Comments on: Recession ‘is now unavoidable’ http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/ Where TV Finds the Future Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:58:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dave http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791903 Dave Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:14:57 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791903 The only station in my market (Top 30) that is HD is the dominant leader. You have to go HD to stay in the game in broadcasting. And that means "real" HD...not HDV or any sub-$10K cameras with cheap lenses. If your studio cameras and production/promotion cameras don't cost at least $50K each, you're wasting money. Cheaper cameras are ok for some ENG jobs, but don't outfit your news department with junk. The stations that still make a lot of money also invest a lot. Web ventures should stand on their own. Don't steal broadcast support dollars for the web. Anybody can start a website, don't give up your competitive position on-air yet. There are still millions to be made before online takes over. The only station in my market (Top 30) that is HD is the dominant leader. You have to go HD to stay in the game in broadcasting. And that means “real” HD…not HDV or any sub-$10K cameras with cheap lenses. If your studio cameras and production/promotion cameras don’t cost at least $50K each, you’re wasting money. Cheaper cameras are ok for some ENG jobs, but don’t outfit your news department with junk. The stations that still make a lot of money also invest a lot.

Web ventures should stand on their own. Don’t steal broadcast support dollars for the web. Anybody can start a website, don’t give up your competitive position on-air yet. There are still millions to be made before online takes over.

]]> By: Gerry http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791745 Gerry Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:47:03 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791745 Standard definition broadcasts looks WORSE on my HD set - and I find myself simply not watching programming that is not available in HD. I work at a local affiliate in a top 50 market - and we are seeing more and more money going from other dayparts into news. News is extremely competitive in my market, and since standard definiton broadcast looks worse on an HD television - I for one am a proponent of making the switch. Standard definition broadcasts looks WORSE on my HD set - and I find myself simply not watching programming that is not available in HD. I work at a local affiliate in a top 50 market - and we are seeing more and more money going from other dayparts into news. News is extremely competitive in my market, and since standard definiton broadcast looks worse on an HD television - I for one am a proponent of making the switch.

]]> By: Jeremiah http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791699 Jeremiah Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:05:53 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791699 Not to pick a pedantic argument, but I'd suggest that not only is a recession inevitable, we've passed it and are now firmly in depression territory. That the talking puppets of the newsmedia have neglected to understand this is pretty reflective of their overall uselessness. Not to pick a pedantic argument, but I’d suggest that not only is a recession inevitable, we’ve passed it and are now firmly in depression territory.

That the talking puppets of the newsmedia have neglected to understand this is pretty reflective of their overall uselessness.

]]> By: Nick http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791630 Nick Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:14:36 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791630 The conversion to HD is not mandated. The conversion to Digital is. Therein lies a big problem. Too many people don't understand the difference. The payback for converting to an HD newscast just isn't there yet, except for in the largest markets because fixed costs are fixed costs regardless if you are in LA or Butte, Montana. Stations are better off plowing the resources into online. That's where all the newspaper money is going. The conversion to HD is not mandated. The conversion to Digital is. Therein lies a big problem. Too many people don’t understand the difference.

The payback for converting to an HD newscast just isn’t there yet, except for in the largest markets because fixed costs are fixed costs regardless if you are in LA or Butte, Montana.

Stations are better off plowing the resources into online. That’s where all the newspaper money is going.

]]> By: daniel http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791604 daniel Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:46:00 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791604 Must remember the HD conversion is MANDATED by the FCC to be completed by next February. Viewers at home wouldn't be too happy to watch all programming in HD except news.. Must remember the HD conversion is MANDATED by the FCC to be completed by next February. Viewers at home wouldn’t be too happy to watch all programming in HD except news..

]]> By: tdc http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791602 tdc Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:41:28 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/08/recession-is-now-unavoidable/#comment-791602 hey, i may not be the brightest pixel on the page, but why do i keep reading stories about tv stations spending "eye popping" amounts to convert to hd for their newscasts when they are investing little to nothing in their online ventures? are they thinking this will reverse the exodus of the audience? hd for movies, sports and such might make sense, but to see a few more wrinkles in the anchors' forehead? i don't watch tv anymore or listen to the radio. is radio still hyping their move to hd? last i heard it was a resounding flop. hey, i may not be the brightest pixel on the page, but why do i keep reading stories about tv stations spending “eye popping” amounts to convert to hd for their newscasts when they are investing little to nothing in their online ventures? are they thinking this will reverse the exodus of the audience?

hd for movies, sports and such might make sense, but to see a few more wrinkles in the anchors’ forehead?

i don’t watch tv anymore or listen to the radio. is radio still hyping their move to hd? last i heard it was a resounding flop.

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