Jason Salas' WebLog : Television

iTunes Music Store should adopt subscription for TV programming

guam-aspdev — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 23:24:00 GMT

I suggested when pontificating over the merits of the iTunes Music Store's for-purchase method of ABC network television programming a permanent subscription format. This can easily be done by applying the proven opt-in concept of RSS, perfectly marrying the tried-and-true media concepts of print's paid, inncentive-based subscription with TV's traditional syndication.

How cool would it be if Apple/ABC/other sources collaborated on a permanent subscription model for network TV content? A consumer would pay a set fee for a certain number of episodes, which would be a certain percentage cheaper than if you bought an entire season's shows individually and got automatic delivery of the content. It's retooling information by applying new media applications to proven concepts, taking a page right out of Sports Illustrated (pun intended), and from blogging/podcasting.

Think about it: assign users a secure account in the iTunes Music Store. They agree to pay $25.37 for a 15-episode season of "Grey's Anatomy" (15% off the cover price of $1.99 per episode). Add an incentive - subscribers exclusively get an extra bonus video of cast interviews, outtakes, etc. - and programmatically subscribe the user's local version of iTunes 6 to an authenticated RSaS feed that delivers their shows according to a set schedule (an additional subscriber-only incentive might be they get the video a few hours earlier than its released in the ITMS).

For the consumer this would mean cost-effectiveness, guaranteed delivery, convenience and reliable viewership. And the networks get more money up front, regardless of the quality of their programming, the ratings of their stuff, or whether the end-user actually watches their stuff, or not. It's the perfect application of RSS to paid content.

Operators are standing by, cancel anytime.

My big project: Guam's first broadband channel

guam-aspdev — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 22:45:00 GMT

A rumor's been making its way around the island lately about the possibility that I might be working on plans to develop Guam's first broadband channel. Why hide it...yep, 'tis true! I'm developing the architecutre, infrastructure, revenue model and delivery format(s) for a new KUAM collection of multimedia content, accessible over a variety of digital devices and platforms (desktop, web browser, MP3 players, PSP, wireless/mobile/PDA). It'll feature rich, high-quality, archived/live video, audio, podcasts, downloads and more through a really slick interface.

That's all for now!

My new sportstalk TV show premiered

guam-aspdev — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 12:07:00 GMT

There's truly no business like show business. I spent the latter part of last weekend feverishly researching & writing the new weekly 30-minute sportstalk TV show that I developed and I'm producing and co-hosting with Brant McCreadie. We were taping through the weekend, with final editing today before it debuted this evening on my station's NBC affiliate channel. It's really a heckuva lot of tedious work, what with booking guests and developing content, but tons of fun, and it's about sports, so it's not really that laborious. We've got a really cool eclectic sporty set that looks like the inside of a locker room with a ton of props. ESPN it's not, but it serves it's purpose. God, I love my job.

The format is basically/intentionally a lethargic jock and a lanky geek sitting around talking local and national sports (I'll let you figure out who is who). The personality contrast adds to the hilarity. The show is half scripted, half improvised, and in a segment based on the latter I made a mistake, referring to Jim Leyland, the former Florida manager who won the Marlins' first World Series, as Jim Lampley, who as well all know is an HBO boxing analyst. Oops. I also erred by first referring to my fantasy football tips segment "Fantasy Focus" (which it is) as "Fantasy Factor". Damn.

The show is basically a TV port of the sportstalk radio show I've been doing for more than a year, with several new segments taking advantage of the visual medium of TV, and a few new interactive features with banter between Brant and I. You can watch it every Monday @ 5:30pm on KUAM-TV8 in Guam, catch the stream in our archives, or check it our as a podcast. I'll put up streaming video of the show on my site and on Google Video and as a PSPCast in a few hours (I'm pretty stoked about that). I'm also working on a wireless content distribution format for mobile phones.

Suffering through buffering: MTV's "Overdrive " - streaming...but not quite?

guam-aspdev — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 11:22:00 GMT

I'm thinking I may have to issue a retraction for what I'm about to assert at some point in the future, with Guam's bandwidth being crappy (along with other infrastructure- and consumer-based technologies). But I've spent a hefty part of what I'm assuming is a lovely Sunday evening trying to figure out exactly if MTV's customizable broadband service, MTV Overdrive, really is supposed to deliver video to my desktop by way of archived streams, or not.

I've tried a few different times throughout the week at various times of the day to capitalize on non-peak load, and I can't get the video to truly play-as-I'm-watching, being forced to endure long buffering periods. It took me about 54 minutes to finally get all 8.5 minutes of a Kelly Clarkson piece from the 2005 VMAs. And when it did come down, it was stellar - crisp video, rich audio - and I really dig the playlist feature. But it was a major chore getting to that point.

Maybe it's just me, or maybe the demand for VMA videos is still in high demand.

Peter Jennings (1938-2005)

guam-aspdev — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 04:21:00 GMT

I've lost a colleague today. My thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to Peter Jennings' family and the folks at ABC at his untimely passing. As a fellow broadcaster, he's someone whose style, suave and charisma were something all of us in the business admired and tried to emulate. He had announced he had lung cancer this past April.

My quintessential Jennings moment was his 3-day, practically non-stop coverage of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City. Vintage, classy, honest broadcasting.

Rest in peace, anchorman.

Keith Olbermann rejoins ESPN

guam-aspdev — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 21:17:00 GMT

I was totally stoked to find out today that Keith Olbermann, who I've long held as one of my top 3 journalists, is rejoining ESPN: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/richard_deitsch/06/17/media.circus/

Congrats KB!

"Grey's Anatomy" season only 7 episodes? Damn.

guam-aspdev — Sun, 22 May 2005 23:01:00 GMT

My favorite show this "season" (if we can even call it that anymore) is ABC's "Grey's Anatomy". Funny, great writing, and yet again showing that shows about hospitals, police precincts and law firms never go out of style.

With Guam getting most of its basic cable service on tape delayed, I just caught last night that next week's episode will be the season finale. I'm happy that what's become a TV season these days thanks to the morphing effects of reality programming (I mentioned this in my podcast today) predicates that for most programs, the entire set of new episodes is shown all at once. However, I was bummed to find out that GA only had 7 or so episodes in its first run. It hasn't gotten the fanfare or prolonges marketing push that "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" got, but it's managed to hold its own.

I hope the show comes back for season 2. If not, let me know when the DVD's ready.

Not a bad consolation prize: ousted "Dream Job" contestant Casey Stern lands gig with MLB.com

guam-aspdev — Tue, 03 May 2005 23:50:00 GMT

I was really happy to see Casey Stern, one of the guys who didn't make the final cut for ESPN's first season of its "Dream Job" reality program, anchoring a webcast on MLB.com. He's a good kid with some talent. Glad he got picked up.

I also remember my personal fave, Zachariah Selwyn, landed a TV gig hosting a dodgeball program on cable (which we don't get on Guam). I wonder what became of Aaron Levine, the runner-up to winner Mike Hall, who now hosts ESPNU (which we also tragically don't get).

Ahh...a quick Google revealed that it looks like Aaron got in at a CBS affiliate station in Bakersfield, and that fellow final four candidate Maggie Haskins now works for Sports Illustrated. Good for them. I've found yet another reason to hate reality TV - here I am stuck in Guam. :)

Beyond the glitz and glamour...

guam-aspdev — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 08:20:00 GMT

OK, I had my moment of gratuitous self-indulgence when I verbally patted myself on the back for having won an award for "Best Regional News Site" for my work with KUAM.COM.

I'm seriously more proud of my colleague and longtime friend, Mindy Fothergill, who also won Best Documentary for her incredibly personal story "Finding My Roots", in which she, an adoptee who hadn't seen her birthmother since she was 3, made the trek back to Korea to meet her for the first time in 21 years. Absolutely emotional stuff, and we're phenomenally in awe of her courage to do so. That I could never do, much less document and broadcast it.

I've known and worked with Mindy for 5 years, but we know each other like it's been 15. I'm extremely honored to win this alongside her.

Why doesn't VH-1 do DVDs?

guam-aspdev — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 03:23:00 GMT

One thing that really confounds me as a marketing major, a TV industry professional and lifelong critic of other people's work is why VH-1, despite all it's phenomenal success and acclaim, especialy over the last 4 years, doesn't get more into merchandising its shows and series by making them available on DVD.

Comedy Central really had revolutionized the practice of cashing in on its shows by selling past seasons of its biggest hits, like "Chapelle's Show", "South Park", and "Reno 911". And with VH1 currently dominating the market for niche-and-nostalgia series (i.e., "I Love the 80s", "I Love the 70s", "The Fabulous Life Of...", et al.) one would think this would make for a perfect sales opportunity. Hell, if I were a VH-1 marketer, I'd be foaming at the mouth to be able to take on this project.

One might think that Brian Grazer, the TV genius who produced the first season of "South Park" and then moved to an executive role at VH1, would be in favor of such a strategy. Not having the privilege of knowing or talking to Brian, I wouldn't know. Both networks recycle their programming more than a hobo does underwear, and in Comedy Central's case, it still garners millions of viewers tuning in every night....to watch stuff they've seen a thousand times before AND own on DVD.

Maybe it's in the works, maybe the third-parties that produce the series and shows on VH1 would demand too much in royalties, maybe there's something else afoot, I admittedly don't know. Would be nice though.

Reality TV works: ESPN Dream Job contestant asks me for advice on anchoring sports

guam-aspdev — Sat, 18 Sep 2004 12:17:00 GMT

I had the thrill of the year this past week as Brian Startare, one of the contestants on the second season of ESPN's Dream Job, wrote me and asked me for advice on anchoring sports. An avid fan of the first season and myself a TV sportscaster, I blogged about my thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of each of the final four contestants prior to the big finale this past March.

Due to a deadline, I tragically missed the first episode of Season 2 where everyday people compete for gigs as SportsCenter anchors, so I didn’t catch Brian's performance. He indicated that he did well on highlights but had a couple of issues on body language between his first story and the next, which is critical in segueing between pieces, physically exhibiting transition. It's one of the smaller but important pieces of being a complete anchor.

Break a leg Brian (that's a good thing)! I promise to tune in and be rooting for ya this week!

The 8 people I'd most like to interview

guam-aspdev — Tue, 17 Aug 2004 20:04:00 GMT

In my "other" life as a broadcast journalist / TV personality, one of the questions I get asked the most is who in history I'd most like to interview. My colleagues and I also bounce this gem off each other every now and then and try to come up with the most impressive roster.

I've always appreciated people who go about life or do what they do while they walk this earth with great passion and great conviction. And in some way, no matter how minute, managed to change the world. Even if I, the moral majority, or the American legal system doesn't necessarily agree with their way of life, I've always wanted to sit down individually with a select group of people I've pegged as being those who've lived lives so extraordinary, others would like to hear of their experiences. It's my job as a storyteller to channel such information, so I've kept several people keenly and unwaveringly in mind.

So for all of you who've e-mailed me over the years, here goes:

Joe Montana - the only person in my life who I've considered a hero. When I was a teen watching the San Francisco 49ers, he was a living god. People in their 50's have Mickey Mantle, I have Joe. The man could fall down the stairs and would be better and more graceful than anyone else at it.
Jenna Jameson - quickly and tragically dismissed by the masses because of the moral implications of her infamy in adult entertainment, Jenna J is actually engaging, coherent, a savvy businessperson and a giant in her industry. Who can't respect that?
Tupac Shakur - he redefined music and poetry. He was my generation's Jim Morrison. And his legend, as is true with the Lizard King, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Bob Marley and Kurt Cobain is that much larger, having been taken from us too early.
Bill Gates - to say that I sat down and chatted with the world's richest man would be something I'd carry with me happily forever. "Oops…sorry Bill, did I drop some papers? Can you pick those up, please? Oh, silly me, that's my resume…"
Adolf Hitler - too often in the media we're matched up with interview subjects that we naturally gel with. I'd like to objectively interview someone whose belief system is the polar opposite of my own.
Kirk Hammett of Metallica - in countless ways, his art has done so much for my own career.
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails - with apologies to Steve Jobs, NIN single-handedly saved Apple.
Stephen Hawking - if he explained himself in a way in which I could even remotely grasp a fifth of his theories on astrophysics, such would be a testament to just how smart the man is.

Cheers to Ronnie James Dio for setting the record straight on metal's "horns" hand gesture

guam-aspdev — Thu, 12 Aug 2004 23:02:00 GMT

One of the most refreshing revelations of the past few years of my life was a few weeks ago on VH-1's outstanding series "The 100 Most Metal Moments". Rock royalty Ronnie James Dio was crowned with the #3 moment by once and for all speculating on the true origin of what's become known as the "Devil Horns", a hand gesture used commonly by so many in rock and their legions of fans. Including me.

Me at work, liberated at last after years of misunderstanding by the moronic moral majority

As a lifelong fan of metal music and as an eclectic musician, it's been nothing short of insulting when people rag on me for making the sign, seeing me as evil incarnate or endorsing bad behavior. We in rock circles know this as a unifying, liberating expression of energy, not an endorsement of people being wicked. RJD gave insight into the fact that the gesture (palm facing out, ring and middle fingers collapsed enclosed by the thumb, index and pinky upright, as above) is rooted in Old World customs, actually being a sign to protect one from the Evil Eye. So in actuality, it's a blessing of sorts. Consider this a positive thing, equivalent to the "Whoop! There it is!" used by the mid-90's hip-hop genre.

It's a direct attack on my intellect that I'd not know the difference between good and bad, and as a Christian, I've had people and holy rollers get on my case for it for years. The assumption is that by issuing the gesture, I'm ignorant, unitelligible and less of a person. And that pisses me off.

Now, I'll concede a bit to my detractors: the gesture has had its true meaning obviously morphed from the purpose for which it apparently was started. In the 80's it was no big secret that people thought the symbol was an endorsement of the Devil, being a physical manifestation of horns. For this same reason, the hand gesture fits perfectly into an upside-down pentagram, another piece of iconography of evil. And there are bands that are into the dark arts that use such, so there's certainly something to be said about the misconception by the moral majority. I never really bought into any of this, as all my heros did it, and they were self-admitted God-fearing, decent human beings. And hey, the guy who started the lasting trend, Dio himself, cited its true origin, so there. NuMetal and rap/rock guys make the symbol all the time, and that's fine - continue the tradition of your rockin' predecessors.

And if you truly believe that people who issue such a sign are bad people, I've got another hand gesture for you. It involves an outward-facing palm, and extends only a single finger. Care to guess which one?

Rock on!

(Interesting factoid: Ronnie James Dio's former band, "Dio" was supposed to come to Guam to play in concert in the mid-80's, but our Archbishop shot down the idea and cancelled it, which was a major bummer for all local headbangers.)

Craig Kilborn kicks it old skool on SportsCenter

guam-aspdev — Mon, 09 Aug 2004 03:04:00 GMT

Man, what a concept. As I write this, ESPN is in the first batch of commercials after debuting its week-long engagement of bringing back former SportsCenter anchors, with one of my all-time favorites, Craig Kilborn. The guy who talked smack about Bristol, Connecticut when he hosted "The Daily Show" pre-Jon Stewart (Bristol by the way is about 25 minutes from Waterbury, where I used to live) didn't miss a beat, and even did some of his classic comedy, intentionally surpressing and then finally revelling in the self-indulgent mannerisms which he was both applauded and scolded for.

This is an amazing concept for TV. Craig proved he's still the man, calling entertaining highlights in what's traditionally the most boring time of year for national sports (August, with only baseball, who's appeal is fleeting at best). I saw from the promo that ESPN alums Gayle Gardner, Greg Gumbel and others are returning to the desk. Sadly, I won't hold me breath on such a repeat performance of my favorite anchor in any genre, Keith Olbermann.

KO, by many accounts, arguably burned too many bridges with management and may or may not have been asked to participate. Bummer - he's one of the best, as he and Dan Patrick WERE SportsCenter in the early 90's.

Anyway, Kilborn's return was dignified and funny, and well-deserved. That I can call him "colleague" (me being a sportscaster myself) is extremely self-aggrandizing on my part, but not completely inaccurate.

Awesome job, Craig!

Mike Hall rules on SportsCenter

guam-aspdev — Fri, 23 Jul 2004 12:27:00 GMT

Mike Hall, the 22-year-old winner of ESPN's Dream Job contest this past March, started in his first rotation with SportsCenter, the network's flagship program this week. And he's totally been impressive. Good suits, good jokes, not trying to be too over-the-top right out of the gate, he's held his own while being a good co-host.

Heck, I've been anchoring news & sports for 5 years, and I picked some things up from the kid.

Go on with your bad self, Mike...kick ass!