Commentary
Stimulate My TV Business
- by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, March 13, 2009
Think about all the layoffs NBC Universal, Viacom, Walt Disney and others have made. Think about all the local TV stations that might go out of business.
TV programs may not be an essential life requirement for consumers. TV users (they used to be called viewers) won't really be left in the lurch because there is one less syndicated court TV program on daytime, one less network aspirational reality show or crime scene drama.
Few reports have been disclosed about whining, dull TV consumers who are in failing health because of less laughter from fewer network comedies, aside from CBS on Monday nights and Fox on Sunday nights.
Talk about a TV stimulus package means nothing to the average Joe -- expect for those TV workers at stations, broadcast or cable networks, or at production companies.
One could make the case that all those executives/creatives should head for the new digital media platforms, except that they would be working for just-out-college salaries, especially given the revenues those Web-only TV shows are garnering.
One could make a stimulus case for auto workers. But at least the Obama Administration wants to make sure the auto companies will give us something for those billions -- like more fuel-efficient cars.
What would they ask of the TV and entertainment industry, on the outside chance that it gets financial help?
Perhaps there would be more stars jumping on sofas on "Oprah"; better, socially conscious prizes on "Wheel of Fortune"; or more Donald Trump rants against celebrities who can't sell -- or bake -- enough cupcakes.
The quality of life for those workers -- now at home with more time to watch TV -- would be improved
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Wayne Friedman is West Coast Editor of MediaPost. You can reach Wayne at wayne@mediapost.com.
Are you kidding? What about the fact that the priducts of our entertainment industry are some of the only viable, quality exports we have left? I think we would be remiss not to consider that giving up Jerry Springer might indicate a giving up of other things that people in our generation are used to - namely, being the #1 world power. Funny how it's all connected.
Given that 18-29 year olds have little use for local TV stations, one could surmise that, as that age cohort moves toward 30-54 and further, local stations will indeed become buggy whips. True, most old media transform rather than vanish, but if that transformation makes them something unfamiliar, who's to say they did not vanish?