The world of entertainment is in a world of hurt. With the massive diversification of entertainment offerings these days, older forms of media -- like movies, TV and newspapers -- are finding a dwindling number of customers as NBC is finding out this month. NBC has found itself in the lamentable position of giving their advertisers refunds because of poor performance in its ratings. The promised number of eyes that NBC promised that advertisers would reach didn't materialize, so NBC has to refund their advertisers for the over estimate of viewers that might see the ads placed on their airwaves. Of course, NBC is trying to keep a lid on this damaging story, but the Genie is out of that bottle. We can surely say that the network's News arms ain't helpin' sales a whole lot, in any case!
Adweek gives us the story:
NBC has quietly begun reimbursing advertisers for fourth-quarter prime-time ratings shortfalls, averaging about $500,000 per advertiser, according to media buyers, marking the first time in years a network has taken such a step to compensate marketers for ratings deficiencies.
It was also reported in Adweek that new network CW has had a loss of ratings and an over estimate of ad revenue, as well. So has CBS, ABC, and Fox, all of whom are giving advertisers "make goods" wherein the networks give ad time in compensation for having overcharged the advertisers.
And what is the culprit?
The nets have blamed ratings softness on the conversion of the upfront sales metric this season from live program ratings to commercial ratings plus three-day DVR viewing (C3). But media agencies contend broadcast prime-time ratings are down significantly even when DVR viewing is added in.
We just might be living at the end of the era of dominance of entertainment by the networks and big entertainment empires. It will be very interesting to see where it all goes from here on out but several hurdles remain to be jumped before the new era of entertainment takes hold. Many questions remain.
- Will the Internet shape up as a reliable device of delivery for entertainment? (It sure as heck isn't a stable delivery system currently)
- Will digital storage devices in the amounts of the mega terrabytes range that we all will need to store massive amounts of entertainment soon be cheaply available?
- Will a new system of storage be developed to solve that problem, perhaps?
- Will a loss of the big money behind the entertainment giants affect the quality of our entertainment?
Man's ingenuity is a never emptying well, of course, so let's not be too pessimistic. But, we might find more problems than we expect when the big media moguls collapse or scale downward in the near future.
One thing is sure, though. We have an opportunity to break the stranglehold the fringe left has on our forms of entertainment here. Let's hope we can take advantage of this new era.
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Wow
December 11, 2007 - 04:49 ET by well99It is tough holding back the tears.Maybe if they go back to haveing quality shows without political bs added in I would watch more.I dont want to see Al Gore on some program pushing his propaganda.Or some snarky remark from Danceing with the Stars.I don't watch alot of tv on the ABC,NBC,and CBS due to the fact that their news programs are so bias.I am just one person but I have no doubt others feel the same way.
I still watch the CSI's,
December 11, 2007 - 10:02 ET by ricklailI still watch the CSI's, The Unit, NCIS, Without a Trace and Criminal Minds on CBS-kinda hooked on them. I usually TIVO those so I can fast forward through the commericals. I don't watch anything on ABC or NBC, not even Sunday Night Football. Most of the time I watch the Discovery Channels. You are not alone.
"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't.” General George S. Patton.
Exactly right. If the
December 11, 2007 - 15:47 ET by mattmExactly right. If the Networks would simply put on worthwhile programming, and actual journalism in their newscasts, and show some respect for the viewers, their ratings would come back.
Take advantage ???
December 11, 2007 - 07:09 ET by RonCNot a chance of that happening... very unfortunately, there is no pool of real talent to draw from. MGM knew how to 'grow' talent, and did the best job of it for two generations.
Today there is zero talent out there (from a comparative viewpoint) - and there is a hostile anti-American, anti-conservative war being waged by education, K-12 through most universities, by almost all major newsprint media, all major broadcasters and even Fox has gone over the edge into non-conservative advocacy journalism.
Couple that with the current crop of 'stars' in intertainment - none of which excite most conservative viewers, and a virtual lock-out of most conservative writers - who the hell is going to be able to make a movie that responsible parents are going to take their children to. (No, it sure as hell won't be Disney, either.)
Perhaps there's an upside - maybe a few that actually read well (phonics a must) will find time to gain
erudition - reading great literature created in this nations more learned past.
Money has No Value
December 11, 2007 - 09:07 ET by allanfI cannot picture the studio heads of old putting out films like "Lions for Lambs", "Redacted" or "Rendition". Those men were businessmen.
Now we have a crop of self indulgent, indolent and boorish, "stars" and studio executives who are only too happy to lose other peoples money producing political polemics.
Lions for Lambs, which opened in 2500 screens has grossed 14,799,972 in the United States so far. Last weekend it took in $136.738 as it played in only 350 theaters. Perhaps the executives at left wing Showtime will bail the film out with a $40 million play contract.
Redacted took in $2,330 last weekend for a total gross of $62,736. The public has made its thoughts loud and clear. But unlike the days of old, studio executives don't seem to listen.
NBC Refuses to Run Support the Troops Ads During Holidays
December 11, 2007 - 11:02 ET by CarlosSHmm..., Ad revenues going down and they decide to turn down an ad that would bring in needed revenues.
I think you're right, allanf, they're obviously not businessmen
That allan is the upshot on
December 11, 2007 - 11:33 ET by dscottThat allan is the upshot on which you put your finger so nicely. The nets and the rest of the entertainment industry will be forced by the bottom line to produce only those proven formulas for high profit margins, i.e. family values entertainment. Everyone knows, even the dolts at the networks that profit margins are highest on family type shows and movies.
All the liberal and politically motivated crap they want to produce to advance their agenda has low profit margins. Of course they will cry censorship and dumbing down of entertainment to line the pockets of the corporations, wah, wah, wah, get over it liberals, you had your run. At this point, they are all hanging their hats on the vane hope that Democrat in the Whitehouse will spell good times for them, their agenda and their pocket books. Here's a rude awakening for them, NOT! The public will tune them out, buy DVD TV show reruns and movies. As time goes on, it will get cheaper and cheaper to do so.
The next step in recording shows will be devastating to the lib agenda when everything goes computer based memory. Forget BlueRay, the wave of the future is an external flash drive memory core hooked to your TV, where the computer and TV are fully integrated. You scroll through the menu and click play. The easier it gets to pick alternatives you want to see, the less anyone has to listen to liberal crap. One day, you will be able to self edit out all the foul language by the click of the mouse, thus rendering many R rated films PG. I can't count how many times I had to suffer through the disappointment of inane gratuitous potty mouth detracting from the plot, the TV versions of many shows do it, so we will be able to do so soon enough ourselves.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
the pervasiveness of DVRs (TIVOs)
December 11, 2007 - 07:08 ET by sarcasmoMeans NO commercials are as-watched as they were even 10 years ago, when all they had to worry about was VCRs. This trend will lead to more product-placements WITHIN shows, IMO, since you can't jump through those. Ad buyers want results. This also means running ads that look interesting in a TIVO's "fast forward" mode.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
NBC has seen it's big shift
December 11, 2007 - 09:03 ET by Airforce_5_ONBC has seen it's big shift to the left start to bit them in the rear end. MSNBC has not helped with it's shrilling leftiod tone.
Nobody watching, no money coming in, no more network.
"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a wussy."
Attributed to General Tommy Franks
They will probably lobby
December 11, 2007 - 10:18 ET by general companyThey will probably lobby the Feds for bailout money so they can continue to spew garbage about the Feds. These people are perpetual, a never ending cycle of garbage. The thought of putting a descent product out will NOT occure to them.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest". Mark Twain
Goodbye N.B.C
December 11, 2007 - 10:31 ET by American TaxpayerN.B.C you are in good company A.B.C, C.B.S, N.Y.T, N.Y.P are all just as stupid when it comes to reporting the news as you are. N.B.C is not a news outlet it is a propaganda machine that most people choose not to watch because the so called news insults the intelligence of most veiwers. If N.B.C would try reporting the news instead of making it up as they go along to fill thier political agenda you would still have credability. See you in the unemplyment line
Writer's strike
December 11, 2007 - 10:46 ET by LionKingI think the networks will suffer even more as the writer's strike continues.
I find it both ironic and hypocritical of the writers...most of these writers are liberal and very anti-capitalistic, yet, here they are striking for more money. They are trying to use free market forces to reach their goal, but once they return to work, they will be back to criticizing it.
[I can only assume they want more money to offset their increasing tax burden which they also seem to love.]
Au contraire
December 11, 2007 - 10:53 ET by Warner Todd HustonI think you'll find that the writers are all FOR capitalism... when it gets them tall cash. They are only against capitalism when someone else gets money.
Like all leftists, they are hypocrites like that!
One devious strategy
December 11, 2007 - 10:58 ET by sarcasmoWould be to renegotiate the union contract such that most/all writers are suddenly going to be subject to the wonderful AMT, and then watch Congress do nothing about it. This would lead to something very-much resembling "my kind of comedy" 'round about April 15th, if my guess is right...
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
But we will retort, "you
December 11, 2007 - 11:39 ET by dscottBut we will retort, "you demanded higher taxes, now you got what you asked for!" Of course they will blame the GWOT for the "need" to raise taxes, never mind their failure to address to Social Security which is the primary reason for the ever increasing Federal budget.
Be careful on the AMT proposals, the Dems are going to get their tax increase one way or the other, by either not indexing the AMT to inflation or not renewing the Bush tax cuts set to expire in 2010. The worst part is all they need do is DO NOTHING!
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
While the citizens of the US
December 11, 2007 - 13:13 ET by DoorGunnerWhile the citizens of the US have been steadfast in their beliefs, the MSM has moved so far to the left that they have practically dropped from sight. I am not sure what they are thinking, as the advent of totalitarianism their attitude fosters will ultimately lead to their imprisonment and likely death. I for one have not watched mainstream/network news or shows in years and have no desire to do so....
Somebody Buy an Advertisement for.........
December 11, 2007 - 13:58 ET by JayTeeWe need an ADVERTISEMENT for MSM, similar to the Support the Troops Ad BUT, say/Advertise this..........
NOT GETTING IRAQ WAR NEWS ON THIS NETWORK ? ?
FOR UP TO DATE IRAQ WAR NEWS, GO TO THE WEBSITES BELOW.
FIND NEWS THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT AMERICAN TROOPS ON THE MOVE
AND HEADED HOME SOON.
What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ? David Foote GoE
Burn, Hollywood, burn
December 11, 2007 - 15:00 ET by greenfairieThe primary problem is most studios and networks are part of massive conglomerates. They get money no matter what. This has produced a pay-me-first culture where everyone from the director to the star to the producer gets his or her money up front and if the whole thing fails, it's not a big deal since the conglomerate just uses it as a tax write-off. So you have Oscar winning films few people have seen, stars who have never had a hit film, and lots of media buzz over t.v. shows few people have ever heard of, much less watched. This creates an environment where people feel safe producing ideological crap instead of, like the old moguls, worrying about what will play in Peoria.
NBC
December 11, 2007 - 20:42 ET by thirdwavedaveWarner, I'm all busted up over NBC's failure to meet its ad revenue goals. Too bad. Good work.