Welcome to Glass House Sign in | Help

NBC Is Screwing Up

Don't pay attention to this NYT story that looks at how great NBC is doing with the Olympics, which makes the implicit point that the idea of tape delay and restricted access to realtime online content and streaming increases TV viewing. My view is that this burst of success is akin the wild flowering of plants in a hothouse as the temperature rises - just before they die. Instead, look at the numbers that show they'd be better off truly embracing multiple distribution channels. Or jump over and read what Mark Cuban has to say about the impact of HD and large screens on viewing habits. 

The long and short of it is that we are living in a realtime world now, and attempts to turn back the clock will fail over time. NBC (and other news outlets) need to think about if they want to live in that world, or be relegated to the history books and and a steadily aging viewership. Which sort of describes their present now, doesn't it?

Published Monday, August 18, 2008 7:16 AM by FrankShaw

Comments

 

Jeff said:

Too true. I've really enjoyed watching the Olympics - on the Canadian channel CBC. To play off Cuban's post, timeliness trumps resolution. I sacrifice HD quality as CBC comes to me in analog, but at least get to see live events as they happen with no chance for spoilers. It's almost comical to switch back to NBC and see events broadcast that I saw live hours before. What are they thinking?

August 18, 2008 5:03 PM
 

Marianne Allison said:

I am not sure I agree that realtime is all that compelling for people in crazy time zones relative to the events (like the USA).  For me this is ALL about time shifting!!    There is just no way you can watch them all anyway, so it's all about managing the choices and making them work within my schedule.

I look at the programming of events across the multiple channels carrying them (some channels cover more obscure sports than others) and then DVR and watch the ones I want on my own timetable.  And I really have used the MSN videos a lot.  I watched the entire Germany/USA basketball game (without commentary--more like going to the game then actually watching it on TV) a few nights ago on my PC.   I confess I make my decisions partly on the basis of learning through news coverage what the really good games/events were.   And resolution matters--it's so much about the drama of the face shots, seeing the athletic bodies, etc.   So I think I represent at least some portion of Olympics consumers in not being able to rearrange my life around the Olympics and finding plenty of opportunities to get the content I want and watch it when convenient.

August 20, 2008 3:39 PM

Leave a Comment

(required) 
(optional)
(required) 

WE reserves the right to refuse to post or to edit or remove, in whole or in part, any Information that is, in WE's sole discretion, unacceptable, undesirable or in violation of these rules.
Submit

Syndication



» Blogs that link here
» View my profile

Powered by Technorati