Can Stars Draw Viewers to Fall Premieres?

August 27, 2010

E-Scores for New Fall TV Stars

As the fall TV season kicks off, which new network shows will be able to attract viewers without relying on just plot points of philandering doctors and cops that make their own rules?  Using E-Poll’s new E-Score measure we looked at how some of the stars of this fall’s new shows may draw viewers to their TVs.

The overall E-Score is a new addition to the
E-Score Celebrity database, and can be found at the top of each individual’s scorecard.  The E-Score is a single composite score representing the relative marketability of each celebrity in the database.  This calculation not only utilizes traditional awareness and appeal scores, but also factors in negative measures to better gauge a celebrity’s true value.

Each personality is then ranked on a scale from 1 to 100 based on their score relative to all celebrities measured.  Scores are color-coded to provide at-a-glance interpretation.  Scores above 80 appear in green and represent the most marketable celebs.

Source: E-Score Celebrity, E-Score Measure

Several new network premieres will begin their promotional campaigns with the benefit of high-scoring leads.  NBC’s Outlaw stars Jimmy Smits who earns a high marketability score of 98.  CBS may attract viewers with star William Shatner’s E-Score of 96 for his new show  $#*! My Dad Says.   Keri Russel’s high marketability E-Score of 92 is an attractive feature for FOX’s Running Wilde.  Dana Delany’s E-Score of 91 may push her show’s medical drama Body of Proof on ABC into the light.

E-Score encapsulates consumers’ overall impression of a celebrity.  A new show can capitalize on a star’s existing public profile to intrigue viewers and encourage sampling.  Good story and writing is a key factor for success but first, the audience must be encouraged to tune in.


Answer to this Week’s Trivia Question

August 26, 2010
According to E-Score Brand which of the following video game titles has the highest awareness?

Grand Theft Auto
Halo
Rock Band

This Week’s Trivia Question

August 22, 2010

According to E-Score Brand which of the following video game titles has the highest awareness?

Grand Theft Auto
Halo
Rock Band

Wii Lures Parents to Press Play

August 19, 2010

Wii Lures Parents to Press Play

Last week Nintendo announced that the Wii sold its 30 millionth unit making it the fastest selling gaming system ever.  Premiering in November 2006 the Wii was expected to be playing third banana to PS3 and Xbox 360.  Rather than going after the hardcore gamers Nintendo positioned its system to expand playing beyond traditional console audiences.

Sales demonstrate that the Wii has been a financial success and has reached a broader audience neglected by other consoles.  With the Wii earning the moniker as the everyman’s system we wondered which particular consumers Sony and Microsoft have been playing without?

Baby Boomer’s Console Appeal and Usage

Using E-Score Brand we looked at the three consoles Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 and compared their appeal among different age groups.  The Wii leads the pack with an overall top two appeal of 57% followed by the PS3 with 41% and Xbox 360 with 35%.  Where the Wii really starts to separate itself from the group is among older audiences. Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) scored the Wii more than 15 percentage points higher in appeal than both the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Source: E-Score Brand, Filtered by Baby Boomer (born 1946-1964)

Aside from appeal Baby Boomers are also sneaking in some swings with the Wii-mote.  39% of Baby Boomers have purchased/used the Wii, where PS3 and Xbox 360 scored only 22% and 18% among Baby Boomers respectively.  The Wii’s flatter learning curve and lower time investment is an attractive feature to older gamers that may see other consoles as too advanced.

Source: E-Score Brand, Filtered by Baby Boomer (born 1946-1964)

E-Score Brand offers the ability to look at usage and appeal among specific age groups including Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials.  By understanding where specifically the Wii has increased its user base Nintendo can take the necessary steps to sustain its advantage and market efficiently to prevent alienating existing and new users.

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The Expendables Goes Old School

August 15, 2010

The Expendables Goes Old School

Opening in theaters this weekend, The Expendables is literally a blast from the past saluting the character and personality of the 80’s and 90’s action film genre.  The cast includes action film hall of famers like Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke and Jet Li who cut their teeth reciting one-liners and walking in slow-motion away from explosions.

While the stars of The Expendables have retained their appeal, today’s action stars have a much different profile. As The Expendables blows up the box office, we wondered, has the action star category really changed that much or are today’s actors not kicking in enough teeth?

The Kinder, Gentler Action Hero

Recent E-Score Celebrity reports show that in addition to high current awareness and appeal, Stallone, Willis, Lundgren, Rourke and Li all share an above category average score in Aggressive, reaching 19%.

Source: E-Score Celebrity

Looking at a few of today’s action stars revealed some stark differences in the perception of their attributes.  The action/adventure film actor category average Aggressive score came in at only 7%.  One of Hollywood biggest action stars Will Smith earns an Aggressive score of only 6%.  The occasional international spy and jet fighter pilot Tom Cruise Aggressive score is 11%.  The soon to be shield bashing Captain America Chris Evans’ score is 7% and the Bourne franchise’s star assassin Matt Damon scored a tame 5%.

Source: E-Score Celebrity

Where aggressiveness was a cornerstone of the bygone action star, today’s stars seemingly belong in the Peace Corps.  In the hope of broadening their careers male stars may avoid pigeonholing themselves as only an action star by taking a wide range of roles from rom-com leads to face busting heroes.  While the Stallones of the world could be an artifact of the past, action stars may just be evolving into a kinder and gentler butt-kicker.      

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Old Spice. The Brand Your Brand Could Smell Like

August 12, 2010

Old Spice. The Brand Your Brand Could Smell Like

The social media explosion that stemmed from Old Spice’s commercials has left other brands stinking of envy.  Old Spice claims their YouTube/Twitter social media response campaign was “the fastest-growing and most popular interactive campaign in history.”  The impact of the popular commercials on actual sales of Old Spice has been hotly debated, though Old Spice touts a 27% increase in body wash sales during the past 3 months.

Smells Like Teen Spirit?

Clearly the commercials have had unbelievable exposure and unprecedented social media interaction.  But how has that massive publicity altered Old Spice’s brand image itself?  Previously, younger audiences identified Old Spice as that oddly shaped bottle residing in dad’s medicine cabinet.  In the wake of the commercial’s Web 2.0 success, has Old Spice been able to change its outdated image and appeal to younger demographics?

Source: E-Score Brand, Top Box (“Like a Lot”) Change in Appeal

Old Spice Increases Appeal and Positive Perceptions

Using E-Score Brand we looked at Old Spice’s scores before and after the success of the “Smell Like a Man” commercials.  Old Spice’s top box appeal among 13-17 years olds increased by 15 points,  12 points among 13-24 year olds and 7 points by panelists ages 18-24.  Among ages 13-25 Old Spice increased its Bold score by 7 points, Cool by 16 points and Distinctive by 8 points.  Brand Loyalty also saw a large increase; 13-25 year olds “very likely to purchase again” score jumped 14 points.

Source: E-Score Brand, Filtered by age 13-25 aware of brand

Aside from sales, Old Spice succeeded in creating a stronger brand identity with younger audiences and paved the way for future social media integrated endeavors.  E-Score Brand can identify how a brand’s milestone campaign can sculpt public opinion in a way YouTube view counts cannot.

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Research Shows “The Decision” Damaged LeBron’s Appeal While Making Dwyane Wade More Popular.

August 6, 2010

This summer the NBA was abuzz with speculation regarding where LeBron would decide to take his talent.  In dramatic fashion LeBron choose to announce his destination is a one-hour  show acutely titled “The Decision” where he chose the Miami Heat as his new hoops home with fellow all stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.  The self indulgence shown in “The Decision” drew ire and strong criticism from the public.   E-Poll Market Research found that   public sentiment towards LeBron James and fellow free agent Chris Bosh is down markedly, while attitudes towards Dwyane Wade are more favorable.

E-Poll’s E-Score® survey measured awareness, appeal and perceptions of the Miami Heat trio along numerous personality attributes.  In addition to a plunge in appeal rating from 47 to 29 points, James’ ratings for such attributes as “Confident,” “Exciting,” “Good Energy,” and “Talented” were all down significantly, while negative attributes such as “Cold,” “Insincere” and “Over-Exposed” showed big increases.  See table for additional details.

In contrast to James, Wade’s appeal score rose from 51 to 55 points, and he saw increases in his attribute scores for “Confident,” “Exciting” and “Talented.”  Chris Bosh experienced declines in appeal as well as most of his attribute scores.

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