Monday, December 31

Ending 2007: Old Media Is Dead

If any year will ever stand out as the most dramatic change of direction for network television, it will likely be 2007. And if there is any credit is to be given, it doesn’t belong to a single network or broadcast executive, but rather the collective efforts of fans from several television shows, with Jericho Rangers leading the charge in the form of 20 tons of nuts and constant coverage from personal blogs to The Wall Street Journal.

Sure, while some networks and corporations like AT&T were quietly looking at broadcast-digital convergence long before Jericho was cast, Jericho fans helped set the agenda this year and hastened the pace. They did much more than save a television show by convincing CBS to offer up an olive branch in the form of a truncated second season premiering Feb. 12.

They demonstrated the power of organizing consumers via social media. They set a precedent of tracking signatures, e-mails, postcards, phone calls, and protest purchases. They pushed for sweeping reforms at Nielsen Media Research, enough so that Nielsen began to listen to them more than the networks it serves. They established alliances with other fan bases like Veronica Mars fans to expand their campaign five-fold. They made contact with writers, producers, cast members, and crew, giving everyone something to think about, including advertisers.

Passive viewers became active consumers

The writer’s strike is precisely what I’ve been writing about for almost two years: the transition between the era of old to the era of new media. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) even cited it as the primary explanation for the most recent stall in contract negotiations.

"The media conglomerates know that the core issue in these negotiations is new media. Their current proposals would cause writers even more economic harm in the future than they claim this strike has caused.” — Writers Guild of America

While the networks seem unwilling to make an agreement, the WGA and David Letterman's Worldwide Pants production company have reached a contract agreement that includes the proposal put forth by the WGA on Dec. 7.

In other words, production companies and writers are starting to make the deals that the networks are unwilling to make. And if that happens across the board, then network television will be reduced to a distribution channel at a time when content creation is the only tangible commodity. Distribution is easy.

Change happens in small, unseen ways

Cox Communications is one of a handful of multi-service broadband cable service providers that is beginning to offer OnDemand commercial programming, which would allow companies to produce and distribute their own television programs. This means that a company has the potential reach of 6 million residential and commercial consumers.

Once produced, segments of these shows could easily be repackaged for distribution across other platforms like YouTube, Revver, Apple iTunes, and countless others. The possibilities of programming are seemingly endless, well beyond OnDemand infomercials. It also opens the doors for enterprising producers to create their own programs, saving six to eight minutes per half hour for sponsors, much like local market home shows used to do.

The networks are hastening the need for change

As ratings continued to fall this last year, advertising rates continued to rise. The reason was that advertisers were less willing to experiment and attempted to simply purchase more spots to reach the same viewing audience that they once captured by buying fewer shows.

It’s only a matter of time before the burden of building reach shifts away from advertisers and onto the networks again. After all, the concept of last minute scatter market buys will likely die this year as marketers begin to realize they spent 18 percent more for primetime "scatter" than they ever hoped to save.

Even the classic measure of cpm (cost to reach 1,000 viewers) is being questioned. It doesn’t seem to hold as much weight as a measure as it used to. A lower cpm, augmented by Internet presence, can have a greater impact and make more sense as fans are eager to spend an hour or two talking about their favorite show on the net rather than watching the programs that follow.

Old media will become an abandoned term this year

It’s not so much that old media is dead as much as it is that old media has been challenged to become indistinguishable and better than new media. It’s the kind of challenge that will lead to bright possibilities in journalism and broadcast. The new year will be the year to decide. Will a company adapt or die?

Reality programming is not the answer. With rare exceptions like Survivor and American Idol, the net has taken over the reality programming niche. Not only can we watch real-life realty clips on YouTube, but also entire lives put up for consumption with live streaming. The networks need better niche programs.

It’s the very reason networks have to end the writer’s strike soon. It’s only a matter of time before some people begin to realize that the networks are not the only way to reach an audience. Big names in every facet of the entertainment industry are learning that the old model of distribution is dead.

Don’t believe it? Heck, even this blog, which might be considered in the minor leagues compared to what we would like to do on our own or with partners, reached 100,000 people this year. Not bad for an experimental platform.

Thank you all again for making this year a success. We look forward to seeing you in 2008! Happy New Year. Please be safe.

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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent article, Rich! Thanks for the "Jericho" nod. (Welcome2CHO)

Rich on 12/31/07, 9:16 AM said...

Thank you Welcome2CHO. A well deserved nod.

Jericho fans were instrumental in their efforts to go beyond saving their show and call for dramatic changes that spilled over from one show into an entire discussion of everything from the rating system to contacting advertisers direct.

That's pretty amazing because for the most part, viewers used to only contact advertisers to get shows cancelled. They almost never requested support from companies and corporations.

Happy New Year to you. All my best to everyone!

Rich

Anonymous said...

I'll have to agree with anonymous.. thanks for an excellent post.

Happy New Year!

Regards,

Ruthie

Anonymous said...

Rich,

Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year to you!

It seems that what's old is new again. Perhaps advertisers should look to the "good old days" and do something like "The Texaco Threatre presents . . . " if they want to reach a captive audience. Choose a show; sponsor it and play your ads 4 times. Then follow up by also advertising on the Internet website for that show and during web showings of episodes and on the DVDs. Get a package deal.

The fans would love them for it. I know I would actually watch some clever, entertaining ads -- like during the SuperBowl -- if I wasn't bombarded for what seems like "hours" by 20 different companies.

While tracking the ads during the reruns of Jericho this summer, it was brought home to me just why I flip around the stations during commericals. The breaks are so long that you can actually watch 2 competing shows if the ads run at different breaks.

That being said, Jericho was the one show EVER that I did not flip through stations or even leave the room for fear that I would miss the first word! Now advertisers, don't you want your name associated with a show like that?

Thanks for your guidance during the last year. You are right; this is about so much more than a TV show -- but that doesn't mean I don't want my Jericho!

N2N2

Unknown on 12/31/07, 1:16 PM said...

Excellent take Rich. Spot on! Corporations the world wide have been slow to adapt and the writers guild et al are no different, perhaps even worse. One thing I think we can say unequivocally is that we probably aint seen nuttin yet. 2008 should be a hoot!

T

Sweet Tea on 12/31/07, 8:18 PM said...

Great post Rich. If only the networks would wake up.CBS has a goldmine in Jericho fans but they continue not seeing us as an asset. Stick some yelling Jericho fans in those promos and see how well that works.

maybei on 1/1/08, 7:42 AM said...

I still say the Jericho fans should get the Marketer of the Year award!

Great article!

Rich on 1/1/08, 11:06 AM said...

Happy New Year everyone!

Glad you enjoyed the last post of 2007. And I hope to connect with you all even more in the New Year.

Wishing you the very best in 2008. Or as one of our newscasters likes to say ... may the best of 2007 be your worst in 2008.

Best,

Rich

Jericho247 on 1/1/08, 7:22 PM said...

Rich, once again, you're right on the money. Thanks for giving us Jericho Rangers credit. It's nice to know people recognize our efforts.

We shocked the world in 2007, and we're gonna shake its foundations in 2008!! :)

Anonymous said...

Nightbird says:

The fight to save Jericho would not have been half as passionate and determined if there hadn't been that added memory of the favorite show you loved and was left adrift by just because it wasn't run of the mill. Or the knowledge we grew to understand that we were fighing for something that was much bigger and more important than even a cherished tv show. It was/is for all the stories to come that might have a chance.

And for once in the entertainment "industry" the end customer...us the audience...who determines if all those advertising dollars were worth it were recognized and could not be ignored.

I'm very proud to have been a part of those amazing three weeks and the time since and still a bit awed by what it has brought.

Rich on 1/2/08, 2:08 PM said...

@Jericho247 I wouldn't be surprised if you did. :)

@Nightbird You and every member have every right to be proud. There is no doubt about it. :)

Best,
Rich

 

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