Media Bites-Jan 29 2010

IPad to change the economics of consumer attitudes in the new media age.

There are issues and obstacles right out of the gate even as Steve Jobs is bringing the much anticipated device to market.

1. Content will be subject to ITunes and Apple's pricing.

2. Media companies are searching for direct access to new customers to generate revenue. IPad doesn't do that.

3. Jobs neglected to note that Hulu.com will not be available for download because it doesn't support flash.

4. According to comScore November statistics, 30 billion videos were downloaded for the first time. Many publishers are concerned that their most relevant content will never be seen.

6. Broadcasters have little or no interest in participating or delivering their content on the device. This gives them almost no control over viewing and pricing.

7. Magazine and newspaper companies were the first to hitch their wagons to the IPad-this could truly be the life raft they are searching for. However, user information will not be made available to the publishers for marketing purposes.

8. At $499.00 the value is there for an early adopter or Apple fan-but for the average consumer, that price point is a little steep.

9. Kindle has already had a much longer lead time to market and at $259, the pricing is much more palatable.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Media Bites-January 21 2010

Cable and premium TV continue to deliver more entertaining fare

I was just talking to a friend of mine in broadcast media sales today about 'American Idol' and how it just delivered a 10.4 rating with 18-49 yr old adults. His response : 'I can't believe I'm going to say this, but, is that it?' And right after that I got a feed about the Wednesday edition of 'Idol' and noticed that the new show, 'Human Target' a James Bond savior for the small screen, lost over 50% of the lead -in audience. The conversation then turned to the heavy promoting on Showtime of season 4 of 'The Tudors' and an older HBO movie called Night Shift ( we had also been talking about Conan O'Brien)

So where is all of this going? Ratings are important in broadcast and its that measurement that makes or breaks a show. But I challenge you to name 5 or more watercooler broadcast TV shows for the 2009-2010 season. Come on, give it a try. Do a mobile or text call out to your friends and family. Difficult isn't it?

How about cable or premium TV. And you don't even have to like the shows - these are just random buzzworthy shows:

The Tudors

Hung

True Blood

Nurse Jackie

Dexter

Californication

Weeds

Spartacus: Blood and Sand

Party Down

Crash

Entourage

Jersey Shore

Big Love

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Boardwalk Empire

Dirty Jobs

Damages

Nip/Tuck

The point here is there's a lot of moaning and groaning about no creativity, bad writing and the inability to truly engage an audience in a show long enough to keep it on the air. All the shows I just listed probably cost much less to make than their broadcast brethren, know how to keep an audience engaged and make money for their networks and production companies.

Broadcast isn't dead by any means, it just needs a jump start and a transfusion to give it some new life.

Media Bites-January 14 2010

Conan O'Brien and the NBC late night debacle

Lets start with the public letter written by Conan O'Brien:

People of Earth:

In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I've been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky. That said, I've been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way.

Yours,

Conan

NBC is making a monumental mistake by putting Jay Leno back to 11:30 for several reasons:

1. Although none of us are aware of the contract agreements, Leno retired and left 'The Tonight Show' so that a fresh host and new opportunities could enhance the franchise.

2. Ratings delivery for the 10PM hour for 'Leno' have been lukewarm at best.

3. As Conan states, pushing 'The Tonight Show' back to 12:05AM will also affect the livelihood of Jimmy Fallon and all of the staff and crew on that show.

4. Moving shows on a schedule and changing hosts never,ever works.

5. If 'Leno' didn't really work at 10PM, are viewers really going to follow him BACK to 'The Tonight Show' after we all know that Conan was booted out?

NBC brass needs to think long and hard about fixing what's wrong with the network before they start dumping. Or maybe Comcast will start doing it for them.

Media Bites-Jan 11 2010

Media Bites-January 6 2010

I thought it would be fitting to offer some predictions and observations for the TV and entertainment business since its the start of a new year, mid season shows will launch and the Consumer Electronics Show starts in Las Vegas on Thursday. (and I'm here in the 20 degree weather-where is the justice!) so in no particular order here we go:

1. This will be the last season of 'American Idol'. With salaries getting a bit out of hand, Paula Abdul gone, Ellen DeGeneres as a judge and rumors flying about Simon Cowell's exit, ratings slipping year to year, it might be time to pack it in before they 'jump the shark'.

2. TV Everywhere will be launched despite the rantings of consumer advocacy groups. This product will make the buy once, play anywhere model much more viable. If I'm already paying for premium channels like HBO, Starz, Cinemax and Showtime, why should I be chained to my TV set to watch them? TV Everywhere affords the ability to view from a laptop, smart phone or other mobile device. Who knows, maybe someday there will be kiosks at the doctor's office to enter your code and watch while you wait. Certainly better than reading the same Ladies Home Journal from 2005.

3. Consumers will become much more savvy and diligent about their cable TV delivery. The recent FOX/Time Warner Cable retransmission issue left some customers shaking their heads and asking why is there an issue over $.30 difference per subscriber/per month. One viewer in California said: 'I would have dropped cable had the deal not been reached, gone somewhere else, paid whatever I had to to get what I needed'

FOX wanted $1.oo per, = roughly $5.1 million annually.TWC wanted $.70=$3.6 million annually ( In the Albany media market) Thats a $1.5 million difference in retransmission fees alone. See why FOX was fighting the battle.

4. The joint venture (as NBC is calling it) between NBCU and Comcast will bring the wrath of regulators and most likely advocacy groups who will shout monopoly. Comcast will be forced to sell of some of the NBC network stations in order to appease Washington.

5. Disney is working on a product that they will quickly bring to market that would let consumers buy a film or TV show, pay for it once and make it portable enough to watch anywhere and on whatever device they chose. Bob Chapek, President of distribution for Walt Disney Studios shares his opinion: 'Every device now is internet connected..I see it as plasma that flows from one to another. Any device that is not connected is at risk of being obsolete.'

6. Local TV news properties will continue along the same old path and watch ratings slide. Its not appointment news anymore when it is available on line 24/7. Why not make my favorite story accessible as a podcast or screencast that I can take with me and share??

7. Comedies will continue to have a rebirth. 'Two and a Half Men.',' How I Met Your Mother.' 'The Big Bang Theory', 'Cougar Town', 'Modern Family'. Well written, enjoyable to watch fare will continue to gain audiences.

8. Dare I say the beginning of the end for reality TV? Although, with the addition of 'Jersey Shore', 'Real World, D.C.', 'Tough Love', 'Frank's House', 'Big Family' and now I just read in Hollywood Reporter that Kate Gosselin is in talks for a dating show maybe the wheels aren't going to come off the bus-but we can hope right?? (see above-well scripted comedies will prevail)

9. Companies like Zillion TV and Epix will be able to fully launch and give consumers top tier movies to watch on laptops through HDTV and smart phones.

10. And last but not least, the jury is still out on 'Leno' on NBC. Seems like the show has been preforming in the 2-3 rating for A18-49. No great shakes and NBC declined to renew 'Southland', which would have given them an opportunity to build a strong night, since the peacock net doesn't have anything they can hang their hat on, aside from the aging 'Heroes'

What are your predictions for 2010? Will you watch more or less TV? Are you an 'Idol' fan or could care less? The Media Man would love to hear any and all opinions.