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NBC’s ‘Blacklist’ gets A-list marketing treatment

By WTOP Staff

LYNN ELBER
AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With TV viewers awash in choices, how can a network bolster a freshman hit’s chances of repeating its success in year two? Plot a marketing extravaganza that’s nearly inescapable.

For NBC’s top-rated drama “The Blacklist,” the network has devised a promotion and advertising campaign that will put the show and star James Spader front and center on billboards, faux magazine covers and online before its Sept. 22 return.

Various images of Spader as master criminal Raymond “Red” Reddington will decorate the mock covers on the flip side of 10 magazines, including the August or September issues of Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Wired and the New Yorker. Playboy will feature a “Blacklist” cover ad fronting the issue out Tuesday, NBC said.

Among the eye-catching fakes: the back of the men’s magazine GQ, re-labeled BQ, showing a sharp-dressed Spader with a headline that pays homage to Reddington’s style: “The Blacklist of criminal chic: fedoras, trenchcoats & more.”

The network declined to put a price tag on the campaign, but its pull-out-the-stops approach makes sense. “The Blacklist” was among the reasons NBC finished the 2013-14 season as No. 1 among advertiser-favored young adult viewers for the first time in a decade.

“The size and scope of this campaign speak to both the importance of the series to NBC and the creative ways in which we can get that message out,” said Len Fogge, president of marketing and digital for NBC Entertainment.

Megan Boone, Ryan Eggold, Diego Klattenhoff and Harry Lennix co-star in the drama about Reddington’s mysterious relationship to a novice FBI agent (Boone) that has made him an unlikely partner in stopping the world’s foremost bad guys.

The show already has gotten serious love from the network, which gave it the January 2015 post-Super Bowl slot — a chance to introduce it to TV’s largest audience and garner new fans. That placement comes after “The Blacklist,” which debuts Monday, Sept. 22, moves to a Thursday home in February.

One thing the network can’t boast about: the show’s Emmy Awards cachet. Both “The Blacklist” and Spader, a three-time best-actor Emmy winner (for “Boston Legal,” ”The Practice”) were overlooked for major nominations at the Aug. 25 ceremony as cable dramas once again dominated.

Also part of NBC’s marketing plan:

— Murals of Reddington created by six artists will be displayed in busy areas of major cities and made available to view online.

— One-liners by the darkly droll Reddington will be set to the rock tune “Back in Black” and played from morning to late night on NBC and on sister cable channels that are part of NBCUniversal.

— Los Angeles and New York billboards will feature the magazine cover campaign, with other billboard displays nationally.

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Online:

http://www.nbc.com/the-blacklist

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Lynn Elber is a national television columnist for The Associated Press. She can be reached at lelber@ap.org and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lynnelber.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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