WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 2021 - MEDIA / ENTERTAINMENT

 WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 2021 - MEDIA / ENTERTAINMENT

I started this week looking at the growth of media. With the internet, there is an abundance of television channels, blogs, forums, discussions, groups, and opinions.  Then there is the multitude of streaming channels - Netflix, Roku, Hulu, Disney, Discovery, Peacock (NBC), and many others.  Space is filling up.  (As you know I don’t have television, so I’m not even sure what is out there!!) 

Back to our basic definitions of entertainment is:

the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment. "everyone just sits in front of the TV for entertainment"

Yes - there are many options for our entertainment dollar.  (Many before COVID).  Let’s say you have $300 a month for entertainment - you can have cable television, go to some movies, stream some content, go to sporting events, or … (gasp) entertain yourself!!!  You could play bridge, dance, hike, run, play tennis or many other options for YOUR entertainment.  [Note, you don’t have to be a “couch potato”!!.  

Entertainment - what do you like?  How much are you willing to pay for it?  Is $20 for a movie ticket too high?  Is $5 for a ticket too low?  How much would you pay for a SuperBowl Ticket?   

I want to stick with television for today and tomorrow.

“FOLLOW THE MONEY”

Back to the money argument.  The higher the number of viewers, the larger the ratings, the higher the rations, the most the network can charge for advertising and the advertisers like that as they are reaching more people.  

Now - to my political point (can I do this?)

It seems like the election and our county - we are in a CIVIL WAR - and it is being influenced by the media.  I’m using FoxNews and MSNBC for my examples today.  

So Fox or MSNBC need sponsors to pay for ads, and they have money to pay their bills - and their owners get a return on their money.  Of course, television channels get revenue based on viewership.  The more viewers, the more the channel can charge for advertisement spots.  

In recent years, political pundits have tried to be more outlandish - “DID YOU HEAR WHAT GOVERNOR XYZ DID?”  WATCH OUR EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF TED CRUZ’S TRIP TO CANCUN”: The bigger the name, the bigger the headlines, the bigger the impact on viewers, the better the ratings!!

The intent is to gain more viewers - and being “blah” doesn’t do it”.  Over the years, weathermen wore bold and crazy ties.  I know of a weatherman that had listeners send in their crazy ties for him (and he, of course, mentioned them on the air!!).  I remember a newsman that had kind of a monotone delivery - and didn’t attract many viewers. 

So, how do you attract more viewers and how do you get their eyeballs glued to your programming, and pouring all those advertisements into your ears?

My opinion is that BOLD, BRASH, IN-YOUR-FACE gets viewers.  

Sports teams have fans.  The term fans is short for “fanatics”.  Sports teams love fans - that dress up in the team’s uniforms, go to the games (and pay the admission price), buy $10 hot dogs, and $8 cups of beer.  The bigger the fan base, the larger the attendance at games, and the larger the television viewing audience - and the more income - to pay higher prices for players. (Note, the New York Yankees have done this well).

Did you ever watch professional wrestlers?  Now there is an act.  When the camera is on, they are berating their opponents. With Muhammud Ali, he had poems “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” 

At some point a while back, I heard somebody mention FoxNews and MSNBC as ENTERTAINMENT media outlets!!!  

And, MS-NBC and FoxNews do keep their viewers (or their FANS).  And, that keeps their income! RATINGS, RATINGS, RATINGS.  

To me, it is a balancing of innuendo and news. A commentator can bring up a topic “Today <Representative ABC> did<XYZ>.  Then the commentator brings in an “expert” on that subject.  Experts come from both sides.  Let’s say the issue is Russia - you can have Pro-Russia experts and anti-Russia experts.  And, these experts will be exciting, in-your-face - and make sure we know that representative ABC did a terrible thing - that can really undermine all of America; or that Representative ABC  did an excellent thing - that can lead to lasting peace and prosperity.

The program is very entertaining - maybe you can have experts on both sides - yelling at each other (like boxers just to do).  Again, entertainment.  

For entertainment value, it seems to me like FoxNews and MSNBC really like vilifying the Democrats or Republicans (depending on the focus).  In the past four years, Donald Trump has been the evil person (at least on MSNBC) and Nancy Pelosi has been the evil person (at least on FoxNews) - and it is great entertainment.  

Now, you can find fault with almost anybody for almost anything.  Yes, you can find fault with me (for a lot of things!!!)  A FAN loves his/her team; a FAN loves his/her political views; a FAN can get rabid about their views.

When I lived in Connecticut, the BIG rivalry was the New York Yankees against the Boston Red Sox.  Call-in sports shows (another type of entertainment) would love or hate their team (or the coach, or particular players).

*****

My education says “Follow the Money” - and, political commentators are “entertainers” and invoke people to watch their programs - and see their advertisements - and maybe somebody will buy the products!!!

(Tongue-in-cheek) I used to tell my students they needed to learn to point their fingers.  In that case, they could point at the hardware (we need more hardware, this is too slow to keep up); or the network/infrastructure (our network let us down AGAIN); programmers (obviously there is a flaw in the application programming); and even other countries (China/North Korea/Russia have been hacking our systems).  

So, time for a perspective:

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.  Ephesians 4:2 

Bible Gateway Matthew 7. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 

Ten days ago was Washington’s Birthday.  George Washington advised American citizens to view themselves as a cohesive unit and avoid political parties and issued a special warning to be wary of attachments and entanglements with other nations.  Obviously, we have not followed his warning!!

And, walk a mile in their shoes!!!

More tomorrow. 

LOVE WINS!!!

HUGS!!

Karen