Response to Pay-on-Performance blog post
In a recent Pay-on-Performance blog post: New Las Vegas News Broadcast launches – forebearer of things to come?
The question was raised about 702.tv in an article from the Las Vegas Sun A new kind of local TV news show debuts.
“Is this the future of local TV news, or is what’s happening in Vegas staying in Vegas?“
My response:
The first sentence of the article tells you exactly how this show should be perceived: as an alternative.
It’s not going to replace the local news because it deals with different subject matter.
702.tv is clearly identifying itself as “info-tainment” (traditional broadcast news strays clear of embracing itself as entertainment programming, although the field does understand/battle the concept of entertainment=viewership=ratings=revenue).
Will it remain only in Las Vegas? Or can this spread nationwide?
Only a small group of television markets have the industries or environments to support programs like 702.tv: New York, LA, Miami (see WAMI from 1998-2002) have ample opportunity for shows – and 702.tv identifies itself as a ’show’ complete with a ‘cast’ not a news program.
As much news happens in Little Rock, AK or Spokane, WA, there just ain’t ’nuff going on around town worthy for “info-tainment”.
News will still be news; this hasn’t changed. People will still care about the latest accident on the 215 and what the weather will be like tomorrow.
It’s the publishers which are changing; technology opens everyone to the tools to publish and broadcast today.
This creates more content and more distribution methods; giving users more options to gather their news, pulling audiences away from traditional media.
Example: I’m currently watching the Sotomayor hearings…on-line.
I can’t count the amount of on-line venues (web sites from broadcasters, newspapers, blogs are all providing streaming links)
So the question isn’t Is 702.tv a new trend in broadcast news? It is a new program providing niche content, made possible by today’s technology and convergence of print and broadcast media.
The question is: Will 702.tv survive?
It must compete for its audience – just like every other program (or show).
With the advent of so many more content options, “traditional media” is slowly fading away. The major “mainstream” media beasts are branching their distribution (publishing) methods to reach audiences in multiple methods.
With terabytes of digital information available at my laptop, over 400 channels at my fingertips, and HD radio providing countless hours of content…isn’t every show an alternative today?
