[opendtv] Re: Bob likes COFDM

  • From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:46:17 -0500

At 12:14 PM -0500 3/24/05, <tjharvey@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>Craig,
>
>You mean to say that the majority are willing to shell out 30 - 40 
>bucks a month for the stuff you have listed below?

In large measure yes. But they are getting the full spectrum of 
content, including the broadcast networks and local stations in most 
cases.

This morning I posted a story about the latest ratings period in the 
U.S. The broadcasters cannot win the majority of the audience even 
when they stack the deck during the most important sweeps period. The 
audience has fragmented and it is unlikely that it will ever be 
pulled back together again, except perhaps in times of national 
crisis.

>Maybe I am in the minority but we and many of our acquaintances 
>OUTSIDE of the TV entertainment business are content with OTA even 
>though the alternatives are affordable.

Yes, you are in the minority. There may be as many people who just 
don't do TV as those who only do broadcast TV.

And there is the reality that some people are upset about the values 
put forth by broadcast TV and many of the cable nets that the media 
conglomerates own. I know that this is the case for me personally. I 
lost interest in most of what the broadcasters have to offer a long 
time ago. The list of cable nets I provided may be a reflection of my 
personal interests. Each viewer will have their own list. This is 
what audience fragmentation is all about.

>The trouble I see is that this business (and this list) is too 
>incestuous and can't see beyond a small world. Having been used to 
>only three or four channels in other countries in my past, the 
>solution to not finding something on TV is to shut it off and read a 
>book, surf the internet or some other activity.

Yup. Why should I waste the remaining years of my life vegetating in 
front of a TV. My father-in-law lives with us now. He sucks on the 
tube from the time he gets up until he goes to bed. It's pathetic to 
see a person who still has vigor and potential wasting what is left 
of his life. He rarely watches the broadcast networks except for 
sports and CSI; most of the time he watches A&E, The History Channel 
or one of the 24/7 cable news channels. Because of the Schiavo case 
he is now returning to his "Right to Life roots." This is the same 
guy who was taking the socialist bait, hook, line and sinker during 
the election - he voted for Kerry, but now thinks that the Bush 
brothers are courageous! And he is mad as hell about the liberal 
media that has enabled the changes in our social values.

I am amused watching the entire process.

Regards
Craig
 
 
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