Jeff Bewkes: Broadcast Networks "May Not Survive"

The Daily Beast:

He's far less sanguine about free TV--a dinosaur awaiting a meteor strike.

"The broadcast networks have fewer people watching, for shorter times of day, lower and declining ratings; they have reducing revenue from advertising, they have declining programming budgets and lower earnings, so they have fewer of the scripted shows than they used to have. So therefore their business model is becoming increasingly not viable. If you look at broadcast networks, which are the only ones in TV that have 'free' aspect, if they don't get some form of carriage fee, they may not survive."

Read the whole story: The Daily Beast

Comments

[the evil zargos]

free tv? what the heck is that? In this day and age, anyone with a good HD cam can make a good quality film. THE BEST IS YET TO COME!! (the only people I know that watch TV are old, sedentary and quite like my Mother...L­OL) (she's about a thousand)

[Crass Innuendo]

Books are better. Of course, considering the offered programming, a punch in the face is also better.

[hypnotoad72]

Maybe more people are out of work and being "underemployed" and don't have time to watch television?

With this "new economy", one issue is being glossed over: People spending money and having the money to spend and the time to watch all the luscious, adjective-filled advertisem­ents...

[Shaddup]

Time Warner may not survive. Broadcast TV just needs a new business model. Stop worshiping greed. REAL information and entertainment are power.

[hypnotoad72]

Ah, the arts. Real arts. Not manufactured claptrap.

100% agreement.

[talkingdog]

Diane Sawyer is coming to the ABC nightly news,.....­.doesn't that say it right there?!

[hypnotoad72]

Yet cable TV prospers. And at the cost of cable, they won't be far behind...

[blueknight41]

all you NON TV watchers whined up going too tea parties listening to Glen the carnival barker Beck lol

[Cogs]

Networks will fail if they continue to serve pablum to adults. Television has a rich history of great comedies,dramas and investigative reports. Don't give up simply because the ratings reflect people are not interested in your current offerings. Improve the product.

[imsosure]

I think you have nailed the issue perfecly.

[hypnotoad72]

And a lot of inane drivel too.

Good shows exist, but consider this:

CBS: 1970. "All in the Family".

CBS: 2000. "Survivor".

One of them is rich (worst adjective ever, but whatever :-) ).

One of them is mindless slop.

[rain33]

cbs got more drama shows than abc and nbc combined. the shows from 70s were making cbs rich while actors had to fought for writing and pay increases. but they still making money so i believe that broadcast networks will survive. abc and nbc needs alot of improvement instead putting on corny comedy shows that aren't working right now!

[Roseberry]

If network TV goes, so will you town's local TV news. They have a symbiotic relationship. Why do local TV broadcast stations exist, but to give us this stuff?
Right now our local nightly news promotes network shows every night....

[blueknight41]

they 've cut the six o clock news on weekends already on our CBS affiliate

[GoodFeathers]

The last time I watched local or major network news is about fifteen years ago. I get my news from internet these days.

[oceanlover]

And that's supposed to be a bad thing?!

[kidolympic]

tell us what the internet looks like in 20 years; news always sells.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7aN2AopyZc&feature=related

[Paw1]

sorry, meant "that will only happen for those that own the pipe"

[Paw1]

Another genius that thinks that consumers habituated by years of forking over cable and broadband sub fees in exchange for content will be ready and willing to pay even more fees for that content - with commercials. Sorry, Jeff, that will only have for those that own the pipe - and you just sold yours.

[reader110]

Maybe if they aired something other than reality shows people would watch.

[condor101]

I don't feel sorry for network T.V.
They are full of grabage programming.

I cancelled my cable 8 years ago and saved over $5,000.
I don't watch any T.V. at all and have time to READ.

I get my news from the internet on sites like Huff Post.
I watch movies from dvd's from my library...­.for free.

No sympathies for T.V. and their ilk.

[hypnotoad72]

We need more like you.

Literacy should be encouraged.

Lots of things should be encouraged.

And lots of other things shouldn't be encouraged too...

[Shaddup]

Bravo! Especially the 'reading' part.