TV's Protectionism In Reruns Again
from the been-here-before dept
The TV networks face an increasingly difficult balancing act, as they try to embrace new forms of distribution (like iTunes and VOD), while not upsetting the regional affiliates whose monopolies let them pay big bucks for shows in syndication. Current attempts to walk the line involve geofiltering of content (e.g. a baseball game can be sold in all markets other than its home market), though place-shifting technology threatens to erode even this. Other than for local content, it's hard to see what role the regional affiliates will play. Naturally, some hope to use the law to preserve their positions, either by clamping down on how the internet is used, or forcing the place-shifters, like Slingbox, to share their revenue. Either way, they're basically asking for a subsidy to preserve a growingly irrelevent business. Imagine that. That would be like wanting to tax VOIP to keep the telcos in business. Oh wait.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Different Formats, Different Audiences
But real sports fans want to watch high-res programming on big screens in the evening.
The audiences would seem to be different and I'd have thought regional affiliates are mainly interested in the high-res programs, so is there a problem?
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Re: Different Formats, Different Audiences
Many of the top rated shows on the big networks are becoming available online, this takes ad revenue from your local station.
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Television is a joke anyway, I honestly hope it go
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Re: Television is a joke anyway, I honestly hope i
The major broadcasters have nothing intelligent left anymore - specialty cable still holds something worth watching.
I love Family Guy as much as the next guy, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking it's anymore more than irrelevant escapism.
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Re: Re: Television is a joke anyway...
Regardless, Seth is a master at crafting a form of art that really makes us look and laugh at the circus modern media has become, and there are powerful messages (along with the hysteria) embedded in that program.
Besides - a little humor is good for the human soul, and I think Family Guy is the lesser of many of the evils on TV.
-Adam Singer www.agsinger.com
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Re: Re: Television is a joke anyway, I honestly ho
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Internet content much better?
But, stop being so cynical. You forget that its the goal to be entertained that is the reason for movies, television, internet, sports, etc, etc, etc. Not to educate, not to inspire, not to grow, but to be entertained, to fill in the moments of monotony that many people face in their everyday life. To fill in the gaps that education left behind.
Sure, reading a book or learning something is preferable to watching television, but does your brain have to be ON all the times? Can't you simply enjoy a few hours of guilt filled fun requiring only a small amount of thought? Is a Dan Brown novel any more an intelligent choice for reading over watching Survivor (the answer is no if you are wondering).
I know an older couple that used to disdain television. One was a computer science PhD geek that actually has about a dozen patents under his belt related to the telecommunications industry, the other is headmistress of a private school. Both speak multiple languages. Both are book worms and can't have a conversaion that doesn't involve political commentary about Canada and other foreign countries. Both will spend a $100 on a bottle of wine or take an evening out at the opera. Nearing both of their retirements, I laugh and congratulate them that after years of owning a cheap quality TV being fed by over the air signals (in Canada that means about 4 clear channels only) they now own a 42" Sony Bravia, Digital Cable (they are considering getting an HD PVR), and now enjoy such shows regularily as WifeSwapping and That 70's show.
Don't try and portray yourself as being smarter then thou by shunning television. You obviously don't understand its purpose, which makes you smarter then everyone else?
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Quality of televisions vs quality of television pr
Beyond that, it is just opinions of what is entertaining. Claiming "intelligent people simply don't spend their time watching television" then stating you watch animated series (say, cartoons) like the Family Guy, Simpsons and South Park "for the social value", may say something about intelligence but I wouldn't think it would be a winning argument in a debate. I think it simply shows what you think is entertaining. Whether a person watches Masterpiece Theater or watching South Park isn't criteria I would use for choosing a president or a Nobel prize winner, but it's very useful in choosing a buddy to hang out with. It's entertainment.
Topher's example is a good one. There is a big difference between quality television (programming) and quality television (resolution and color), but both can make watching more entertaining. I can't see why anyone would watch Wife Swap, American Idol, or Deal or No Deal, but enough people watch to make TV execs look for more programs like them. I am a race fan (but not really NASCAR) and like a lot of the Speed Channel prgramming, but without 24/7 NASCAR I would not have thought a dedicated channel would have made sense. I play golf, but a Golf Channel?!! There has to be a lot of people, watching a LOT of TV to make this happen.
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