• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, April 10, 2006

Starting any TV convention should start like a good TV business story: with a witty twist of a new lead.

But from the cable industry's big annual convention this year, this is what we get instead: "Consumers armed with DVRs and access to VOD are able to watch exactly what they want."

Simon Cowell would say this is TV industry executives' karaoke. The co-judge of "American Idol" regularly moans singers should avoid mimicking other singers. Instead, they should take the song and not only improve on it, but own it. The same could be said about TV industry executives.

No doubt my publication just saved a bunch of money (not from getting cheaper insurance from GEICO) but because I didn't make the trip to Atlanta to attend the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's annual convention to hear the "consumers... watch exactly what they want" words from Discovery Communications chairman John Hendricks.

Sure, it's tough for industry executives to dream up a new spin on current business events. (If you think it's hard on executives, just think about the reporters who cover this.)

Of course, the irony is that the quote is a "rerun"--just like one too many cable networks that still depend on off-network programs to make their day go around.

Can't blame Discovery in this area. Troubled recent periods at Discovery put the network under the gun. But at least it regularly takes more risks coming up with new, sometimes tough-to-sell-and-brand documentary/reality programs.

Oxygen CEO Geraldine Laybourne did a little better, firing a warning shot towards movie exhibitors. Considering growing VOD, HDTV, and other TV technologies, she says: "It's a race against time for movie theater owners to improve the quality of the viewing experience."

Perhaps she could have added that free popcorn, twisters, iPod headphones, and a DVD movie soundtrack might improve things.

Laybourne at least got one thing right: "The most dangerous thing for us right now is our own success."

Industry observers and business analysts want to see TV executives address the obvious-- and then take it a step further. Short of that, it's always good to offer up fireworks, name calling or off-the-cuff comments.

Calling Ted Turner!