Conventional broadcast TV

4.5 out of 5

Fall inventory is scarce, particularly in the high-demand markets of Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Top-rated inventory is tight or sold out, fringe inventory is also spotty. Rates are going up as fall supply diminishes.

Now that long-term negotiations are done, expect a second wave of activity as local heavy-up buys are completed. Heavy spending from entertainment, packaged goods, automotive and financial.

Specialty TV

4 out of 5

Inventory is tight on select properties. Heavy spending from automotive and financial categories for fall with entertainment and government spending carrying over from the summer period.

Digital TV

2 out of 5

Some action expected this fall.

Radio

3.5 out of 5

Availabilities continue to favour the buyer but, approaching fall, look for this to swing once TV inventory tightens up. Teen/young-adult formats are tight for August/early September for back to school. Adult formats have avails but top-tier, major-market stations will also be tighter due to back-to-school retail. Alberta is particularly hot.

Retail, government, automotive and entertainment spending is heavy.

Newspaper

3 out of 5

Things are picking up a bit for newspapers, particularly in Toronto, where entertainment and tourism marketers are making use of their SARS relief money from the government.

Magazine

3.5 out of 5

Magazine activity is growing at a healthy pace compared to 2002 as reported by the ad-tracking firm of Leading National Advertisers Canada (LNA), which provides ROP data. Ad revenue was up 12% in the first half of 2003 compared to this same period last year and 8% over the past 12-month period (June 2002-June 2003).

Growth is driven by home-entertainment hardware (+77%) and office machines/furniture/accessories (+50%). Automotive is up 29%, financial is up 26%, and the liquor category doubled.

The women’s service pubs sector saw steady gains of 10% to 20% in five key categories – cosmetics, home renovation/equipment, hair care, food/beverage and retail. French had minimal increases, with hair care dropping 6%.

The fourth-quarter prognosis remains positive with the rebound of both financial and technology looking strong for the quarter.

Out-of-Home

Inventory is getting tight for fall, much tighter than it has been for the past several months. The free-for-all earlier this year that saw lots of deals and sell-offs is just a memory. There are still some avails, but buyers are scrambling for inventory.