What Can Brown Do For PBS?
No, not that Brown. Aaron Brown. Former CNN Anchor, who was jettisoned a few years back for the younger, more in-your-face, reporting of Anderson Cooper.
First, I must admit in writing this that I am an Aaron Brown fan. I was sad to see him replaced at CNN a few years ago by Anderson Cooper. It’s not that I don’t like Cooper, because I do, but Brown has a unique ability to tell the “important” stories. The stories, which many of us, myself included, might overlook because they are deemed dry or they seem like they’re half a world away (because they often are.) However, Brown makes theses stories relevant and manages to tell them with a certain brand of character that lends a sense of candor and warmth to these tales, making them interesting, informative, and educational.
So with that in mind, what can the 60-year-old Brown do for PBS? Perhaps, it is an opportunity for the outlet to rejuvenate its news coverage, to attract some younger or rather more varied audiences. Or perhaps, as Brown makes the case in this intro video (link) it is the ability to present those important stories that aren’t getting covered anywhere else the attention that they so deserve.
For PBS, and for Brown, I think that this is a perfect marriage. Brown’s analytical take, and ability to connect with the audience will match well with PBS’ more documentary and longer-form approach. While this initial run is scheduled as a limited engagement, I expect that this relationship will be successful and flourish in the coming months. Judging by the reaction fans have had on the Wide Angle website, with nearly 50 comments already posted by viewers, the audience is there and eager to have Brown back in the chair.
Look for Wide Angle on PBS beginning this evening, August 19th on your local PBS Affiliate.
On the Web:
Program Website: Wide Angle
PBS: Schedule/PBS Affiliate Locator
Snubbed by CNN, Aaron Brown Gets Chance to Host New Show on PBS - The Hartford Courant
First, I must admit in writing this that I am an Aaron Brown fan. I was sad to see him replaced at CNN a few years ago by Anderson Cooper. It’s not that I don’t like Cooper, because I do, but Brown has a unique ability to tell the “important” stories. The stories, which many of us, myself included, might overlook because they are deemed dry or they seem like they’re half a world away (because they often are.) However, Brown makes theses stories relevant and manages to tell them with a certain brand of character that lends a sense of candor and warmth to these tales, making them interesting, informative, and educational.So with that in mind, what can the 60-year-old Brown do for PBS? Perhaps, it is an opportunity for the outlet to rejuvenate its news coverage, to attract some younger or rather more varied audiences. Or perhaps, as Brown makes the case in this intro video (link) it is the ability to present those important stories that aren’t getting covered anywhere else the attention that they so deserve.
For PBS, and for Brown, I think that this is a perfect marriage. Brown’s analytical take, and ability to connect with the audience will match well with PBS’ more documentary and longer-form approach. While this initial run is scheduled as a limited engagement, I expect that this relationship will be successful and flourish in the coming months. Judging by the reaction fans have had on the Wide Angle website, with nearly 50 comments already posted by viewers, the audience is there and eager to have Brown back in the chair.
Look for Wide Angle on PBS beginning this evening, August 19th on your local PBS Affiliate.
On the Web:
Program Website: Wide Angle
PBS: Schedule/PBS Affiliate Locator
Snubbed by CNN, Aaron Brown Gets Chance to Host New Show on PBS - The Hartford Courant
At first I thought my cable went out – no really – I mean it wouldn’t be the first time that my Time Warner Cable failed at an incredibly important moment (it went out right before the first pitch of Opening Night baseball earlier this year) but to go out right as Tony Soprano bid his farewell, come on! Well, I guess like many of you once I realized that my cable was working quite fine – I just scratched my head and wondered what had just happened.
While the United States is a rather large country, local flavor and customs vary greatly depending on where you go. Of course, I don’t mean literally, but if you want to take Culinary as an example of our cultural differences than you need not look any further than unique tastes in different areas from fish tacos out west, to the original cheese steak in Philadelphia, or BBQ in the South West. Despite these differences the American culture is often tied together by major news events, various pop culture icons, sporting events, and of course our affinity for popular television programs..jpg)
In the world of television programming changes are sometimes made within the blink of an eye. For example, recently, after just three episodes, CBS pulled Love Monkey, the comedic-drama starring Tom Cavanaugh. Now, I understand that developing and producing a series such as Love Monkey is a costly endeavor and therefore programming decisions need to be made swiftly and efficiently, however there is a certain amount of gravitas with which these types of decisions should be made. With that in mind, I would argue that despite the economics of these types of programs, television network executives need to give programs like Love Monkey time to organically grow. As a matter of fact, CBS and the show's creators had already created a unique buzz about the show by featuring up-and-coming artists like Teddy Geiger, who music fans have been buzzing about since the show's debut, and earned the respect of radio station DJs who appreciated Tom Cavanaugh's character and the insight the show provided into the music industry. CBS and Love Monkey would have had better success if the show had time to organically grow an audience. Additionally, programs like Love Monkey should embrace the power of Web 2.0 and social media tools like Podcasting to build and foster new audiences, which in turn will also increase tune-in rates and help the bottomline. .gif){kind=small}
Amidst the many angles of the changing media landscape that we monitor here at The MediaBackpage, one of the more interesting angles is that of how media outlets themselves adopt and integrate new technologies and methodologies into their own toolboxes. With that in mind, Fortune Magazine's David Kirkpatrick has an interesting commentary in his recent Fast Forward column about Old Media's new love affair with New Media. 
on shows like 
sperate Housewives on 
The Katie Couric story has a very interesting business twist, both in the short term for NBC and in the long-term for CBS; ad rates. For NBC, the network will seek to capitalize on Katie's final days and weeks with the show by raising their :30 second spot rates. In the meantime, the CBS Evening News, which is charging about $40K per thrity second spot expects that number to increase and equalize with its counter parts at ABC and NBC once the Katie Era begins. Now that the speculation over Katie's next move has been put to bed, let the speculation of The Couric Factor begin.
Apple's iTunes continues to delve into new territory. The web's most popular destination for legally downloadable music, and now video content has taken a step further toward by offering new content on a daily basis. Hot off of his Oscars' hosting 
debut, John Stewart's ever popular nightly Daily Show, will be available for download not only as individual episodes ($1.99), but through a new iTunes feature called "Multi-Pass" as a month long subscription services. The package, which will retail for $9.99, includes a total of 16 episodes and is currently offered for Stewart's program, as well as The Colbert Report, of which he is also an executive producer. This is probably just the first sign of Apple's foray into daily content and a subscription-based model.
IN THE WORLD of marketing and advertising a key target group is that of college students 18-24. Despite the segments importance for advertisers and networks, it has been historically difficult to measure what college students view, since they live in temporary dwellings that are not traditionally included in the ratings mix. As the media landscape continues to be redefined, both content companies and their advertisers are seeking better metrics to track their efforts. With that in mind, Nielsen Media Research, the company that measures television audiences, has announced that they will include college students beginning in early 2007. In doing so the company will be able to better determine what they are watching (my bets are MTV, Fox, ESPN, and Comedy Central) and empower broadcasters and advertisers to better understand the demo. As part of the unprecedented move, Nielsen will survey college students who live both on and off campus from dorm rooms to frat houses.
extravagent fanfare, celebrity parties, and 30-second commercials that dominate the water cooler on Monday. However, with the addition of 
Earlier this week ESPN posted their witty SportsCenter commercials on iTunes, for a $1.99. Shortly thereafter the comments started coming in via iTunes built-in comment system, however, instead of praise for ESPN's typically well-received spots the audience was appalled at the very idea of being charged to watch a commercial. ESPN quickly retracted the spots and reposted them without fees. Naturally, this was a good move on the network's part and we'll give credit where credit is do - they did right by their audience at the end of the day.
Top Ten List has been available as a syndicated radio feature to help audiences become more familiar with the show and to in-turn draw larger audiences. Now, with that idea in mind, the broadcast networks and cable channels have a unique opportunity to use video podcasts to make programs, or parts of programs available without a fee online, which will in turn help build audiences. 
dynamic changes. This recent article from 
In short, HBO seems to have developed its own paradigm that allows it to create a win-win solution for the network and its audience. 
the two major media corporations will launch the "CW" network in the fall season of 2006. Network executives from UPN and WB will combine to run the new network, CW and will make decisions about which programs they will renew for the new network in the fall. Often referred to as "Netlets" for their inability to crack the "big 4" ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in the eyes of the viewers and the public, the folding of the WB and UPN is a significant move in the media marketplace. 
iche" audience, networks have been left scratching their heads to compete. Cable has been grabbing ratings from the networks continuously for the past decade and is impacting the business-side of television. The underlying point is that the television landscape is changing and this is just another large media merger within the entertainment industry. The real winner is Time Warner who would earn a 50% stake in a possible 5th large network. 
in 2006. Traditionally, Allstate gears up about $100 million to the big four networks (CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX) which allows the networks to flaunt their fall television schedule and gives them financial flexibility before the TV season begins (when buying upfront, the networks give advertisers huge discounts). According to the Wall Street Journal, broadcast networks attracted 35% of the TV audience down from 57% 10 years ago...in the same period, the big four broadcast networks nearly doubled upfront sales to $8.3 billion from $4.5 billion. Allstate has always been one of the most loyal advertisers in the business and if this trend continues across the board, it only proves that advertisers are focusing their time and money on the developing new media. 
