2024 Calendar of Events

HOW TO USE MEDIA GROUP ONLINE’S ANNUAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The Annual Calendar of Events is found in the Special Reports and Broadcast Planning Sections of the Media Group Online Website.

This calendar provides a list of holidays and other designated special-event occasions, which can be used to pursue new advertising revenue opportunities.

Within each month’s listing, you will find three classifications of events: monthlong, weeklong and designated days. Some events are international or national in scope while others are more local.

To receive the maximum benefit from the Annual Calendar of Events, we suggest the following:

1. Schedule a staff meeting to discuss those special events that are two to three months in the future. Allow everyone to contribute ideas as to what events might serve as catalysts for revenue-generating station promotions. Determine which advertisers would be the prime prospects for these special promotions. Assign one person to guide these promotions from inception to fruition.
2. Instruct each member of your sales staff to select one event each month he or she thinks is the best opportunity to achieve added sales revenue. Ask for suggestions about how the event should be announced, implemented and assessed for results. Again, assign one salesperson to manage the promotion from beginning to end.
3. Use the calendar to prepare a list of community event opportunities for your station to sponsor. Hosting a local event, such as Student Safety Month (June), not only shows your support for the community but also generates publicity for your station.
4. Look for events that could help your salespeople make connections with local businesses. For example, National Cheeseburger Day (September 18) is an excellent opportunity for restaurants, convenience stores and food trucks to promote special offers for that day.
5. Explore the calendar for events that are related to a theme. National Safe Boating Week is May 18–24. Boat retailers, local marinas and boating-related companies and organizations can share information about boating safety, offer free boat inspections and promote special discounts for boat safety equipment.
6. Share this calendar with your programming department. Various events can serve as sources of potential talk-show subjects. March is Credit Education Month and November is National Adoption Month
7. Programming can also look for opportunities to run a series retrospective or special program marathon by searching for special events related to a specific program. For example, October 2 is the 65^th anniversary of “The Twilight Zone” and September 22 is the 30^th anniversary of “Friends.” Plan events to support these classic programs and others.
8. Assign one person to keep track of the details and the outcome of each event from the Annual Calendar of Events. Create success stories of how you helped various categories of advertisers gain traffic and/or added revenue, and then share these stories with advertisers in other categories, so they can benefit from the sponsorship of a special event.

Download the 14 page PDF Calendar report