Multimedia Web Developer, KHOU-TV

Houston, TX

Read the full post May 13th, 2007

Heading into a changing upfront

This is the upfront week, and the stakes are high for the broadcast networks, which are struggling with ratings this spring. A few upfront preview stories…

-   TV Week: If only the upfront were in February
-   Marketwatch: DVR users front and center at upfront
-   Mediaweek: Networks on a roll or fixing holes?
-   TV Week: TV ad market hangs in limbo
-   Broadcasting & Cable: Lessons for the fall season

Add comment May 13th, 2007

CBS aggressively expands video all over the web

A year ago, CBS launched its broadband channel called Innertube. Now the network has an honest admission: Innertube is not drawing an audience. So the company plans to pursue a “drastically revised strategy” that involves syndicating its video all over the place instead of trying to draw people into its own site. “It represents a stark departure for the TV industry,” writes Brooks Barnes in the WSJ. “Most of CBS’s major competitors, including Walt Disney Co.’s ABC, General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal and News Corp.’s Fox, are to some degree all betting that they can build their own internet video portals.” In the coming days, CBS plans to announce syndication deals with Facebook and Last.fm to add to Joost, AOL, TV.com and Bebo, among others. “We can’t expect consumers to come to us,” says Quincy Smith, the president of CBS Interactive. “It’s arrogant for any media company to assume that.” How’s that for a quote? (WSJ sub. req.)

3 comments May 13th, 2007

NBC to put show on cable first, reruns on NBC

NBCU will schedule first-run episodes of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” on the USA network and reruns on NBC — the first time a major broadcast show has moved to cable. The idea may not be very popular at some NBC affiliates as they suffer through one of the worst NBC May sweeps on record. “There is no pullback at NBC,” argues NBCU CEO Jeff Zucker. “This is about boosting USA, giving NBC scheduling flexibility and maintaining a franchise that is important to our international strategy.” (WSJ sub. req.)

3 comments May 13th, 2007

Is it the woman thing, or is it Katie Couric?

That’s the headline of a NYTimes.com story that takes a hard look at the ratings decline at CBS Evening News since Katie Couric took the anchor chair. “Maybe we underestimate the huge shift this represented,” said Sean McManus, the president of CBS News. “It was almost a watershed event to have a woman in that chair.” He added, “There is a percentage of people out there that probably prefers not to get their news from a woman.” Others point out that perhaps it’s because of Couric’s bubbly morning show background or the fact the reworked newscast pulled away from hard news. You be the judge…

Earlier: CBS News SVP says viewers “seems to prefer the news from white guys”

12 comments May 13th, 2007

Build a niche video site and take back online video

“You would think the one place video could win online would be in video.” I usually don’t quote myself, but it’s a line I use in my talks and I wanted to repurpose it here. And why not? There is a way to use your archives to start making money online. So far the TV stations have ignored it. And that’s one reason why the local TV stations have lost vast amounts of money, both real and in opportunity. There’s one more chance, and once again it requires one simple act: for video to be video.

Read the full post 1 comment May 13th, 2007

Offshoring journalism: A job list

Print journalism has embraced offshoring, and there’s no doubt broadcasters are going to start coming around to the idea, too. Here’s my guess list of broadcast jobs that will be sent overseas.

Read the full post 23 comments May 13th, 2007