Nielsen Wire reports that television viewership has taken its biggest decline since 1992. According to their report there are 3 main reasons for this.
1.Digital transition
2.Economics
3.Multiple Platforms
I’d like to take a look at the one reason that I have a personal view on, the people that haven’t converted their T.V. (idiot boxes) to digital transmission. Now, if I remember correctly didn’t the government have to extend the deadline for the transition because there was a lower than expected turnout? I’m going to tell you all a deep dark secret about my self. I’m actually one of the minority they mentioned in the article, the ones I feel will be the majority if there isn’t either a change in power or direction. I don’t own a Television and have been without one for over 3 years. How do I do it ? Easy, through the internet I’m a stone cold, un-apologetic chord cutter. Why did I cut the chord? Two major reasons why I, and a lot of other people have done it.
1.Too many advertisements/commercials.
2.Lack of original and quality content.
But is this a surprise to anyone? How many people do you know have a TIVO or a DVR and actually watch the commercials and don’t fast forward passed them to get to the rest of the show? How many shows can you list that are actually entertaining, enlightening, and original currently? Too few.
These excessive advertisements in my opinion have and always will be a catalyst for the flocking of the masses from one source to another. I ran across this great book, “The Age of Persuasion:How Marketing Ate Our Culture” by Terry O’Reilly and Mike Tennant. They talk about the history of advertising to how companies are applying the principles now. With terms like Ad-avoidance, and chapter 1 being titled “Clutter” I knew that this was going to be a good read. What I found most appealing about this book is the authors philosophy behind it. They mention how time is valuable and forcing your way on people without asking or rewarding them is a hazardous component.
Originality and Quality have been sacrificed on too grand of a scale. With the advent of “Reality TV” and “Extreme TV” still holding a firm clench for the top spots, I wonder… other than exploiting peoples lives, how exactly are they any different from what has been done in the last 10 years?
