tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17866328546839487512024-03-05T08:20:27.886-06:00DC to White LightBlogs that relate to broadcast and new media technology. Thoughts on technical, legal, and business aspects of media that affect folks in media.MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-78799180456758696082021-10-28T15:22:00.000-05:002021-10-28T15:22:34.849-05:00Tha Calm Act is Back...<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;">It's been awhile. Issue wasn't covid. I was being held in my Skippy place. I was able to escape but there's still some peanut butter stuck to the roof of my mouth.<br /><br />Seriously! I can back into how that campaign got its start. Client says something like, "Peanut butter. It's comfort food. Find a way to 'suggest' that to the masses." Agency goes to work. Six campaigns get shot down. <i>"Skippy. It's couch food."</i> "Skippy: Better 'n guy/women." <i>"Sleep with Skippy."</i> "It's Grandma's rocker. It's Skippy." <i>"You're never alone with Skippy."<span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAuXAM-g2wYHj1xV3zeWZcpz1fJtms_3GnavYfHwh9iEe73s23MnuK7VSoUdWLK4vZrhyphenhyphenMiai7ZyqAIz3IWXddGcblVX46SE-32mL0qNWnt18MxxkuTENcHipQAzmMaceOuKQ4ar82B8-/s727/skippybedcropped.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Skippy Comfort Bed" border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="727" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAuXAM-g2wYHj1xV3zeWZcpz1fJtms_3GnavYfHwh9iEe73s23MnuK7VSoUdWLK4vZrhyphenhyphenMiai7ZyqAIz3IWXddGcblVX46SE-32mL0qNWnt18MxxkuTENcHipQAzmMaceOuKQ4ar82B8-/w320-h194/skippybedcropped.jpg" title="The Skippy Comfort Bed" width="320" /></a></span></i> "Gimme a Skug." (Skippy Hug)<br /><br />Wait! A Skippy <i>place</i>. It was just a Fido Dido doodle on a napkin that one of the creative team held up during a Zoom meeting. "That's it! Board it."<br /><br />See a couple of paragraphs above...Seriously!? I guess I'm an old cynic. Maybe you can make Skippy a comfort food. In fact, for me, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches count. So does beef stew - or apple pie. But I don't want to go to my apple pie place. Too big a leap. Just sayin'.<br /><br />Phew. Past that. Now to the lede I buried. The CALM Act. Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act. In force since December 13, 2012. Passed by congress (translation: politicians). That should tell you all you need to know. My comments back then still stand <a href="http://scopefocus.blogspot.com/2012/12/everyone-stay-calm-im-in-charge-here.html" target="_blank">(here)</a>.<br /><br />The new inquiry is again at the hands of congress. In essence, the question asked is, "Why isn't it working?" That's 9 years later. Thousands of dollars of equipment installed in every station in order to be compliant with rules. And GM's, programming execs and engineers could thump their collective chest. They did, while the loudness issue continued.<br /><br />Hey congress: (Yes, I know. Third time I've used the word and it should be upper case. No. They don't deserve it.) You're trying to legislate against the laws of physics. You're trying to create a one-size-fits-all solution.<br /><br />Full disclosure: I dislike overly loud commercials as much as the next person. But I also understand the issues - dialog vs music, peak versus average, audio spectrum used in the commercials and the programming that bookends them. AI may eventually get it done but, for now, the existing mandated gear can't. It's a stupid law that has no way of being enforced. Oh, sure, you can catch the stations that don't have their gear in place and fine them. But for those who do have the gear, proving they're in violation is nearly impossible. It's subjective and it's fleeting. Record it as evidence? Where? How? What equipment? What characteristics have changed? Yeah, I can go on with that list for a long time. So congress: stop passing stupid laws. If that bothers you, go to your Skippy place.</span><p></p><p></p>MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-2040152556773936432020-08-19T12:20:00.000-05:002020-08-19T12:20:01.739-05:00Music - It Never Stops<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">FADE IN</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">THE PLUSH OFFICE OF AN AD AGENCY CREATIVE TYPE. NIGHT</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Two people are swirling whatever they’re drinking over ice in glasses. One, Jonah, is shaking his head as he stares at his drink. Karchy, is slouched back in a recliner, staring at the ceiling. Karchy groans the dialog out.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> KARCHY<br /> Jonah, I just don’t get it. Every word in that spot<br /> is perfect. The visuals are great, there’s a call<br /> to action, and the inherent drama of the product <br /> is, well, dammit, it’s smack in your face. Why <br /> the hell would it test so poorly.</span> </div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div> </div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> JONAH<br /> (beat) …and bring the client’s wrath right down on<br /> the two of us?</span></div><div> </div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> KARCHY<br /> Exactly.</span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Their eyes meet and what should have been a return to their original positions turns to a lock on one another. They hold that pose for a number of seconds. Then what one would imagine to be am upcoming admission of love for one another brings something else.</span></p><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> KARCHY<br /> It’s (beat) it’s…</span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Jonah’s realization comes with great force.</span></p><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> JONAH<br /> It’s missing music! That’s what’s wrong. <i>We need </i><br /> <i>music</i>!</span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p><span> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>KARCHY</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> <br /></span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">I thought…</span></p><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> JONAH<br /> Think this. Think MUSIC. That’s what’ll SAVE (beat) </span></div><div> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">THIS (beat) SPOT.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">OK. The script you’ve just read is true. Well, it might be true. I mean, some of it’s true. Maybe it didn’t go down exactly like that but if you’ve seen any commercials in the last few months, you know that something like this has taken place in every shop – big or small – representing major and minor (and augmented and diminished) clients across the country. Everything has to have music under it. Even the Pre-poo™ toilet spray has music underneath. Wait. Is that music?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">It really isn’t new. In fact, here’s a story that I can attest to.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Toward the tail of last century. Chicago. A creative director in an agency is watching a commercial for a toaster pastry product. The spot is about as flat as the product. He looks at the writer, art director, and producer and says, “Get some music underneath it.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">They had me call a Chicago music creator. Pretty well-known guy. He comes over and we play the spot a number of times. As he stands in front of the RP screen in a darkened room you can see the outline of him waving his arm up and down, snapping his fingers. Then he starts to hum. “I got it. I got it.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Meeting over. He leaves and calls with a proposed session time. The creative guys go to the studio and come back with a new track. Voila. Music. Same words. Much better. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">They play it for the client. “Air it.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">So they put it on the air. By the end of the month, two things had happened. First, the outcall research showed it was still a bust. But, second, the client got a letter (remember, this was in the snail mail days) asking if they were aware that the music used in the spot was actually a Baptist hymn and what did they think they were doing, subverting/perverting and otherwise verting a sacred song.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Well, there was no need to go to a musicologist. It was the exact song. Pull the spot, apologize to letter writer, hang heads. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">But the thing did air with music. It’s just that the music did nothing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Now, back to today. I understand that, apparently, we’re all sad. We’re depressed. Covid has a bunch of us not working, we’re worried about tomorrow and the day after and on and on.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">But I am bothered by all the music in today’s media. I’ll start with commercials. It seems that every creative director is like the one I mentioned above. We need feel-good music to “set the mood” for our message. It’s flat out everywhere.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">And what’s the matter with that? I suppose taken alone, away from anything on either side, the spots may work though I have more on that below. Mashed together, though, different themes, different keys and rhythms 10, 15 or 30 seconds at a time gets pretty annoying. It just promotes psychological tuneout.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Give yourself an idea of the problem. Get a sheet of paper (a what?) and start tracking spots. Just write the word break and after it put an M or an N for each spot. M’s are for music, N’s for those with no music. There’s gonna be a lot of M’s and very few N’s. Go break-by-break. It isn’t tough.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Keep your ears open; you’ll hear a whole load of spots with music mixed under for no apparent reason. In so many cases, it has no relationship to the visual or spoken message. It’s just drivel. I’m not talking about those that creatively make use of a song with parody lyrics that make sense. What comes to mind is Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic. They picked up the refrain from <i>Magic</i> by Pilot and it’s changed to Oh Oh Oh O-zempic. And, son of a gun. The song plays right into the minds of most prospects – adults, often older, with diabetes. Does that not mesh with the 1974 date of the song. And the subliminal link of “it’s magic” to “Ozempic” is terrific, at least for this old guy. Same rhythm, same accents, no shoehorning or skipping of beats or pitches.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">At the same time, I could list 10 others right off the bat using 60s, 70s or any other pop song with zero tie-in to the product. In fact, the music probably detracts from the product if the takeaway in the viewers’ minds is the song and not the product. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">And how many oldies get used to sell to teens? Is it a smart thing? If they don’t recognize the song, is that good or bad? The lyrics are changed and if they fit, the listener will never know – but then what’s the value of paying a license fee for something that has no meaning. On the other hand, I’ve been to a bunch of street fairs<sup>1</sup>
and I am amazed at the 21+ crowd singing along with oldies from a cover band. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Of course, I suppose I could suggest that advertisers courting teens and young adults employ much more recent music but what? Brian McNight? Three 6 Mafia? Not a lot written in the last 10 years that’s upbeat, positive, and without some sort of objectionable lyric.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">One other point. Anyone remember this cardinal rule for mixing music: Never mix a vocal under dialog. Geez, Len, get your backside into the 21st century. To which I reply, “Yeah? Because it’s 2020 that makes it OK?” That issue is not one of taste. Nor is it one of creativity. It has to do with lyrics getting in the way of the message. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;">T<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">hough you might think that the minds of today can pluck out the message, why would you make them do that. I did a blog on the wonders of <a href="http://scopefocus.blogspot.com/2011/07/amazing-transducerfilterequalizer.html">human hearing</a> but when you’re trying to convey information, why put interference in the path.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">And a final note. I’m begging you guys, stop doing board fades in the middle of a phrase. If you have to do that, maybe time to rethink your talent. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">So the tracks keep comin’ whether their music relates to the product or not. The tube is teeming with them…no doubt because someone said the spot needed music to sell the product.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Coming up next time (or maybe after that) music in programming. That’s a fun one.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLjGlUMgbJQu69wrQFc0joJdRxQ9MEvNpQjSVxNO5KeAmw5_-gVVOrf8HpxsMo84UW42mGhVceybgpDDh2ZNuef6vrCtY9NCt1V4VIPkpWqS1bHFUMQdbTxC9zCzSF25uNmWppO0MTFfQ/s286/DennisHaysbert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dennis Haysbert" border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="286" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLjGlUMgbJQu69wrQFc0joJdRxQ9MEvNpQjSVxNO5KeAmw5_-gVVOrf8HpxsMo84UW42mGhVceybgpDDh2ZNuef6vrCtY9NCt1V4VIPkpWqS1bHFUMQdbTxC9zCzSF25uNmWppO0MTFfQ/w200-h99/DennisHaysbert.jpg" title="Courtesy Allstate Insurance" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dennis Haysbert (R)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Aside: Hats off to Allstate Insurance – 30 full seconds with zero music, relying on the copy and the authoritative voice of Dennis Haysbert to communicate the message.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.33px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">1</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> For those of you not familiar, a Street Fair is a historic gathering of people, usually with lots of food tents, beer stands, local merchants' tents, and a few pandering politicians. At the ends of the closed-off street there are bands - yes, live bands, people dancing in the street with no masks and much closer than the six-foot minimum.</span></span><br /></div><div><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-18817612590942629642019-11-30T18:15:00.001-06:002019-11-30T18:15:41.968-06:00Don't Worry About the Chinese
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK. Now what's he
prattling on about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, please note, this is NOT a political commentary. Maybe more of an open letter to explain that
everyone has a stance on trading with the Chinese. "There's a huge trade imbalance." "They steal our intellectual
property." "They want to
destroy us." "They don't buy
anything of value from us." Hit a
search engine and you'll find all sorts of reasons to trade and to not trade
with China. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Currently, we're in a trade skirmish. Call it a war if you wanna. It has to do with
tariffs and our trying to get some reasonable balance of trade. I'd go on but I've already buried the lede,
as usual.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the bottom line.
We have nothing to worry about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">h-Why? h-Why, you
say? It's a simple answer: The Chinese haven't a clue about real world
economics or customer service. My proof?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIELhW6r5TBf5Ud3AISUj7Ik3gArqVWWs3w4S36Dqn9fnK4jfh0ad4ujfDmXESwvH7Mb4vtV9X2CgEwuk8uuPg1lYo4a4tRuuxl-4XnJefRyCcLClvd3LllhbwBI0ccCfk__uDTPZk0Pg/s1600/JackMa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="260" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIELhW6r5TBf5Ud3AISUj7Ik3gArqVWWs3w4S36Dqn9fnK4jfh0ad4ujfDmXESwvH7Mb4vtV9X2CgEwuk8uuPg1lYo4a4tRuuxl-4XnJefRyCcLClvd3LllhbwBI0ccCfk__uDTPZk0Pg/s200/JackMa.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 80%; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Jack Ma (Courtesy, CNBC)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of years back, I registered with Jack Ma's*
Alibaba. Never bought anything but
looked at various pieces of electronic equipment and their manufacture in
China. I was always afraid of the
"not quite" - like an EIA connection that's "not quite" 3
1/8" or a length of Cat5E line that was "not quite" wound
properly. Too many hassles. I got some promos from them [him] but not
much else. However, I did do a followup registration with
AliExpress, the so-called consumer-driven arm of Jack Ma's business.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, this past Tuesday, I realized that a particular item I
was looking for was, in fact, manufactured in China. I thought I'd give AliExpress a try. Good to have some experience should a vendor
or client talk about the service.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you think Alicia Silverstone was clueless, go to
AliExpress. Sign in, if you want
to. Fill your cart with any number of
items, many of which are really good buys since the US markup (not tariff,
markup) is pretty high.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have my experience, you'll see that there's a clock
telling you that the real sale will start in x days/hours. Wait till then and you can save a great deal
of money. For me it was about $40 on
$203 worth of purchases. And given that
those purchases would have totaled about $350 had I purchased from US
middlepeople, it was a great deal.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I clicked on all the coupons to redeem them. They all said "added" except one
which I finally figured out. Then it sat
for 3 days till Friday AM. I logged back
in. Had to jump thru all of the hoops
but it did pull up my list. So far so
good.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Left hand corner?
Clock said 00:00:00 to sale. Even
better. Once again, I clicked the
coupons. Once again they were
added. Then clicked on
"Buy". Oops. Can only buy one item. Hmmmmmm.
Well, that's OK, maybe that's the right thing to do anyway. See how this thing drives.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Picked one item that exceed its coupon minimum. Bought it...almost. In the checkout, it asked for the usual name,
address, etc. but, in this case, as you would expect, "Country."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click in the box. No
dropdown. OK. I can play this game. Entered "US" and it went blank with
a red "enter country" above it.
Next try? "USA". Nope.
Then, of course, "United States of America". No sir-ee.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know. I'll try Edge
instead of Firefox. Same experience.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Went looking for online help. If you scour the AliExpress site, you will
eventually get to a chat. (Holy
cow. I'm looking into the screen and I
can see eyes rolling to the ceiling.) I
opened "Eva". Eva was nice
enough to tell me that she/he (I don't know what his/her pronouns are) was busy
with someone else and would be along shortly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually she showed up. I explained everything and she
asked if I could send a screen shot. I
did. She recommended that I enter
"other" in the country slot.
Didn't work. Then she asked me to
clear the browser cache and cookies. I
reminded her that that would cost me a lot of time down the road with certain
accounts I have. She didn't get
that. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regardless, I went ahead.
Nothing. I told her that neither
Edge nor Firefox would show the dropdown.
Then the other 鞋子 dropped.
"Please download and install Incognito browser."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whaaaaaat?
"Excuse me. Are you telling
me that Jack Ma has had a system designed that only works with Google and
Incognito?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Please download Incognito."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I cannot"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Here is the link."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"No. I cannot
because I will not put a Google browser on any machine I have control
over."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You will need Incognito browser."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I think I can let you go help someone else. Please do us both a favor and send a copy of
this email to Jack Ma."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, we're safe. If
Jack Ma hasn’t figured it out, he soon will…he built it but we ain't comin'.<br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, granted, this is an inexact analysis. But the principle is there. Of course, if they do figure it out, then we throw the fickleness of American consumers at them. That'll buy us another 50 years.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* I'm using what I believe to be his full name since I'm not
sure if he's Westernized or if Ma is actually his pronome</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-83668597955393130792019-03-10T17:51:00.000-05:002019-03-11T14:49:17.544-05:00Why Are You Yelling At Me!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe I’m the only person annoyed by announcers screaming at
me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I don’t think that’s the case but I
don’t hear anyone complaining.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It makes
me wonder if this is just an age thing.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I wouldn’t think so, I mean, among millennials, parents yelling could be
considered child abuse so <i>that</i> demo must be attuned to yelling and its ill
effects.<br /><br />There was a time (What?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>You want “once upon a time”? “It was a dark and stormy night?”) when announcers
were trained to speak with their audience(s).<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The thinking was that he/she was a guest in the home of the viewer and
that he/she should be conversational – talking like a friend.<br /><br />I can recall live commercials in all sorts of shows from Ed
Sullivan to Milton Berle to Playhouse 90 and GE Theater.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In those commercials, the announcers actually
did behave like friends.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You can go back
and search for “cast commercials” to watch a few. <br /><br />The best example I can find is an episode of GE Theater where
Don Herbert, aka Mr. Wizard, is doing a sort of commercial demonstrating the
development of General Electric jet engines.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Even through the noise, Herbert is conversational in nature, talking
with the viewer instead of at us. You felt like he was a friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/GeneralElectricTheaterCommitted">https://archive.org/details/GeneralElectricTheaterCommitted</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(16:10 In)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_04qrq6rJl77luA_EeldFLBZjISrU0uXSBTgFUgBIA92b8w5KN4nh_zXFWfHazKDeP_0Y8cWOQZt9SlC4-dqT4R9az6CAkOEKm0cqkgh5lJz7Q3JKwr2src2o4tBQe1cVBvpemu_wkQM/s1600/billymaysamerika.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="144" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_04qrq6rJl77luA_EeldFLBZjISrU0uXSBTgFUgBIA92b8w5KN4nh_zXFWfHazKDeP_0Y8cWOQZt9SlC4-dqT4R9az6CAkOEKm0cqkgh5lJz7Q3JKwr2src2o4tBQe1cVBvpemu_wkQM/s1600/billymaysamerika.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fast forward to today and what the heck happened?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Was it Billy Mays?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did his screaming/yelping so bake his infomercials
into viewers’ minds that standing out by being annoying became a requirement
for any commercial?<br /><br />Was it that the commercial had to be louder than anything
around it?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There’s a lot to that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And, of course, that led to The CALM act –
legislation against the laws of physics and psychoacoustics.<br /><br />Here’s the funny thing – it’s possible to yell softly. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m talking about the type of yelling where
the talent speaks in an overly loud manner then his/her level is controlled so
that it’s within FCC modulation limits<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If the level is controlled, how do we know that someone is
yelling?<sup>1</sup><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Without going into great detail, the larynx develops
different levels and ratios of fundamental and harmonic tones depending on the
amount of air being pushed past.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s
the same as overblowing a horn The harmonics can get heavy and rough so that
yelling gives a far different takeaway to the viewer than normal conversation.<br /><br />Bottom line, yelling often makes the listener think you are
angry at him/her.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And that said, why
would I want to make someone angry while I’m telling him/her something I want
to be believed?<span style="margin: 0px;"> <br /></span>I want to take this one step further.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I sense this type of delivery in other “to-camera”
presentations, too.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Newscasters.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Standups.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Sportscasters.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Sportscasters.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And did I say
sportscasters?<br /><br />I have a theory about why.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>At one time, television worked with some pretty wide lenses.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(I saw that eyebrow go up…but hang with
me.)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We did it for a number of reasons,
not the least of which was the dolly.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A
move on a long lens often put shake in the image as the pedestal rolled across
the floor.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That meant using wider lenses
so the cameras could make hot dollies.<br /><br />Enter the zoom lens.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Dolly
is out, zoom is in.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Why should they
dolly?<sup>2</sup><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instead, the cameras
are parked – sometimes even locked off – in positions that produce a pleasing perspective,
reduce the chance of shooting off the set, keep the cameras at a distance that
would allow equipment and cables to pass in front, lessen the visible motion of
the presenter’s eyes when reading a prompter, and otherwise satisfy the set
designer’s vision.<br /><br />If you look at some of the productions, it’s obvious that
the camera is back and zoomed in for the proper framing rather than set up
close and zoomed back.<sup>3</sup><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s usually
a pretty long distance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So, what
happens?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The presenter is imagining that
he/she is talking to someone 15 or more feet away.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That presenter doesn’t think about that
lapel/lav/boom mic that’s, at most, a couple of feet away, tucked nicely out of
frame.<br /><br />The psychological effect on the presenter is that he/she
tries to do his/her best to communicate to that imaginary viewer behind the
lens – a long distance away.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The voice
becomes strident and loud and becomes unfriendly.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Friendly or not, it’s not the least bit
inviting.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you want to prove it to yourself, first look at dramatic
dialog and commercial breaks with the CALM Act in place.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When two actors are a foot apart, talking to
one another, the voice characteristics are such that the laws of congress get
blown away by the laws of physics.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If,
by chance, the segue to a commercial break is to a standup presenter,that presenter
will sound louder, dialnorm, BS1770, be damned.<br /><br />If you listen to that same commercial running in a newscast,
the level is probably indistinguishable from the preceding presenter’s
delivery.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Go figure, eh?<br /><br />What to do about it?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Well we could do nothing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I mean,
who cares how people feel about a presenter or product on a subliminal
level?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We could keep in mind camera
distance and work with presenters – of which there are many more and most with
little real education about audio – to get them to talk in a more
conversational tone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Talking more
conversationally won’t lower the station’s modulation level; you’ll still be as
loud as before but with a smile rather than a frown.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It might even move an additional 2012 Honda
Civic off the lot or attract a couple more viewers to a newscast.<span style="margin: 0px;"> <br /></span>Just sayin’.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></sup> <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140506094441.htm"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140506094441.htm</span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 6px; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 </span></sup>If
you don’t know the difference between a zoom and dolly, check this <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a href="https://youtu.be/AKOxbCx1LNc"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://youtu.be/AKOxbCx1LNc</span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">3</span></sup>If you start with that “perspective distortion
of wide lenses", we’re going to get into it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span>MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-41484301216568077762018-07-27T17:23:00.000-05:002018-07-27T17:23:08.005-05:00A Tale of Two Idiots<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By idiots, I’m talking about the web design and marketing
folks for two online sellers of major appliances.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Washing machine went out in the “getaway” house – a place
that isn’t visited frequently.<span> </span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw2w05yxzbE9L-P9decn2QVQ3k0rrKNeAHjfFtWWeXQpUMrLqRENyvI6XhqLELEX4aEKjnp9GRgN5YazWcT-NS0LNqezXfWchotAS-yCvAr59cQjxOgKRbBomqRR8SzP6heLkxSK5N1wh/s1600/Washer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="227" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw2w05yxzbE9L-P9decn2QVQ3k0rrKNeAHjfFtWWeXQpUMrLqRENyvI6XhqLELEX4aEKjnp9GRgN5YazWcT-NS0LNqezXfWchotAS-yCvAr59cQjxOgKRbBomqRR8SzP6heLkxSK5N1wh/s200/Washer.jpg" width="141" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
repairman (repairperson?) came, bowed his head and shook holy water on the old
one and I wanted to get a replacement installed before leaving for a few weeks.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So I logged on.<span>
</span>Searched the majors looking for what I needed and found it.<span> </span>A one-type-each white agitator driven top loading
washing machine with 4 stars or better. $499 at one site.<span> </span>It had a snipe that said “Today only, $479.”<span> </span>That was better than the $519 on another site
though both had free delivery.<span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I took the $499.<span> </span>Went
through the process.<span> </span>Stuck it into the
cart and went through checkout.<span> </span>At that
point, it added $55 delivery.<span> </span>I backed
up, checked my work, and went at it again.<span>
</span>Same results.<span> </span>Lo and behold the
bottom of the page.<span> </span>Phones manned
(sorry, I just can’t say “personed”) till 2AM EDT.<span> </span>I called.<span>
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I think I know,” the voice at the other end of the phone
said, after I navigated the maze that they call a phone tree.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“OK”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“The twenty dollars off put you below the four-ninety-nine
minimum for free shipping.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“So your discount is going to cost me thirty five dollars
more than without the discount.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Yes.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Can you fix that?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He wasn’t even contrite.<span>
</span>“No.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Can you sell it at the regular price?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“No.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Well, can you do me one favor?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“What’s that?”<span> </span>Now he
was bored. I could tell but I woke him up.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“When I hang up, would you send an email to your chief
marketing officer, webmaster, and the crack MBA that’s overseeing your sales
policies telling them that you lost a five hundred dollar sale and then explain
what happened?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There was a long pause then, amazingly, he asked, “So you
don’t want the washer?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“This call’s being recorded, right?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Yes.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Then, no.<span> </span>And
further, this type of stupidity reflects on the entire company and makes me
reconsider any future purchases from you.<span>
</span>Please tell ‘em that, too, would you?”<span>
</span>Maybe those weren’t the exact words.<span>
</span>I was a little harsher.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The call ended.<span> </span>As I
was talking, I was already on to the other tab.<span>
</span>“Five-nineteen it is,” I thought to myself.<span> </span>“But look, free installation if I have them
haul off the old washer.”<span> </span>I was going to
do that anyway so, good.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I went through the purchase.<span>
</span>During checkout, I saw the price change to $545 and change.<span> </span>I looked around on the page.<span> </span>Aha.<span>
</span>Here it is:<span> </span>The free installation
only applied if I bought their new stainless steel reinforced hoses at
$29.99.<span> </span>OK.<span> </span>I get it.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Backtrack.<span> </span>Tell them
never mind on the installation.<span> </span>I
figured they still had to take out the old one to remove it.<span> </span>Finally, I got through checkout – at least as
far as the credit card.<span> </span>There was no
place for me to give separate delivery and billing addresses.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, look at that – a chat box popped up.<span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Enter your name,” it said.<span>
</span>So I did.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Yes. Len.<span> </span>Let me
help you.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I could put the whole transcript here but let me
summarize.<span> </span>He had a form pop up in the
chat box that allowed me to pay.<span>
</span>Except.<span> </span>Nope.<span> </span>Didn’t like a different billing address.<span> </span>For the heck of it, I tried entering the
delivery address as the billing address.<span>
</span>That prompted a fraud alert text from my bank.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tried a couple of other ideas and nothing worked but while
chatter and chattee were at it, chattee was on the phone with his bank.<span> </span>I explained what I was trying to do.<span> </span>Well, the bank got it done.<span> </span>It took about 15 additional minutes but it’s
done.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So it’s in, did four fine loads of laundry in day one.<span> </span>I’m happy except for the fact that it took me
more time to buy online than had I gone the store.<span> </span>Of course, had I experienced the silliness
that they foisted upon me while in the retail establishment, I may have had
additional charges from a bail bondsman. (Once again with the person/man
thing.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This just in:<span> </span>I
called a tree service a little after 5.<span>
</span>Got the answering service.<span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“XXX tree service.” </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Is the service or their answering service?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Answering service.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Could you have them call me in the morning?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“May I ask what this call is regarding?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wanted to say that my coconut palm won’t talk to me but I
held back.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-42666427854322664092018-03-05T12:13:00.000-06:002018-03-05T16:42:36.697-06:00If Bricks and Mortar Acted This Way...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I walked into Macy's yesterday. Zigzagging my way toward the casual shirts, a sales guy threw himself in front of me. He held up the Sunday FSI with Macy's sales items. He started his sell job on the first one. I gave him a strange look and tried to walk past.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instead of letting me continue toward the shirts, he flipped to another item. Then another. After turning down 4 or 5 items, he finally asked where I was heading. I told him "shirts" and he proceeded to describe everything they had. At least he was allowing me to make my way in that direction even though I had to put up with his dogged selling.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I got to the shirts and found out that they were strewn out on the floor. You had to guess where your size might be - no categories like neck size or sleeve length. Even colors were mixed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After about 5 minutes, I gave up and left. Down the street, I found the same shirt - and did so by walking in the front door and looking at the store map which clearly identified where products were located. Up the escalator and to the right and there they were. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Macys visit kinda tired me out so I wanted to grab a bite. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyHSpk2VTwFxVdYk0fCrz1kLsgxHPTbj_j-6gRjRftJWa-dR1rMEoQGJIMSA8OdXcmlC2aDEvwimckYUjTlTJ4QHtQu_8BcmSJiNCfgdPJVeIa638DYTVun5epvUU4vKm2ZW9s0tTnHAP/s1600/RestaurantCell-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyHSpk2VTwFxVdYk0fCrz1kLsgxHPTbj_j-6gRjRftJWa-dR1rMEoQGJIMSA8OdXcmlC2aDEvwimckYUjTlTJ4QHtQu_8BcmSJiNCfgdPJVeIa638DYTVun5epvUU4vKm2ZW9s0tTnHAP/s1600/RestaurantCell-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy PhotoStock, Modified</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I tried to enter the restaurant, a nice but firm person at the door asked for my name, age, and zip code. I asked her why she needed it. She had no answer but wouldn't let me through the air lock without telling her. I finally shouted through the Plexiglass, "If you need that, let me tell you that I'm just going to go across the street to Al's Grill. I can walk in, sit down and eat. She shrugged, turned, and walked away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Al's was closed. Tail between legs, I crossed the street and knocked on the door again. After trading my name, age and zip (which, by the way, she could have gotten - along with lots more demo info - at the end of the meal from my credit card) she opened the second door and showed me to a seat. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A very ornate menu was handed to me along with the request for a drink order. When I asked for an unsweetened tea, the waiter asked if I might prefer a beer. He said they had a great microbrewery in the back and I'd love it. I turned it down. He came with my tea and took my order, but not before recommending three other entrees which I also said no to. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the plate came, I noticed that under the porcelain was a logo for a car dealership with an actual ad printed there. It kinda bothered me, shoveling mashed potatoes from around the driveshaft area of a new Lexus RV but I finished. Got the check, gulped the last of the tea, and put my credit card in the little folder. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The waiter grabbed it and immediately, his place in front of me was filled by a young man selling all sorts of odd items. I had to say no to five or six of them before he got the hint and stepped aside, allowing the waiter to return for my signature. I took the receipt and my card and vowed never to return.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Home! Turned on the water to make coffee. It was interesting - the water ran for about a minute then spurted a few times and quit. I had to turn it off and turn it back on a couple of times to get it flowing again. That happened for a few cycles and it also would stop then start again by itself.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I gave up. Turned the pot off and opened a bottle of water. Finally. Something simple...that worked.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's the deal: None of the above happened. Who would put up with it? But we seem to tolerate all of that - and worse - in our daily Internet lives. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sites put up barriers of all sorts to their pages. I call those designers the "Sales Prevention Department." Many of them may have come out of the supermarket world, you know, "Put the stuff people really want waaaaay at the back. Make them pass the cookies, desserts, ice cream, frozen pizza and anything else we can foist off on them before they can get to the milk."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A MAJOR streamer requires year of birth, zip, and gender in order to view/listen to a stream. Really? Maybe that's a fair trade? What if they asked you every time rather than setting a cookie to tell them that they already have the information? Yet it's happening all over. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then, instead of allowing you to go to the stream, there are prerolls, popovers (not the blueberry kind that I like, either), coverups, fly-bys and myriad other ads that get in the way. And they could deliver those without interrupting your stream.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This just in: a listserv I frequent had a posting of a URL with a "Hey, anyone tried these guys?" comment. I went to the site (carefully), looked at it, looked at it, looked one more time. "What do these guys do," I asked myself. The site danced around what they offered, even told me that there was a $50/mo plan that might be a great starter. But it did NOT say, "We provide THIS service to broadcasters." There was a great slide show that occupied the top half of the frame. Showed some folks with mics, others with computers. All had smiles so I figure that whatever the product, they were happy with it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was curious so I opened a ticket saying that I'd like to know about their product since their home page and the main links didn't really address that. I got the immediate automated "We'll be back to you shortly," response. A couple of days later, I received a real email saying, "Hi, and thanks for getting in touch. How can we help you today? Best regards, (name). That despite the fact that I had spelled out the issue, "What do you do?" So I responded, explaining again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, that one got an interesting response that started with (I'm not kidding, this is a quote) "I read your ticket. I'm not sure what more to say. If you seriously have no idea what we do, then it's likely the product isn't for you."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, grumpy old man that I am, I thanked him for the ES&D email (think about it) then told him I had done a quick SEO study and that the site A) relies for graphics to communicate and even then doesn't tell the story of what they do and B) doesn't state anything of what they do in HTML. Then told him that in my check, his Google ranking was way down - well below the 10th page, you know, that depth that none of us goes to unless we reeeeeally want to find something. The response was simple - they didn't need my business.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You may not realize it but your site may be telling prospects exactly the same thing without you even knowing. So, if you're a CEO, go to your site. I've said it before, even recommending that you take a bottle of your favorite liquor and a crying towel. Look at it as if you're arriving for the first time. What does it really tell you. And if you're head of marketing for one of these companies and you're happy with your site, you may want to look for someone who knows a little more about web users. (Hint: they act the same with bricks and mortar stores, restaurants, and service centers). It's your choice. I know that I've settled on a competitor to the unidentifiable site above. The unidentifiable site doesn't know that but apparently they don't need my business anyway.</span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-1667100142437790402018-02-07T16:09:00.000-06:002018-02-07T16:28:18.493-06:00Stay Calm, Take Your Drugs, and Do Parodies Right<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let’s pass a law to regulate physics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh wait, we already did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote about it in 2012, the passage of The
</span><a href="http://scopefocus.blogspot.com/2012/12/everyone-stay-calm-im-in-charge-here.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">CALM ACT</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you want to call it by its full name, that’d be </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Commercial Advertisement Loudness
Mitigation Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was Congress’
response to complaints to them and to the FCC about commercials being “too
loud.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can read the act and my
earlier blog for more but the bottom line is that this is another great example
of congress pandering to its constituents rather than explaining to them how
sound “works,” how ears “work,” and that some things can’t be mitigated</span></span></div>
<h1 style="margin: 0.67em 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Well, it’s 5
years later and, guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t
working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Millions of dollars of
equipment was installed to manage sound levels of commercials while TV viewers thought
that engineers were purposely “cranking up the gain” on the sound during
commercial breaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note that it doesn’t
address sound levels in programming.</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0.67em 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">W</span><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">hen I say it isn’t working, I mean that you can
still hear plenty of excessive loudness in commercials – yes, even with everything
in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what’s the deal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the first is the finger pointing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With about 18 percent of Americans watching
television over the air, it’s hard to deal with the other 82 percent who view
via cable, satellite or other delivery systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stations blame networks and cable carriers. Networks blame stations and
cable and all the rest of the permutations that go along with it.</span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0.67em 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have confirmation from two cable systems and one
satellite service that they have all of the equipment in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also have confirmation from 2 Chicago
stations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the deal is that you are
deemed compliant if you have the equipment installed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can a station get fined if they ignore the rule?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only if they don’t have the gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they do, it may be misadjusted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who’s to say what’s “louder?”</span></span></h1>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The whole thing ties back to “dialnorm” which
originated in the Dolby laboratories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
evolved to ATSC A/85 here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Europe’s
involvement got it to the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ITU as BS.1770.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re having trouble sleeping, check out
the latest <span id="goog_1518076251"></span><a href="http://www.scopefocus.com/R-REC-BS-1770-4-201510-IPDF-E.pdf" target="_blank">version here</a><span id="goog_1518076252"></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The craziness in all of this is that if you complain, the commission
will send a letter to the station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
station can then reply with, “Our equipment is in place and operating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We adhere to algorithm (insert your favorite
here) and that algorithm was in use while processing the signal at that
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our operator deemed that the audio
from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dan’s Used Cars and Aquarium Supplies </i>was within the prescribed limits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re right; you’re
wrong.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now what brought all that up was a series of spots
I heard more than once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think you’re
familiar with the practice now – buying spots that bookend a break (first and
last commercial in a pod).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One, for a
soft drink is particularly annoying in the first place but it’s clearly in
violation of the CALM act, at least psychoacoustically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they bought positions 1 and 6 (may be 1
and 8 or 9 in some breaks) just to bug me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You say, “Buck up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, you’re
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But again, the point is, you can
legislate against the laws of physics but they don’t have to follow your
legislation.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On to topic two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Europe may have gotten something right with their rules for advertising
pharmaceuticals over the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By and
large, it is severely limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
thinking is that doctors should know what is good for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You, however, can’t process all of the
information necessary to choose a particular drug or treatment.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our FDA decided in 1997 that people should know
about what’s out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, I get
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But many drugs have scores of side
effects that have to be managed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet,
big pharma can get folks really revved up about results that might be attained
when using an advertised drug.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJTHlEHORwGN_L5guF_kPuyWCJSL-PH1XSBBW2tNfkzaLunPrOGIM6mRJUJnYGY_xjljH14G82qcqEpoSRER8X_vQ1MSkpatL3I2al9lRUqx38yevNDpQcPg5Pjpb1T88vOaeWub0uBl8/s1600/CoveredBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJTHlEHORwGN_L5guF_kPuyWCJSL-PH1XSBBW2tNfkzaLunPrOGIM6mRJUJnYGY_xjljH14G82qcqEpoSRER8X_vQ1MSkpatL3I2al9lRUqx38yevNDpQcPg5Pjpb1T88vOaeWub0uBl8/s1600/CoveredBridge.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Courtesy, venividivelo.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The latest I saw pictured a man, woman and child
riding bikes down a lane then through a covered bridge and to a picnic
gathering in a field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The audio went
something like,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anncr: (VO) Troubled by fast-growing nose hair?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yamusbenuts finally brings relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill and Janie both suffer from it but are
now leading almost normal lives with one daily dose of Yamusbenuts. </span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anncr Voice 2 Interrupts (VO) Yamusbenuts has had limited human
tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no certainty that your
case of nose hair will respond to Yamusbenuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yamusbenuts has been found to cause loss of hearing, sight or
taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some test subjects have lost
sense of touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have died for over
3 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hangnails and difficult
breathing are common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not eat bread
or calamari or breaded calamari while taking Yamusbenuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, ask your doctor before taking
Yamusbenuts as your unborn child may be born with extended nose hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Your neighbor may develop poor driving habits from your use of Yamusbenuts. </span>Do not pet sheep or goats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always take Yamusbenuts on a full
stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, of course, as the music swells, mom, dad and
child are handed food-filled paper plates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They smile, nose hair-free while a super pops on, "See our Ad in Barbershop Monthly"</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seriously guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>10 second description and 50 to 110 seconds of disclaimers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cut it out.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And that brings me to the last item on today’s
agenda:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parody music. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me say it succinctly, if you don’t know
how to do it, don’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You look like
idiots. That includes writing lyrics that don’t fit the rhythm of the original
song <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t do that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get a different song (or get a different
job).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Addition of notes or changes in
the melody?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> If you have to do that, it's, again, the wrong song. </span>Either pay the rights fee,
find something that’s public domain, or do something that’s far enough away
that it hints at the original without trying to imitate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on a related item, the phone “rhythm” is
the US is XXX-XXX-XXXX.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not
XX-XXXX-XXXX.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not
XXXX-XX-XXX-X.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just sayin’. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy9WY2Jq9DQ" target="_blank">But Kevin James says it better</a>.</span></span></div>
<br />MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-65619626298539046572017-12-22T01:22:00.000-06:002017-12-22T01:22:09.698-06:00Put on a Tie. We're going E-shopping<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boy have I learned a lot from e-shopping this year. Most of it is what sites shouldn't do.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've dealt with this in the past but they're out there in force this season and I'm having a tough time understanding that so many destinations are so poorly structured. Makes you think they have sales prevention departments.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where to start:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you haven't properly mapped your site for search engines , you're cutting your possible purchases by as much as 90 percent. That's ninety, OK. Howzatt? If I'm searching for a coffee pot and the best your site can deliver to search engines is a link to "appliances." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Visitors won't stick around to rummage through dishwashers, clothes dryers, televisions and ultrasonic ring cleaners to find a coffee pot. But if you're comfortable with having that link, check your bounce rate. How many people are referred by a search engine and don't go past that referral page. Hellooooo. McFlyyyyy. Those are lost sales. You didn't even get a chance to show your wares. You have to take advantage of SEO elements including page titles, metadata, site maps and dynamic linking to really be a competitive sales organization. If someone's searching Duck Duck Go for magnetic wallpaper and you sell magnetic wallpaper, find a way to give them that page.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Page organization...are you paying attention to the layout? Really? Can a visitor see a picture of the item above the fold? Is it large enough to make out the item? You may want to go with annoying them by providing an automatic blow up on mouseover, or launching a video with sound up full. More level-headed thinking would tell you that if you were referred to by a search engine, the closer you can come to showing the referred visitor that you have what they're looking for and what it will cost them - on that first click from the search engine - the better chance you have of closing a sale. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wait! Are you one of those sites that makes me put the item in my cart to see the price? You know that that's like passing a football, right? Two out of the three things that happen next are bad. The first is the shopper (me, for sure) moves on to the next site. No time for that stuff. The second is that the price isn't to the shopper's liking or he/she's seen lower prices elsewhere. In that case, you've cast yourself as a loser site for good. In case you've forgotten, it's easy to lose consumer confidence and very hard to get it back. So, go ahead, hide the price. But when you get intercepted by the competition and they run it back for their own sale, it's your fault.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's another great one: Long running scripts. When I get one of these warnings, I don't waste any time. I'm off to another site. While I'm doing so, I'm usually also thinking, "What in the world are they trying to database here?" I know you want to compare whatever you can glean from the current session with what's in the databases that carry info on me but, man, you're costing yourself a sale. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I walked up to the counter at a camera store (wait, do they have those any more?) and said I wanted a Canon 5D Mark III, and the sales person greeted me with, "Hi. What kind of car do you drive?" or, "You married?" you can bet I'd turn on my heels and walk out. So cut that out. Yeah, yeah, yeah...if you know that, then it can gin up what you present me in next topic, the "You might also like..." or the "Others who bought this also bought..." Nothing wrong with that. Especially if the thing only runs with a 10.8 volt 10ah battery that doesn't come with the product. But when you let it crowd out the prospective purchase, you run the risk of confusing people.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of confusing. Two areas where a lot of sites fall apart are shipping and tax. Right off the bat let me ask that you tell me about the tax. Tell me you charge it for my state. C'mon. Let me factor that in. You still may have a reasonable price that, combined with your reputation, makes me want to buy from you. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then, with respect due Jerry Yester, along comes shipping. And it never gives me kicks. Instead, it just makes me crazy(ier) as I try to shift through the options. Let's see. It's Thursday so if I insert the code DiPstick between 7 and 9PM and my order is over $112, I can get free 30 day shipping. Oh wait. Only if my order is under 47.6 ounces. Well rats. What's second day air? $150? How about priority mail. They haven't broken anything of mine recently...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guys: just spell it out. Cut some of the attached strings and make it simple enough to understand that free shipping is: (your free shipping here)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK. Almost checked out. Well, rat fink. Typo in my address. Let me edit that. Good deal. And save. That's right now. (Expletive.) The lousy site just wiped out most of the info I entered on the page. Oh sure. I'll come back here again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year online sales will soar once again. For some companies. They're the ones who have optimized their sites to deliver you information on the products you want with as few clicks as possible then provide a convenient and up-front checkout. It ain't rocket surgery.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If your site's sales didn't climb, you might want to look at the site, not the products it's supposed to be selling.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whatever you celebrate, celebrate hard with my best wishes.</span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-70346574549804918532017-11-02T13:26:00.000-05:002017-11-02T13:26:44.350-05:00Captain Hook and his Pirate Radio Buddies<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“What are you doing
there…with all that electronic gear on your boat?”</span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“Ayyyyy, Matey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m runnin’ a pirate radio station.”</span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“Really!”</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“You bet your lime barrel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are transmittin’ on 103.9
FM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look above the topsail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll see two bays of antenna peekin’
atcha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re transmittin’ away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go back to your car, landlubber and tune us
in.”</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“Well, I’m afraid I
can’t do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems you’re using the
wrong verb tense.”</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“What’s that ya’ say,
Matey?”</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“Wrong tense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re not transmitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were transmitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re shut down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m from the enforcement bureau of the FCC and you were operating a
pirate station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you’re not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See – look over there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of our staff just literally pulled the
plug on 103.9 FM.”</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“Go ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll be back on in a day.”</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“Maybe, but that’ll
make the fine that much bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your parrot just ate my badge.”</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I envision a conversation something like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, actually, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nothing</i> like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
a few pirate stations on boats but those usually try to stay in international
waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of them are on land – and
around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[As an aside, if you have a
chance to see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pirate Radio</i>, do
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fun film.]</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Some are relatively benign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those are the ones that operate on vacant channels, not really
interfering with licensed stations but siphoning listeners from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there are the dirty birds, willfully
and/or maliciously interfering with licensed signals or transmitting profane or
indecent language and music at all hours.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">It’s the </span><a href="http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=354375432d5e3a970e47e0ddb6e0ef28&node=pt47.4.73&rgn=div5"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial";">FCC
Rules and Regulations</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial";">, a subset of the Code of Federal Regulations that
permits stations to broadcast on allocated frequencies for which they are
licensed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless you’re operating under
what’s called “Part 15” at extremely low power, you can’t flick the ON switch
on a transmitter without a license.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">For some time, the commission has been relatively, well, for
want of a better term, “relaxed” in their enforcement of anti-piracy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of that is the political clime but it’s
more a function of reduced budgets and small field staffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">That said, it doesn’t mean they’re asleep at the
switch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps/fcc-enforcement-actions-against-pirate-radio-location/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial";">This
page</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial";"> shows the number of enforcement actions by state since 2003.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not really clear what that means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The action could be a “ticket” (violation),
Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL otherwise spelled f-i-n-e), property seizure
or even stronger action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, they’re out
there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not tuning and listening like
they used to (anyone remember the Allegan, Michigan monitoring station?) but
certainly, if they get a call or two, they’ll do some level of investigating.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Well, a couple of folks complained awhile back<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>1</sup>and
a couple of weeks ago, the commission announced a fine of $144,344 against an
alleged pirate in North Miami, FL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can read the release </span></span><a href="http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0926/DOC-346899A1.pdf"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial";">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial";">
but, bottom-lining, these guys had been around the pirating block more than
once. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So how many warnings before the
camel’s back breaks?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The question from a lot of people is, “What’s the big
deal?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, everyone should be
allowed to voice his/her own opinions, play his/her music over the
airwaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great argument in the 1950’s
but, today, specious at best. “80/90,” which vastly increased the number of FM
stations across the country gave more and arguably varied voices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Low Power FM (LPFM) added yet another level
of stations, most of which really are operating in, as the Commission says, the
Public Interest, Convenience and Necessity.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Also consider that, as you would guess, pirates don’t employ
EAS equipment so if the nukes come, you won’t get the warning.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Despite all of this, the pirates are there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s the thrill of evading the
law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doubtful it’s monetary – while
there are pirates out there selling advertising time on their ersatz station,
it really can’t be much.<sup><span style="font-size: small;">2</span></sup></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"> </span></sup></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">However, if the commission is charged with protecting the
airwaves for the public and that protection is extended to willful and harmful
interference and impact on legal station listenership and revenue, then it’s
time to enforce the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could change
the law but if you want to see anarchy in action, just change that one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since there’s no longer a rule that you must
have a construction permit before buying a transmitter<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>3</sup>, they’ll be
on every corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, they’re almost
there now.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Federal Communications Commissioner Michael O’Rielly had a
great summary in a </span><a href="https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/blog/2015/04/08/consider-new-way-combat-pirate-radio-stations"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial";">2015
FCC blog</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically, he said pirate
radio is not innocuous, It’s not innocent and it’s not even multicultural. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a violation of law.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">There may be some angry emails coming my way but, seriously,
the rules/laws are there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to do your Part 15 partying, go
ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But beyond that 100 milliwatts,
turn it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and, please –
disconnect that lousy mini-FM transmitter you’re using to feed your smartphone
audio to your car radio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear you at
every intersection.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>1</sup>The complaints actually started in 2012 but the
activity began years before!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>2</sup>I checked Ad Age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t track pirate radio revenue</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>3</sup>Just go to ebay.com and search for FM
transmitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while you’re perusing,
keep in mind that a high percentage of these do not comply with US emissions
rules so not only are they causing interference on their tuned frequency but at
numerous other frequencies, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
call to mind the frequency assignments just above the FM band:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>air traffic control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just sayin’.</span></span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-14490879740059838012017-07-17T13:49:00.000-05:002017-09-20T10:25:31.675-05:00Nits and Brickbats<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here’s a little collection of those tiny things that just bother me. In the big picture, all is well. I’m having fun. But, again, sometimes you just get frustrated by the little things – the toothpaste caps in your life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Help desks</u>. Phone “help desk” service that makes you enter your account and other relevant information to get to a live person only to have them ask for your account number and other relevant information.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Lower-third promos</u> that never disappear and ruin a low-key scene. As Kelly rolls on the bed with her new spouse, whispering sweet nothings and a confession to a murder in a barely visible scene, I really don't want to see a "Kong vs Zork" promo flying around in the lower third at full brightness.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Ads that take control of my device</u>. Site hosts and app makers: You're on notice. I'm fed up with a page that takes over my tablet and does not allow control of it until the ad has played completely. That is just plain wrong. Sure. Play the ad. But when I "X" it out or tap the "Back" icon or the "Home" icon, my device should be able to head there instantly. Yeah. You gotta make money...but it's MY machine. I'm allowing you in. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I open my front door and invite you into my home, would you go raid the refrigerator without asking? You know what, I bet you would. But while you had the door open, if I told you to stop, would you at least do that? If my good ole "TV" wouldn't allow me to change channels until a commercial had played, it'd have a 10½D right through it. So...cut it out. Oh, and when I "X" out a screen, it should close out right then and there. And it shouldn't launch another page with another X; it should just close out.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Professionalism on the air</u>. I've had a long-running bet with myself. Just seeing how long it will be before a radio newscaster makes it through an entire newscast without an error...even a 5 minute one (which is about two-and-a-half without commercials) Since I entered into this self-wager a few months ago, I've listened to scores of newscasts on at least 20 different stations. I've heard blundered words, wrong pronunciations, wrong actualities and the terms, "make that," "rather," "that should be," and "let me try that again" a multitude of times. Not one has made it through without a mistake. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All I can figure is the good ones left for the mountains to look for John Galt. Note to the rest of you: c'mon. No on-the-fly (we used to call it rip and read) casts. For the short length of most newscasts, you can read the thing at five-of and play it out straight up. And if you flub, then go live. Wait. Are you already doing that? Then you need to be in another business.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Long running scripts</u>. It's kind of funny. With early computers, RAM and storage were at a premium. Coders wrote tight, compact code. You can make a lot happen with a few lines. Then everything began growing - processing power and speed, available RAM and memory storage. Along with that came demand for more features. That took more coders. But look at the landscape - more coders, like more MLB teams means the average coder (player) isn't as good as the average coder of earlier years. Combine that with cheaper RAM and storage and you get bloated code. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Same thing happened to smartphones. Apps of 9 or 10k back in the buggy whip days. Now a 50MB app is no big deal. And what's that have to do with long running scripts? Well, the same thing happened with bandwidth. Sorta like widening a road. Make the trip twice as fast and people will move twice as far away. With broad bandwidth, page scripters (or their marketing bosses) feel it's OK to stuff everything down the Internet pipe that will fit, and then some. So a JavaScript or other piece of bloatware gets sent down with the page request. And, if that's not bad enough, the page won't finish loading till they deliver that wondrous piece of commercial information, whatever it is. Cut it out.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>The CALM Act</u>. Note to Congress, the commission, the private corporations and stations involved in passage of - and enforcement of - the CALM act. Do you think you've made things better? The problem is still there. So is it A.) Faulty algorithms, B.) Improper deployment and operation of the audio management hardware and software, C.) A bad idea because, once again, laws of physics don't take into account the human mind where, in this case, psychoacoustics plays games. Regardless, I’m still cranking audio levels up and down. More on the <a href="http://www.scopefocus.com/Calm.shtml" target="_blank">CALM Act here</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another political thought:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Donald Trump is taking a lot of heat from the media while, at the same time, delighting many of his followers. It's shaping up as a real mess for the 2020 election. However, there is one thing that he could do to ensure his re-election:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">DONALD
TRUMP <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><em>Good morning, ladies, gentlemen, other.
I'll make this short. <br />
<br />
This morning at four AM, the FBI, under the direction of the Justice Department
arrested Heather and Rachael from Credit Card Services. <br />
<br />
They have been transported to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where they are being held
without bail, charged with 450 million counts of violation of the do-not-call
regulations and the same number of attempts to defraud</em></span></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><strong>Followup, 08/04/17: </strong>The FCC is on the move. They haven't found Heather or Rachael but this particular fine may wake some people up. <a href="https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-346059A1.pdf">https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-346059A1.pdf</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-27806738790905212022017-06-30T13:57:00.000-05:002017-06-30T13:57:49.800-05:00Facebook®: It’s Not a Website<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the past few weeks, I worked on developing a web
contest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The client had asked for
something that would drive visitor returns and would address some specific
prospects he was trying to sell as advertisers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We built the pages, incorporating the ads submitted by the
advertisers who had bought in to the contest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I called the local ad manager and asked for the links, where each ad
needed to point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I got it back, I
called again and said that I needed the actual website URLs, not the
advertisers’ Facebook pages.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Those where I put Facebook addresses don’t have websites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just use Facebook.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had heard of this but no one I’ve been doing work for
exists with Facebook as their door to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So all of you who have companies or
businesses relying on Facebook, stop it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can’t be more clear than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just stop it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Internet does provide a door to your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a great one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s one that should</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be welcoming to prospects</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tell visitors what you do or what you make</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Allow you to offer multiple screens of
information, promotion and user feedback</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bottom line is that you want to invite people in, show them
around, tell them what you do and show them how you and your products can help
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your business is unique so you
want to have the freedom and flexibility to tell your story your way.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook isn’t the place for that.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You’re stuffed into their format.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The layout is the same for everyone, you have
little control of placement on or design of a page</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You have no real branding – Facebook is their
brand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proof?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Your” URL will end in facebook.com.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Load times can be unforgiveable on Facebook</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Feedback is great but it shouldn’t be the focal
point of your site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hateful consumers
can post some pretty nasty comments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
a proponent of entertaining those comments and dealing with them on line but to
put them front and center defeats the purpose of your site.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Adding a back room for sales is difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet just about any web developer has an
ecommerce bolt-on that would work with a website.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You are at their mercy regarding actual content</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Linking to other pages or other sites is almost
as difficult as the sales bolt-on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
if you have 5 products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to
develop pages or arenas around each product where people can link from your
home/front page to whichever one they want to find out more about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not gonna happen in Facebook.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Visitors <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i>
be distracted by Facebook items including the “People Also Like” where
competitors’ messages can appear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>C’mon!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that doesn’t convince
you, what will?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the text ad that
runs right below that promoting competitive stores?</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So you have the opportunity to stand at your virtual front
door and greet prospects as they approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can decide what you’re wearing, what’s in the window, what offers
might be posted, and where the shopper can go once he or she has entered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you want to turn that over to a third
party?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One who could not care less about
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your</i> business? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Internet does provide a door to your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facebook ain’t it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-51180884951708778452017-06-18T10:44:00.000-05:002017-06-19T09:30:22.884-05:00Check your Updates! You may be getting scammed – or watched.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Howdy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m here from
the American Paranoia Foundation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My job
today is to make you worry about the updates to all those apps on your phone or tablet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you’re a younger reader (oxymoron) you’ve probably set
your phone or tablet to automatically update all apps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you set the options so they only update
on wifi or during certain hours, but you’re letting it happen automatically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Saves a lot of tapping.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For starters, it means you don’t get to see the access any given
app is asking for…the access you’re giving it without question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be fair, some phones will pop up a warning
but many don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you told it to update
automatically it goes right ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Depending on the app, it may “need” access to read and write
capabilities, in-app purchases, photos, music, files, device ID and
information, device history, wifi information, and the biggies, your location
and identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new photo-posting app
definitely needs access to your media and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">maybe</i>
your camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An audio player surely
needs access to your music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, “friend
finders” need your location.<sup><span style="font-size: small;">1</span></sup></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know I’ve mentioned it before, but this is serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re trying to protect your privacy,
well, forget that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ordinary – otherwise
benign – apps can find out all about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They can capture your emails and texts and send them back to the app
designer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever deposit a check with your
phone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Might as well call all those apps
to make sure they got the data.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And think about passwords.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you keep any of them on your phone, you gave those apps access to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ah, smarter than that, are
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t keep any passwords on
your phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You keep them in your
noggin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you’ve <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">used </i>any passwords on line (checked your bank balance?) it’s out
there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><em>Update (6/19/17): A good friend sent a note pointing out another huge issue. <strong>Your contacts.</strong> If the app has access to your contacts, it can find out everything about </em>them<em> in addition to you. So if you keep meta information about friends on your phone, maybe address, private email info, other "secret" info, well, in addition to leaving yourself vulnerable, you're giving away their information, too. That's pretty nasty and irresponsible. End of update.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><em><br /></em></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I tried to check out a few, sending emails to app developers
requiring access that, to me, they didn’t need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, why does a chess game need to
know my identity?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or my phone’s
history?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sent emails to those that I
could, eight in total.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got one response
and that referenced only my question about location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "</span>In order to efficiently deliver ads...", they
needed to know my location. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also told
me that I could avoid that by paying for the ad-free version.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t but I want to buy it and see if it
still asks for location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bet it does.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you’re an Eric Schmidt fan, you’re also a believer in
“…if you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide…” as he said in
defense of Google policies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go
ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let it all hang out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, if you’re more like I am, shut down the apps or add
identity, location, and IP blockers.<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>2</sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better still, just dump those apps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But know this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>some apps leave breadcrumbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may be orphaned files but they also
could be operational elements, left there to keep a lookout on your
wellbeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are other apps that
will remove these files – but they require access to your identity, location,
wifi, history, and device.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just
sayin’.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><sup>1</sup> If you’re using a “friend finder” paint a big
bullseye on your back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they’re your friend, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">call them up.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Text
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Send a telegram, try smoke signals
or a Cessna towing a sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But axe the
friend finders.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><sup>2</sup> I downloaded an app that purported to encrypt
texts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>99¢ to find out that it wanted my
location and identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t get
installed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Told you I was from the
American Paranoia Foundation.</span></span></span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-85485461317315521712017-06-13T12:02:00.000-05:002017-06-18T10:17:43.329-05:00They Thought They Had Us By The Antenna<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seriously, squatters…now you want to sell? You bought a bunch of URL’s.
Now you want to sell them.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was <s>a dark and stormy night</s> sometime in 1995. My entry into the Internet world was thanks
to a terrific VP of Marketing for a major pharmaceutical company. We had given a presentation to her on pay-per-view
and video on demand as we placed them in a test with one of the then
baby-Bells. After the meeting she asked,
“Guys, do you think this Internet thing will ever amount to anything commercially?”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the flight home (no angry passengers, no TSA, no service
ponies) the guys I was with decided we needed to get some religion. We studied a number of areas – designing,
distributing, monitoring, including “naming.”
Network Solutions was the only game in town managing URLs…they tied site
names (xyz.com) to actual DNSs. In other
words, when someone went looking for a web page using a URL like xyz.com,
Network Solutions managed the relationship list that told Mae East and Mae West
and all their friends, “Oh, looking for that?
Well, go to 253.254.255.256 (Yes, it’s an intentionally impossible
address. But then, go dial 555 1212).</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few folks got a bright idea – register a bunch of URLs using
companies' names then squat on them. When the companies come
knocking, bump that $70 registration fee up to a few – or many – thousand dollars. You got it, they want it, supply and demand,
eh?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, the law caught up with these squatters. In effect, it said that the .com extension
really was to be applied to commercial entities and declared that unless you
had a reasonable right to use a URL, you had to give it up. Said another way, McDonald’s Excavating could
have registered and kept mcdonalds.com but others, with no connection to the
name could not.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seemed pretty simple. You can breathe now, the backstory is
over.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It got complicated for broadcasters. Smart squatters registered hundreds of call
letters – letters which, by and large, are gibberish and would be available to
anyone and, therefore, not totally protected by UPC rules. And they sat on them while they called or
snail mailed stations offering to sell at anywhere from 10 to one thousand
times the registration cost.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few stations paid.
Most balked and went another direction…<i>and it was the best thing they could have done.</i> The squatters forced stations to look for
other names and in doing so, they incorporated (OMG) <i>branding</i> into their URLs. So
we saw wabcradio.com, wlsam.com, wor710.com, 103.5KISSFM.com, or abc7chicago.com The URLs actually clued prospective visitors
in about the site and bolstered the stations’ brands. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So the Internet grew, more stations jumped aboard, started
streaming and were able to cross promote between the web and over the air. And stations succeeded because in their URLs, they had a
catch phrase – mnemonic, if you will , in most cases – that would resonate with
their audiences. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think just about everyone I know listens to streams of
broadcast stations. And of them, I’d
wager that most, if not all, know the URL of the station. Some have set bookmarks and don’t
remember. Others rely on recognizing the
station logo in the iHeartRadio listings or on tunein.com and its derivatives.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well the payoff to this rambling story is that about a week
ago I got an email from a company acknowledging that I was the website manager
(not webmaster…big difference) for a number of stations. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">They went on to say that they had recently acquired the URLs
for the stations’ call letters. It was
quite well laid out and correctly listed the stations and their owners.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And after that, they laid out the sales pitch and why these
stations needed their call letter URLs – just the plain 3 or 4 letter
URLs. They also said that it would be
good marketing for the station as we could promote multiple URLs. Oh, and that the offer included wouldn’t last
long. That offer, by the way, varied by
market size so they did do some homework..</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you know me, you know that I jumped at the chance – No,
no! I was polite. I simply laid out history and offered my
condolences for their having purchased a pig in a poke. It was fun.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sadly, someone spent their (or worse, someone else’s) money
to buy those URL’s. Sitting at lunch, a
couple of beers and they start talking and realize – falsely – that if they can
get their hands on these dormant URLs, they can score big.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There was an episode of <i>Twilight
Zone</i> (yes the original) where some guys stole a bunch of gold. They put themselves into suspended animation
for a number of years so that when they emerged, the robbery would be long
forgotten and they would be rich beyond belief.
When they did actually awaken, scientists had discovered how to create
gold artificially and their haul was worthless.
Not an exact parallel but close enough.
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Guys, enjoy your URLs.
You own ‘em.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-74659126453322249972017-05-24T14:01:00.000-05:002017-05-24T14:01:07.507-05:00Distribution without a Network? Be your OWN Network! Here’s the Secret.
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easy
Access.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Promotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No burying the lede here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wrote about “channels” <span id="goog_1158068067"></span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">before</span></a><span id="goog_1158068068"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a word that’s outlived its time, unless
you’re trying to talk to your great, great grandmother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now let’s discuss “networks.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone wants to<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> be</i> one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one wants to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">part</i> of one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sort of
makes sense…what they’re really saying is that they want to control the
distribution of their content and don’t want to relinquish control of it to
others.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s consistent with the evolution of media distribution
from bicycling 16mm film around to local stations to “ordering” of content
directly from the producer over the web.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That early method worked but there really was no control over the airing
except the trust built into the contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even so, a show could get multiple runs, be copied, or get lost in the
rotation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today anyone with uncensored
Internet can watch just about anything when they want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s truly “what you want when you want it” (WYWWYWI
or WhyWhyWhy.) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which begs the question, “Why?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why a network?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the agencies and the existing networks
will argue, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Networks are the largest aggregator of eyeballs</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are efficient</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are easily measured (accurately? Well, that’s
another story)</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are cheap - goes with efficient</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People are used to networks (whatever that
means)</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They’re easy to buy (they’ll never tell you that
but think about it – about buying time in a few networks rather than tens of
thousands of individual pieces of content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What else would you expect from an agency!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask me how I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an early proponent of cable, I got thrown
out of my share of offices for suggesting taking positions in cable
programming.)</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would counter that with</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People feel their own time is valuable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patience went west when the remote control
came on the scene.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s become a world of instant
gratification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The WYWWYWI mindset
applies to entertainment as well as everything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People want it now.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Viewers are fickle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The era of someone tuning a specific network
and spending their entire night there is gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If the show’s bad, they’re outta here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Remember hammocking?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see
broadcast networks still having at it, hoping the lead-in will help sampling of
a new show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually see it in a promo
as I’m on my way to the Roku.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Measured?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You want measured?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can find out
who, when, how long…with at least as much reliability as network numbers</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure, largest aggregators…but really only on big,
live events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And (you heard it here)
when the NFL gets a little more fortitude, they’ll put the Super Bowl on NFL
Network as a $50 PPV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BTW – that won’t
be a network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll be a direct link to
their servers.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Repeating myself from a statement made years
ago, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No one cares what kind of car brings
the pizza.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the pizza – the content
– they want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And just like that pizza,
they want it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">now.</i></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By now, you’re screaming back at the screen, “OK, so what’s
the secret?” Well, I told you right off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The secret is you don’t need to be a network. There it is. You surely
don’t want to yield control to one but you don’t need to be one, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are 3 simple steps to distribution</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: decimal;">
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Create content people want</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make it easy to access it</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tell people about it, including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">where it is</i></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m wondering if you’re laughing, maybe shouting, “Duh!” or
breaking your knuckles trying to stick your arm into the monitor to grab my
neck (you can’t, I’m back about 3 feet from this thing) but, it’s that simple.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The devil is in the details, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he ain’t that mean.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, as far as content people want, you don’t have to
appeal to the whole world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want
to offer fishing videos, there are plenty of fisherpeople you can offer your
wares to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact there are plenty of
folks in the “I just want to fish for bass” school (pun intended) to whom some
of your content should appeal.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second, make it easy to access.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Devil’s back and he/she thinks he/she’s
tightening the screws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thing is he/she’s
easily defeated here, too, though way too many locations make it so difficult
that it isn’t worth it. It’s just that if you have the content, make sure that
people can get to it.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah, your marketing and advertising person said
you can put the program 3 clicks, 2 prerolls and an overlay away and people
will still come to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that your
guy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so, pop him/her with a 2x4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wanna cut your views in half, quarter or even
by 90 percent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put up those
barriers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go ahead try it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or try it with a restaurant – put some “Police
Line” barricades in front of the door or do a chalk outline of a body on the
sidewalk in front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make the door really
hard to open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lemme know how it works
out with customer traffic.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Get the video
playing in one click.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can add
overlays – heck, networks have pretty much abandoned the lower third of the
screen anyway – or even some complete commercial interruptions but get viewers
to the content NOW.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t make anyone wade through a bad search
engine to find their content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
have a few pieces, put them right there on the home page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thumbnail, description and direct link.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you have a lot, consider using subdomains to divide your
content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your prospects go directly to
the subdomain and then to the content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Special bonus:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the landing
page of the subdomain, you can promote all sorts of other content you have.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t choose some convoluted player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HTML5 has its own and there are others which
can be used easily without forcing the prospective visitor to download
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A.) Given today’s malware, you’ll
lose prospective viewers to the paranoia of a cryptolocker, and, B.) It’s that
WYWWYWI thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they have to go through
the trouble of downloading a player, they’ll go on to another site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And be careful with Flash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many times do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> get angry because you get the, “You’re hosed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your version of FLASH cannot play this
video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please click here for the nightmare
of downloading and installing a new version, including having to close this
very browser?”</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that’s the second point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, number 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t tell
the world where your great content is, nobody knows about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the only place where current networks
have an edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can cross promote
including full promos and lower-third supers, the ones we love to hate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, today, even that isn’t enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you may remember doing specials and
getting a guarantee of 125 or 150 GRPs on air promotion for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But back then, that meant 10 to 20 promos
(yeah some were voice over crawl but the promos were there).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, it would have to be, well, maybe a
hundred or more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as always with
networks, you don’t know who you’re <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i>
getting.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But you can get around that with your own promotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just stop and think how you can reach
prospects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is Advertising 101, OK?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can buy time/space elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do and you don’t link that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">directly</i> back to your promoted content,
you’re wasting a lot of money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By “directly,”
I mean they click and the content starts playing.</span></div>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo5; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Buying” can be in the form of cross
promotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You promote other content on
your site and those folks promote content on yours.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo5; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Buying” can also mean trading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can put ads/promos on your advertisers’
sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They help drive people to your
content where they see ads for the advertiser.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use public relations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get PR out there about your site, what you’re
doing, what the content is, and, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">include
the link.</i></span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do interviews, make calls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh yeah? Where?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d be surprised how many people will take
your calls/emails and follow up with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Putting it kindly, there are plenty of lazy reporters out there who will
schedule you for an interview or will take your talking points and build a
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saves them work.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spend some money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t have a promotion budget, set one
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all the rage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your content really is good, the expense
will be small to get it found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do
it right, you can turn that promotional investment into a lot of visitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if they return or tell others, well, you
know that story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t go through determining
where or how because it varies with content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But if you don’t know who your target is, please, figure that out
first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there, you can get to the
right promotional places.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, direct distribution means no intermediary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your viewer sees what you want them to see
and when they want it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the ultimate
cord cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No cable, no antenna needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good web connection and viewers are off to
the races – if that’s what they want to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if you have the content, make it easily accessible, and make sure to
tell the world it’s there, you’re going to be part of their viewing mix.</span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-90738303177255738402017-04-27T13:58:00.002-05:002017-04-29T23:07:49.069-05:00NAB 2017 Cloud Editing and Dante Heaven<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And what’s new this year? Well, at</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> NAB the march of technology continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the video side, arguably the biggest single item
ballyhooed was “cloud editing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, all
else seems to pale in terms of advancement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You may know my feelings on “cloud” anything but from a
flexibility standpoint using a cloud for editing makes some sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Generally, you have inexpensive, unlimited storage space for
audio, video, metadata and, if you’re paranoid, multiple versions of your
resume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means keeping every strand
of every scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one’s staring over
your shoulder as you pull in another disc for storage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one has to decide what gets deleted at the
end of a session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Edit from anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Want to trim a frame while waiting for a flight?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pull down the scene and have at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if you have access to multiple monitors, you can pull down a number
of threads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yep!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can sync up all the footage and edit a 4
camera live comedy on the fly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And lots of folks can participate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Director, editor(s), sound designer, DP can
all get in on post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sound staff can work
in tandem as the video is being edited,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>PA’s can make notes that go directly into metadata and can transcribe
and post all audio for reference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
leads to consensus before you can even hit the “Sleep” key on your machine. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hear the yabuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ya,
but, Len, what about security?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
label me a hypocrite despite my earlier </span><a href="http://scopefocus.blogspot.com/2011/12/theres-rain-in-them-there-clouds.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">blog</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
admonition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Security has improved but it’s
still an issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you found another
reel in Abraham Zapruder’s basement, you may not want to put it into cloud
storage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First ask, what’s the security
being provided?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is the cloud
hackable?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Software and hardware
firewalls?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Long, looooooooong password
that change regularly, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">every</i> time
someone joins or leaves the group?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
ask, who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">inside</i> the cloud
organization can see your files?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love
it when I call with problems and the “tech” at the other end says, “I can’t
help you with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t see those
files.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, when the
cloud help desk says that they see the problem, you have two files with the
same name and one running two seconds longer than the other, grab your Maier-Hancock
and run.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Speaking of storage, that edit-from-anywhere advantage is
great provided “anywhere” is secure, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Programming a dissolve over Boingo at McCarren Airport may well be a
bigger crap shoot than what’s happening at Caesar’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span>f you’re not paranoid, you may want to
consider taking it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did; it’s fun as long as no one's watching.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then, about that participation thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in the dark days of coax, I proposed
installing links with editing houses so that creative folks could participate
in a session without leaving their offices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Best worst idea I ever had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Creatives climbing on my desk (worse, my boss’ and his boss’ desk)
screaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out they don’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want</i> to stay in their offices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who’da thunk it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What’s worse is that people who shouldn’t be part of the
edit get invited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice I left out “writer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That poor bloke (or bird) never makes the
cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But just about everyone else logs
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they all chime in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have to or why would they have been
invited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you wind up shaving a frame
here, mixing music a little louder there and pretty much wasting time. But,
wow, you’re doing it in the cloud.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Think it through before you decide to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe those discs aren’t that expensive after
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when you’re done, you can find
two really secure places, maybe on different continents, to store
everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><strong>FLASH: Now, two days later, a number of news sources have announced that Netflix was hacked by an extortionist threatening to release five stolen episodes of the new season of <em>Orange is the New Black </em>unless they receive a ransom payment<em>.</em> In addition, there is a good possibility that Amazon and others were hacked, too.</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We now return you to our regularly scheduled blog. Before I leave video, here’s a visual quiz:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find the actual camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the lens…the camera.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WqPrQP_5M9bvzug7W4-ekor1gkbOyakZnZ00SzrbJGjXn4u2imPBH6pzQ8L7yGR3TWyw3V4xc8IPNrs8zFYImpgvzYYJ2YHzN1tUNe2wQkm1ZgNdcx-LuRlSiClHQzyHcDzz7YDBJjXO/s1600/BlckMgk2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WqPrQP_5M9bvzug7W4-ekor1gkbOyakZnZ00SzrbJGjXn4u2imPBH6pzQ8L7yGR3TWyw3V4xc8IPNrs8zFYImpgvzYYJ2YHzN1tUNe2wQkm1ZgNdcx-LuRlSiClHQzyHcDzz7YDBJjXO/s1600/BlckMgk2017.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro, 4.6K, 15 stops dynamic range</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, on to the audio world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of everything, I think Audinate’s campaign, “Dante Spoken Here” is
fantastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t run across it,
Dante, (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">D</i>igital <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A</i>udio <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">N</i>etwork <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">T</i>hrough <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">E</i>thernet) is a relatively mature (11 years old) system of packet
delivery of audio. Whether you want to edit and send AM quality mono or 96
tracks<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>1</sup> of a film’s sound track, you can do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply and with no degradation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it’s packeted, it can still be lossless –
your choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The “Dante Spoken Here” sign could be seen hanging in just
about every audio booth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ve gone
beyond foothold and are mainstream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you’re not familiar with it, the trial version is free (fully functioning but
time limited) at audinate.com.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Licensing
is inexpensive and with it, you can encode, transmit and decode great audio to
that same anywhere I was talking about for the cloud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How does it work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anything that runs Dante can talk to anything else running the
protocol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s transparent in that it
flows easily over Cat5 or Cat6 cable and can even operating on existing networks
without interfering with current traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That, of course, is provided you have enough bandwidth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It runs with Windows or Mac to allow
distribution, and ingestion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Best yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No rocket
science here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easy to set up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, wait!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The best-best is that you’d be hard-pressed to hear any latency. There’s
always something on the horizon, but Dante seems to be a system that will have
a long useful life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Other folks raved about other products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4K is now mainstream and the incandescent
lamp has all but disappeared from lighting gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Drones are getting larger and smarter and microphones are now dots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, though, the effect of cloud editing
on workflow and of Dante on signal flow blew everything else away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><sup>1</sup>You can go 512 bidirectional if you want to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s see, that’d be 24 for the orchestra and
488 for drums.</span></span></span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-81361106869778861652016-12-06T14:27:00.000-06:002016-12-06T14:27:14.231-06:00Broadcasters and Streaming: We Get it. Or Do We?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many broadcasters have gotten religion about ways of streaming their
product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They understand that there are
two additional groups of users out there – those who want to watch or listen to
programming as it’s broadcast but can’t access a receiver, and those who would
prefer to watch or listen to that same content at a later time.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have that understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it’s how they address it that’s really missing the mark.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspYw3miiLsfYmV-eGIkJ2gH8H2g32v6BuJhWyvwkiJNiyU-9NMqos_lTmM4UYEy20YIM6UN9hoGu3n5F-Oa9OOY4lk54EWsMKlyCrkDxFYPvI6lXPCs9md7KCjAnQkp8QtqOVsifr0Yw4/s1600/Peabody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspYw3miiLsfYmV-eGIkJ2gH8H2g32v6BuJhWyvwkiJNiyU-9NMqos_lTmM4UYEy20YIM6UN9hoGu3n5F-Oa9OOY4lk54EWsMKlyCrkDxFYPvI6lXPCs9md7KCjAnQkp8QtqOVsifr0Yw4/s1600/Peabody.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy, <br />
Jay Ward Productions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherman, set the WABAC Machine for 1930. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s go visit the Galvin Brothers<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>1</sup>
as they place a radio in a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
selected that point because the auto radio presented a special problem…selecting
a station while driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tuning up and
down the band – such that it was under the Federal Radio Commission – was done
with peril.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dodging ruts and rocks while
spinning a dial to find a station wasn’t easy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we made it easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By then Major Armstrong<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>2</sup> had invented the superheterodyne process
so listeners didn’t have to tune multiple stages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, alone, made radio ready for home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for the car:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>presets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Push a button and get to a preset frequency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One could listen while on the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what’s the big deal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">easier</i> for someone to listen to our product.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherman!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get in the
machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re going back to 2016.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have AM and FM in cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have Wi-Fi, WiMAX, even Bluetooth to get
from our phones to the dash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we have
buttons…myriad buttons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have them at
home, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m convinced that many of
them don’t even do anything…they’re just there.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well with all of that, you’d think the idea would be the
same as a paragraph ago…make it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">easier</i>
to listen/watch. Yet broadcasters are missing the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A combination of poor use of technology and
overzealous marketing is killing streaming.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdlFmYx2AUxoTCvA6uGN1uQjFgL_hq2MYkdl7IH-vrRbQnMAp4m5u5DJlciGTU_VmzF6EICNK-gq4abTWXLh25q5HkHXutxFpCmr7NHeAXTjsG2mG4YSM4-V01IFvYRynP_3mvZT6gmGc/s1600/Sttream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdlFmYx2AUxoTCvA6uGN1uQjFgL_hq2MYkdl7IH-vrRbQnMAp4m5u5DJlciGTU_VmzF6EICNK-gq4abTWXLh25q5HkHXutxFpCmr7NHeAXTjsG2mG4YSM4-V01IFvYRynP_3mvZT6gmGc/s1600/Sttream.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weblands Archive</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you spend a lot of time listening to broadcast streams
online?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, do you spend a lot of
time listening – after you join their club, give them a significant amount of
information, including your location, then reload the page because after you
clicked “Submit” the page hung or you were sent back to the site’s home
page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe you hit “Back” and got
the old “For [browser} to reload this page, it needs to resend
information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you want to do that?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You click “Yes” and you get the page but your
info is gone.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More often, you’re faced with a wall trying to keep you
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like opening a restaurant and
putting an oil drum in front of the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re asking visitors
to come in; use your product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, if you’re
a car dealer and you want them to take your latest SUV for a test drive, demand
a driver’s license, thumbprint, picture and saliva sample (I cleaned that one
up).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we want people to come in, like
what they see or hear and stick around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why the heck put a bar on the door.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On other sites, you get the impression that a wunderkind
told management, “If we put the stream behind 5 clicks, think of all the extra
impressions we get along the way.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s good
business?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is if you check your
analytics and see that almost all the folks heading for a stream actually make
it through all the clicks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> If not, y</span>ou might as
well make your stream the last frame in a Taboola list of 25 celebrities who
never learned how to tie their shoes.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we’re cruising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, maybe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you limit your streams and people can’t get in, they probably won’t
come back, especially if you’re offering syndicated programming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to have a high enough number of
concurrent slots available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You log out and can’t get back in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been there – on the wrong end – as prospects
called saying they couldn’t get the stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not good PR.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
got in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly there’s the dreaded
preroll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has gone from :05 to :10 to “I
don’t care how long it is, I sold the preroll to 10 advertisers so you run ‘em
all.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few enlightened streamers offer
visitors the ability to skip ads they’re not interested in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many broadcasters don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, they’re still scratching their heads of
DVR zapping.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me reiterate:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you
have to make it easy to get to your stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do 2 :05s or a :10 and see how it works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Look at the numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many
stick around, how many leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
A/B this with two links.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alternate them
so that half the visitors get, say, a :10 a :30 and another :10 preroll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then give the other half just a :10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then just look at the stats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The revenue will probably fit along a bell
curve – no preroll, no money, little bit of preroll, little bit of money, etc.
all the way to lots of preroll, no money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, think about overlays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Viewers will tolerate them if they don’t get
in the way of important information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
mean, on broadcast, we’ve already given up the lower third of the screen to
promotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, people are used to it…used
to a bright animated lower-third wiping its way across the screen during a dark
stakeout. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, consider the real estate of the entire page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But do so within the context of all the
possible devices you’re serving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re
distributing to multiple platforms, you can deal with each differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re not, you may want to consider
adding additional formats. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’re done, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh, no, no, no, no. How about the stream itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do broadcasters, of all stream providers,
seem to gravitate to lousy standards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Part of it is cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we/they
don’t want to continually upgrade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
they don’t want to pay for bandwidth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe it’s a training issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
shouldn’t be the case.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember the Adobe Flash wars with Apple and Android?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will tell you that it made streamers
miserable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also pushed us toward
.mp3, .mp4, even .wmv and .wma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During
the evolution, a lot of prospective viewers and listeners came, saw, and,
unfortunately, left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re starting to
get them back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now we have to keep
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quality streams and minimal glitches that are
playable on the maximum number of devices possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nirvana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Utopia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that has to be the goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still have to make it work before we can
sell it correctly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beyond live streaming, what about podcasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I’m going to save some of that for the
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But on a basic level, what are
you offering and how do viewers/listeners get there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting up those oil drums again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you promote them on the home page, link right to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, have an aggregate page too, where you
offer them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you can insert
commercials judiciously.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But how do I figure out who’s coming?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s an old survey adage – never ask a
question in a survey that you can get the answer to elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone is masking their IP address and
you can’t see where they’re coming from, do you think they’re going to tell you
on your club page?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are many ways of finding out where someone is coming from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your visitors might not think so but there
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, bottom line, let’s clean up our act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get a good compression scheme, pay for enough
slots, and get your prospective visitor to the content as quickly as possible,
consistent with making a buck, knowing that if in increase the advertising, you
may only make half a buck.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup>1 </sup>If you don’t recognize the name do a little
digging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Won’t take more than a click or
two </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for your eyebrows to go up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hint:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their products are still
alive and well. Uh, sorta well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup>2 </sup>That’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Major Edwin Armstrong, inventor of FM has plenty more creations to his </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">credit.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-20673508805011516572016-02-24T14:26:00.000-06:002016-02-24T14:26:56.751-06:00FCC and Cable Set Top Boxes. Big Deal?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My exposure to cable began in college. Yes, cable was around then.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I moved off campus, we figured out that a Yagi or LP antenna pointed at the [what was then twinlead] cable trunk could get a decent signal. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Cable was wide open – any subscriber (or Yagi owner) could watch all the channels on the line. About that time, on the tech side, they switched to coaxial cable, forcing us to cough up our $1.25 a month and, on the program side, the FCC flew in the face of cable’s original raison d'être – providing over-the-air television to homes outside the reception area of any existing station. This change in philosophy – more like a 180 degree flip – said that, at that point, cable operators were no longer barred from originating programming, they were encouraged (shortly to be required) to do so.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Up to that point, cable was, in fact, an extension of broadcast television stations’ coverage areas. But as the townies said where I first experienced it, “Not na-more.” Local operations began originating programming. Most of it was shows like “Furls and Twirls,” a half-hour weekly feature of the local girls’ pompon group, a painful-to-watch single camera production – and I mean single “edit-in-the” camera production where the titles were inserted by panning to signs held by one of the kids and swish pans got you from one angle to another. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Down the road, though, Time-Life would try Home Box Office (1972) in Allentown – well, actually Wilkes-Barre, – PA. Telstar had been up for 10 years but even with the succeeding communications satellites, prices for transponders were beyond reach of all but the biggest companies. That meant HBO was local. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Down the road a little farther came the satellite-delivered channels and by 1983, when a battalion of cable rules forced all sorts of changes, these channels were solidly entrenched and looking for local cable systems to carry them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />All the while, those cable systems were looking for programming that would attract more subscribers…and some system of making sure only subscribers could avail themselves of cable’s products and services. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Programming was growing. Bill Rasmussen and Getty had launched ESPN so, if you were, at the time, interested in the local high school swimming championships from Bristol, CT, well, you had reason to subscribe. Then again, if you liked old movies and reruns, WTBS out of Atlanta run by that Turner guy was perfect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the programming grew, so did the price. Along with that came the impulse to, well, “share” a cable connection where someone paid for it and, after Larry left, they immediately installed splitters and amps feeding neighbors and, in a couple of cases, more distant friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cable folks took steps to protect their investment. They didn’t/don’t want siphoning of their services. They have to protect the copyright of their content providers. So they created encryption which protected the distributed signals. They also created tiers of service – packages that particular demos of consumers might pay for. You can imagine the discussion: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“OK, here’s one we can sell. Let’s link all the ESPNs, OLN, NFL, NBA and the other sports networks in a tier.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Sure. But add in Baby Channel and OWN.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Why.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Why? If you have to ask why, you’re fired. Harrumph. If we do that, we can generate more per-subscriber billing. Good for us even with a fraction of it going back to the content provider.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that conversation basically brings us to today. Sure, Michael Powell is in there with a la carte proposals. And “must-carry” and associated retransmission rules have taken punches from all sides, but, as far as access, cable has evolved the way the cable industry pushed it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About the only “innovation” that could allow for more consumer control of the set top is the commission’s ruling in August of 2011 which ordered cable companies to adapt to <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/guides/digital-cable-compatibility-cablecard-ready-devices" target="_blank">CableCARD encryption</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This would allow receiver manufacturers to produce products that – through an inserted CableCARD – could display all of the content provided by a cable company without an additional set top box. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’re free! We’re free! Well, not so fast. The cable company still controls the CableCARD and your access to their system. Oh, and receiver manufacturers haven’t adopted CableCARD universally.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, cable users are, by and large, captive to their systems, including the set top boxes which decode and display the selected channels. Even the DVR’s are integrated for the most part with add-ons like TIVO still depending on the cable subscription to operate and using the CableCARD decoding in order to operate.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a bit ironic that a former cable guy, <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/tom-wheeler" target="_blank">Tom Wheeler</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is moving forward with the separation of cable and the set top box. The intent this go-‘round, put forth on <a href="http://www.scopefocus.com/FCC-UnlockingSTB.pdf" target="_blank">February 18</a>, is not to give the consumer free run of a cable company’s product. Instead, it is simply to break the stranglehold that the cable systems have on set top boxes and, hopefully, reduce set top box costs to consumers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a good thing, if not an easy one. Not too many years ago, the cable topology was different. All of the channels the system supplied appeared at your end of the cable. The cable box was then programmed to allow reception of the package you paid for. (Remember when you changed the channel and it was there? When you changed it? Not 5 seconds later?)<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>1</sup> </span> They were addressable by the cable company and the package could be changed by them. New systems are constructed so that only the channels you are watching are sent down the line to you. What a bandwidth savings! They’re encrypted, of course but you get them. Nonetheless, it requires some really fancy integration to allow outside products to be employed as the go-between in the cable/receiver chain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s back to basics – ensuring that you pay for what you get and that copyrights are protected. It’s just a little harder to do. In reality, though, the chip, once developed is only a few cents. That, and the competition among suppliers, should bring consumer costs for set top boxes way down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, then, why would the cable guys want to stop that? First, take a look at your cable bill. Are you paying a monthly fee for DVR’s or other set top boxes? There’s reason number one. But number two is the big one. Third-party set top boxes can integrate cable content with Internet and other locally-originated programming. To cable, this is pulling on that snag in a Banlon® shirt…possibly unraveling the whole sleeve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s how: The box puts cable product on the same plane as a Hulu, Sony, and other independent and “over-the-top” (OTT) content providers. If manufacturers make access to any given channel, say Netflix, Amazon, USA Network and CBS equally easy, the wheels start turning in the heads of the cable content providers. “Why? Why am I providing content to cable companies? I can deliver direct to home.” If I’m CBS, I don’t need affiliates feeding cable systems. If I’m PBS, I can self-fund. Seriously, do the math on 5¢ per view of Sesame Street country-wide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Schedules go out the window. Mozart in the Jungle launched when it’s released and gets watched whenever. It may be pay-per-view, an all-you-can-eat subscription or sponsored but you make the decision. I’ll go with my line one more time – no one cares what kind of car brings the pizza. They care about the pizza. And people are pretty good at finding the best pizza. (Ray’s Famous Pizza, 7th Avenue, NYC and Pizano’s Pizza, West Division St., Chicago. LA? Sorry. I don’t do sushi pizza.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For cable the ruling’s a nightmare. Being forced to help enable your competition. Sorta like CBS and the NFL network. How do they keep control? Price cuts? No- or low-charge set top boxes? A la carte?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the consumer, once we figure out the boxes, we can have a lot of choices, and the price will probably come down, or at least not rise so quickly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey, for promotion departments, it’s a godsend. Those who figure out how to grow tune-in will rise to the top and there’ll be a lot bigger promotion departments for content providers getting the word out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A quick word about one other group who stands to lose: Advertisers. There should be a lot fewer ad units available inside programming. Maybe that’s wishful thinking but millennials specifically and Internet users in general don’t like the intrusions of standard in-program advertising. They will certainly not abide by a pay business model that also supports the current level of broadcast/cable of non-program material (16+ minutes per hour). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So look for this: Advertisers (or agencies) develop their own programming distribution systems. Note to large packaged goods guy: We told you to do this in 1985. You didn’t listen. Now it’s going to cost you by a factor of 100. Some other guys were a little smarter and stuck their toes in. You may have to go big time – free “channels” – with advertising.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The available third-party boxes haven’t sold well. But that’s because they really haven’t been promoted heavily and the cable systems have made their installation unnecessarily complicated. Combine those reasons with the level of Internet-provided content and it’s understandable that third-party boxes haven’t taken off. But hang in. This ruling may help. Internet-distributed content is on the rise. And I’m sure there’s at least one entrepreneur out there willing to design a box that meets consumer expectations. With that and the cooperation of cable operators in attacking their own industry, this might just take off. Did you read that last sentence?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>1</sup> </span>To be fair, this is a combination of the request/fulfill and the digitization process</span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-62879555698943893252015-12-12T12:17:00.000-06:002015-12-12T19:55:52.754-06:00I Thought it Was About Customer Service - or "Clueless Marketers"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Face it. We’re all salesmen and saleswomen. Sometimes it’s selling yourself in a job interview – or selling the boss on a new idea…or the stockholders on opening a new buggy whip division. Other times, it’s selling to a broad range of customers or clients.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A recent experience brought a new word into my sales vocabulary. <em>Flexibility</em>. Now, I’d like to think that I’m flexible in dealing with others. Different clients have different needs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Others, apparently are not as flexible.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPf-DUfHt0P54afmf30Z_2bXze2mNbHmKtVyNCxDhgGB8YfmiQnju6am0Pe_pC1DzKuT2p8l2x5FPjA3-nt3m2NjKpCsJLTfZ_Inyaxz2qbodDj3zcSpGBV2nN4AnCCe5kXzYqJYsO4jE/s1600/pesce2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPf-DUfHt0P54afmf30Z_2bXze2mNbHmKtVyNCxDhgGB8YfmiQnju6am0Pe_pC1DzKuT2p8l2x5FPjA3-nt3m2NjKpCsJLTfZ_Inyaxz2qbodDj3zcSpGBV2nN4AnCCe5kXzYqJYsO4jE/s200/pesce2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Now, Mrs. Riley and <em>only </em>Mrs. Riley...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Courtesy, Palo Vista Productions</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was calling to arrange a visit regarding, of all things, pest control. The station cat was not doing her job pursuing mice and, sure enough, one or more gnawed through some wiring, disabling 4 channels of a fine Wheatstone console. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, an acquaintance recommended a particular company. It was a national company, franchised, and he liked the local guy. </span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I looked the company up. Dialed the number. The first thing I heard was the “recording” warning, “This call may be monitored or recorded.” Well. That’s a great thing to greet a prospect with. Seriously. Do you really want to put a prospective customer on the defensive by making him or her wonder why they need to be recorded?</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next words were, of course, the now obligatory English/Spanish choice, followed by trying to pin down the reason for my call. Commercial? Residential? Bugs? Termites? Rodents? Sheep? (OK, not sheep)</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I made my selection then had to tell them whether I was an existing or new customer. I went ahead and did that, too. As you can guess, by now, I’m wondering why I started with these guys. Oh! Right. That acquaintance who told me about the local guy.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I finally got to a person but not before receiving another “recording” warning. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I identified myself and said that I’d like to arrange for the local person to come and talk about services and pricing.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amazingly, the lady at the other end listened, paused, and responded, “Sir, that’s not how it works.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I backed away from the phone for a second then heard her say, “This is the national office. I can give you all the information you need. Now, how big are your offices?”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“I’m sorry,” I replied, “but I really want to sit with someone and talk through what I need.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“We don’t do that.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was a little perturbed. “Well, I kinda do. I really need to have someone see the facility and the problems.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That was followed by, “Well, then, sir, you have a nice day.” And that was followed by an abrupt click – not by me; by her.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, here where the inflexibility cost them the gig: I get it. She’s reading prompts on a screen. Ahhhh. I’ll call the local office. I find it – a different number but still toll-free. You already guessed, didn’t you. It forwarded to the same number. I know because I got the same “recording” warning followed by the same choices. I hung up.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Checking the listings, I found one with my area code. Local! Perfect. The touchtones® flew through the phone... only to get me exactly the same number one more time! That was that.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A quick search and I found a really local company. I called the number – yep, my area code and a nearby exchange.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I explained what I wanted. Then hit her with the fact that I was flying out shortly and was there any chance we could get together before 11AM the next morning.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She asked if she could call me back within 10 minutes. I agreed. In less time than that she returned, asking if 4:30 the same day would be OK. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I agreed. The rep showed at 4:25, half hour inspection and review of terms, signed the deal.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, meanwhile back at the national company, picture a bunch of marketing folks sitting on their backsides, feet up, patting each other on the back about how great their automated system is working at generating customers. If they only knew…well, if the CEO only knew.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I guess there are two lessons here. The first is flexibility. Remember that “customer is always right?” Well, most of the time, the prospective customer is right, too. At least if you want him/her to become an actual customer. If you can't bend your M.O. to accommodate clients, you soon will have none. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The second is that trusting the phone tree to be a lead generator is as foolish as flipping off a driver who cut you off on the 405. The trifecta would be if that company had been more expensive than the local one I found. Well, would you believe, it was. Sorry national company but, in the words of Joe Pesce as Vincent Gambini in <em>My Cousin Vinny</em>, “I’m done with this guy."</span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-16972802315105117522015-11-22T16:21:00.001-06:002015-11-22T16:21:20.867-06:00Turning Tech into a Profit Center<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Doggone it, every time
I turn around, you’re asking for more money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A new tube, a replacement headset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An HD to SD converter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What the
heck is that, anyway.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That’s the GM or owner
when the station’s having technical problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yeah, the tech side is definitely looked at as a “loss” center rather
than one for profits.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So how do you turn that
around?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve touched on this
before but it’s becoming more important every day as broadcasters scrape the
sides of the bowl for more revenue.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, first, in the
course of daily operation, show how you’re saving money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let management know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may take a little of your own time but put
together a periodic (weekly?) status report.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In it you can list where you are on various projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a part of that, how are you saving money
on them?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“X equipment has three
broken fahnestock clips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Checked with
manufacturer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$2,000 each, minimum of
5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Found at scientificdirectonline.com
at 10 for $1.00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ordered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Expected arrival date 12/10/15.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Saved $600 cost of new
CD player for production room by cannibalizing two non-working units from
storage.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Found reliable ‘cloud’
FTP server provider which will cut storage costs by $60 per month.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Keep going. Don’t forget
to list projects which are stalled…and give reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s not what this post is about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you’ve done is help management
understand how you’re trying to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">save</i>
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you need to go one step
further and show how you can help the company <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">make</i> money.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The low hanging fruit:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What services can the
station offer that management doesn’t know about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">A company that provides free dialup to listen to station streams?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some and at least one has provisions for a :10 preroll that the station can sell – in addition to the in-program blllboards and spots</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span> </div>
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The possibility of leasing tower space to cellular or other business services</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span> </div>
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Rental of a subcarrier or even leasing of an HD3 channel</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span> </div>
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Others that may be specific to your station(s)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When you present them,
try to attach some value to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can pretty-easily determine the value of tower space by checking the web and
calling around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For prerolls, you may
have an idea of how many people may use it but you can always assume one based
on listening – if you have an AQH of 5000 and you can add 100 listening on the
phone, what’s the value ‘round the clock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then what’s the value of the preroll?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Button it up in a
one-sheet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One</i>
page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell them what it is, what it does and what
you think it could generate in revenue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Any cost involved?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t leave
that out.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">After you’ve picked the
low-hanging fruit, what else can generate revenue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Think outside your own
station box and see where you can generate some dollars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then put together those one-sheets and sell ‘em.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You start looking more like a profit
center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as important, you show you’re
part of the team, working to move the entire business forward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-15815393954081552872015-04-18T16:38:00.000-05:002015-04-18T16:38:31.610-05:00Make Way for Programmatic Advertising Buys<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’ll admit, it was some
years ago when I would get a call at 3 in the afternoon on a Friday about a
particular advertiser jumping into a weekend movie or sports event and how I
thought it would “do.”<span> </span>It was “fire
sale” time and as a full-service agency with blue chip clients, they called us
at three.<span> </span>Then they called the bottom
feeders at 3:45 (that’s quarter of 5 in New York) with whatever the
full-service guys didn’t buy.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For me, saying yes just
meant that I thought the show would do as well as was being stated and wouldn’t
offend the prospective client.<span> </span>The media
buyers (if I call them buyer-planners, you’ll figure out the shop so I won’t do
that) evaluated the offer, how it fit into the plan and what was available to
run.<span> </span>It was great for the client but
took a lot of agency time mopping up on Monday or whenever the book came out
and the call about underdelivery and makegood offers were received, adjusting
the schedule and sometimes “finding the money.” <span> </span>They did it because it was right for the
clients despite the work.<span> </span>There were
lots of Friday nights spent with media buyers working with account and traffic
folks to get commercial material out to the integration point.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That’s a bit
tongue-in-cheek except for the workload.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What’s that they say,
“Sometimes, when everything changes, nothing’s changed.”<span> </span>And here we are.<span> </span>Programmatic advertising has a substantial
foothold in the digital world and it’s making its way into broadcast.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Programmatic…an interesting
term; one that doesn’t reflect its concept.<span>
</span>If you’re in broadcast and haven’t been following the digital side
(blame it on being overworked) the programmatic world means machines talking to
machines to hit demo, reach and frequency targets…and doing so in real or
near-real time.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HxBA1fuIBxe-Tooxj5ccwnGYcez3W0O2wiC_g7XdGZnYsUgZ5dkyzrajJNujXmGDWreekhHTyMlGDpKaRIiU8_7W8I-TIFCulT7uUm8zKvR87hqPGi_Dvk3ZRkFcukDhfv2HMAKDPTjX/s1600/programmatic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Courtesy Varick Media" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HxBA1fuIBxe-Tooxj5ccwnGYcez3W0O2wiC_g7XdGZnYsUgZ5dkyzrajJNujXmGDWreekhHTyMlGDpKaRIiU8_7W8I-TIFCulT7uUm8zKvR87hqPGi_Dvk3ZRkFcukDhfv2HMAKDPTjX/s1600/programmatic.jpg" height="112" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boss: "What are you doing?" Buyer: "Buying." </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Machines?<span> </span>No buyers phoning and asking for avails?<span> </span>Nobody telling a radio sales guy, “Look, I’m
buying 18-34 3 deep in the top 30.<span> </span>That’s
it.”<span> </span>Yep, machines.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Stations are either
incorporating software directly or aligning with a number of services to
aggregate their inventory for sale.<span> </span>In
most cases, you assign X inventory to the system and it gets offered for
sale.<span> </span>Stations can determine the costs –
well, you’d have to agree, it’s the <i>marketplace</i>
that ultimately determines the costs – they get inserted then seller machines
talk to buyer machines and it’s off to the races.<span> </span>Buyers can buy in the future or real time.<span> </span>Of course, wait too long and that inventory
you wanted may be gone</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The concept isn’t new to
the digital world.<span> </span>Online is available
this way now.<span> </span>It’s a natural extension
to broadcast media.<span> </span>As a consequence,
traditional stations and shops are moving into the digital world, some
willingly and others dragged at the hands of either unsold inventory or
infrastructure costs.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Keep in mind that you
get what you get.<span> </span>Machines aren’t all
that smart and the buy will be pretty parochial.<span> </span>If you want isolation, forget it.<span> </span>Protection, like keeping a Southwest Airlines
out of the movie <i>Alive</i>, generally is
not available.<span> </span>And as far as post buys
are concerned, that depends on the programmatic organization.<span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Buyers can buy [cheap]
with nothing as a post but the invoice.<span>
</span>On the other hand, both advertisers and stations can get nearly instant
reports sliced more ways than with a Popiel <i>Kitchen Magician</i>.<span> </span>And it all integrates with traffic, billing,
operations and virtually any other area of the plant.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Think about what this
gets the advertiser.<span> </span>He/she can run a
consistent campaign across all media, directed at exactly whatever the desired
demos are, and probably buy it for a lot less than is being paid now.<span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you’re tracking my
thoughts, you’ve fast-forwarded to “so who needs a national rep?” which would
make you fear for the demise of the wonderful rep firms.<span> </span>Well, they see the freight train coming and
many have already adapted including a Katz/iHeartMedia alliance for aggregating
and selling radio advertising via programmatic.<span>
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But remember, during all
of this, it can be machine talking to machine, freeing up people for more
creative and entrepreneurial activity – better programming, more promotion,
whatever.<span> </span>Then again, it could reduce your
staffing needs.<span> </span>If you just sign up to
sell that “excess” inventory staffing won’t change but as programmatic sales
succeed – as defined by increased advertiser satisfaction – you’ll probably
find yourself rolling more inventory into the programmatic world.<span> </span>Especially when it makes it so easy for those
advertisers to achieve their goals – and you don’t even have to care about what
they are!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Your concerns become
questioning what <i>is </i>selling versus
what you’re offering then tailoring your programming to reach the very people
that are being “purchased.”<span> </span>That way,
the computer sees you and buys you.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Is this fun or what?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Well, let me throw something out there: How many sales guys have developed a relationship with your clients? How many times have you been able to jump in and help move someone's product because you knew what the problems were or what challenges they were facing and you got past that? How many times did a relationship get you a buy that was a toss-up with a competitor? Yeah. Wad that all up and throw it away. And your reputation for delivering? Tie that to a CPU somewhere in Virginia. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you get the chance,
check out simulmedia.com, tubemogul.com, wideorbit.com, katzmediagroup.com, and
the programmatic organization, programmaticadvertising.org/.<span> </span><span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">NB:<span> </span>Did you know the Kitchen Magician made
julienne fries? </span></span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-11813575642335856522015-02-01T21:59:00.000-06:002015-02-01T22:01:33.649-06:00A Look at the Big Game<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think the only reason
I sat down to watch the Super Bowl® was so I could write this. Turns out it was a doggoned good game. I didn’t have a horse in the race so really
didn’t care.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">OK, maybe I was a little
put off by Richard Sherman. Hey,
man. When you’re talking to the media,
you’re talking to your fans…you know…those folks that plunk down those green
pieces of paper for tickets, broadcast packages, advertised products,
merchandise and the like. The green
pieces that you stuff in your pocket to the tune of $56,000,000. So to hell with whatever other issues you
have. Talk to your fans.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I won’t recount the game
except for a couple of comments. First,
if New England hadn’t won, Brady would probably have been run out of town for
throwing the first half interceptions.
Second, the fight following the second-last play undid all of the “PSAs”
(quotes around the term because they weren’t public service announcements as
much as the NFL trying to trowel over its problems) they ran the entire night.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Halftime? Interesting.
Katy Perry? OK. Execution? Good but no Chinese Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Let’s call it superficial and leave it at
that.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As for the commercials,
well, anyone remember Charlie Harper’s line in <i>Two and a Half Men</i> when he’s
trying to explain why the commercial music business is in the dumper. It was something along the lines of, “Hey,
why should someone hire me to do music for a new tampon commercial when they
can just go buy ‘Stuck in the Middle with You?’” The game’s commercials helped prove
his theory. Seemed like I was listening to an
oldies station during the breaks as one spot after another relied upon the
nostalgia of ‘60s music to create some sort of favorable emotion.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In support of some of my
earlier blogs, anyone else notice the number of times the NFL Network was
mentioned, promoted, or credited? Like I
say, in a couple of years, who’s gonna need a “channel”?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beyond that, nothing
blew my socks off. Not as many “reveal”
spots trying to hide their actual sponsorship till the last two or three
seconds so someone must have read my blog from a past Super Bowl. Maybe the Doritos <i>Flying Pig</i> moved the needle a bit if you forgive the mediocre
effects but the promos for <i>The</i> <i>Blacklist</i> scored higher in my mind than
any of the spots. I’m just sayin’.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And all you newcomers,
hoping to stake your company’s claim to fame by blowing 2 to 4 million dollars,
you didn’t. None of you. But they may have some parting gifts for you. Maybe a ballpoint pen or Super Bowl XLIX mug
or something.</span></span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-1716505304122686002015-01-24T15:28:00.000-06:002015-02-01T22:01:26.677-06:00How's that Cable / Satellite Bill Doin'?<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When my bill for
receiving WCPO, WCHS and WSAZ went from $2.00 to $2.25, I was ready to throw in
the towel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where would it stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fact is there really wasn’t another way to
get a signal in that hollow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, today, does it
bother me that folks paying between $100 and $200 a month are about to get a 5+
percent kick in their backside?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well,
yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First, full
disclosure:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When someone says it’s not
about the money, it’s about the money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So with that out of the way, I’ll go on to say that it really isn’t
about the money (see immediately above) but the fact that these guys’ timing is
pretty poor.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A look at the
landscape:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still have over-the-air
(OTA) television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have access to
cable, to satellite and to copper-delivered entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyond that, we have IPTV and OTT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I talk about IPTV, I mean any system
that delivers content using Internet Protocol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This could be via an infrastructure provider, e.g., a cable provider
using Internet Protocol to deliver select content…VOD and live events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It also could be via the
Internet though that has come to be called “OTT” or Over-the-Top, a term that
has become synonymous with Internet delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it gets narrowed a bit in that it’s usually meant to mean content
that doesn’t pass over cable or satellite or copper based services.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Confusing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You bet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After all, content comes over cable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some people have Internet delivered via cable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the nuance is that OTT is delivered via
the Internet, itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your cable
company provides your Internet, the OTT content comes directly to you via
Internet without the cable company “handling” it.<sup>1</sup></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let’s throw another
acronym into the mix:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MVPD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Multichannel Video Programming Distributor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the guys who distribute more than
one program source at a time – the cable companies, satellite organizations and
telcos who deliver the 30 to 3000 programs to your home</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They’re different from
the OTT guys like NetFlix and Hulu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both
of these deliver content to you via the web directly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many others are getting into OTT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As anyone who enjoys multiple types of
entertainment knows, all of these acronyms have the nerve to charge something
for their service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like their employees
have to eat or something.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’ve written a couple of
times in the past about distribution and channels (see the blog just
below).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time I do it is with
attention to ever-expanding sources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
now, the sources are starting to step on one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While it may not have
been the first such situation, but arguably the most famous is Sony and the
BetaMax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sony hardware got a great
product to market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sony software started
yelping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we see cable owning
broadcast, broadcast owning cable, most of them providing some type of
Internet, satellite, and the Internet, itself, where entrepreneurs are
desperately trying to distribute all the other guys’ stuff and make a buck at
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s like a car keys party of
the ‘70’s (so I’ve heard).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knows who’s
pairing up with whom next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The diversity and mix
makes it a regulatory free-for-all and it’s dangerous to jump in with laws and
rules without realizing that the arena is one big Pillsbury Dough Boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You push in over here; something’s going pop
out over there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unintended consequences
hiding in the weeds everywhere and if there’s one thing the government isn’t
good at, it’s planning for unintended consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, oxymoronic, but you get the point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Speaking of point, let
me get to mine, finally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rates are going
up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The primary driver is sports programming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ESPN is the biggest culprit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Wall Street Journal’s </i>chart developed from SNL Kagan’s numbers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVfhhbuf6WylotaYtqWW4qcvqTBFPVPWY50yBrnumM93LByN3AjQFLXYg53vY1YY7ady30PTz834trbnzjOUoy0sl1rcHEJbNIlc5HmQx4DJ2J0OUyDubZVyeEEIcC6p8drKM7ms7MGKO/s1600/Kagan-WSJ.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVfhhbuf6WylotaYtqWW4qcvqTBFPVPWY50yBrnumM93LByN3AjQFLXYg53vY1YY7ady30PTz834trbnzjOUoy0sl1rcHEJbNIlc5HmQx4DJ2J0OUyDubZVyeEEIcC6p8drKM7ms7MGKO/s1600/Kagan-WSJ.png" height="252" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Secondary Source: <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/numbers/how-much-cable-subscribers-pay-per-channel-1626/">http://blogs.wsj.com/numbers/how-much-cable-subscribers-pay-per-channel-1626/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That’s 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The producers are back seeking another
bump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s that 5+ percent I mentioned
at the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, according to Kagan,
program costs were up 9.1 percent in 2013 and 8.1 percent in 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m saying 5+ percent in 2015 because it’s
safe and it’s what some in the industry think will be close to accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kagan says 8.8 percent but that’s just one
source.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That begs the big
question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much longer will people
pay for things they don’t use?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
that when I order Buffalo wings I get both ranch and bleu cheese dips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bleu cheese gets dumped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should I be able to buy the wings for 20¢
less by telling them to keep the bleu?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t use the rear power outlet in the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Should I be able to buy it without?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You know where I’m
going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m paying for hundreds of
channels and watching only a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop
charging me for the bleu cheese and the power outlet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’m not the only
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s Nielsen’s evaluation:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOEkorXUQnXBH-g1diSk9tpMgwe2PoVLBGGWYLNnjFRuz800GHPCebtkbWZGuAkAH-aTZEr7fpF3Wzs-wMosWM-O2rO7IJBW6VQAk_5HbxZei5mjpB0FUenRageBNkK_ZCVmUqi7x9GGU/s1600/Nielsen-Viewers.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOEkorXUQnXBH-g1diSk9tpMgwe2PoVLBGGWYLNnjFRuz800GHPCebtkbWZGuAkAH-aTZEr7fpF3Wzs-wMosWM-O2rO7IJBW6VQAk_5HbxZei5mjpB0FUenRageBNkK_ZCVmUqi7x9GGU/s1600/Nielsen-Viewers.png" height="153" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2014/changing-channels-americans-view-just-17-channels-despite-record-number-to-choose-from.html">http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2014/changing-channels-americans-view-just-17-channels-despite-record-number-to-choose-from.html</a> (2014 not yet available)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Looks like we’re all
paying for a lot more than we’re using.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When does that stop?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A number of factors come into play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Channels (wrote about it last time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When folks go to a provider directly, voila.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ll pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But they’ll be the only ones paying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You think content providers aren’t scared of this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, when
subscribers start demanding a la carte from operators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some folks equate tiers with a la carte.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The tiers are stacked to
pack in channels you don’t necessarily want with those you do – amortizing the
per-sub costs for the operator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A la
carte will mean you choose – not from column A or B but from the entire list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll have the about the same effect as going
directly to the provider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe better
since Disney may well try to package all the Disney/ABC/ESPN/History/A&E/so
on networks for one price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’ll be
up to the consumer to decide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The third factor is third
party OTT where a Hulu manages separate streams for content providers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who owns about a third of Hulu?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would be Disney.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The important thing is
that some sort of a la carte is heading our way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the financial guys on the supplier
side don’t see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t want
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of the dominoes that will
fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With sports, if non-sports folks
aren’t subsidizing the sports lovers with their cable/satellite bills, what
happens to rights fees?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, if rights
fees fall, what happens to pro sports leagues?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if the leagues have their revenues cut, where do those poor players
turn? </span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Does it matter?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As an example, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thursday Night Football</i> moves from CBS
to The NFL Network after a few games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>CBS continues to produce – and to weaken its Thursday night lineup with
non-sports fans – the games for the NFL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And how long does that go on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When does the NFL really start producing their own games, on their own
budget and distribute directly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">at a
profit.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are there enough <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thursday Night Football </i>fans around
willing to make it profitable for the NFL?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Does <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> matter?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If, tomorrow, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorre Channel</i> launches as the only
outlet for all of Chuck Lorre Productions’ fare, are CBS and all those rerunning
the series in trouble?<sup>2 </sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tomorrow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Next Tuesday?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep driving those
prices up and maybe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At a buck a show, I
can watch 140 programs a month <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that I
want</i> and come out better than I am now.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><sup>1 </sup>Watch out here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That pesky “net neutrality” provision could
change this completely.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><sup>2</sup> Yeah, yeah, I know, existing
contracts, blah, blah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an example.</span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-75281109268630855122015-01-02T15:48:00.000-06:002015-01-02T15:48:26.409-06:00Mommy, What's a Channel?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mommy, what’s a channel?<br /><br />The question probably won’t be as common as one about the birds and bees but sometime in the not-too-distant future, you’re going to refer to a TV, satellite, or cable channel, or to a “network” and your young kid is going to ask.<br /><br />Why, you say? Hwhy? Because the basic need for a channel – its raison</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> d'être<sup>1</sup></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span> – is as a mechanism for containing programming in order to deliver it to a viewer. And now, with new technologies, they’re really no longer necessary.<br /><br />I’ll give you an example. Cable systems are trying to figure out ways to not have to deliver “ordinary” television. The reason is simple: they profit very little from it and that real estate (bandwidth) used by the “channels” occupied by standard commercial television is extremely valuable.<br /><br />The value realization has already changed the topology of cable delivery. You may remember when that piece of coax carried every channel all the way from the head end to your home. Through lots of amplifiers and nodes and splitters along the way, but if you tapped into the cable at any point, everything was right there. Now, systems are adopting the same technology that the copper twisted pair (AT&T, etc.) use where only the channels you select get forwarded to you. That opens up a truckload of bandwidth to sell you other things – VOIP, Internet, VOD – ooooohhhhh do they love VOD! <br /><br />So if cable wants out of basic program delivery, how are you going to watch your favorite NCIS series (how many are there now?). You immediately jump to “over the air.” Why’s that? Because you know that CBS distributes the franchise and it’s that CBS channel that delivers the show to you – even though your local cable system is picking it up locally and passing it along.<br /><br />That should tell you that there’ll still be a channel. Maybe. Maybe not. <br /><br />First, let’s better define a channel. Some would call it a distribution medium which gets content from one place to another. In the past, that’s involved dedicated radio frequency spectrum, about 6 Megahertz worth.<sup>2</sup> By dedicated, it meant, for example, the band of frequencies between 54 and 60 MHz for TV channel 2. That band channeled the programming from the transmitter high atop something to homes in the signal area. Did you care? My favorite line is, “Nobody cares about what kind of car delivers their pizza. They just care about the taste of the pizza.” <br /><br />The pendulum has swung so many times that Foucault (I’m on a French kick. Maybe I need to surrender to someone) is dizzy.<br /><br />But there’s a new direction…that of streaming. Wait. Why is that a new direction? The world has been “streaming” since little Sammy Morse sent his dits and dahs through a pair of wires form one place to another. Probably because just about any individual can access content around the world and can receive it, save it and/or switch to something else instantly, and all on a pair of wires or even over the air. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What does that have to do with channels? Well, from my vantage point, everything. In the linear world of broadcast, someone’s pushing information to you through a dedicated pipeline. It may be a 6 Megahertz collection of frequencies in the air or over a cable but that content is being pushed in the order and at the time the “owner” chose. You have to take it that way. Sure, now you can now DVR it but it’s still coming to you in a specific order at a predetermined time – through a channel. <br /><br />Streaming can certainly be thought of that way – as a channel – but the difference is that everyone has his/her own, instantly. And, more importantly, they can open that “channel” to all of the content available to them.<br /><br />So, a content provider could provide an opening – go ahead, you know the word, a channel – directly to you. Bellisario Online could offer NCIS, LA, NO, Boise, whatever directly to you. First run<sup>3</sup>. If you think DVRs make it easy, a well-constructed VOD service blows DVRs back to the days of cave paintings. Yes, I know. If you’re reading this, you know that already. But when the Bellisarios of the world start doing that, the middle person won’t be needed. If you can connect your device directly to the content provider, who needs Channel 2 – or 3 or 4 or whatever? Who needs a transmitter sucking power and a channel hogging spectrum or a cable [satellite] delivering you specific programming. It just ain’t necessary. Forget the fight for ala carte cable. It’s moot.<br /><br />Back in the early eighties, a major CBS executive predicted that cable viewing would never cume to more than 1 percent of total sets in use. It didn’t work out that way. Looks like we’re in for a similar evolution away from channels altogether.<br /><br />What’s in the way of it all? Only a couple of minor hurdles.<br /><br />First, promoting whatever new content is being offered. Networks and stations can self-promote. In fact, tune-in advertising is hard to escape, even in a dark, quiet scene of White Collar when USA Network pops a big, fat, bright, animated lower-third on the screen. That, however, is changing, too. Notice how CBS still promoted Thursday Night Football on NFL Network even after CBS had run its measly games? Tell me that wasn’t part of the negotiation.<br /><br />So, slowly, networks will, either obsequiously or by force, bite their collective backsides out of business. <br /><br />Second, Net Neutrality. The gummint is still trying to sort things out. It’s a tough topic to discuss but I still think the marketplace can manage it. Well, with a little antitrust “guidance” from that same gummint. <br /><br />Third, Private Enterprise. About that antitrust issue, if a single company owns broadcast, cable, development, production, online and streaming services, isn’t that getting a little close to the edge? Now factor in the PCS folks like Verizon, Deutsche Telecom, Vodaphone and others, the pressure to give up channels becomes immense. <br /><br />Anyone remember when the DC guys discovered that Eastman Kodak owned its own silver mines and paper mills? The justice department got interested. It’s possible that with a significant number of these so-called conglomerates offering these broad services, they’ll keep one another in check. <br /><br />Sure. The media oligopoly will police itself. One raises rates and the others will lower theirs to steal more business. Ya think? Not gonna happen. But fewer and fewer entities are controlling more and more of the media world. And it’s not just controlling a corner, but from creative thought to viewer delivery. I’m not being political when I say the following: That kind of control is dangerous. Both content and pricing run amok.<br /><br />But given the tenor of those involved – corporations battling for control and profit, gummint pushing for control and taxes, PCS folks screaming for bandwidth, and people having a “pay for it only if I can’t download it for free” mentality, it’s likely that channels will disappear. Some of us may become frustrated. Others, unemployed. But for a lot of “channel” jobs currently in existence, there’ll be lots more in the streaming world. It’s OK. Go to the light.<br /><br />Now, quick. Teach your kids what a channel is, before they’re extinct. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><sup>1</sup> I
structured the whole sentence just so I could use that little bit of
French. I can’t say which is more silly
– the phrase or me using it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><sup>2</sup> In the
good old days, broadcasters and cable operators used the whole 6 MHz for a
single program; 8VSB digital made room for a lot more in that same channel over
the air. Other compression like QAM on
cable reduced bandwidth even further.<sup> </sup></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><sup>3</sup> Which
only means originally making it available.
It doesn’t “run” until you “run” it.</span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-52514461292167871952014-10-05T14:17:00.000-05:002014-10-05T14:17:21.588-05:00Change it, Rebuild it, Move it, Take it off the Air. Broadcasters and PCS Spectrum<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The headline says, “<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The FCC Is Promising Big Payouts for
Local TV Stations That Go Off the Air.”<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></sup> Well, with respect to Dana
Carvey, “Isn’t that special.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me get this straight:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the mid-nineties, when the government and
administration were running record deficits (don’t let that “peace dividend”
fool you) they went looking for new
revenue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, alrighty, then…digital
television.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, to be sure, we had been
investigating DTV as a replacement for the weary NTSC for some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it bumped into itself at every turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SPMTE, NAB, PBS, NTIA and others conducted
numerous tests, all designed to fit 50 pounds of, uh, stuff in a 5 pound
bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, 50 – actually more when you
look at the bandwidth demands of a digital signal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, once they got all that in a bag, they
had to find a way to deliver it without the bag breaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d think we’d be smart enough to pick the
most robust system consistent with the compression we needed (that necessary
for the 6 MHz “five-pound bag” we wanted to keep.) </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, true to form, ATSC chose
8VSB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brings back memories of the
Magnavox AM stereo system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this case,
at least, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">some</i> people liked it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone swallowed hard and implemented
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It brought with it a lot of
promises, not the least of which was multiple channels within the 6 MHz
bandwidth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a sacred value, the
width of an analog channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And everyone changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They really embraced it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, June 12, 2009<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span></sup> was declared the
final, final, really final, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We’re not
kidding</i> final date for turning off the analog signal and no one had a
choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The transition meant billions of
dollars of plant upgrades – from camera to transmitter and news van to file
storage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything had to be
upgraded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we did that, too.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some stations immediately launched
second channels, the so-called “dot-two” channels offering additional
programming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few even added dot-three
and more, choosing to keep their main channel at 480 lines.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Networks began feeding in HD – a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">huge </i>additional cost to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do the quick math on a golf tournament or NFL
game with 20 or more cameras, multiple replay devices and recorders, backhaul
then studio and control room changes and, finally, HD distribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll get to a number somewhere around the yearly
GDP of a South American country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it was worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worth all the expense to deliver great digital
television to the masses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(sarcasm)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Should I quit here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not without mentioning that the real reason
for the move to digital was the government’s recognition that they could move
most stations to the UHF band, freeing up, a great deal of spectrum in the VHF
band to auction off to personal communications services (PCS).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That</i>
was responsible for the cutoff date, the development of digital and all of the
money spent by broadcasters to convert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The extra channels within the 6 MHz bandwidth became carrots, as did a
number of regulatory concessions the commission offered to broadcasters when
they moved. Don't kid yourself; it was about the money.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, the commission is asking stations
to take a bribe – fall to the canvas, if you will – in order for the PCS guys
like Verizon, AT&T and the rest to have additional bandwidth to distribute
their streaming fare on a 1:1 basis.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I <a href="http://scopefocus.blogspot.com/2011/07/working-out-of-your-element.html" target="_blank">wrote about the inefficiency</a> of 1:1
awhile back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To date, the ratio of
bandwidth costs for 1:1 to bandwidth costs for 1:many hasn’t changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s still abysmal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we’re going to move forward with
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the government is
proposing to pay the broadcasters for the spectrum so that they can auction it
off to the PCS guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From their point of
view, it’s “better.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It could be a windfall – a station in
LA could receive over a half billion dollars to turn off the transmitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's a “B” you see there.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again, the Libra feels very
strongly both ways:</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It’s a free market</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">PCS can be important</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Stations could easily exist by serving
their relayed customers (cable, satellite, copper) with the direct feed most of
them now use<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then again, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you’re that willing to give up the
frequencies, where’s that public “interest, convenience and necessity” you’re
supposed to be operating under</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What about that [small] percentage of
people who rely on OTA signals (I’d add away-from-home but given the 8VSB
standard, away from home or portable viewing isn’t possible in many locations.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If the commission’s actions are, in and
of themselves, in the public interest, why should stations get any compensation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about another auction at the end of a
station’s current license term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verizon
and AT&T, Scripps and Linn, get out your checkbooks<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Broadcasters have gotten the short end
of the stick on this so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The minute
the conversions to HD finished, the industry began nipping at their heels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://scopefocus.blogspot.com/2012/05/pass-worcestershire-and-my-low-def-tv.html" target="_blank">Channel repacking</a>, <a href="http://scopefocus.blogspot.com/2012/10/tvs-back-to-future-ii.html" target="_blank">channel movement</a><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">3</span></sup>
and now channel vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upgrade an
entire facility just to turn it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ditch your dot-twos and combine with another broadcaster to save that
precious spectrum.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I showed in one of my <a href="http://scopefocus.blogspot.com/2011/07/working-out-of-your-element.html" target="_blank">earlier writings</a>, there isn’t enough spectrum – DC to white light – to accommodate streaming
to everyone all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we really
want to try?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is you sending me a funny
video of the squirrel in your back yard treed by a cat more important than news
coverage of a major chemical spill?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well how about more important
than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The People’s Court</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ET.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The commission is forming a task force
to go on the road to sell in the idea to broadcasters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t that tell you all you need to know?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>1</sup>http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/the-fcc-is-promising-big-payouts-for-local-tv-stations-that-go-off-the-air-20141001</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>2</sup>September 12, 2015 for LPTV stations</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>3</sup>NB:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
number of stations lobbied hard to keep their VHF assignments in the conversion
to digital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found out the hard way
that the digital envelope behaves differently compared to analog and that it
penetrates building far less reliably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That prompted a number of filings to move to the very UHF channels they
reviled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786632854683948751.post-47520600430247929982014-08-16T16:12:00.000-05:002014-08-16T16:16:46.373-05:00Stations: Getting Certified: The Emergency Response Broadcaster Act Program<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In an emergency or disaster, broadcasters can be the
biggest help to a community of any services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s nothing like watching broadcasters shift into immediate action
in a natural or man-caused disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
goes beyond any rules or regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Commercial or non, stations put away the music, turn off the sports or talk,
and pitch in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the best part is
there’s nothing between the station and the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the transmitter’s on the air, they’re
communicating to everyone who has a radio.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you spot the fly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If the transmitter’s on the air…</i>can,
at times, be an issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a tornado
takes down a tower, it’s a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
in the past, it sometimes became complicated by first responders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When areas were cordoned off for safety or
other protective reasons, getting past the yellow tape to get a station back on
the air was sometimes difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
times, part of the problem was a degree of disorganization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The propensity of some broadcasters to
disobey instruction in the name of “…public interest, convenience, and
necessity…” didn’t help matters.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enter: ERBA</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Emergency Response Broadcaster Act Program addresses
the issues that can surface during a disaster or crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It establishes common approaches and
procedures for managing emergencies and the people involved in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the broadcaster, it means certifying
designated individuals who can obtain access “behind the tape” in order to
service their facilities.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to get certified?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s pretty simple, if your state has established a
procedure inside its emergency action plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The application part is what you would expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically, who are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who do you work for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are the call letters?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is the station located?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s followed by a statement by station
management certifying that you are who you say you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put those together with a picture for your ID
and you’re about a quarter of the way there.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">The other three-quarters?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Take two FEMA training courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These can be taken at some state broadcasters’ meetings or, absent that, online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The courses are </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-100.b" target="_blank" title="IS-100.B: Introduction to Incident Command"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">IS-100.B: Introduction to Incident Command</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">. and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-700.a" target="_blank" title="IS-700A: (NIMS)"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">IS-700.A: National Incident
Management System (NIMS)</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">. If you take the courses online, when you’ve finished
you can take companion online exams and after passing, you’ll receive
certificates for both course completions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Package those (they come as .pdf’s) along with the other elements above
and submit all to your state broadcasting association.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a short time, you’ll get your
identification.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About the courses, here are
my thoughts:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">These
are introductory courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t think
that when you’ve finished, you’re an expert in disaster management.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not the purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose really is to learn how
disaster/crisis managers and first responders work with one another, and how
you need to conduct yourself inside that operation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">They
also help you understand the commonality of disaster/crisis elements and to be
able to carry modes of action from one event to another.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Neither
course is difficult but it does mean paying attention and reading closely – you
really don’t want to be standing next to a rising river reading the course
content for an answer to a procedural question.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Some
of the content is common sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
come on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you want it
otherwise?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, that’s a big part of
the approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Common sense, e.g., Use
plain and simple language in communication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No “10 codes” no jargon…plain language so that anyone listening can
understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Common sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duh.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Plan
on a day for both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll be done in
much less time but take your time and read – and digest – the materials.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
exams aren't hard; it just covers what you studied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you give it a shot and don’t qualify, you
can repeat it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is one quirk, at
least as I see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t give them
any information about yourself until you’re finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you provide identification, address,
email address…the usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heed the
warning about email – enter their address into your email’s “good guy” address
book so that your certificates don’t get dumped into a spam folder or
deleted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When
your ID card shows up, call your local emergency people and introduce yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put the card in your wallet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With luck, you’ll never have to use it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But should a disaster occur, you’ll be able
to get to your sites to keep your stations on the air and maybe help save some lives.</span></span></div>
MediaLenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00082013987413333089noreply@blogger.com0