More people watching TV, Yes. Just not your shit.
November 25, 2008
Considering population growth. The advent of 2+ TVs inside homes, 100s of channels, it is not surprising that TV Overall Audience is up.
However, Ars Technica reports:
This situation led to an unintentionally amusing audience question at a New York conference last week on the future of television. An audience member was confused about how viewership could be up but ad revenue could be significantly reduced; top network execs patiently explained that just having eyeballs wasn't much good in a major economic downturn. If advertisers don't have the budget to buy, it doesn't matter if your network reaches two billion people a night. (The lesson could also be applied to any web startup concentrating only on eyeballs, as though users automatically equal revenue.)
Ummmm... did a "TOP" TV executive really say "that just having eyeballs wasn't much good in a major economic downturn." Please, if this logic comes from "top executives" no wonder media companies are struggling. The fact is MORE TV programming is being watched, but LESS people are watching YOUR show. Its been like this for a bloody decade! The present economic downturn has little to do with it.
The top TV program today would never have cracked the top 30 in the 1980s or much of the 90s.
The trick is not waiting for the "economy to improve'. The market has changed we need to learn how to capture MORE money from a SMALLER audience.
My Nerd will be relaunched in 2009
November 24, 2008
I know there is a lot of talk about the financial crisis, and it is really bad. I know. It scares the poop out of me when I think about it too much. However, I still cannot wait until 2009!
My two favourite Sci-fi franchises will be taking my attention and money. Seriously, this is going to be the best year for entertainment in my world.
First Battlestar Galactica will be airing it's final installment, bring the series to a close. The best damn TV drama, I've seen since Hill Street Blues.
Next, Star Trek is going to be reborn, and if this trailer is even half of the movie, it could easily be the best Trek since Wrath of Khan. Only JJ Abrams could pull off a sci-fi trailer starting with a car chase!
Arachnophobia - Why I never moved to Australia
November 21, 2008
I haven't made a post in months it seems, but when I saw this image, I had to post it for posterity and to remind myself why I chose NOT to live in Australia when given a chance.
Box Jellyfish can kill small children.
Great White Sharks make snacks of surfers.
Koala's are viscous.
Centipedes kill.
Hell Big Red Kangaroos are the animal equivalent to suicide bombers.
And....
they have spiders like this!
Bill C-61: What you will not be able to do with your content in the future
September 16, 2008
Michael Geist has posted the three winning DYI videos explaining the problems of Bill C-61. C-61 in 61 Seconds. Interestingly, the first video of the series is no longer available. No explanation is given, but my gut tells me it is some sort of copyright violation take down notice. If so, I can not fathom what would cause that take down, as I would assume considering the subject matter that there would be clear fair use support for any content in the video.
Anyway here is the best one in my opinion, as it does show the removal of rights for consumers. But as I have been discussing with Raul the videos are not really illustrating the pain consumers will have and disadvantage that Canadian companies will be under should Bill C-61 pass. I think that it may require a concerted effort of presentations and grassroots interest.
Michael Geist - C-61 in 61 Seconds - The Winners
If Michael Geist is the Al Gore for Digital Media Copyright in Canada. I think we need to get him on a road trip.
"Inconvenient Media"?
We need to vote our self-interest for democracy to work
September 7, 2008
So an election has been called in Canada. A lot of deja vu for me with this. Twenty years ago, the Canadian and American elections were happening at the same time as well. The free trade agreement was the big issue, and I was leaving the ranks of the Liberal Party to vote for the Progressive Conservatives. Now, I'm a member of the Conservative Party who cannot vote for them in this election due to their support of Bill C-61.
It's actually a pretty crappy feeling. I for the most part have been very pleased with the Conservative Party's government in the last 3 years. I even think Stephen Harper, whom I do not agree with on social issues, has done a great job of instilling a culture of compromise within the Conservative Party ranks. No easy task, I can assure you. He is an effective leader. However, the party's introduction of this legislation is entirely counter to why I joined the party.
I've had some interesting comments made to and about me regarding my decision. Mostly people, some whom I like greatly, are feeling betrayed by me. I regret they feel that way, but I am not a party hack (I am in no way implying that they are). I will not vote for any party simply because I'm a member. I firmly believe that for democracy to work you must Vote Your Interest. Too often I get the feeling that people in North America vote based on fear of the "other guy", which is why negative attack ads work, or from poorly thought out jingoistic ideology. These tendencies motivate citizens to actually vote against their best interests. It's crazy.
An over simplification for clarity:
A forty year-old worker making $50k a year in Texas without healthcare in the USA should be voting for the party offering affordable healthcare plain and simple. Getting healthcare is in his or her self-interest.
A thirty year old entrepreneur should be voting for less taxes and more investment incentives.
An avant-garde artist should be voting for more art grants and endowments.
An out of work uneducated laborer should be voting for more social support and training programs.
Only by voting our interests can democracy truly represent the people. (A big reason the first past the post system needs to be addressed.) Not everyone will get their needs addressed or represented on any given election, but only once we clearly vote for our self-interest will political parties start to address the varied concerns of people by adopting the policies needed to gain their support in the next election. This is different from lobbying special interests post-election, which in my opinion is entirely counter to democratic principles.
If everyone keeps voting for meaningless slogans or out of fear, political parties have no reason or need to address our concerns. If we do not vote our self interest, parties will keep pumping out the same old jingoistic slogans and attack ads and I'm not sure that's the point of democracy.
