[opendtv] Siphoning Scorecard
- From: "John Willkie" <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:16:51 -0800
The time-honored term (I first heard it about 40 years ago) for moving
broadcast content to cable is called siphoning. As in, siphoning broadcast
content. Note that the term existed first in the first time period when
broadcast entities could own cable television systems, and took off after
entities that owned broadcast stations could not own cable systems in their
coverage area. It's not a new fear, but has been replaced by the more
realistic concern that narrowcasting and superserving niche audiences has
eroded broadcast audiences.
So, Tom's query was whether I still believe that companies that owned
broadcast networks didn't move broadcast content to cable networks that they
owned.
Note the use of the term "broadcast networks." Simply stated, that means
two or more entities that own broadcast networks.
As far as I can tell, this is the scorecard:
entity
Broadcast network
Cable network
element
Times
Disney
ABC
ESPN
Monday Night Football
1 (series)
Disney
ABC
ESPN
NASCAR
1 (broadcast)
CBS Corporation
CBS
Showtime
none
Never
News Corp
FOX
Various regional sports (and other) networks
none
Never
NBC
NBC
USA
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
1 (series, starting this fall)
So, for sports, there doesn't seem to be a trend. For non-sports, there is
only one instance. Is moving that show to cable better or worse than
cancelling it?
So, "networks" aren't moving content they own to cable networks and away
from broadcast networks they own. Nor are "networks" moving sports content
in the same fashion. PERIOD.
WARNING: Due to the TVB forecast (first I've ever heard in my life) of
declining revenues for TV in the next year, there will be more change in
television in the next 10 months than in the past 8 years. On top of that,
add issues related to the transition to digital, which might turn out to add
to the changes in positive or negative fashion.
John Willkie
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