THERE ARE A host of problems with it. But Douglas Barrett, writing in the Toronto Star today, actually has something that has been sorely lacking in the fake fight over Carriage fees between Big Networks and Big Cable: An idea.
A short excerpt:
The idea is called nonsimultaneous substitution. Essentially, it would remove the restriction that shows have to aired be at same time and date and replace it with a requirement that they (including their commercials) must be broadcast on the same day or even in the same week. So, for example, if Glee aired on Global at 8 p.m. and on FOX at 10 p.m., the 8 p.m. Global version would be substituted for the FOX 10 p.m. version.
This would introduce enormous scheduling flexibility for broadcasters, a shot-in-the-arm for audiences to Canadian programs, and a new source of revenues for the system.
UPDATE: Sigh. Things are always too good to be true. Apparently the main reason this is a non-starter? WGA Residual payments. If it plays at a different time, it's a separate play, and that counts toward how residuals are calculated. So it's actually a huge stumbling block that's not easily addressed.
Once upon a time, CDN nets when they couldn't simulcast, pre-released. Even as late as the Early seasons of The West Wing, it would air in Canada a night or two early. Downloading killed that -- and dismantling the residual system for Canadian networks to play diff. times would be as likely a course as AmNets allowing a pre-release in the Post-Bittorent world.
1 comment:
I am not entirely sure that it really is that big a stumbling block. The networks need to think of taking over American broadcasts as gravy instead of as an intrinsic part of their business model (never happen, I know).
Why do I say this? Look at the figures Barrett lists. Is it really plausible to think that residual fees payable to the WGA would even come close to the total revenue cited of $300m?
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