Someone needs to ask Eric Boehlert if he wants some cheese to go with that whine.
This time, the complaint is that network execs don't want to give the TOTUS free airtime for his campaigning. Boehlert is either stupid or deliberately obtuse:
The Hollywood Reporter goes big today with a long article about how entertainment execs at the nets hate pre-empting their schedules for Obama's primetime pressers. About how the nets are losing millions of dollars in ad revenue, although actually, as the HR explains, the money's not actually lost, those commercials pre-empted by the press conference are just shifted to other times slots. But still.
The whole thing's a hoot and I suggest you go read it for real insight to our media culture and TV execs who make their living using the public airwaves for free.
Wow, is that a mouthful of stupid or what?
First, networks sell ads at certain rates for particular time slots. You pay a whole lot more for an ad to run at 8 p.m. EST than at 2 a.m. EST. Why? Because the prices are based on the number of eyeballs watching, that's why. So, if execs say they lose millions, it's because advertisers get snippy when their ads don't run during the time periods they are paid to run. Networks end up either having to give extra ad spaces or make other deals to satisfy advertisers.
Second, the notion that networks simply use the "free airwaves" without compensation to the government is ridiculous. Ever pay taxes, Eric? That's your token to the king, buddy, and television networks pay 'em just like you do. They also have license fees they pay for the privilege of airing Desperate Housewives and Survivor. On top of that, there are reams of regulations they must follow, which dictate what kind of programming they run, when they run it, how much of it they have, and so on and so forth.
This idea that the moonbat set has regarding media--they're all *gasp!* big, scary corporations that just rake in the cash--is bogus and designed only for the mushy-brained minions who read the drivel at Media Matters.
And, no, it isn't April Fool's Day, but this is the only post I'll make defending MSM for a while, probably.
|