• by April 25, 2008

Television networks need to learn a thing or two from the record companies. Instead of delaying the inevitable and fighting this new way of ingesting media, embrace it and figure out a way to monetize or at the very least, leverage it.

Knowing that there is a substantial online audience streaming ["Gossip Girl"], charge more for companies looking to run online ads during it. The audience is certainly there to justify it. That should make up some of the shortfall. Also, don't make the episodes available for streaming until 1 week after the episode originally airs. People are impatient, especially teens. AND, they can't deny themselves that talking point the following day. They'll watch it using the traditional means, aka television. Pulling them off the internet, only accomplishes a few things: Ensuring that your site will get less traffic, weakening possible ad buys on it. Preventing people from watching their favorite episodes again. Or even worse, preventing people who haven't watched the show but want to start the opportunity to catch up.

I'm in that last category. If I can't watch those episodes online or anywhere else, I'll simply wait until they release the entire season on DVD and rent that.

Networks need to grasp the concept that people want more control of their media. They want to watch it when they want and through whatever means they want. Fight it all you want. I'll just wait for someone to stream entire episodes on YouTube.