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TV Advertisers Don't Buy Hulu, They Buy Google Keywords 
Posted by Wayne Friedman on Nov 3, 9:44 AM
"Why license all that content to something that works that well, that seamlessly, yet without the economic model around it?" The subject is Hulu. The opinion is from outgoing CBS Interactive chief Quincy Smith.
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Missing From TV Sports: The John Starks Soundtrack 
Posted by Wayne Friedman on Nov 2, 10:08 AM
Watching live sports these days has become a little too predictable, taking me along the same emotional path. Years ago, I started removing my emotional ties, protecting myself from the whipsaw of incredible joy followed by insufferable destruction. (John Starks, 1994!) Now I force myself to switch to the analytical part of the game -- especially at key moments. Athletes make a lot of money, I think, and will switch allegiances to another team next year. Don't jump on board. But one thing could save me: more revealing effort, work, and intensity. I'm not necessarily talking about ECUs. or extreme close-ups, either.
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U2/YouTube's Concert: Big Numbers, But What Else? 
Posted by Wayne Friedman on Oct 30, 12:06 PM
Ten million viewers for one episode on a U.S.-based cable network might have a cable TV program executive singing "Even Better Than The Real Thing." That would be a very high number. For a broadcast network, the song might be "Vertigo" -- nice, but your head might be spinning a bit with people telling you could have done better.
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NBC Stations: Waiting To Ride Out The Leno Storm 
Posted by Wayne Friedman on Oct 29, 4:00 PM
A late-moving TV storm might be brewing from NBC affiliates. NBC stations' late local news programs were expecting the worst -- which was delivered as promised so far.
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Viewers Pay For Web TV? Look At How They're Getting Their DVD Fix  
Posted by Wayne Friedman on Oct 28, 1:17 PM
Movie studios may have to change their thinking when it comes to renting versus buying. The declining DVD sales industry, which has recently given executives many restless nights, has elicited one bit of silver lining: a higher rate of DVR rentals.
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Shocker! 'Family Guy' Is Not Family-Friendly Entertainment 
Posted by Wayne Friedman on Oct 27, 11:15 AM
Branded entertainment can go wrong -- even before it starts. Microsoft was all set to use that cool Fox animated show "Family Guy" to launch its new Windows 7 software, by branding a special called "Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show." Apparently Microsoft thought "Family Guy" was all about advertising-friendly family entertainment -- while the special supposedly included funny bits on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest.
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Driven To Media Distraction? 
Posted by Wayne Friedman on Oct 26, 7:34 AM
Fox News Channel has made a meal of its recent sparring with the White House. Fox commentators and others have said the White House should be talking about more important things. According to reports, there is even a Fox News promo about this issue. Maybe the White House is to blame; maybe Fox News as well. All of it is a waste of our time.
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