Andy Boyer

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Category: Personal (Page 30 of 48)

A Few Random Unconnected Thoughts on Media Consolidation

November 25, 2008 /

A few things are nagging at my brain about the state of the media.  I feel like I just need to throw them all out on a piece of pixels and see what comes out the other end.

  • The TV, Radio and Print industries are all getting killed since your traditional big spending advertisers (Automotive, Retail and Financials) have hit skid row.
  • People are moving from print version of newspapers to online, which is causing a further cutback in the need for local reporters.
  • Radio networks are becoming more consolidated.
  • It’s become easier and less expensive for TV news organizations to re-purpose their video content on their web property.
  • Talk radio stations can take their exclusive content, turn it into podcasts, and extend its reach.
  • Sports writers are guests on radio shows.  Radio guys are doing TV.  And TV Web sites have written content.
  • The rise of blogs gives more voice to independent writers and amateur broadcasters.
  • The general; distrust of the American media drives more people to seek out alternative media and new voices that are not tied to corporations.

In the end, it feels like there are not enough ad dollars to support 4 local TV stations, a bunch of radio stations and 2 local newspapers.  But they are all covering the same stories, just through a different medium and slightly different lens.

To me, it seems like a natural evoultion would be for TV stations to absorb newspaper writers, and then further consolidate with radio stations.  We could see broadcasting brands develop locally around political perspective or area of excellence.  One station may focus on business and economy, while one focused on social issues.  But the stories would be covered expertly and distributed by video and text.  Teams of reporters could work together to produce short form 30,000 foot overviews and long form, deep dives.

I just think a perfect storm has developed, and media is going to have to change.  There’s less money than before, greater ways to publish, and an audience with more ways to consume the same data.  This leads me to believe media could change significantly very rapidly.

Like I prefaced in the beginning of this, I can’t figure it out for sure, but am certain something has to change.  Do you have any ideas?

Conversations from years past

October 27, 2008 /

I was down Tucson this weekend, where old storytelling and reminiscing eventually led to amazement about everthing that has changed in the last 8-10 years.  In fact, it lead a few folks to put this list together, and I’m sure it’s incomplete.  

But on October 26 2000, if someone had shown you a newspaper for October 26, 2008, would you believe any of this could really happen?

  • US engaged in year 6 of a land war in Afghanistan
  • US engaged in year 6 of a land war in Iraq
  • Tampa Bay in the World Series
  • UW and WSU combined 1-14 record
  • The Sonics play in Oklahoma City
  • The US government pays $750+ Billion to US financial institutions – with Bear Stearns, AIG and WaMu basically out of business 
  • Gas at $3.09 a gallon – and that’s 30% CHEAPER than it was 6 months ago
  • 45 year old Jamie Moyer pitches game 4 of the World Series, while Freddy Garcia, Ryan Andersen and the rest of the “untouchable” Mariners minor league pitchers are out of baseball.
  • An unknown African American Illinois state senator is going to be elected President
  • The US President, Senate and House are all about to be a Democratic supermajority

 

Comparing the World Series to the US Presidential Election

October 23, 2008 /

I’m sad to say, I have no allegiance to either team in the World Series this year.  Which really kind of stinks, since I am desperate for something to root for.  (BTW, thank you Arizona Wildcats for pulling together a respectable football season and keeping me from sports harakare.)

So here I am, trying to decide who to support.  I mean, it’s 7 stupid games.  It shouldn’t be that hard to pick a team.  And through my logical analysis and emotional introspection I’ve used to try to pick a team, it suddenly dawned on me that this World Series is a microcosm of the US Presidential election.

Let’s look at the Phillies.  They have been a part of Major League Baseball forever, but yet have never quite been a team that everyone likes – or hates.  They aren’t the Cubs, Yankees or Red Sox, even though they’ve been around just as long.  They have produced some great players (Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, Tug McGraw), but also have some “not so special moments” (like Pete Rose crushing Ray Fosse in an All-Star game.)  And even when doing well, they’ve managed to annoy the press (Steve Carlton).  Basically, they’ve been around forever, and have gone through both good and bad years.  A few years ago, it looked like they had the big prize won, but then suffered an unexpected defeat to a team who ultimatley proved to not be worth supporting (Blue Jays).  Now they have a new squad with new people (Howard, Utley, Rollins, Hamill) but are still perceived as that “old” franchise with the ornery fans.

Now let’s examine the Rays.  On paper, this franchise is way too young to garner baseball’s greatest prize.  I mean, it’s quite an achievement for them to even make it to the final two, but can someone show me anything they’ve accomplished before 2008?  I know they had a lot of draft picks and a few experienced advisors, but until this year, these guys were simply idealists with a dream, and where heaven only lived on a whiteboard.  They have no real history, save for a few veterans who have never achieved any similar level of success anywhere else.  And yet, now Tampa Bay has die-hard, almost obsessive, fans who will shave their head and other body parts to support their team.  Every young fan – plus old fans who love a fairy tale story about achieving greatness in record time – has become a loud, proud Rays fan.

Now let’s look at how they got here.  While the Phillies breezed through their National League Primary, I mean Playoff, the Rays had to go to the late innings of Game 7, going toe to toe with an experienced, veteran, old school franchise that simply wouldn’t go away, even though it was apparent that they wouldn’t win.  In fact, the Rays had a chance to knock the Red Sox out in Game 5 – up 7-0 in the 7th – but then inexplicably the Red Sox had one huge run, and managed to make life complicated for everyone involved, until finally succumbing. 

So what do you think?  Who do you vote/root for this World Series….

Random Music Review – The New Keane CD is Great

October 15, 2008 /

I’ll remind everyone that I have no musical ability, and my tastes are rarely shared by others.  With that said, I think the new CD from Keane, Perfect Symmetry,  is going to take them from their current status of “Someone I have heard of and kind of like,” to “Total World Domination.” Check it out on Rhapsody or your mp3 download of choice.  I’m on my 3rd run through the CD.  Good stuff.

It’s Like “Halo” for Soccer Nerds

October 14, 2008 /

Don’t be surprised if you can’t reach your soccer loving friends Tuesday.  Just check any store that sells Xbox and PlayStation games.   Oct 14 is the official U.S. Release of Fifa ’09,  and anyone who can tell you what is on Channel 401 is liable to make 2 stops after work – one to the store, one to their den…  

But What is his High Score on iPhone Bowling?

October 3, 2008 /

Adotas brings us word that Barack Obama is bringing his presidential campaign to the coolest phone (and presumably most influential trendsetters) on the planet,  releasing an iPhone app that will enable supporters to easily reach out to friends and remind them to vote for their favorite candidate.

According ot the story, the app,  “Call Friends,” organizes the user’s phonebook by state and gives each contact a status (called or not called).  You can also use the app to find out where he stands on issues – and of course – enables people to donate to the campaign. 

I will tell you one thing.  I wouldn’t  trust a lot of politicians to run a company’s mail room, but if Obama doesn’t become President, he would certainly be a heck of a CMO.   

Changing the Draft Order

September 24, 2008 /

Nothing about marketing here, really.  But I have a simple idea for the NFL, NBA and MLB to stop teams from throwing games at the end of seasons ot get a better draft pick.  Instead of making the draft based on worst to best record for the season before, why not define the draft order by worst to best record over the last THREE years.   

I have a few reasons for this suggestion:

  • This would stop events where a great team has a few key injuries in one season, ends up with the top overall pick, and builds a dynasty out of it (see Spurs, San Antonio.
  • It’s hard to tank 3 straight seasons, so individual games are less important for draft order. 
  • Teams that are that bad for so long need real help.  
  • You can make your draft choices with some “general” idea where you may end up in next year’s draft, and make some strategic decisions on free agents based on this.
  • Having a ridiculous string of unjustified good luck for 1/4 season doesn’t kill you.   

Anyway, that’s my big idea for the day. 

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