Viral Watch: Team Conan or Team Leno? Either Way, NBC is Dying Nick Butler, January 12, 2010 NBC has tried to embrace viral marketing by launching multiple campaigns for shows like The Office, Community, and even Late Night, but it seems that NBC is now shooting themselves in the foot. I’ll admit their not “launching” a campaign this time, but their recent handling of the Jay Leno-Conan O’Brien problem has caused quite the stir on social networks, like Twitter, creating a negative campaign against the already dying NBC.Tens-of-thousands of people are tweeting “Team Conan” in support of the late night comedian who recently announced he’d leave NBC if “The Tonight Show” is pushed to a 12:05 time slot, allowing “The Jay Leno Show” a half-hour time slot starting at 11:35. “I sincerely believe that delaying the “Tonight Show” into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting,” said O’Brien. “The “Tonight Show” at 12:05 simply isn’t the “Tonight Show.”While the internet-savvy “youth” may support Conan, Leno is the safe choice for NBC. Jay Leno has already proven himself in the 11:35 slot, something Conan never had the time to do. FOX has shown interest in late night comedy shows, but has yet to go after Conan – at least officially. NBC has yet to respond to Conan’s statement, so it will be interesting to see how they deal with all of this late night chaos.This debacle has shown the negative impact of ‘viral consumers,’ who also outed Sacha Baron Cohen docu-comedy – Bruno. Social networks are a very powerful thing, and are not yet completely understood by companies – like NBC. In any case, NBC is trying to deal with this in the most formidable fashion possible, but recent history has shown that social media can be a deal breaker or a life saver (sometimes, literally). I wish NBC luck, because I have no idea how they’re going to get out of this one.What do you think – Should NBC take Leno over Conan . . . or Conan over Leno? How do you see social media impacting the future of “private business?” Leave a comment below. Viral Marketing Late NightNBCViral Watch
Due Date Dash Campaign February 22, 2011March 2, 2011Today is the home release date of Warner Bros.’ road trip comedy Due Date, and we’ve partnered with them to bring you the Due Date Dash Campaign that could win you a digital copy of the film along with Due Date swag. All you have to do if figure out… Read More
Elaborate Bansky Oscar Campaign or Mr. Brainwash Street Art? February 1, 2011February 27, 2011Exit Through the Gift Shop was not only a hit at last year’s Sundance, it has already achieved a cult status within the film community. Not only that, but the film that documented street artists like Bansky and Mr. Brainwash has earned itself an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary. In… Read More
Apollo 18: Internal NASA Memos Hint at Problems On Lunar Surface August 29, 2011Dimension Films’ Apollo 18 is a found footage sci-fi thriller about a secret mission to the moon back in December of 1974 that went horribly wrong. For the viral campaign, the film’s official website has a subpage that updates periodically with several documents from before, after, and during the mission…. Read More
This is all secretly a plot to get FOX’s ratings to go down. I’m guessing they aren’t exactly going to go running to Conan.
As much as I dislike Conan, I dislike Leno more. He has no class. I hope this whole thing backfires in his face and Conan walks out victorious.