Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["stan briggs" <stan AT StanBriggs.com>]

Title: Message

did anyone else hear a story on NPR yesterday afternoon that the FCC had considered the request to block broadcasting the _special_ and had declined the request to block?

 

i think that it's now all up to our pressure on the advertisers.

 

here is the link to the NPR story (including audio) that broke the story. i can't find the follow-up, though.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4105645

 

stan

-----Original Message-----
From: internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of DonBartholf AT aol.com
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 8:30 AM
To: internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [internetworkers] Boycott the local UPN and WB network station?

In a message dated 10/15/04 12:53:12 AM Central Daylight Time, trekkie AT nomorestars.com writes:

WB and UPN currently have a small handful of shows I like to watch
(Smallville, Jack and Bobby, Enterprise) but if the local affiliate is
going to pollute the airwaves with this seemingly obvious hour or so
long political ad I'm going to have a hard time giving money to them by
watching their broadcasts ever again.

But since they're the monopoly on three shows I enjoy I'm kinda screwed
because there is no other source short of buying the episodes months,
or years later should they come out on DVD.

The shows exist so that the network can sell time slots for commercials. The pressure point is the advertiser. If you could figure out which companies were advertising either on the network or during the '''special" in question and threatened a boycott of their products, you would gain leverage. Another point is the FCC, who is the alleged steward of the public airwaves. In this case the issue would be that the network is abusing its position. I believe I heard on NPR yesterday that Colin Powell's ? son is the head of the FCC. Not much traction there, but enough protests directed that way could be the straw that breaks his back.

So watch the shows you like, boycot the advertisers who support the shows you don't like, and tell them you are doing it or planning on doing it. Didn't that Reagan special get pulled  and moved to cable after such a tactic was announced?

Don