Broadcasters' woes could spell trouble for free TV

[Will E Worm]

Broadcasters' woes could spell trouble for free TV

For more than 60 years, TV stations have broadcast news, sports and entertainment for free and made their money by showing commercials. That might not work much longer.

The business model is unraveling at ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and the local stations that carry the networks' programming. Cable TV and the Web have fractured the audience for free TV and siphoned its ad dollars. The recession has squeezed advertising further, forcing broadcasters to accelerate their push for new revenue to pay for programming.

That will play out in living rooms across the country. The changes could mean higher cable or satellite TV bills, as the networks and local stations squeeze more fees from pay-TV providers such as Comcast and DirecTV for the right to show broadcast TV channels in their lineups. The networks might even ditch free broadcast signals in the next few years. Instead, they could operate as cable channels - a move that could spell the end of free TV as Americans have known it since the 1940s.

"Good programing is expensive," Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns Fox, told a shareholder meeting this fall. "It can no longer be supported solely by advertising revenues."

Article

Rupert Murdoch again. Doesn't he have enough money already?

It's time for him to go.

Maybe, they will receive a bailout.

People won't like their free television taken away or changed.

Sit and watch the coming backlash.

 

[jasonk282]

we have free TV?

 

[titsrock]

It's more likely the end for traditional cable companies than for content owners. I think consumers will be able to pay for the specific channels they actually want, which will seem like a good thing until people realize they're paying the same $50/month and only getting 20 or 30 channels.

The cable companies can really play hardball though because they can become internet gateway providers and charge their consumers money to access certain sites, access them faster, slower, etc.

Things between cable companies and content providers could get nasty before they get better and consumers are going to be fucked over royally in the process....

 

[Rey C.]

I know DirecTV dropped Comcast's Versus channel earlier this year over a fee dispute. I just saw that Time Warner and Fox are now in a spat, and TWC might drop all Fox broadcasts as of tomorrow night. The only Fox related stations that I watch on a regular basis are Speed Channel and Fox Movie Channel - and I don't know if they're affected. But I don't have TWC, so I guess it doesn't hit me either way. :dunno:

Fox wants a $1/subscriber/month from Time Warner. TWC has told them to go fuck themselves. Why pay, when viewers can get the same content for free on the internet? The pundits claim that Fox will likely go dark tomorrow night, while the two play this game of chicken. So it looks like anybody with TWC is going to be missing any football games on Fox this weekend.

Rupert Murdoch, George Soros and Bernie Ecclestone... the three assholes in the business world that I dislike the most. :thefinger

 

[titsrock]

I think Time Warner is doing America a favor by pulling the plug on Fox. I think the Time Warner people took a look at Fixed News's New Year's Eve programming (A Lee Greenwood concert, seriously?? ) and probably said Good Grief, Fox can't even lay off the flag waving for one night...the last thing we need to hear is that song again....

 

[Elwood70]

"Good programing is expensive," Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns Fox, told a shareholder meeting this fall.

What the fuck does he know about "good" programming?

 

[Rey C.]

I very seldom watch network TV. Other than Lost, I don't guess there's a show on any over-air network that I really watch regularly. I already pay extra for a network package on DirecTV, just to see Lost on ABC and the handful of F1 races that are on Fox every season. But I'll be damned if I'll pay even another $1 a month just to fatten Murdoch's pockets further. Lost will be off after next season. And Speed Channel will show the F1 races during the following week. So if Ruppie presses for more $ from all the outlets (which he will, if this stickup works with TWC), I'll just drop Fox and maybe all the networks from my package.

I'm just waiting to see how bad he fucks up a good, legitimate news source like The Wall St. Journal. If he turns that into a yellow rag, like the New York Post, I guess I'll have to switch to Investor's Business Daily after reading the Journal for all of my adult life.

 

[titsrock]

^
He's already fucked over the Wall St Journal. You should make that switch. The Editorial page of the Journal is just a mouthpiece for Fox contributors like Karl Rove, John Bolton, etc....

There was a time when the Wall St Journal was an important source for factual financial reporting.....

 

[titsrock]

Florida Gators fans sue Fox to keep Sugar Bowl on cable system
Hell hath no fury like a Gator fan scorned...

 

[DJCowboy]

I never understand when stuff like this happen, why people seem to assume that the CEO ,or whoever is running the company, get every dime from this. They do have other people to pay you know

 

[Rey C.]

I never understand when stuff like this happen, why people seem to assume that the CEO ,or whoever is running the company, get every dime from this. They do have other people to pay you know

Who said anything about the CEO (or in this case the Chairman, CEO and major shareholder) getting EVERY dime? The fees go to the business entity. And the person who owns the greatest share of that business entity benefits the most. Nothing wrong with that. It's just capitalism in a nutshell.

But I'm not about to shed any tears for Murdoch (or anybody else), when they are reaching into my pocket. Fuck that puto! :thefinger

 

[Jane Burgess]

I usually watch non network channels. Fox cancels most of their good shows anyway.

 

[zell]

I usually watch non network channels. Fox cancels most of their good shows anyway.

Abso-fucking-lutely! But they are milking the American Idol tit bone dry,and that shit is a fucking sham.

Fox can suck a bag of dicks,as far as I'm concerned.Doesn't really matter to me much anyway since most of the shit that I watch,I watch online for free anyway.

 

[shayd]

I don't really think this means an end to free TV (not in the short term at least). I think the real worry is for the people who work in the news industry for free channels (i.e. local news) because with revenue drying up, it means networks are going to try to look to cheapen the behind the scenes process. It's already started, as a number of networks have begun replacing switchboard operators with computers and programs to do the job for much cheaper. To me, what this whole issue is really pointing to, is an end to local affiliations to networks, as networks will try to operate more cheaply, and ultimately make network news and programming the only free television.

 

[nylo]

Traditional network tv is finished, it is going the same way that classic radio went when tv became more mainstream. And with access to the Internet becoming more common from all types of devices other than computers. There really isn't a need for traditional tv anymore. For example, I get my news from the internet, certain programs from tv I want to see I watch online such as Hulu because the times they are on are inconvieient for me. And so on, its just times are changing just like everything else does. As the progress and technology improved there was no way for everything to remain the same.Traditional tv initially only had 13 original broadcast channels, then cable and satellite tv changed that and now with the internet providing more multimedia content..things have changed.

Personally, I think most network tv sucks as it is. They don't even try anymore and the reality thing has become BORING..not like I watched any of those whiny people anyway. And the same thing has occurred to radio, would I rather listen to my satellite radio where I can listen to pretty much whatever I want content wise or the endless "Weenie and the Butt's" that are on the air.

sorry traditonal tv...good-bye

 

[RoadRage76]

I really do not give a damn. The only show I cared about watching is Lost and it's in it's final season. I can live without tv.

 

[maildude]

Another fucking move against us.

 

[Facetious]

I think Time Warner is doing America a favor by pulling the plug on Fox.

The only favor that America needs right now is as moratorium on imigration (any and all capacity) until our reckless and fiscally irresponsible members of government have their heads surgically removed from their rectum(s). :glugglug:

I think the Time Warner people took a look at Fixed News's New Year's Eve programming (A Lee Greenwood concert, seriously??

The Lee Greenwood story is a good one ! The man came from the most humble beginnings of a dirt poor Vegas card dealer for khrist sake ! :dunno: I'm always happy to hear of others finding good fortune for themselves ... even if they're democrats ! :shocked: Unless or until you rid yourself of animosity for those better to do than yourself.... well.... it's a gonna be a rough and tumble life of conflict for ya. I gather that you would you rather ring in the new year w/ R.A.T.Maoist tom morello ? eh ?:dunno: :1orglaugh

the last thing we need to hear is that song again.

.
'naw ya did what they told dja ! :nono:


Have a most prosperous New Year, Titsrock ! $$$$$$
:beer:

 

[jasonk282]

...the last thing we need to hear is that song again...[/I].

:thefinger