Industry observers have been questioning the value and wisdom of the three traditional sweeps periods (four if you count July) for as long as I can remember. It likely would have made sense to do away with them altogether many years ago. Given the current state of the media in general and television viewing in particular, the continuation of this antiquated practice seems inane. We're in the era of TV Anytime, and that includes any time of the year. Why focus on what may or may not happen during three months?

Want to know what keeps CMOs awake at night? Call it revenge of the nerds, but according to John Kennedy from IBM, it is Big Data preparedness. 70% of all CMOs polled by IBM said their number-one fear is trying to figure out how to harness the Big Data tsunami.

Americans who love "Downton Abbey" and its penetrating observations on British class conflict are less comfortable with shows that highlight class differences in the U.S. This reflects an enduring American myth that we have a classless society. Would that that were true. America has multiple social classes, and Americans are afflicted with considerable status anxiety.

If Apple's impact on the mobile phone industry is duplicated - even partially - when Apple enters the world of television displays, then cable and broadcast networks, as well as traditional content creators, have reason to be concerned. I'm increasingly convinced that they don't see what's coming.

No network this year has delivered more fascinating original dramatic programs than Sundance Channel, with its recent seven-hour mini-series "Top of the Lake" and next week's new entry "Rectify," its first wholly owned original series. If this keeps up, Sundance is going to find itself in the company of AMC, FX, TNT, USA Network and other basic cable networks that continue to distinguish themselves as providers of some of the most compelling scripted dramas on television.

Josh Rosenzweig, senior vice president of original programming and development at Here TV, started out as a filmmaker and director in California before making the transition to the corporate side of the business. In my interview with him, Josh talks about Here's mission, programming, multiplatform efforts, its audience skew, competitive set (spoiler alert: there isn't any) and the celebration of its tenth anniversary.

No doubt about it, the once-mighty "Idol" has finally begun circling the drain. This leaves Fox in a position of intense vulnerability, especially as the long-time No. 1 network among the prized 18-34 and 18-49 demographic groups. What in the world will Fox do without a super-strong "Idol" -- or without "Idol" at all?

TRA announced that it would begin to license Nielsen data, including it in its media analytics interface. This announcement, made during a breakfast panel at CBS' Paley Center, was part of a bigger discussion of Big Data -- or, as TRA CEO Mark Lieberman says "naturally occurring data" in the media marketplace.

This continues to be a highly educational year for anyone working in or around the television business, especially where programming is concerned. Here are the latest lessons:

If there's anything constant about television these days, it's the constant change. From digital compression a few years ago to today's connected TVs, multi- and cross-platforming, second screens, STBs, OTT and Big Data sets, it's hard to keep pace.