The New York Times’circulation is up for the first time
in five years, movie prices rose over the last three months, and there's more money for
home video entertainment sales for the first time in nearly four years.
Are things changing for the media industry, is it more of the same, or just a couple of regularly untimed blips?
Cable companies are getting more revenue per consumer than ever. (It’s not from getting consumers to buy more pay TV services and VOD, but phone, Internet -- and, hell, down the road,
maybe even something called TV Everywhere.) Seems consumers will continue to buy, even if there is 10% unemployment or 17% under-employment and unemployment.
Optimists say we are getting out
of the recession. Just look -- they say -- at U.S. gross domestic product for the third quarter. It was a big (relatively, speaking) 2.5%! In the old days that would have been a reminder we are doing
well. But that was when unemployment was at 5%.
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There is some comfort, when things aren't going well, in spending on media and entertainment. Does this mean that something is wrong with our
society? “There’s no food on the table, but I can watch ‘Grey's Anatomy’ tonight.”
The media economy doesn't seem to slow down -- even when it comes to
jobs. Those big media companies looking to build up their digital business are struggling to find qualified people for jobs. What are the unemployment numbers there?
It’s enough to start
you head-scratching -- and continue this way for the next several months.
The media business will continue to get stranger. And, truth be told, isn't that exactly what you are looking
for? Predictability has been never in vogue and makes for boring headlines. People with their gas tanks on empty driving to see "Transformers" make for a more interesting picture. Especially on
TV.