And the Future of Broadcasting is.........

The Internet?

According to many who would know who are attending the National Association of Broadcasting Convention here in Las Vegas. I mean my goodness, who says a nail tech can't be in the thick of things, riiiiiiiiight?

Yes yes yes It seems it is much more affordable for showrunners to PAY for ad spots on the internet than on Television, apparently "quality programming" is becoming so out of reach for the networks, they are using a better alternative. To run an ad on Network TV is three times Higher than it costs to run an ad spot on their website....let me say this again, three times the amount and the costs keep increasing annually.

Broadcasting cannot afford it.

I was fortunate to speak to an executive from Harris Corp and I will have that interview in the next blog. Spoke with many other Technology companies who preferred to stay anonymous but for the most part, gave me this the writing is on the wall,..and I quote this,

"We're entering a new age of Broadcasting because its the only way to prevent the networks from collapsing."

Okay let me explain here on what this means to you who is reading this blog:

1) Networks have a priority....to keep Media going on the airwaves. To pay for those ad spots, is becoming increasingly difficult....and its making media the number one focus even though 90% of viewership is Entertainment. Journalism has been tainted over the past eight years because of these ad spots that used to follow the news programming. Many have gone bankrupt because of the bail out. Their companies would pay for ad spots for the news. Media has a tainted reputation because the very same ads perhaps was influencing their opinions on how to conduct their programming? remember Edward R Murrow refusing to negotiate with the advertisers? And then there is the fall of Kingpin Newpapers including the New York Times, La Times and even the Washington Tribune are just a few to name that are being echoed around here are getting the bailout from the government.Control over the press? Well Government argues networks have damaged the institution..... its truly a sad reality.

2) What about the Networks? Ah yes. That's next. According to those in the know it seems the networks are negotiating with........guess who to help during this overall economy?..Hey if the newspapers can get it why can't networks who broadcast Media? ..I guess the reality shows are not enough to make it cheaper for NBC ABC and CBS and FOX to continue? Apparently not.

3) I asked this question three times. What about the overall ratings system Neilsen?

The hints of Big Brother were asked, answered and it may just be the world's reality in how they know what we watch; how many are watching and how often...A few ways this is being done, is by going to the websites such as YouTube, Twitter; {yes I asked on this}official network websites, Podcasts; your blackberry; your cell phone? Every time you click on a show let's say you haven't watched or you want to watch again and again and again, Its being recorded and its making it easier to give a portfolio of what is gaining interest and how many times often...So yes they are watching you....I found this stuff to be pretty cool here. If Neilsen is on the way out so Networks can monitor your habits by satellite, or a click of a mouse, this will spark quite a bit of controversy on some level because of privacy.act?..I mean does this have anything to do with...cookies on your hardrive?

Enter the switch from Analog {bye bye Boob Tube}to Mobile Digital TV????..The wave of the future is here...Technology has set the stage for our information systems to be a camera..No longer do we need a box to keep track of what we are watching here technology has made it possible to monitor everything. So what happens when the whole, is counted and not a piece or an average of people are being sampled? AD spots become cheaper. The more people watching the more cost effective it is for networks to pay licensing fees...but the rumors are swirling here that the plan is to go directly to internet. More or less this could be within reach and possibly negotiable, so there's that one upside to this. Sounds expensive, doesn't it?

You bet it is.

Not even Primetime television is the top priority with Network moguls now. Can the networks survive or are they going the way of analog?. Its all about media right now so reality TV makes it cheaper for Fox, NBC and CBS.......and what is that doing to the writers; showrunners; directors, Producers?

Slim pickens here people.

I even asked how would this affect Daytime TV and one insider actually said to me, "I thought daytime was Dr Phil and Ellen?" No mention of the soaps at all from any of them because Network has plans {And NBC is definitely doing this} to phase out certain formats and embrace new ideas that are much more "affordable"? Many are dismayed over this.

So lets go back to the Internet here, its much more than just the information highway, its a roadmap for broadcasting to navigate where consumers like yourself go on a regular basis. With everything moving to satellite, you just may see your television line up on the computer screen for good.

So to Brad Bell and his PR and sales department, hats off to you for creating B&B youtube page...now viewers can see old episodes, new episodes.....would this mean residuals for others? If so great job.:) the more repeats shown, is a good thing...On Twitter now; Facebook....What Bell is doing is probably a very ingenius move because he has the advantage the rest of the shows do not. Bold is shown in over 100 countries. Thats a lot in reserves.

As for Bold, one of my client's came in this week and she has been watching since 1987 and she is hilarious! The Campbell Roofing Ladies watch faithfully every day at lunch.in Memphis Tennesee..they prefer it to be an hour show because thirty minutes is a cheap tease....well Linda honey, now you can watch the cheap tease thirty forty times just by clicking on your cell phone...as she does to read this blog....

So hopefully this installment helps people to understand why its important for Daytime to reach out over the internet to gain viewership. Its not just about the show anymore, its the future of quality programming. Even Primetime and ah yes Cable shows are doing this. Hey if we all could get rid of the ads, right? So many edit them out to watch the shows. But unfortunately it pays for what you see...so help your shows just by clicking your mouse or keypad ...In truth you are saving jobs here.

Because if quality programming goes.....so does the imagination...keep it alive.