive to join our sales team. The successful candidate will be a dynamic seller, who will manage a high-volume account list. You will be responsible for growing revenue and share by effectively negotiating, packaging and recommending solutions that utilize our broadcast and digital assets. Must be detail-oriented and able to multitask in a fast-paced

environment. A minimum of 5 years of broadcast television sales experience. CLICK HERE for info or to apply. EOE. WGMB FOX 44, WVLA NBC Local 33, WBRL CW21, KZUP Z19, and brproud.com - The TV and digital platform operated by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. in Baton Rouge, LA is searching for a self-motivated, success driven, aggressive, and experienced Sales SUPERSTAR to join the current sales management team as Local

Sales Manager. The LSM is responsible for leading the day to day operations of the sales department, including development of new business and achievement of revenue goals. CLICK HERE for more info or to apply now. Equal Opportunity Employer.

DEBT DOES IN “TOYS” (Continued from Page One) Now that the bankruptcy filing has assured TRU shipments from vendors for the holiday season (it secured bankruptcy funding that places vendors at the head of the line for payments), the company will embark on Project Sunrise, with plans to integrate online and in-store shopping experiences, add faster shipping and better technology and customer service. Bankruptcy gives retailers several months to decide whether to keep or reject leases and CEO Dave Brandon said the older suburban big box stores that are kept will be overhauled with the goal to give kids a chance to try out toys inside the stores. He said “We know we need to do it (change the stores). We haven’t had the capital to do it.” TRU could eventually emerge from bankruptcy by returning to be a publicly-traded company or by a reorganization in which creditors convert their debt to ownership stakes in the company. Brandon did not rule out a possible sale, saying the creditors have not yet made a decision.kets with a systemwide rollout planned for next year.

9/25/2017

FunnyTweeter.com

If Sherlock Holmes is such a great detective why does it

take him 90 minutes to solve a crime when CSI detectives

do it in an hour minus commercials??

SATURDAY NIELSEN RATINGS - LIVE + SAME DAY

Time Net Program A 18-49 T/SHR Viewers

8:00 ABC Iowa-Penn St College Football 1.3/6 4.68MFOX Notre Dame-Michigan 1.0/5 3.51MNBC Dateline NBC 0.5/2 3.3MCBS NCIS: New Orleans 0.4/2 2.81M

9:00 CBS Criminal Minds 0.4/2 2.43M10:00 CBS 48 Hours 0.5/2 3.66M10:00 NBC SNL Vintage 0.4/2 2.29M