Marketing Forecast from Ad-ology

As the number of households with digital video recorders (DVRs) rises, more consumers are choosing when they want to watch their favorite shows. DVR penetration has reached a record number of home. Only about 5% of households use a standalone DVR such as a TIVO and the rest access the technology through equipment provided by their cable or satellite services. The new technology is allowing consumers more ways to watch TV and to access new kinds of programs.

Pundits have been predicting that the midterm election cycle this fall will boost the coffers of local radio and TV stations. There’s another sector that will witness increased advertising as well – online media. Experts are pointing to the online strategies employed by both President Barrack Obama and new Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown as evidence that a well-planned online media campaign leads to success.

The growing number of cooking channels on TV and shows devoted to chefs and food preparation and competition have opened a new opportunity for marketers looking to promote their products. But who is watching these shows and are these consumers motivated to buy the cookware and cookbooks they see on TV? Harris Interactive recently surveyed consumers on this topic.

Energy drinks surged to star status for many beverage producers over the past several years. Consumers with concerns about the health effects of canned and bottled soda turned to energy drinks. And the decline in bottled water sales was offset in part by consumer excitement about products with names like Red Bull and Monster. Can beverage manufacturers count on the energy drink category to capture to a larger audience and boost sales?

Consumers continue to display great demand for the latest communications devices. But a survey released by IBM indicates that marketers in the telcos industry should not take their good fortunes for granted. A continued economic downturn could force consumers to cut back. Almost 1/3rd of survey participants said a long economic downturn could result in spending reductions of between 10%-20% when it comes to mobile communications.

Consumers may not exactly be crowding into restaurants these days. But some industry operators are looking to expand the breakfast day part in order to boost the bottom line. Scarborough Research recently published a study on this topic that reveals some surprising information about who eats breakfast at quick-serve establishments and which forms of advertising really reach this crowd.