Entries in Media (8)
Internet Founder Predicts End of TV
August 27, 2007 in Media 
Traditional television is struggling to hang on to an audience, as more and more turn to the internet. That’s where the audience can get what they want, when they want it, without filters. There’s plenty of commentary too, not just one view like the mainstream media dispenses…
Over the next four years, it is thought that the number of videos watched over the internet will quadruple, with people moving from short clips to hour-long programmes. Broadband companies claim that the service will cause “traffic jams”, which will cost millions of pounds to sort out and that customers will ultimately end up paying the bill. But Vint Cerf, who helped to build the internet, dismissed the warnings as “scare tactics”, saying that critics had predicted 20 years ago that the net would collapse when people all around the world started to use it en masse.
TV is dying, says Google expert, Telegraph
Is Old Media Really Dead?
June 11, 2007 in Media 
You’ve heard it said that the old media is dead. Today’s consumers of news, information and entertainment have more choices than ever before. Gone are the days when people had to choose between 3 television networks, a few radio stations, and one or two local newspapers.
The majority of busy Americans today don’t even subscribe to a newspaper, rarely listen to terrestrial radio, and have hundreds of television stations to choose from, coming to their homes from a variety of providers (cable, satellite, fiber). Today, a large portion of the public gets their news from the internet, visiting some of the old media’s online presence, but also reading new media sources that are only found online. For old media to survive, they found it necessary to improvise, adapt, & overcome. As more outlets of news, information and entertainment emerge, each outlet’s impact is lessened, requiring them to broaden their reach by feeding the audience what they want through additional outlets. Each company’s cost structure must change carefully, as the audience is unlikely to pay for what is free elsewhere.
Old media companies that fail to provide what the audience desires will loose, both in audience numbers and in their long-term reputations. People may visit an old media company’s website, but if it is difficult to get what they’re looking for, they’ll move on. Old media can’t count on having a captive audience.
Some old media companies have waited too long to adapt. The New York Times went on the air with a cable-news channel just after 9-11… but few people ever saw it because NYT thought people would pay a premium to watch it. During one of the most watched times in television history, the Times-Discovery News Channel lost an enormous opportunity to capture and build viewership. Today, few even know the channel exists. CBS and ABC have failed to launch 24-7 news channels at a time when CNN, NBC and Fox all grew their audiences. Today, ABC’s news channel exists but lacks clearance in most markets and satellite services, clearance the network should have achieved during ‘retransmission consent’ negotiations with carriers. The only movement for CBS has been to discuss a merger with CNN - failing in those talks twice.
Will old media step up and provide the news, information and entertainment the public desires? Or will they continue to shrink staffs, and close offices, fearing the future? Tough choices at the top of old media companies will determine their futures, and that of their workers. Successful decisions rest upon each company’s vision of how best to use their employees’ skills to meet future demand. The audience will be voting on those choices with their remote controls and keyboards.
CNN Hit With NLRB Complaint
April 11, 2007 in Media In 2003, CNN decided to clean house of their engineers, dismissing them all under their existing contract but inviting them to reapply individually. The effect was to keep less than half, hand-picking those they wanted to keep without regard to seniority as it existed under the former contract. It’s now four years later…
The union filed unfair labor practice charges against the network, contending it illegally voided the workers’ union contract. The charges accused the network of improperly dismissing a number of former TVS employees, while rehiring the balance at reduced wages and benefits.
The National Labor Relations Board has now issued a complaint in the dispute that CNN will have to answer in an administrative hearing. The complaint, which was issued April 4 and circulated to the parties this week, states that forced remedies to the situation could include CNN’s rehiring those dismissed and reinstating the union contract.
Those out of work get to keep waiting. A hearing before an administrative judge is expected in September of this year.
CNN hit with NLRB complaint, Hollywood Reporter
NABET-CWA Applauds Labor Board Ruling against CNN for Tearing up Union Contracts in New York, Washington, Broadcast Newsroom
NBC Announces Layoffs
October 19, 2006 in Media 
Announcements of major changes today as NBC informs employees of layoffs and major changes at the network. The network plans to cut 700 jobs, and reorganize how and where they do many shows. We’ve recently heard that union contracts are changing, eliminating financial “penalties” for nearly everything but overtime. When changes like this are made at one network, others tend to follow suit… though some networks have already experienced deep cuts.
Layoffs loom at NBC Uni, Hollywood Reporter
The Joke's On Katie Couric at Viacom
June 16, 2006 in Media An Emmy-seeking ad has appeared for Comedy Central that pokes fun at Katie Couric at CBS. Funny thing is that both Comedy Central and CBS are owned by Viacom. So they’re joking in-house about Katie Couric, and now they’re letting us in on it.
Podsafe Music Network
March 2, 2006 in Media ASCAP, BMI and the RIAA make sure broadcasters pay royalties to songwriters, composers and publishers. They also know what to charge businesses that play music for their customers. But what should they do about podcasting? Podcasts can be downloaded, copied, distributed and played an unlimited number of times without the podcaster’s ability to count all of this. So instead of figuring out a good fee schedule, the organizations have done nothing to allow podcasters to use music under their control. So what are podcasters who want to include legal music to do? An entire industry of private music is emerging. It’s free for podcasters to use, and great publicity for musicians to get known. One source of legal music for podcasters is the Podsafe Music Network:
What is Podsafe music? Podsafe music is described as a work that meets all of the following conditions: Works submitted to the Podsafe Music Network are the property of the artist, and all rights to these works, including lyrics and music, are the property of the artist; AND All works contain no recordings, lyrics, copyrights, or other elements that are the copyright of any other artist, except under the limited provisions of the Creative Commons License Agreement; AND Despite any recording contracts with RIAA, ASCAP, or BMI, or other recording industry entity, the artist retains ownership of the works, and is free to distribute, broadcast, license or sell these works at the artist’s discretion. Only registered podcast producers can download music.
The site allows musicians to submit music, podcasters to download music for use in podcasts, and all others to listen and buy music from the site.
Pearls Before Swine
Day By Day
Cartoons Used With Permission