Comments on: A Lesson in Content and Distribution http://fauxrealtho.com/2007/08/29/a-lesson-in-content-and-distribution/ Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:18:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Linnaeus http://fauxrealtho.com/2007/08/29/a-lesson-in-content-and-distribution/#comment-89960 Linnaeus Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:52:56 +0000 http://fauxrealtho.com/2007/08/29/a-lesson-in-content-and-distribution/#comment-89960 And broadcast TV as we know it is going the way of all flesh as most standard bandwidth will be sold off in the next 8-10 years. I haven't followed this issue very much, though I am a sports fan. That said, it seems to me that it's best to offer the BTN as an option rather than raising every viewer's bill. And broadcast TV as we know it is going the way of all flesh as most standard bandwidth will be sold off in the next 8-10 years.

I haven’t followed this issue very much, though I am a sports fan. That said, it seems to me that it’s best to offer the BTN as an option rather than raising every viewer’s bill.

]]> By: Hugo http://fauxrealtho.com/2007/08/29/a-lesson-in-content-and-distribution/#comment-89708 Hugo Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:30:51 +0000 http://fauxrealtho.com/2007/08/29/a-lesson-in-content-and-distribution/#comment-89708 I definitely long for packaging. I'm a huge sports fan, and will watch some of the minor sports avidly (men's cross country, women's softball). If there were a Pac-10 network, I'd be eager for it. What worries me is that we're moving towards a two-tiered (maybe three-tiered) system in this country: broadcast TV (with little on but reruns and junky local news and awful reality programs), basic cable (which, Jill's Other Boyfriend excepted, is getting schlockier by the minute) and premium cable (which gives us Sopranos-like programming). Those of us who are huge sports fans with DirectTV can get the special sports packages which are worth every penny, but they cost a lot of pennies. A common culture vanishes. I definitely long for packaging. I’m a huge sports fan, and will watch some of the minor sports avidly (men’s cross country, women’s softball). If there were a Pac-10 network, I’d be eager for it.

What worries me is that we’re moving towards a two-tiered (maybe three-tiered) system in this country: broadcast TV (with little on but reruns and junky local news and awful reality programs), basic cable (which, Jill’s Other Boyfriend excepted, is getting schlockier by the minute) and premium cable (which gives us Sopranos-like programming). Those of us who are huge sports fans with DirectTV can get the special sports packages which are worth every penny, but they cost a lot of pennies.

A common culture vanishes.

]]> By: Ed Finkler http://fauxrealtho.com/2007/08/29/a-lesson-in-content-and-distribution/#comment-89482 Ed Finkler Thu, 30 Aug 2007 03:45:50 +0000 http://fauxrealtho.com/2007/08/29/a-lesson-in-content-and-distribution/#comment-89482 http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/08/29/big-ten-network-strikes-deal-with-insight/ Let this be yet another reason why I am dreading the Comcast takeover in Indiana. I've not been a huge fan of Insight, but the level of assfuckery employed is minimal compared to Comcast, who like to do shit like completely block certain file transfer technologies (http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/07/08/18/1138224.shtml). Cable companies, especially Comcast, are certainly not above astroturfing techniques: http://consumerist.com/consumer/fake-consumers-with-fake-opinions/comcast-caught-astroturfing-about-big-ten-channel-292271.php http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/where-is-a-la-carte-cable/fcc-chairman-kevin-martin-suspects-astroturfing-by-cable-companies-294736.php I'm certainly not arguing that BTN isn't being a little ridiculous with their demands to be put on the analog side of things, but it certainly goes both ways. And actually, a majority of BigTen games don't get ESPN or other network broadcasts, especially in basketball. BTN would be by far the best place to see, for example, Purdue men's and women's basketball games, unless they happen to be playing a team with national recognition. Even major football programs (which doesn't include Purdue or Indiana) typically don't have their games against smaller schools broadcast, and it looks like BTN will be covering many of those: http://bigten.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061907aae.html As for ala-carte packages -- the technology already is there in digital cable and satellite systems, and none of the players offer true ala-carte options. Packaging is more profitable, so there's little motivation to offer the consumer more choice. http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/08/29/big-ten-network-strikes-deal-with-insight/

Let this be yet another reason why I am dreading the Comcast takeover in Indiana. I’ve not been a huge fan of Insight, but the level of assfuckery employed is minimal compared to Comcast, who like to do shit like completely block certain file transfer technologies (http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/07/08/18/1138224.shtml).

Cable companies, especially Comcast, are certainly not above astroturfing techniques:

http://consumerist.com/consumer/fake-consumers-with-fake-opinions/comcast-caught-astroturfing-about-big-ten-channel-292271.php

http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/where-is-a-la-carte-cable/fcc-chairman-kevin-martin-suspects-astroturfing-by-cable-companies-294736.php

I’m certainly not arguing that BTN isn’t being a little ridiculous with their demands to be put on the analog side of things, but it certainly goes both ways.

And actually, a majority of BigTen games don’t get ESPN or other network broadcasts, especially in basketball. BTN would be by far the best place to see, for example, Purdue men’s and women’s basketball games, unless they happen to be playing a team with national recognition. Even major football programs (which doesn’t include Purdue or Indiana) typically don’t have their games against smaller schools broadcast, and it looks like BTN will be covering many of those:

http://bigten.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061907aae.html

As for ala-carte packages — the technology already is there in digital cable and satellite systems, and none of the players offer true ala-carte options. Packaging is more profitable, so there’s little motivation to offer the consumer more choice.

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