It's crazy today how national television news programs have allowed themselves to become little more than star gazers or infomercial vehicles for selling products such as Ann Coulter's books. What's even crazier is that we—and the conglomerate giants—allow it. After all, there is revenue to be made here, oh you captains of the broadcast industry. American Express pays big bucks for their commercial airtime, remember?
But beyond losing revenue and boring us to death with all the hype, self promotion and constant sensational e-tainment, it's a huge disservice to the American people who actually need credible, fast, current sources of broadcast news coverage. Televisions are everywhere but there's very little real news anywhere.
Is it any wonder that the people have taken over via the Internet to post news and keep one another informed? The Internet, which continues to receive a larger and larger slice of the advertising dollars each quarter. And is considered the best vehicle for "experiental marketing" of a product today. While television ad revenues continue to slide.
Wake up broadcast companies. This is pretty basic Marketing 101.
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Coincidentally (or not?), I just flipped through the two CNN channels. One was airing a story on David Copperfield; the other had a discussion on the possibility of exercise making you fat. Hmm.
Fluff pieces and PR stories are the TV news media's way of "balancing things out"... a form of escapism from other, more serious issues going on in the world today. Like somehow this will establish more respect from viewers. As you've mentioned, the masses have started shifting to the Internet for the news, thus proving how the TV news media's plan isn't working. Why it hasn't changed... beats me.
This is unrelated, but I just saw this Jeep commercial with my mom and cracked up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8qVM6f9Ogs. Definitely different from/quirkier than other car commercials. Since we had a discussion in class about Jeep's ad campaign, perhaps you should write a blog on it.
See you on Tuesday. =)
Thanks for your input. Regarding the Jeep spots, I will definitely consider posting something on that. It's a great rebuilding of an old brand story.
Aloha!
In the future world of advertising, I believe that a more targeted approach would materialise.
Instead of becoming a willing couch potato, ads would take to the street. When opportunity and chance meet, there would be a convergence and a 3-D image of you and the cool suit/t-shirt would be projected in the air with a voice that would entice you to take the next turn into the clothes store.
Television and radio would be very niche and would not be the main news source as newspapers with new changing ink technology would keep news new.
It is true that television by selling out is digging a grave closer to 3rd world countries where people would not have the luxury to choose what they watch or hear or be discerning enough to recognise advertisement's subliminal power.
Therefore unless there is a reason to want something, we might not need it.
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