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Apparently last week was the least-watched week ever for the four big US broadcasters. The July 4th long weekend had a lot to do with it, but this kind of viewer decline for the leading networks has been happening for some time. The audience is more fragmented and web-surfing is replacing TV viewing for many people. The generation that grew up with the Internet are now entering the coveted 18-49 demographic. The days of massive, homogeneous audiences are over. What is going to replace it?

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Doesn’t everyone need a 103-inch plasma TV? Only problem is that it weighs 474 pounds. Might need an extra couple of drywall anchors to get this sucker to stay put.

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Are you ever reminded of something that was a big deal, maybe 10 years ago, and then think, “Oh yeah, whatever happened to that?” Today while browsing through the Apple Hi-Definition Movie Trailers I came across a film called, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” which is the story of the ill-fated EV1. I like films that take our current situation (such as our high oil prices) and ask the question of how we got to this particular point in history, and what we can learn from it. I look forward to checking this out.

Here’s the movie’s website

A very interesting perspective to an age old question.

Read the post here

In the 500 channel universe, there are going to be fewer opportunities for people to come together though the power of television. Channels now are so focused on a particular topic, and the choices are so vast, that further audience fragmentation is the inevitable result. This can be good many ways. We will get to watch what we want, when we want to. User-created media will create a broader media landscape. The risk of putting out a product will be small enough that people can take chances with their product that aren’t currently done on television. The MySpace Generation will be much more empowered to create their own products, rather than rely on media gatekeepers to tell them what to watch.

This creates a problem for traditional television networks that are used to setting the schedule. Therefore the value of things that people want to see live, and feel a connection to will rise. Local programming will once again become valuable if we can get large network entertainment directly from the source. The only communal experience that will be left will be the sporting event.

Two things make the sporting event the perfect television product for the mass audience.

1. We want to see it as it’s happening (makes it DVR-proof)
2. We want to cheer for the home team (makes it local)

That’s not to say that sporting events won’t be distributed directly by the leagues through the internet in the future (or today, as is the case with MLB.TV), but the ritual of coming home and turning on the game will be with us as long as there’s a local team to root for.