Local TV and weather runs continuously in the ancillary channel of WINK here in south Florida. My wife and I like it because we can watch any time we please. Al ----- Original Message ----- From: "Craig Birkmaier" <craig@xxxxxxxxx> To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 6:32 AM Subject: [opendtv] Re: How Do I Keep My Favorite Shows? > At 10:13 AM -0700 8/19/10, Dale Kelly wrote: > >>2. If the MVPD did not exist, and paid for the right to carry its signal, > >>then there would be no local weather or news. Otherwise, how would the local > >>station generate money to pay for programming prior to 1992? > > > >DUH! Folks would watch the stations using FOTA. > >Stations would then receive increase AD revenues. (cable is a strong > >competitor for local add revenues) > > Been there done that. The most remarkable thing about TV before cable > was that families actually sat down together to watch one of 3-4 > programs. > > But that horse left the barn a long time ago. > > James was correct when he pointed out that cable helped broadcasters > increase their audience, which in turn allowed them to charge more > for ads. But then cable started to offer alternatives to those 3-4 > programs and the world changed. Now, with rare exceptions, less than > 40% of the TVs that are being used watch those 3-4 programs, and yes, > the MVPDs compete for ad dollars since they too have audiences to > deliver to advertisers. > > It is not going to happen, but broadcasting would die rather quickly > if the MVPDs pulled the plug and broadcasters had to rely on homes > with antennas. What is more likely is that the congloms will pull the > plug on broadcasters and deal directly with the MVPDs so that they > can get their hands on the $20 billion that TV stations still collect > each year. > > Regards > Craig > > By the way, the audience that watches local TV news and weather is > rapidly declining as well, despite the fact that these programs reach > nearly all U.S. TV homes. > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: > > - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org > > - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.