Comments on: Cable news channels fighting at own expense

By: Randy Hoffman

Randy Hoffman — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:40:54 +0000

Back in my news promotion days we in the creative services department use to refer to these as NRM (newsroom masturbation). Consultants liked to call them “proof of performance.” Everyone working in the news department loved them, but they did little to motivate new viewers. As our research showed back then, they we at best polarizing, at worst net-negative.

By: Andrew Tyndall

Andrew Tyndall — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:15:10 +0000

Do not underestimate the underlying economics of the cable news business. With such a high proportion of revenues derived from subscriber fees rather than advertising, the target audience for most of the publicity and promotion efforts by the cable news channels is the cable operators–not viewers. At the end of the day FNC and CNN must each make the case to cable operators that they are indispensable in any basic cable package. Once that has been accomplished, the channels are in the catbird seat when negotiating per-subscriber fees. And once that money is pocketed, who cares whether anyone actually watches the content?

By: Hussman

Hussman — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 13:41:37 +0000

Some people don’t have cable at all and are happy to have such.

By: Darrien

Darrien — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:04:28 +0000

I had to turn Cable News off for the most part. I think its bad for your health.