Save Local TV?
Apparently local television stations in Canada are on the verge of disappearing, or so they would have us believe based on their propaganda (if you are interested in finding out about the other side of the discussion you can read the contrary propaganda).
To be honest, I haven't spent any time looking into this issue. Perhaps I should, but advances in technology are game changing and media of all types are in a period of chaos while new business models are being developed. And as a result, I am generally wary of businesses claiming that something "isn't fair."
But what if local television stations did disappear? So what? We are told that local television is beneficial. Perhaps it is, but even if local television does disappear, local news and shows won't. Just as journalism is distinct from Newspapers, so it is with local television.
A HighDefinition camcorder or two, a TriCaster and an internet connection is all you need to get in the game. There will alway be people dedicated to bringing us the local news in a visual format and technology is making easier for more people to participate. Local news whether it's visual, audio or print, isn't going anywhere.
Local TV stations are not in
Local TV stations are not in danger of disappearing. CTV and Global are in danger of disappearing. The licences would still be available for somebody else. If CTV and Global both ceased to exist, it would be the best thing for local TV in Canada.
With cable and online distribution becoming so prevalent, truly completely local TV is all that local OTA stations are good for anymore, but the networks can't stop thinking like networks.
Re: Local TV stations are not in
Yes, I don't see them going anywhere. Things might change a bit, but there's still a market for local news, information and entertainment
I finally read the Save Local TV propaganda and I guess I wasn't surprised to find it lacking in substance. They don't explain why they are apparently having trouble now when they have been doing fine for years (too much debt?). They just seem to be complaining that the cable companies are making money of the local station's content that the cable companies does not pay for. But doesn't cable give them a bigger audience (and presumably more advertising revenue)? Is this just another case of one side overvaluing their contribution while undervaluing the other side's contribution? Probably.
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