The Pulse on Programming: October 2023 Preview

Welcome back to our monthly programming spotlight! We know that, as a local business owner, it’s imperative for you to reach your target audience now more than ever.

That is why we have put together a monthly preview highlighting three cable programs that represent exciting advertising opportunities for local businesses. We’ve rounded up information on show premiere dates, audience demographics and data, and other relevant information to inform your media buys and your overall cable TV advertising strategy.

Even with an ongoing writer’s strike in Hollywood, cable TV still offers a wide range of new television programming to target in your TV advertising campaigns. Seasonal televised events and returning scripted series each offer powerful advertising opportunities for your local business, while live sports, unscripted shows and local television programming offer stability when planning your fall media buys.

Remember: even if inventory for these specific shows are “sold out”, we offer a wide range of additional TV programming that can be used to reach your intended audience. Connect with Cox Media’s experts to learn more about the following television advertising opportunities, as well as additional programming that can help you connect with local consumers.

Here are three big television programming opportunities for October:

1. 31 Nights of Halloween – Annual Stunt

Spooky season is back for a full month of scares on Freeform. The cable network’s “31 Nights of Halloween” was a massive hit last year, vaulting Freeform to the No. 1 ranking among all primetime cable networks for multiple audience demographics, including Adults 18-34.

This year’s lineup of scary movies is packed with Halloween classics known to draw a big audience, including Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, Cruella, The Addams Family, Monsters, Inc., and the Freeform premiere of Encanto. The 25th anniversary of this annual stunt is also garnering extra media attention, which could boost audience engagement for what is already expected to be one of the most-watched televised events of the October programming slate..

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2. Chucky – Returning Series

The notorious killer doll from the iconic “Chucky” film franchise is back for its third season starring on the small screen. This SYFY/USA original show follows the escapades of Stephen King’s “Chucky” doll as it encounters allies and enemies, as well as new victims of his acts of terror and mayhem.

Returning on October 4 at 9/8c, “Chucky” will air new episodes on SYFY/USA before making episodes available for streaming on Peacock the following day. Between linear cable advertising and streaming media buys, advertisers have flexible options for targeting TV ads to a relevant, local audience.

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3. Fear the Walking Dead – Returning Series

The “Walking Dead” franchise continues to be a reliable advertising channel, and the eighth and final season of the spinoff show “Fear the Walking Dead” is a hot commodity among advertisers targeting media buys around original scripted programming. The show follows stars Morgan and Madison as they live under PADRE’s cynical and oppressive rule and decide to embark on a mission to reunite themselves with Morgan’s daughter, Mo.

After airing the first six episodes of the final season earlier this year, AMC will begin airing the final six episodes of the show on October 22 at 9/8c. With fewer scripted shows available on cable this fall, there’s hope that “Fear the Walking Dead” can meet or surpass its ratings from season seven, when the show averaged a 0.15 rating in the 18-49 demographic. New episodes will also be made available via streaming.

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Ready to plan new media buys that capitalize on what linear programming and streaming ads have to offer? Contact Cox Media to get started today.

Click here to learn more about our cable advertising opportunities