Commentary

Get Rid Of Media Junk With Ad Blockers

Maybe TV networks and digital media need more ad-blockers to get rid of all the “junk.” Advertising? Promotion? Maybe even some stuff that looks like programming content.

Speaking at Advertising Week, president of advertising revenue at Fox Networks Group Joe Marchese expressed this sentiment, looking at the big media picture.

“I’m pro-ad blockers and pro ad-free options. They should exist everywhere, mostly to wipe out the junk that’s in the industry running in the background,” he said. Marchese has expressed similar views about ad blockers in the past.

You have to admire his chutzpah.

But Marchese has a point for marketers -- find a way to make creative better. And mind you, I believe he also points to media networks -- both traditional and digital -- to find better ways for clients to get their messages out and engage with viewers.

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In large part, media consumers have many distractions when it comes to their attention. Why shouldn’t they be able to choose somewhat better crap over the usual swill?

Twenty years ago, many complained that the growth of cable TV and TV stations' syndication programming had resulted in a deleterious effect on TV network programming. The plague is called broadcast erosion.

That seems like small-time stuff compared with the fractionalization of media consumers' attention these days. More options means everyone needs to up their game.

Marchese believes the growth of platforms that are ad-free -- such as Netflix, and I’m guessing, digital sites with limited or non-advertising -- can help to boost the traditional, linear TV business.

So who cares that Disney-ABC Television producer Shonda Rhimes bolted for Netflix? That’s good news for those ad-supported TV producers who remain.

Ad blockers won’t go away. Some TV networks have already threatened to stop consumers on digital sites if they use ad blockers.

In the end, consumers make a choice, and may move on to other media channels. Consumers who avoid advertising tech won’t go away -- just like traditional time-shifting TV technology is now part of the current TV viewing fabric.

TV networks will continue to seek ways around this. Just look at how the ad-supported, video-on-demand business is on the rise among its cable, satellite and telco pay TV partners.

Can’t fast-forward through that stuff? Maybe you should be able to. How good is your junk, anyway?

1 comment about "Get Rid Of Media Junk With Ad Blockers".
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  1. Douglas Ferguson from College of Charleston, October 2, 2017 at 8:45 p.m.

    Not everyone who avoids digital or TV ads is doing so because of low quality (junk). Many of dislike interruptions of any kind, high quality or not, regardless of duration. Being more creative won't win us back. Buy sponsorships or embed the ads in the program content to force our eyeballs (maybe) but never believe that it's just the junk (or the number of spots or the spot length) that people dislike.

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