Local stations absolutely own the news and other content they produce, and
they usually gain some ability to re-distribute news content delivered to
them by others.
However, it's unproductive to think that the networks would do anything to
lessen the value of their owned stations. (there may be an argument for
them wanting to lower the value of affiliated stations, at least while they
were still interested in the ability to acquire affiliates, something that
seems to have gone away). The fact is that the networks have billions and
billions of dollars in book value in the stations they own. If the value of
these assets are lowered, they could run afoul of covenants in credit, etc
agreements, and would have to raise cash.
The last time I checked, for example, a few years ago, CBS Corporation had
$22 billion of book value in their owned stations. It's most of their
assets; they license non-news content.
John Willkie
-----Mensaje original-----
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Tom Barry
Enviado el: Sunday, November 23, 2008 10:04 PM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: UHF reception
Yes, the writing was on the wall for analog OTA anyway. It was just a
wasteful use of spectrum compared to the emerging alternatives made
possible by newer technology.
For some years now I have often downloaded Smallville & Supernatural
simply because the various free analog or low def digital versions on
OTA or analog cable were worse quality than something I could get in a
few minutes on the net. Analog could not have continued to compete
anyway. It was doomed.
But the networks, content owners, and/or 'conspirators' had better be
careful what they wish for if they really expect to destroy free
advertising supported TV. Information distribution is becoming more or
less free these days and that does not well support those with dreams of
a continuing monopoly based upon distribution channels.
So it's not just OTA I believe in but free advertising supported
content, even if off the net. I'm really a bit disappointed local news
has not picked up on this more since the local stations DO mostly have a
monopoly on creating this content and probably the rights to distribute
it however they want (don't they?). I personally feel local
broadcasters should be simulcasting everything on the web whenever
contracts and IP rights don't forbid it or make it too costly. Local
broadcasters have all the infrastructure in place for creating local
content and blending it with advertising. Would it still be considered
broadcasting if not all of it came off a tower? How much of the
business would even change? Same content, same business model,
delivering more eyeballs.
The nice thing about free advertising supported content is you don't
have to tie yourself in knots trying to copy protect it and making sure
nobody gets it without paying. You want more viewers, just like the TV
of yesteryear.
- Tom
John Willkie wrote:
It occurs to me that you guys are largely confusing "creative destruction"
with "destruction."
It was plainly the case that a forced conversion to digital television
from
analog (the U.S. implementation of same) was going to change "television
broadcasting as we knew it."
This is running alongside the accretion of what used to be the whole
enchilada to the wider selections of cable and satellite.
I would offer that if the transition hadn't been launched, that television
broadcasting would be in worse shape now than it is. There is uncertainty
in the transition, sure. There is also the power and flexibility of one
or
more toolkits to make television something that it could never be in the
analog world.
And, it's plainly ridiculous to assert that the NAB intended, through the
transition, to destroy television broadcasting. They clearly represent
the
views and intentions of television broadcasters. Sure there are
unintended
consequences, but the greater risk was doing nothing.
I really think that you folk need to do several "risk assessments",
including one that includes a world with analog over the air broadcasting
and a cable infrastructure able to transmit HDTV, and see how that looks
compared to what we have today.
And, "man up!"
John Willkie
-----Mensaje original-----
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Manfredi, Albert E
Enviado el: Sunday, November 23, 2008 5:03 PM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: UHF reception
Dale Kelly wrote:
Craig,
Cliff and I raised and agreed upon this issue from the beginning.
I do seem to recall that at some point early in this discussion
you stated that the Broadcast Networks were committed to their
valuable and profitable O&Os and would never do them harm, as I
had suggested would happen. That was long ago and much verbiage
has spilled over this dam, so if I now have you confused with
someone else, I apologize.
In fairness to Craig, the only "protecting" I ever heard him speak of is
"the NTSC franchise," and that was stated more like "milk it for all
it's worth," and then drop OTA.
Matter of fact, Craig's position was from way back that broadcasters
didn't take the whole digital transition thing seriously for the longest
time. Expecting it somehow to fail or otherwise go away? I'm guessing on
that last sentence. He also suggested more than once that the poor
performance of early ATSC receivers served broadcasters well, because it
meant keeping NTSC around longer.
And he keeps talking about how people will all go to cable after they
lose OTA reception on 18 Feb 2009. So, from what I've been reading, I
don't think Craig was ever one to predict a long and prosperous FOTA TV
in the US. O&O or otherwise.
I don't know if these hidden agendas everyone talks about are real. They
seem to be real, judging for example by how slowly improved OTA products
appeared on store shelves, in tiny quantities, and with very little
selection, not to mention clueless salespeople. But this Obama
administration and Democrat-leaning Congress, I predict, would not
countenance such behavior. If only proof could be provided to them. And
the economic downturn, at least in the short term, can only help the
cause of FOTA TV.
And just as an aside, this is just one example of my puzzlement on John
McCain's supposed maverick status. Could he not have seen what OTA
broadcasters are up against?
Bert
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