Big Media Earnings Set To ‘Decelerate Sharply’ In 2013 As TV Becomes A Zero-Sum Game
1. Digital platforms (like streaming) are hurting broadcast and cable networks:
As costs rise, TV producers can’t expect to keep generating more cash from licensing agreements with digital streaming providers such as Netflix and Amazon. “Netflix may become more conservative in pursuing future content deals” to steady itself — the company saw thousands of subscribers bolt following the decision in July to raise prices by 60% for those who want to continue to stream videos and rent DVDs. Even if streamers are willing to pay, programmers may want to back off. They’re starting to see evidence that digital platforms take viewers away from traditional broadcast and cable channels.
2. People are sick of paying for cable channels they don’t want:
Programmers also can’t count on cable and satellite distributors to bail them out with higher affiliate payments. They’re eager to maintain their own profit margins, and worry that if they pass higher costs along to consumers then it will drive away even more subscribers. That’s why they’re talking about dropping weak channels or offering customers low-cost packages that don’t include sports services. Owners of “must have” channels probably will still be able to get what they want[.]
And the only reason this bloodletting won’t occur until 2013 is due to the billions that will be spent on political advertising in 2012.
Bottom line: people are sick and tired of paying for programming they don’t watch and/or despise. Why am I paying for MSNBC? Why am I paying for LOGO, E!, and OWN? I wouldn’t watch those channels on a bet. And to pay my satellite provider $50 a month just to watch Fox News and the occasional football game is outrageous.
My contract with Dish expires in 18 months. I intend to cancel it and get my entertainment from the Internet, Netflix Streaming, Blockbuster, and my embarrassingly large DVD collection. And if I have to wait a year to catch up on a season of “Mad Men” or another “zeitgeist” show, I’ll wait.
The wealth of choices we enjoy today through the almost unlimited (albeit older) programming found online, the DVR, and DVD has finally ended “appointment television.” We have discovered that we can find plenty to watch for under $10 a month on Netflix Streaming and that the need for outrageous cable bills are unnecessary.
It’s a whole new world, full of choices where you can program your own viewing experience. And for parents it’s even better, because cable television makes it almost impossible to protect your kids from the cultural garbage being spewed out there.
All I want is Fox News and Turner Classic Movies, but no longer do I want them enough to subsidize Oprah Winfrey and MSNBC.
Something I Miss About Living in Los Angeles
A screening of “The Last Picture Show” with Peter Bogdanovich, Cybill Shepherd, Cloris Leachman and Eileen Brennan … all for $5.00.
More here.
Russell Brand To Lead ‘The President Stole My Girlfriend’
How many flops does this utterly charmless “star” have to make before Hollywood says enough? I’ll take Pauly Shore reruns over Brand any day of the week.
I have no idea what Brand is like in real life, but up on the screen he’s just creepy.
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SCOTTDS’ EPIC LINK-TACULAR
FIRST BATCH OF ‘ATLAS SHRUGGED’ DVDS RECALLED DUE TO ERRONEOUS MARKETING BLURB
WARNER BROS ANNOUNCES LEGO MOVIE
FUTURIST RAY KURZWEIL BROUGHT IN TO ASSIST WITH ROLAND EMMERICH’S ‘SINGULARITY‘
‘ADVENTURES OF TINTIN’ EARLY REVIEWS
‘NCIS’: THE SECRET TO ITS REMARKABLE SUCCESS
BRAD PITT TO QUIT ACTING IN ‘THREE YEARS’
TRANS-HUMANS, GHOSTS, AND THE KGB: SYFY CHANNEL DEVELOPING THREE NEW DRAMAS
LEGENDARY DORIS DAY WILL RELEASE NEW ALBUM DECEMBER 2
ADAM SANDLER’S FILMS FROM WORST TO BEST
AMAZON ADDS RIVAL NETFLIX TO KINDLE FIRE
DISNEY RELEASES POSTER FOR ‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D’ RE-RELEASE
HEY VERN! IT’S EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ERNEST P. WORRELL
MICHAEL J. FOX RECREATES ‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’ WITH SURPRISE ‘JOHNNY B. GOODE’ PERFORMANCE
20TH CENTURY FOX DROPS LAWSUIT AGAINST BLOGGER WHO HOSTED MOVIE SCRIPTS
THE MEMO THAT INSPIRED ‘JERRY MAGUIRE”S MISSION STATEMENT
COMPOSER JOHN WILLIAMS’ GREATEST HITS
IS PIXAR’S OSCAR-WINNING ANIMATION STREAK OVER?
10 DISASTERS THAT COULD MAKE BACKDROPS FOR MOVIES
PODCAST: HOW MOVIE MONEY WORKS
THE MOST UNINTENTIONALLY TERRIFYING MOVIES OF ALL TIME
10 FOREIGN TV SHOWS THAT AMERICA RUINED
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CLASSIC PICK FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15
1:00 AM Spartacus (1960) — An heroic slave leads a revolt against the corrupt Roman Empire. Dir: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons. C-196 mins, TV-PG, Letterbox Format.
No brainer.
The sound of Jean Simmons’ voice is pure music.
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