#nbc universal cable

[taiwantalk]

Something is happening on a very massive scale to the media industry in america and worldwide.

I don’t know what it is, I cannot say there’s forensic evidence but the pattern is noticeable.

Something is not right. Just not quite organic.

Public tv networks or giant film companies are being bought cheap and they should not have been this cheap even with all the streaming and social media bs.

I don’t know what I’m sensing but this is not some natural evolution.

Long time ago, I can understand Sony/Columbia and I can understand nbc universal and ge. But what’s happening now is so far out of ordinary that nobody can even keep up with anything.

I fear that by the time we figured it all out, it would be like Taiwan and England.

Americans are too naive and aloof about what media industry is, and is more than just billions worth.

Let me put it this way, if you invented movies and tv and cable and content industry and the whole advertisement business model and reached worldwide and ….

[paperstorm]

TARLOS IN RINGS!!! Fox posted. It’s beautiful.

Please please everyone, like and interact with all their Tarlos/911 LS content on all social media platforms. Please like, repost, comment. . We need to show how loved the show and characters are.

Ratings are going to be important in whether we get another season so yes all interaction is good!!

Also this gives me an opportunity to link a thing I've found, it's called Puffer and it's an apparently completely legal website created by Stanford University that lets you watch CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, CW, and ABC live. You have to select a box that indicates you are currently in the United States, but I am not currently in the United States and it seems to work anyway (on desktop, tho, not mobile.)

Since it streams Fox I think??? it probably will work to watch Lone Star? I don't know for sure but it's worth a try for people who don't have a cable connection.

Puffer (stanford.edu)

[mydaddywiki]

Dan Blocker

Physique: Rotund Build/Heavyset Height: 6′ 4″ (1.93 m)

Bobby Dan Davis Blocker (December 10, 1928 – May 13, 1972; aged 43) was an American television actor and Korean War veteran, who played Hoss Cartwright in the NBC Western television series Bonanza.

Big, burly Dan Blocker is a classic bearish icon who is definitely in the hallowed halls of the Great Pantheon of Bearish Gods. Blocker only did a handful of movies in his 17-year acting career, but he became one of the most beloved and popular television stars of the 1960s for his portrayal of big Eric “Hoss” Cartwright on the Western series Bonanza.

Born in De Kalb, TX, he attended Texas Military Institute and in 1946 played football at Baptist-affiliated Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. He graduated from Sul Ross State University Teacher's College in Alpine, TX, where he earned a master's degree in the dramatic arts. After two years of military service, where he earned a Purple Heart, he became an actor in 1955. His first film role was in "Hook a Crook" (1955).

He was married to Dolphia Parker (25 August 1952 - 13 May 1972) ( his death) with whom he had four children, one of whom is cute daddy actor, Dirk Blocker. What else… before taking up acting, Blocker worked as a rodeo performer, a bouncer in a bar and a high-school teacher.

On May 13, 1972, Blocker died in Los Angeles, at age 43, of a pulmonary embolism following gall bladder surgery. Blocker also left behind a legacy of good will that survives to this day, as Bonanza is in perpetual reruns on various cable channels, decades after its cancellation.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Bonanza (TV Series 1959–1972) The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County (1970) Lady in Cement (1968) Cimarron City (1958)

[vanderspeiglemd]

It's a little baffling to me they celebrate netflix numbers. Fandom people know better than anyone how fickle all that is. People binge new things and move on so fast, we've seen shows supposedly insanely popular (with actual fandoms) canceled for no reason.

While airing s1 and pt1 of s2 were also very popular til they shot themselves in the foot with the second half. Why change that formula who tf knows. Now s3 isn't fairing better at all, it lost the viewers it gained in the second episode and I'm like genuinely curious given this straight out of family guy bird fucking arc coming up. Ratings wise it's doing about par with what Chucky does on syfy/USA, however also different demos chucky fans are younger less likely to watch cable and more to stream and pirate. Plus chucky is a whole other thing, it makes money regardless.

Plus the show WAS popular, it was so popular, it had over a million viewers all but 3 episodes in the first season and a half, which was giant for syfy. But now it's just like there, barely scratching half of that. I have to wonder if they sold the streaming rights to a non-nbc/universal entity so they can potentially off load it if s3 does worse but that's entirely speculation.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Mike Hixenbaugh at NBC News:

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The audience of about 1,500 people waved small American flags and chanted “USA! USA! USA!” as television cameras began filming last Friday inside a Regent University ballroom. Many in the crowd wore red “Make America Great Again” hats. Some carried Bibles. They had paid $60 each to attend a live taping of “FlashPoint,” a national TV program that’s won loyal viewers with a unique blend of pro-Trump political commentary and prophetic messages about God’s divine plans for America.

Over the next three hours, the audience heard the same overarching message that “FlashPoint” broadcasts three times a week on the Victory Channel television network and various streaming platforms: The world has entered its final years. Jesus will soon return. But Christians are not meant to wait idly while evil runs rampant; they are called to occupy positions of power and influence in society. And in the short term, that means putting Donald Trump back in the White House. “I watch to get the truth,” said one “FlashPoint” attendee, who described a “supernatural” rush of clarity the first time she found the show while flipping channels two years ago. “This is the only news show where you hear what Jesus thinks,” said another attendee, a mother of three school-aged children who’d driven four hours from central North Carolina for the taping.

Launched in 2020 and hosted by pastor Gene Bailey, “FlashPoint” at times looks and sounds like other right-wing cable programs. But unlike Fox News hosts, the rotating panel of conservative pastors and commentators on “FlashPoint” pepper their political analysis with messages that they say come directly from God. Viewers hear regularly from Lance Wallnau, a self-described prophet known for popularizing the Seven Mountains Mandate, a philosophy increasingly embraced on the right that says Christians are called to claim positions of power atop seven key “mountains” of society, including government, education, business and media. “FlashPoint,” which presents itself as an alternative to mainstream news, embodies that strategy. In a January broadcast, pastor Hank Kunneman, another “FlashPoint” mainstay, said the Lord told him that 2024 would be a year of “divine reckoning” and “vengeance against the wicked.” In the months since, the show has portrayed the presidential election as a spiritual clash while depicting Trump as a flawed leader — like a modern King David — who’s been anointed by God to save the nation.

The show draws a monthly cable TV audience of roughly 11,000 households, according to Comscore data, while clips of the program reach hundreds of thousands more viewers online. With a rabid following, it has “become incredibly popular and even gravitational” on the Christian right, said Matthew Taylor, a senior scholar at the nonprofit Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Maryland. Trump is one of several prominent Republicans who have appeared as guests on “FlashPoint,” including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA. The program fits into a growing evangelical movement that calls on followers to “think of themselves as soldiers in a cosmic conflict,” said Bradley Onishi, a former megachurch pastor and author of “Preparing for War,” which documents the history and rise of Christian nationalism in America. To “FlashPoint” loyalists, political debates are no longer just about who wins the next election, Onishi said; they are about the fate of eternity.

“When you explain it that way to folks,” he said, “you’re able to prime them, not only for action, but I think for extreme measures.” Trump has embraced elements of this framing, warning in speeches that the left wants “to tear down crosses” and promising that his return to office would restore Christian power. He also has promised to eliminate the Johnson Amendment, a rarely enforced federal law that prohibits nonprofit foundations and religious organizations — including the one that operates the Victory Channel — from endorsing political candidates. White evangelical Protestants remain among Trump’s most loyal voting blocs, with more than 80% planning or leaning toward voting for him in November, a recent Pew Research survey found. Hoping to push that number even higher, “FlashPoint” has called on pastors to start preaching a pro-Trump message on Sunday mornings. 

Bailey, the “FlashPoint” host, did not respond to messages requesting an interview.  Rick Green, a regular “FlashPoint” panelist, is the founder of Patriot Academy, a Texas nonprofit that teaches courses about what it calls the nation’s explicit Christian origins — an idea disputed by historians. He told NBC News that he believes many critics of the show’s mixing of religion and politics are ignorant “about the founding principles of America.” Others, Green said, harbor “hatred and intolerance of differing views.” “You get more truth from ‘FlashPoint’ than any news program in the nation,” Green said. 

To rally the show’s most loyal fans, known as the FlashPoint Army, the Fort Worth, Texas-based Victory Channel, a Christian network run by the nonprofit Kenneth Copeland Ministries, has hosted tapings across the nation as part of its Rescue America Tour. The live programs, even more than the regular broadcasts, take on the feel of a Christian revival service.

NBC News reports on the Christian Nationalist propaganda program FlashPoint that airs on The Victory Channel, which is run by Kenneth Copeland Ministries and hosted by Gene Bailey.

A typical episode of FlashPoint features prophecy and news from a Christian Nationalist pro-Trump perspective.

See Also:

Raw Story: Trump presented as God's anointed leader by popular right-wing Christian TV program FlashPoint

[spyral-out-keep-going]

Saw a post about how even if kids weren’t online/social media then there’s nothing for them to do elsewhere because the outside spaces are not child- & especially not teen-friendly. And boy howdy did that unlock some memories for me. Please join me for a little walk down memory lane!

(I typed a LOT out - way more than I expected - so will be splitting some things up over multiple times and posts. This is going to be called “maybe my experiences were not universal?” series)

I am 42 years old. I grew up without cable tv or a computer in the house until I was maybe 15 I think? And before then I had to go to my friend’s house and use her dad’s AOL free trial discs to get into the chat rooms. (We were catfishing before we knew what that was. I don’t think we ever told the truth when asked for our a/s/l. ;) But I digress…) I lived “in the country” which meant outside a town that now has about 5500 people and back then it wasn’t even that high. My house (formerly a working family farm) was surrounded by fields, a diary farm across one of those fields, and the closest neighbor down the road was about 2 football fields away or 1/10 mile.

Please consider all of that and know I was a bona fide member of the “there’s nothing to doooo” club.

But

We found things to do

The library in town was the most frequent place we visited because it was 1) free and 2) had vhs movies and shows we didn’t get on our 6 channel tv. (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS…I’m missing something. I think there was also a religious (Christian) channel?? but you get the point.) Libraries rock and they offer even more programs and crafts these days to get people in the door. Please support your local library.

Most of our free time we were home or down at the neighbors. I had 2 little sisters and within a mile down the road there were 2 other families each with 2 girls in our age range. We lucked out there. We would walk or ride our bikes to visit each other. We played actual games and made up games. This is not comprehensive but is a very accurate list of what we got up to.

My family had a corn crib not in use for its actual purpose, so we got it as a play house and constructed many worlds to play in. Storylines spanning summers. War, historical drama, survival/kid horror, cops & robbers, romances with imaginary husbands & eventually kids, and I’m sure more I’m forgetting.

Our make believe games were not limited to the corn crib - we also recreated whole movies (Sound of Music was a recurring one) and sometimes just scenes in the neighbor girls’ basements.

Dance parties - sometimes with judges but mostly just to dance. We had to use the radio mostly (before we had our own tapes & eventually CDs) because our parents didn’t really trust us with their records. Probably for good reason.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

A video clip of Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis from two and a half years ago has resurfaced and is being shared on social media, in which the 2024 presidential candidate suggested using a discredited legal theory in order to overturn the results of the 2020 election to help then-President Donald Trump remain in office.

The video suggests DeSantis, like Trump, is willing to embrace far-fetched legal theories in order to help himself or other Republicans obtain positions of power, even if they go against the democratic preferences of voters.

In the video, DeSantis discusses possible remedies to help Trump win the 2020 election, even after most media outlets at the time — including Fox News, the cable news station where the interview took place — had already called the election for President Joe Biden. DeSantis suggests utilizing an aspect of the fringe, right-wing independent legislature theory, which posits, in part, that state legislatures are the sole deciders of how electors are chosen to represent states in the Electoral College.

The Florida Governor also encourages viewers in states Trump lost to President Joe Biden to pressure their state legislatures to utilize the theory…

“If you’re in those states that have Republican Legislatures like Pennsylvania and Michigan and all these places, call your state Representatives and your state Senators,” DeSantis said in the clip. “Under Article II of the Constitution, presidential electors are done by the Legislatures and the schemes they create.”

DeSantis added that he would “exhaust every option” in order to produce what he said would be a “fair count” of votes, although all indications at the time — and ever since — showed that the initial vote count was both fair and legitimate.

While the Constitution does give legislatures the ability to decide how electors are chosen, it doesn’t give them the right to overturn elections or to decide how electors are picked after voters have already decided — the clause simply gives state governments the ability to pass laws to determine what the process will be. Since the middle of the 19th century, every state has chosen its electors through an election by eligible voters.

Seen as a fringe theory at the time DeSantis suggested it on Fox News, the United States Supreme Court has since rejected other aspects of the independent state legislature theory, which asserted that the legislature alone has the authority to decide how congressional maps are drawn.

A staunch Trump supporter when the interview was recorded, DeSantis has since stated he doesn’t believe Trump won the 2020 race.

Earlier this month in an interview with NBC News correspondent Dasha Burns, DeSantis was asked who he thought won the race, Biden or Trump. At first, DeSantis tried to sidestep the issue — “Whoever puts their hand on the Bible on January 20 every four years is the winner,” he responded.

Burns pressed DeSantis to be more direct. “Respectfully, you did not clearly answer that question,” she pointed out, asking whether the Florida Governor could give a “yes” or “no” response instead.

“No, of course he lost. Joe Biden’s the president,” DeSantis finally relented.

DeSantis will likely have to explain to voters why he, like Trump, would be supportive of using then-untested legal theories in order to justify overturning the will of the people — that is, of course, if he’s successful in becoming the Republican Party’s presidential nominee. As it stands right now, DeSantis, like all other current GOP primary candidates, is polling far behind Trump.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll published this week, for example, shows that 57% of Republican-aligned voters back Trump for the party’s pick. DeSantis, meanwhile, obtains just 18% support, while businessman Vivek Ramaswamy garners 5% and former Vice President Mike Pence gets 4% in the poll.

[incarnateirony]

Paramount: 60M subs Max: 123 M Disney: 157.8M, declined rom 164.2M. Hulu, Disney owned: 43.8M Netflix: 238.4, with password shakedown. Has been relatively stagnant compared to competitors though, 221.84 even Q4 2021. Amazon: it's amazon. Peacock: 22M

What I see here: Netflix is hitting just about its peak of growth in market. It had been losing, then password shaked down, and will be rattled by its empty pipeline but will have cash to mostly recover.

Paramount+ and Peacock/Universal need to give it up. Stop trying to make them happen. They're not gonna happen. Their best luck would be CBS and NBC cooperating, while Paramount sells off a chunk of its wares to Tyler Perry, and go in on something together, and if they retained, they'd still be under most of their competition.

Hulu being Disney owned and Disney+ both being there seems like an inevitable merging of their features ala Max/Discovery merger. They could actually break 200M subscribers and be on foot with Netflix while it equalizes.

Amazon is Amazon. It's here to stay.

WBD is in financial crisis despite its looks or how it spins data, but has a successful library and successful individual membership.

Likely future array:

#1/2 Amazon, Netflix

Amazon has 101M Video subscribers notwithstanding prime; including prime, it's about 175M with monthly individual users but can tap into wider Prime bases~; Netflix has 238M+)

#3 Disney-Hulu

#4 Max, if it doesn't implode from the strike aftermath.

If Peacock/Paramount's remaining vestiges band together, and maybe onboard deals like Fox Sports, it may be able to pull in to join 1-5 as a #5, but just as likely is Tyler Perry's black entertainment plans to fill a similar role. On the other hand, Paramount has been working very very heavily with WB since before WBD and continuing since, so there's a potential it ends up more like:

#1/2 Amazon, Netflix

#3 Disney-Hulu (200M current collective, if done right)

(The above 3 streamers as-such would make the above-200M club respectively)

#4 Max-paramount (180M current collective)

Disney could choose to import from Fox Sports since it already had relations with Fox with the 21st buyout, to try to get an edge on sports lives.

Think linear TV "Big 4 + smaller option like CW", but in streamer mode. That's what's really being fought for here. And then the weird independent streamers and breakoffs will be the equivalent of tiny cable channels mostly airing reruns and weird stuff.

From there, like for example whatever Tyler is planning, he could bring in his--cough, I mean Atlanta--cough--I mean Gray's pipeline deal with NBC Universal and snap up Peacock, then bring in what he bought off of Paramount with BET/VH1/et al once that finalizes. And it eventually will. And there's your #5 with a heavy favor on black entertainment like original TBS before Time Warner picked it for parts.

There. There's my "what this shit is gonna look like by 2025-2026" projection. Obviously scale up membership gains accordingly, I'm using their current bases plugged together, everything might gain something like 33-50% over 2~ years, so 300M club, and so on.

Expect average streamer price to end up around 10/mo for ad based and 20/mo for high end ad free with extra baubles. And then to get the big 4 it's 40/mo with ads or 80/mo with no ads, and 60 for in between depending on how you use which, and pans about to old cable costs. That's about how this is gonna have to work out.

Some streamers may also consider tiers, such as; if Hulu is eaten by Disney main, there may be a Basic Subscription With Ads for just Hulu content, but save Exclusives for Plus, for example--your rerun library, if you will. And whatever other streamers for similar things that get partnered in, like wherever Fox shoves Tubi's ass. These will become the equivalent of channels. So in theory people could bring down their bill by getting a few basic level streamers to watch their fave reruns on but send exclusives up to the parent streamer.

So for example, let's say Disney will break into the Hulu package, the Plus package, and under Plus have the 21st Fox shows, and maybe Fox Sports stuff as "channels" or channel replacements you can file through. Max could have its CW equivalent, and its DC section, and put CNN here instead of on CNN+ that closed, and so on with higher packages

If handled like this, a big 4/5 could maintain competition while making streaming sustainable but offering wide varieties internally that are like mini-cable packages yourself. And then you can ask, do I really watch X provider shows, and if you are a Poor, then you can still optimize like--well I want the basic Disney package for all the marvel stuff, no ads tho... so I'll go premium. Am I really watching Netflix exclusives anymore? Nah. I don't need that dusty library. Amazon I use prime anyway so I'm good there- is black entertainment important to me? Yeah but I don't mind ads with my sitcoms, so a true basic ad package is fine. And then you're really only paying like 25 a month for a fairly broad "digital cable" package.

And by 2026 or so Big 4 should at least be approaching the 300M club, and we talked in another post the 15mo/avg/median, and be talking 4.5Billion per streamer, and then you break out my earlier math on shows, and costs, and 10/10/10 schema, and even 2 billion spent on shows per streamer + residuals paid to everyone that earns it makes it a sustainable profit while broadcast shuts down, and so on. [jazz hands] it truly isn't rocket science but like, paramount+ and peacock for example need to learn when to throw in the towel. It too late, pals.

[gacmediadaily]

Great American Media will be coming up roses on New Years Day: The network has signed a multi-year pact with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association to become the new cable home for the parade.

The 2024 Rose Parade theme is “Celebrating a World of Music.”

“It’s an honor to be back working alongside the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association to televise this classic event,” said Bill Abbott, CEO of Great American Media. “The Rose Parade perfectly embodies the mission of Great American Family by bringing joy and celebration to participants and spectators alike, and I have had the pleasure of seeing first-hand the positive impact on communities made possible by the Tournament of Roses Foundation’s meaningful outreach efforts.  We look forward to our continued partnership in the years to come.”

“The Rose Parade theme, Celebrating a World of Music, unites us all through the universal language of music and we can’t wait to watch the thousands of musicians march down Colorado Blvd. together with our fabulous floral floats and equestrian units on New Year’s Day,” added Alex Aghajanian, the 2024 Pasadena Tournament of Roses President. “The Tournament of Roses has partnered with Great American Family as our new broadcast partner for the Rose Parade, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring this iconic tradition to households nationwide, delivering an unparalleled viewing experience for families across the country and around the world.”

ABC and NBC/Peacock, as well as Univision, KTLA 5 and the Cowboy Channel also have partnerships with the Tournament of Roses to run the parade. The 2024 event kicks off at 8 a.m. PT.

[updateparishilton]

June 16, 2011 —  NBC Universal VIP Party.

 Paris Hilton attends the NBC Universal VIP party during the Cable Show 2011 at Privet Nightclub and Lounge in Chicago.

[lboogie1906]

Edward Lansing Gordon III (August 17, 1960) is a television journalist known for his association with BET over four different decades. A native of Detroit, he is the son of an Olympic athlete named Ed Gordon. He was BET’s main news anchor (1988-96) and (2000-01) before hosting the interview show BET Tonight (2001-02) and another interview show, Weekly with Ed Gordon (2010-11).

He worked for NBC News (1996-2000), CBS News (2004-05), and NPR (2005-06). He hosted the syndicated talk show Our World with Black Enterprise (2006-2010).

He was born in Detroit. His father was a schoolteacher who won gold in the 1932 Summer Olympics for competing in the long jump, and his mother Jimmie was a teacher. After graduating from Cass Technical High School, he graduated from Western Michigan University with a BA in Communications and Political Science.

He considered law school, aspired to be a television journalist, and took an unpaid internship at WTVS, the PBS affiliate in Detroit. At WTVS, he worked as a production assistant (1983-85). He became the host of a local weekly talk show, Detroit Black Journal. He worked as a freelance journalist at the then-fledgling cable network BET.

He has a daughter from his previous marriage to Karen Haney. He is married to Leslie Howard. He is the stepfather of two children. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[y2k-radio-cannibal]

What's on TV!? (Canada)

02 Radio-Canada

03 Weather Radar

04 PBS

05 News Direct

06 Global

07 Atlantic Satellite Network

08 Cable Guide

09 CTV

10 Eastlink Television

11 CBC

12 NBC

13 Real Estate Listings

14 Spike

15 Infomercials

16 A&E

17 MuchMusic

18 Cable News Network

19 MuchMoreMusic

20 TV5 Quebec Canada

21 TLC

22 W Network

23 Report on Business Television

24 CTV Newsnet

25 Country Music Television

26 Treehouse

27 YTV

28 Vision TV

29 CBC Newsworld

30 The Weather Network

31 ABC

32 CBS

33 Mount Saint Vincent University

34 Home and Garden Television

35 Detroit Public Television

36 Fox

37 Bravo!

38 Discovery Channel

39 Showcase

40 Life Network

41 CNN Headline News

42 CNBC

43 Family

44 Teletoon

45 Speed Channel

46 History Television

47 Space

48 Outdoor Life Network

49 The Comedy Network

50 Black Entertainment Television

51 TBS

Anime (Unaired in Canada)

Commercials

Holiday Specials

PSAs

[worldofwardcraft]

They're at it again.

July 11, 2024

According to William Safire, it was Gerald L. Warren, editor of the San Diego Union, who first applied the expression to reporters. In a 1977 speech, Warren compared the excessively aggressive tactics of some journalists to "sharks in a feeding frenzy." And in his 1991 book, Feeding Frenzy: How Attack Journalism Has Transformed American Politics, Larry Sabato criticized what he described as the media’s focus on unflattering stories about political candidates and the reduced coverage of serious issues that often results.

Now, following President Joe Biden's poor performance in the June 27 presidential debate, the nation's leading newspapers (with the welcome exception of Philadelphia's The Inquirer), joined by the broadcast and cable news networks, have set their sights on Biden in a concerted effort to drive him out of the presidential race.

Here's a sampling of headlines from the daily barrage of articles in the "liberal" New York Times, beginning with the one by its Editorial Board on June 28, the day after the debate:

• To serve his country, President Biden should leave the race. • Should Biden heed calls to drop out? [June 30] • Will Biden withdraw? [July 1] • Biden tells allies he knows he has only days to salvage his candidacy. [July 3] • Biden in crisis. [July 4] • The pressure on Biden to drop out. [July 5] • Should Biden end his 2024 campaign? [July 8] • Can Democrats replace Biden? [July 9]

Naturally, other members of the journalistic swarm are also contributing to the hysteria. "Mounting demands on Biden to step aside from the 2024 race" has been the lead story on NBC's Nightly News with Lester Holt for the past two weeks, with about a quarter of the show devoted exclusively to it. Meanwhile, sister network MSNBC helpfully posted online a list of Democratic electeds who have been pressured by the media onslaught to call for Biden's withdrawal from the ticket.

But, as Bill Palmer of the Palmer Report has remarked, such media freak-outs "really are nothing more than scripted ratings-driven performance art." And University of New Hampshire communications prof Seth Abramson observes:

It’s the lobbyists, donors, politicos, journalists, and D.C. lawmakers — uniquely self-interested political operators — who want President Biden to end his political career, but not the voters who will actually decide this election.

We saw this same media mania eight years ago when news outlets ran countless stories about Hillary Clinton's health and, of course, her emails. Now, we're seeing it once more. Only this time Joe Biden is the prey.

[tms-blog-site]

Movie Financials Uncovered - Spacenet TV's Box Office Analysis

Film studios aren't often able to disclose the budgets of their films. But there are ways to determine the cost of a film. Movies have to make money through a variety of sources beyond ticket sales. These include: ancillary revenue, sequels, merchandise, TV rights, and streaming. What's the word on box office profits? 1. Theatrical Revenue Tickets for movie theaters are the primary source of income for films. Whether a standard experience or an extravagant one the number of seats used during the filming process of a movie is directly linked to its overall potential for revenue. The big box office numbers you read about in the media are based on gross domestic and international revenues. Before the money is transferred to the studios they must deduct the costs. Then there's the sales tax and the shares of cinemas - which typically range from 40 to 45 percent. That's before the actors' share and the other distribution costs. A movie isn't considered profitable when the box office revenue exceeds twice the amount that was invested in its production. This is why some movies that have huge profits such as "Harry Potter" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" have to declare losses on their financial statements. Don't be too quick to judge. These losses are due to international sales and marketing. 2. Television Rights In the last few years, the rights for television market has experienced an abrupt shift. Pay-per-view and dedicated sports channels platforms have been fighting against broadcasters who are traditional, and tech giants have also gotten into the fray. Broadcast Rights (excluding Te Mangai Paho Funding) refers to the right to broadcast the Programme(s) as part of a linear television broadcast service using satellite, terrestrial, cable or fibre transmission network to allow public display and streaming, which includes delay or simultaneous retransmission or distribution, as well as making it available to the Internet or mobile broadcasting technology. Free TV Rights (excluding Te Mangai Paho), refers to the right to broadcast the Programme(s) in a regular linear manner on any independent or public network for public viewing as well as on-demand viewing. This includes the right to communicate the Programme(s) to the general public via any internet, cable, IPTV or wireless transmission networks where subscribers of the public are required to pay a fee or subscribe. 3. Merchandising The right to sell merchandise can be significant sources of income for both distributors and studios. Disney for instance, built a huge empire by selling Mickey Mouse ears as well as other items related to movies such E.T. The sale of movie products is a great way to promote a film, as well as generating new revenue. In the movie The Goonies a scene shows an infant giving Reese's Pieces to the main character. This led to an impressive increase in sales for company making Reese's Pieces. The application of this type of placement of products in major films is essential. Also, music from well-known films such as Saturday Night Fever and Flashdance can generate substantial revenues from soundtracks and also be utilized to increase awareness of the film. 4. Streaming

Streamers will prioritize shows on television that they produce (or show on channels owned or operated by their parent company such like NBC Universal TV Productions or 21st Century Fox Television). It lets them recoup the licensing fees they have paid for the show after having paid off their production costs. In turn, it's not uncommon to see some of the same names pop up on the lists of streaming originals and acquired shows. (Source: Nielsen Streaming Content Ratings, U.S., based on minutes viewed by persons 2and over.) NBC Universal TV productions rank among the streaming shows that are watched by the most people, followed by Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Paramount+ and Peacock. Credits to YouTube

[carlosrmunoz]

Social Media Policy

The social media industry is facing several challenges, writes Karen Freberg in “Social Media for Strategic Communication.” Among them, she says that social media users are losing control over personal accounts to their employers due to influential presence, sharing too much, going rogue, and the big one, misinformation, Freberg writes.

One of the most notable cases of misinformation came in 2019 when a video featuring a high school student named Nick Sandmann “supposedly confronting a Native American peace activist” went viral and sparked global attention, Freberg writes. However, the video was misinterpreted and Sandmann later sued media outlets for $800 million using the footage without telling the full story. 

CNN, NBC Universal, and the Washington Post settled with Sandmann in 2020, according to multiple media outlets. His classmates also sued but failed.

In another lawsuit, Freberg writes that A-list actor Johnny Depp was forced to resign from Warner Bros after he lost a civil action against The Sun.

Journalists abide by a Code of Conduct that was adopted in 1926 — before that newspapers ran amuck of journalistic standards. They were weaponized by business owners and politicians to influence the public. However, some of that information would not meet standards for journalists today. Colonial-era headlines are still some of the most creative writing of the last 200 years due to their poignant nature.

If you were to join the New York Times today, in addition to agreeing to the Social Media Code of Conduct that its writers are expected to follow, you would be required on social media to avoid harassment, during business and personal hours, be “mindful” of taking sides” in topics that could undercut the newspaper's reputation, avoid joining private groups, do not accept gifts from sources, and more.

Among those who do follow strong ethical behavior on social media, I think organizations like the Associated Press, Reuters, NPR, and BBC are trustworthy groups. On the flip side, I think that Cable TV networks, which must play to their audience, tend to parade analysts and commentators as journalists when they are opinion columnists. Some of these are flagship organizations (Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, CBS) whose coverage trickles down to local TV markets and media outlets that are not influenced by this type of coverage, such as WPRI-TV or WJAR-TV. Journalists who work in local media — not including citizen journalists and activist journalists — are newsgathering organizations whose organic stories guide their audience's interests. For example, Washington Bridge's accountability reporting surrounding RIDOT’s handling of the bridge crisis has put many politicians and leaders under scrutiny. 

In the case of Fox News and CNN, you see the difference in their coverage of politics — one is more liberal and the other is more conservative — both sometimes completely ignoring stories and facts.

With this in mind, some takeaways are that journalists should continue to be observers who lay out their findings and let the readers decide on the merits of a story. Often this process is muddled by social media users who interject information into the media stream, jump to conclusions, or make statements without having all the facts. Sometimes this is to “beat” the media and often it leads to a change in the narrative that must be corrected later. Journalists are held accountable — they can be fired or sued — for improper reporting, while many self-proclaimed journalists, or activists, spread misinformation without consequences.

To adhere to my conduct online, I have chosen to keep my personal social media accounts closed and refrain from making polarizing statements online. My social media feed contains animal pictures, family updates, and limited chat about community happenings. Simplifying social media is a way to keep your sanity and your job.

I feel strongly that people should be able to share their thoughts regardless but understand that not everyone will agree. This requires restraint in your response. Social media is a place where reckless posts can easily be misinterpreted and feelings hurt. Be patient and listen to people.

These are some core concepts I would follow as a social media professional:

Take the time to research information I find online from a source I am not familiar with

Do not allow my personal feelings to cloud my judgment. Listen to people

Use clean and fair language

Report threats and cyberbullying to administrators

If I see surprising news, but can’t verify it, don’t post it

Do not use content I haven’t created myself, like photos or video clips

Ask for permission to use content from another source

[stockxpo]

Top Streaming Service Stocks: Choosing the Right Picks for Your Portfolio

Over the last decade, how people watch TV shows, movies, and videos has transformed significantly. Streaming services like Netflix and YouTube have become the go-to choices for many, surpassing traditional media. This change opens up investment opportunities for those who can pinpoint which streaming platforms can draw in viewers and make money.

Top of Form

Top streaming stocks

1. Netflix (NFLX)

2. Alphabet (GOOG and GOOGL)

3. Amazon (AMZN)

4. Disney (DIS)

5. Apple (AAPL)

6. Comcast (CMCSA)

7. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)

8. Paramount Global (PARA)

1. Netflix (NFLX)

Netflix has become a big name in streaming, changing how we watch shows and movies. With around 270 million subscribers worldwide, it's one of the few streaming services that makes a lot of money. Experts like Morningstar analyst Matthew Dolgin say Netflix is the best in global streaming and will likely stay that way for years. 

Netflix's success comes from its huge audience and the many shows and movies it offers. They keep growing and making new stuff, which keeps people interested. So, if you're thinking about investing, Netflix might be a good bet because it's expected to keep leading the streaming world for a long time. 

2. Alphabet (GOOG and GOOGL)

You might not think of Google's parent company Alphabet as a big player in streaming, but YouTube, which they own, is huge. People around the world watch over 1 billion hours of YouTube on their TVs every day. They also have a service called YouTubeTV, kind of like regular cable but streamed online, and it has over 8 million subscribers.

3. Amazon (AMZN)

Amazon, known for its online shopping, also has a streaming service called Amazon Prime Video. It's become a big deal, especially for people who subscribe to Amazon Prime. The CEO, Andy Jassy, told shareholders that they believe Prime Video can be a big and profitable business by itself.

Lately, Amazon has been adding ads to Prime Video, which has more than 200 million viewers each month. They've also started showing live sports like Thursday Night Football NFL games. This shows that Amazon is serious about growing its streaming business and making it even more attractive for Prime subscribers.

 4. Disney (DIS)

Disney is changing the way it does business by focusing more on streaming. Their main service, Disney+, now has about 118 million subscribers who pay around $7 to $8 per month. Disney also owns other popular channels like ESPN for sports, ABC for news and shows, and the Disney channel for kids' entertainment.

Even though Disney has these great assets, it's facing some challenges as the industry shifts. Morningstar's Dolgin says that while Disney has advantages, the new way of doing things might not be as profitable as before. Still, Disney is adapting and finding ways to stay strong in the ever-changing media world.

5. Apple (AAPL)

While Apple is famous for creating iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers, it's also made a big streaming service called Apple TV+. They don't share a lot of details about it, but it's believed that around 25 million people pay for it, and more might get it through special deals.

Popular shows like Ted Lasso have attracted viewers to Apple TV+, and they've even started showing live sports like Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer. So, even though Apple is mainly known for its devices, it's also making a name for itself in the streaming world.

6. Comcast (CMCSA)

Comcast, a well-known media company, is shifting towards streaming with its service called Peacock. It owns big brands like NBC, Telemundo, Universal, and Sky. By the end of 2023, Peacock had around 31 million people paying for it, but it also faced a loss of about $2.7 billion.

To attract more subscribers, Comcast is focusing on adding live sports to Peacock. They've already streamed an NFL playoff game in early 2024, and they also show college basketball and football games. This move shows that Comcast is serious about competing in the streaming world by offering popular sports content. 

7. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)

Warner Bros. Discovery is a big company that owns a bunch of popular media brands like HBO, CNN, Discovery Channel, HGTV, and more. They also have famous franchises like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and The Lord of the Rings.

At the end of 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery said they had nearly 98 million subscribers for their various services, which include HBO Max, legacy HBO, and Discovery+. This company came together in 2022 when Discovery merged with AT&T's media business, showing that they're a major player in the entertainment industry.

8. Paramount Global (PARA)

Paramount Global owns lots of popular media channels like CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, and Comedy Central. Their streaming service, Paramount+, had over 71 million subscribers by March 2024.

Right now, Paramount is thinking about merging with another company, but it's not certain if it will happen. They've been talking with Skydance Media, and they also got an offer from Sony and a private equity firm called Apollo, who want to buy Paramount with cash. These talks show that Paramount is exploring options to grow and strengthen its business.

Netflix started offering streaming services in 2007 and has become the biggest player in the industry. They have around 270 million subscribers worldwide as of March 2024 and made a profit of $5.4 billion in 2023.

Seeing Netflix's success, other companies jumped into streaming, but most haven't done as well. Big names like Disney and Comcast tried with services like Disney+, but they mostly lost money. Tech giants like Apple and Amazon also joined in, with varying levels of success.

Recently, Disney said Disney+ gained over 6 million new subscribers, and its losses in streaming got smaller. But the stock still dropped about 10% because they don't expect more growth this quarter and costs will hurt profits. Paramount Global, struggling to make money from streaming, is considering takeover offers. Sony and a private equity firm called Apollo offered $26 billion in cash in early May.