J.P. Hannan

TV Networks Weathering the Storm

Robert, thanks for taking time to comment.

With respect to the future of the tv business... while I think your thoughts about local news and affiliates are completely valid, I'd point out that nowhere in my article or the NY Times piece does it discuss the business of local tv. This is where the medium is in transition- no longer can the whole industry be painted with one broad brush.

The economics of network tv are very different than local tv, and getting further and further apart every day (please see my article TV Networks Reach Fork in Digital Road seekingalpha.com/artic...). The same can be said about network vs local radio.

In my opinion, it all comes down to content. Those mediums that control their own content, like the tv networks, will succeed in the digital realm. Those who don't, like some local stations, simply won't.

Newspapers should also be included in this- properties that still break news like the WSJ and NY Times will find their home in the digital world, but those who simply repackage AP stories are destined to fold.

Happy New Year.

NBC Beijing '08 Online Metrics: High Viewership, Little Revenue

Interesting insight there Vball... had not heard that angle before.

CBS/AOL Partnership: Great News for Internet Radio

Mark, thanks for your note. I still think this is a profound event for internet radio, particularly when you factor in the widgets that enable such ease of use of this player on mobile applications. You are right, most of these CBS channels are already available on the station websites (as I also touched on), but having one platform for all of these stations as well as many more certainly makes it easier for the end user, particularly if your not familiar with the call letters or formats of the terrestrial stations.

What I find most interesting in this deal is the willingness of CBS to work with AOL as opposed to purely going alone. These are not generally traits you see in a radio industry that has a tendency to be isolationist from outside industries- especially the tech world.

Your point about homogenization of media is well taken, though that is a much bigger issue to be discussed.

CBS/AOL Partnership: Great News for Internet Radio

As a follow-up to this article, just wanted to let readers know the new service launched this week. I recommend everyone check it out at aol.com

The Evolution of Terrestrial Radio

NTGH, thanks for the compliment. After 15 years in broadcasting- working "in the trenches" as a partner in 7 station turnarounds, working for the 15th largest radio company, and sitting on two broadcasting boards, I feel pretty comfortable with my credentials in the space.

I enjoy spirited discussions on the subject and have a thick skin. Hearing from the critics forces me to sharpen my positions, and frankly makes me better at what I do.

No one has the answer, but everyone has good ideas.

The Evolution of Terrestrial Radio

Excellent points guys, but i am in no way advocating syndicated fare as the future. I said for companies not able to develop and own their own local content, syndication would be crucial in the future because they will never be able to compete purely on music choice.

As for CCU, I always find it interesting that the industry gets painted with that one very wide brush. There are a lot of good radio companies out there doing a complete 180 from the CCU model. CCU just happens to get all the attention.

World Wrestling Entertainment’s Mixed Martial Arts Potential

Excellent points imonit. Thanks for the comment.

World Wrestling Entertainment’s Mixed Martial Arts Potential

What amazing feedback... thanks to everyone.

I should have been clearer that I in no way do I think WWE should attach the WWE brand to MMA. As most mentioned above, it would clearly confuse people as to the legitimacy of the sport. It doesn't mean they can't keep MMA as a separate league and still use their corporate prowess and managerial skills to their fullest advantage there, though.

I have read that Shane McMahon is a big proponent of the sport, but that his mother Linda McMahon has said she thinks the sport will die out as a fad. Those comments were from over a year ago though, and one has to wonder if there has been any change of opinion based on the success the sport has seen since that time.

There is another great article on Yahoo Sports today about competition for talent in MMA if anyone is interested-

sports.yahoo.com/mma/n...

Thanks for all of the comments and emails.

Radio Value Opportunity Beckons: Calling Warren Buffett

Thank you everyone for the feedback, especially the flood of emails I received this morning. Please keep it coming.

The Radio and Recording Industries' Unnecessary Roughness

Great points 158984. With respect to your comment about the history of this controversy, you are right not much has been openly debated about this in the recent years which is why it was immediately dimissed by the industry as nonsense. However, this issue has its roots as far back as 1930. There are a lot of resources online that go through the legal history of the matter, and if you want please email me and I can give you a great piece compiled by an FCC Counsel that goes through it case by case.

Again, the crux of my comments were not so much aimed at who's right, who's wrong, but rather the missed opportunity of the radio industry to better its own hand by volutarily revisiting an ailing business partnership.

Thanks again for the feedback.

Radio Industry Challenges and Opportunities

Thanks for the emails I got this morning and all of the links to this over on the Yahoo message boards. Please keep the feedback coming.

The Radio and Recording Industries' Unnecessary Roughness

Special thanks to the editors at Radio-Info.com for featuring it on their site as well. Great resource for anyone wanting a deeper look into the radio biz.

Radio Earnings: Bleak Forecasts and Contrarian Plays

Thanks for the emails I got on this one. Always welcome feedback on my articles.

For Traditional Media, People Equal Profits

Thanks for the overwhelming number of emails I received on this one. Please keep them coming.

Always welcome feeback on my articles.

Writers Strike Barely Impacts the TV Networks

Thanks for the emails I got on this one. Always welcome feedback on my articles.