Commentary

Out Of Work? Your Fallen Media Company Needs Help, Too

by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, February 2, 2009

Economic and environmental factors might be in play for the future of big-screen TV sets. But think of the really big picture.

Large, 48" flat-screen TVs can suck up as much electricity as some refrigerators -- far more than older standard cathode ray tube televisions.

All this has states like California considering adopting rules requiring retailers by 2011 to sell only TVs that meet guidelines of the federal Energy Star program. This includes labeling, with utility bill estimates on the amount of power flat-screen TVs pull in.

In a separate story, the economic slowdown seems to have hit sales of TVs in the pre-Super Bowl week. Sales were good in 2008, with U.S. flat-panel TV purchases rising 25% to 16.3 million, as late in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Typically one of the busiest periods for TV sales is right before the Super Bowl. But this time around, just 2.7% of TV viewers planned to buy a new set -- down from 4.1% in 2008.

There is evidence that U.S. consumers want to stay home during a recession -- avoiding such pricey activities as watching theatrical movies and eating in restaurants. At the same time, Netflix says it had one of its best-selling periods ever for its low-tech, mail-order DVD rental business.

Looking for new media opportunities in a recession? Surely, watching TV shows on older TV sets seems to be a new "greening" routine. That should make some U.S. viewers feel good that even in a recession they are doing their part.

Perhaps your local Blockbuster Video store should get into the act. Have a promotion for those DVD renters who bike to their stores, thus saving gas, and keeping fit.

TV consumption has never been higher. And there's little thought it will stop -- especially, in a gallows humor way, now that many are out of work. Those daytime TV commercials featuring vocational schools have an even better targeted audience.

Change your job, keep your TV, and help out those truly in need: your friendly media company

4 comments about "Out Of Work? Your Fallen Media Company Needs Help, Too".

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Toby Miller from University of California, Riverside, February 2, 2009 at 11:12 a.m.
Thanks for this great reminder of the carbon impact and implications of electronic waste presented by TVs--perhaps the toughest objects to recycle. Computers and cell phones are hard on their heels. I hope folks may be interested in my blog on this topic at http://greencitizenship.blogspot.com/
Reply

Monica Bower from TERiX Computer Service, February 2, 2009 at 1:25 p.m.

The downturn in flat panel tv sales before the superbowl may have been due to fewer people being excited about the superbowl, and as I recall the holiday sales of same were more brisk than anticipated. The energy appetite of these devices is an interesting angle, though I don't see many people foregoing having a refrigerator because it uses a lot of power, either. It does add up, but there's a certain status that goes with the big flatscreens too. People that eye their utility bills close enough to see a negative impact from a flatscreen are probably not people who are likelyt to invest in one. But the prices should continue to fall over time just as they did with the mammoth TVs that used to require an entertainment center to house them.

Karl Meisenbach from HDNet, February 2, 2009 at 3:56 p.m.

Thanks to all the engineers who produced our Electric Grid and CHEERS to those who produced the wealth to trade so they might have the benefit of all that electricity delivers.

CHEERS to those who brought about the creation of HDTV - from the cameras to the transmission to the BIG HDTV's plus surround sound.

FANTASTIC entertainment value for Millions of Americans watching the Super Bowl in HiDef.

karl

P.S. Super Bowl XLIII is expected to drive the purchase of some 2.6 million high-definition television (HDTV) units, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®. For the fourth year in a row, the Super Bowl retains the title of top driver for HDTV purchases.

This year is expected to be another record-breaking year for HDTV sales with 29.8 million HD sets expected to ship, out of a total of 34.5 million digital televisions sold in the U.S. in 2009. This is up from 26.8 million HD sets sold in 2008. In addition to key sporting events like the Super Bowl, another factor driving this demand is the drop in the average wholesale price of sets. In the past five years, the average wholesale price for an HDTV has fallen nearly 50% to $849 in 2009

Paula Lynn from Who Else Unlimited, February 2, 2009 at 7:27 p.m.

Just as the flurry of color TV's vs "everybody's" black and white flew the coop, so will the flurry of flat panels and HDTV. When a new television is wanted or needed, the conversion will take place until the old tubers are tanked. The growth of purchases will even out until something better arises. Are there any other dimensional TV's being ordered by distributors? Any being made?