Sounding Off...
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On Friday, FTVLive told you that CBS came out with their earnings report and while they say that advertising is down, they still made money through retransmission fees and reverse compensation.
We pointed out that as more stations demand more money from cable/satellite companies, more people are cutting the cord.
Also, stations used to get paid by the networks to carry their affiliation, but know it is the other way around and stations pay the networks.
Our story got one TV insider a bit worked up and he sent along this email and we thought we would share it:
The networks have largely garbage on tv these days. It's game shows and sing-offs, crime time in some agency or city and a dash of comedies. It's lowest common denominator content largely that can't be attracting a quality demo viewers. The market of what viewers want has changed and viewers have options now...and the networks aren't even trying. At least PBS has some topical sub-channels, most network affiliates have random old tv show sub-channels. If it's not national sports or local weather, people under 35 don't even know the networks exist.
Local news is just as bad. There was a huge talent drain and the replacements...don't know what they are doing, and it shows. There's few left to show the ropes to the youngsters and even then, they have to worry about training their replacement. The content, how it is presented, and when is out of touch badly. Advertisers have also fled. The ads are largely directed at people 50 or over, potential legal clients, and places selling roofs and siding.
The ownership from the networks to the station groups is just collecting money for the futures of the management suits as long as possible so their fancy dinners and grandkids trust fund growth can continue. The workers are left in a dying medium. If we get a good-sized recession for a couple of years, I totally foresee news operations cut.
Ten years from now will be drastically different.
