It’s A TV Thing, You Wouldn’t Understand
A beautiful example of TV logic. Let’s take it one step at a time:
NBC Universal, acknowledging that viewers are increasingly moving away from traditional television viewing, announced plans today for a service that will make popular NBC programs available to download free to personal computers and other devices.
Terrific! What a great idea, and about time. Thanks, NBC!
“With the creation of this new service, we are acknowledging that now, more than ever, viewers want to be in control of how, when and where they consume their favorite entertainment,” said Vivi Zigler, the executive vice president of NBC Digital Entertainment. “Not only does this feature give them more control, but it also gives them a higher quality video experience.”
Vivi, you’re speaking my language. Love it! What’s that? What did you say?
The programs, including “Heroes” and “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” will be offered for a week immediately after their initial broadcasts. Commercials will be embedded in the programs and viewers will not be able to skip through them….
The service will allow customers to download full episodes of NBC shows for seven days on Windows-based PCs. The file will expire after the seven days.
Wow… that’s, uh… giving me so much… control. Is there anything you’re not telling me?
“We did this to eliminate the middleman,” said Jeff Gaspin, the president of NBC’s digital division.
Riiiight. KTHXBAI.
September 20, 2007 at 9:31 pm
This is a brilliant example of how network execs really don’t get it. “But Kenny, who will pay for TV??!!!”
First off, this model of doing entertainment business is all but dead. The networks as we knew them will go the way of the of the Dodo…and the American bald eagle….and…well, you get the idea.
Secondly, the LEAST they could do is manage it like ABC’s downlaods–only 1-2 commercial interruptions (for only 30 secs), and usually by only one sponsor (God, it’s like Back to the Future, man, Red Skelton would know this format better than these yahoos).
There is basically two kinds of TV: the stuff you watch that you FUCKING LOVE. And then the stuff you watch because you’ve had a shitty day and you want to turn off your think bone. Heavy commercials are NOT what people want for either format. Get with the program! (Or actually, don’t)