Comm 422 Exam 1

1K. "On Cable Tv..."

-"California blazes took a back seat to other news" -trait is message content -the wildfires that devastated homes throughout Southern California did not get the widespread coverage that is often standard on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel (ex: like when hurricanes hit the East Coast); instead getting news on the House races or the latest rant from President Trump -some West Coast residents expressed outrage on social media, accusing the channels of giving short coverage to the region's tragedy because it isn't in their backyard -through a post analysis Washington Post found that wildfires were mentioned far less frequently than hurricanes were during the storms that occurred over the last two years -several news network executives acknowledged that the California fire coverage was competing with a heavy load of other news last week -wildfires were recognized by significant resources (Fox News, MSNBC, & CNN) who each sent their New York-based evening news anchors across the country to cover the story -viewers were able to find extensive coverage of the fires on local TV stations which often provide video to the cable news channels and their websites -hurricanes generally get a lot more TV airtime than fires because hurricanes provide a narrative that news networks can prepare for in advance (forecasters can tell the track and severity of the storm and the time when it will land; networks are able to get personnel securely positioned along the coastline) -takes longer for fires to capture the country's attention because they are so unpredictable -close proximity to a fire is more dangerous than hurricanes, limiting the ability of news gathering operations to get continuous live coverage -during fires, reporters'' movements are restricted by firefighters -networks devote more resources to hurricanes because they take aim on the more highly populated East Coast where the potential for casualties is extremely high -the severity of the California fires may lead to some rethinking of how much time to devote to the disasters in the future

1G. "NFL, 'The Walking Dead,' "Killing Eve'..."

-"TV Rating Winners and Losers of 2018" -trait is audiences -The Hollywood Reporter reports winners and loser ratings (excluding streaming shows) -NFL is a winner-->the top draw on broadcast TV -Manifest, New Amsterdam, and The Conners are winners--> averaging above a 2.0 rating in the key adults 18-49 demographics -Chicago Fire and Bob's Burgers--> the only returning broadcast series (besides sports and news) to increase their same-day adults 18-49 ratings by more than a tenth of a point vs. last season -The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is a winner--> virtual tie with The Tonight Show for the lead among adults 18-49, the closest it has ever been in Colbert's tenure -The Walking Dead is a loser--> falling by more than 60% in adults 18-49 and by more than half in viewers from season 7-9; recorded all time lows in the 18-49 demo twice during its fall run -other losers--> award shows (the Oscars, the Grammys, and the Emmys), and the Alec Baldwin Show

1L. "Streaming Consciousness..."

-"as Fox Nation launches" -trait is audiences -new service seeks to compliment cable content as younger viewers migrate online -Fox Nation offers commentary programs, specialty shows, and documentaries -Fox Nation is part of a movement by the major players in the TV news business targeting the growing numbers of viewers gravitating to streaming video and bypassing traditional pay-TV subscriptions -audiences for cable news (aged 61-67) tend to be older than the streaming crowd -news networks need to get their brand names in front of the younger consumers (aged 18-34) who are growing up without the pay-TV habit -networks need to be ready for the continued decline of pay-TV subscribers by extending their brand names and programming with over-the-top streaming services -Fox Nation is being marketed as a "complimentary service" aimed at Fox News fans who already watch the channel and want more of the conservative political talk that gives it a large and loyal following -CBSN (CBS streaming news channel) and ABC News Live (free 24-hour video stream of live breaking news and events coverage) aimed at getting the networks' news in front of younger viewers less likely to watch traditional TV -while courting new viewers, streaming networks have to be careful not to hasten the rate of cord-cutting and divert income from pay subscribers that will help boost revenues in 2018

1B. "Networks Cut Back..."

-"cut back on commercials" -trait is message sources (how do message sources make money --> cutting costs for advertisers) -networks are cutting back on ad time -because of Netflix and other streaming services that offer ad-free TV viewing, networks like FOX and NBC plan to reduce the amount of commercial time in their shows -both FOX and NBC are looking to offer advertisers the chance to run commercials in shorter breaks where they hope to find an attentive audience -cutting number of commercials on cable channels means that airing fewer commercials could mean less revenue for the networks -networks can try to convince advertisers that its worth it to pay more for their ads to run in a less cluttered program -streaming video is the greatest challenge to ad-supported TV (not just from Netflix) -millions of people are watching their favorite hit network shows on a streaming device or through a video on demand service within the week after they air -these viewers watching on a delayed basis see commercials too, but fewer (conditioning them to expect fewer) -digital and on demand platforms that air network shows carry a smaller amount of commercials -networks are seeing increased revenue from digital advertising on their shows -although TV channels demands higher ad prices because they can reach every home in the country and have more effectiveness, advertisers still turn to them despite the audience declines -millennials (audience demographics)hhave adapted more quickly to watching on digital devices; their expectations of seeing fewer commercials on their favorite shows has pressured networks to do the same -how do networks make TV more digital -Ex:NBC Universal reducing ad time by 10%in original prime time programs across NBC and its cable networks (USA, SyFy, & Bravo); they will offer advertisers 1-minute commercial breaks that will be priced at a premium because they can be more effective in marketing a product -Ex: Fox Networks aiming to load commercials down to 2 minutes per hour (episode of Family Guy ran uninterrupted with only 2 minute spots from Sony Playstation airing before and after the episode)

1J. "Netflix, Amazon, Hulu..."

-"drive surge in animation" -trait is audiences -streaming networks are not only taking risks on animated shows originated towards adults, they are creating new cartoons for children (they are discovering that one of the best ways to keep parents paying their monthly subscriptions is to get their kids hooked on shows exclusive to their platforms) -streaming companies are acquiring new shows that are bingeworthy as well as essential in retaining subscribers -streaming companies, led by Netflix and Amazon, are increasing their spending money on animation content -large amount of streaming business in the animation area poses a threat to traditional media companies that once dominated kids programming -Netflix and others capitalizing on changes in consumer behavior as younger audiences bypass traditional cable TV (kids networks include Disney Channel and Nickelodeon) -Popularity of animation--> streaming programs can be viewed anytime and on any device, making it especially appealing to parents with young children; some animators have large fan bases on social media; the shows have widespread appeal among viewers worldwide and can be easily translated in different languages -animated programs are the reason why families pay for subscriptions -Netflix discovered that kids programming is what kept subscribers subscribing (kids don't want you canceling and un-canceling) -Netflix says nearly 60% of its subscribers consume kids and family content every month -hunger for more animation has boosted production businesses such as Dreamworks Animation -Amazon has launched kid-friendly shows based on popular book or video games franchises -streaming businesses are keen on bringing animators to their platforms who have large followings -increased investment gives new life to animated shows that couldn't find a spot on network TV -renewed interest in animation has created new business opportunities for industry veterans

1M. "The Media's Post -Advertising Future..."

-"is also its past" -trait is message sources (how do message source make money--> cutting costs, advertising, and subscribers; little bit of everything) -there have been layoffs across Vox Media, Vice, and Buzzfeed -Mic, once valued at $100 million, fired most of its staff and sold for $5 million -Reuters announced plans to lay off more than 3,000 people in the next two years (cutting costs) -every big tech company may become another competitor in the fight for advertising revenue; they're each talking about selling ads (ex: AT&T building ad network; Roku is building ad tech) -as advertising has migrated to digital platforms, the news media have converted to hero worship (ex: Mic went all in on Facebook but ended up on the street when the social network changed its priorities) -many newspapers and magazines have reoriented their businesses around subscriptions, asking readers to make up the revenue lost from advertisers (subscribers) -some magazines and papers are asking readers to become not just subscribers but members who pay a premium to go deeper with their favorite journalists -publications that were once the crowded jewels of publicly traded firms are finding refuge in the arms of wealthy patrons -ads allowed newspapers to become independent of patronage and to build the more modern standards of "objective" journalism -mid-century newspapers were as broad and unobjectionable as department stores, because department-store advertising was their business (they would rely on them) -news media of the future could be as messy, diverse, and disputatious as their audiences, because directly monetizing them is the new central challenge of the news business -media organizations will get by on some combination of subscription, patronage (people/readers), and additional revenue from sources such as events and licensed content--> advertising will certainly play a lesser role

1H. "Facebook Bets Big On..."

-"on entertainment video" -trait is message sources (how do message sources make money--> targeting largest possible audience) -facebook is spending up to $1 billion on original shows to compete against rivals such as Youtube, Amazon, and Apple -facebook has been presenting new features and video as a way to become a destination for original content entertainment -viewers can watch the videos for free with commercials and do not need to pay a subscription for access (like Netflix) -if Facebook can entice its users to spend more time on the app, with longer videos that have room for more ads, there can be a boost in revenue for them -for every ad within a video, Facebook, pockets 45% of the revenue and shares the rest with its partners -facebook created the idea back in 2014 when millions of people took videos of ice buckets being dumped on their heads to raise money for ALS; year later, allowed celebrities and influencers to live broadcast themselves (feature was then allowed to all users) -Facebook unveiled video platform Facebook Watch (users can watch shows and allowed them to watch and comment on programs in private chat rooms) -older audience engages more with facebook while users aged 18-24 declined nearly 6% (younger users are joining Inastagram and Snapchat, both of which have their own video streaming platforms- Snapchat unveiled its own set of original shows, one that's as short as 5 minutes) -to keep users engaged requires a large library of content in order for these video efforts to work -Facebook faces the challenges in positioning itself as an entertainment video destination (many of its users are unaware of all the shows on the network and only a few have made it into mainstream culture; they have yet to find a breakout hit) -Facebook's goal--> to create an ecosystem in which videos will be fully supported by ads -Facebook Watch is still growing and their strategy of trying various types of programs is necessary in order to figure out what resonates with users (some shows have done well with younger viewers) -Facebook has allowed smaller entertainment companies to reach people they otherwise couldn't have reached (finding newer audiences)

1F. "Sport Titans Pivot..."

-"pivot to gaming" -trait is message sources (how do message sources make money--> targeting audiences) -Epic Games, creator of Fortnite, raised $1.25 billion from a group that included several big-name sports team owners -financing comes as investment in e-sports and the video game industry continues to rise -the Epic Games investment mostly came from a mix of large ventures capital firms, specifically Axiomatic, an e-sports investment group that has controlling stake in the LA-based Team Liquid e-sports franchise and counts sports titans like Michael Jordan -Fortnite is on track to make $2 billion this year; revenue comes from players' in-game purchases to upgrade avatars with new costumes and animations -e-sports should be considered an integral part of the video game industry; it has potential to catch up to real life sports

1D. "Warner Bros..."

-"puts focus on its big brands" -trait is message sources (how do message sources make money --> growth) -conglomerate that is trying to grow -Warner Bros is forming a new division to make the most of its big brands (ex: DC Entertainment) -studio creates new unit to oversee toy licensing, DC comic books, and theme parks -new unit is called Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences -move represents a promotion to Pam Lifford (highest ranking African American woman at the studio and who also worked for Walt Disney Co. for 12 years) -she will oversee toy licensing, DC, theme park attractions, & a global franchise team -she will create initiatives to make its characters universal (outside movies and shows) -Warner Bros. move is part of an effort to better take advantage of its profitable franchises (Batmans, Superman, Bugs Bunny, etc.) -Warner Media promised to use movies and shows from Warner Bros. and its sister companies to stream content through their mobile devices -DC is trying to compete with rival Disney's Marvel Entertainment; there have been moves to improve the quality and performance of the DC films after the disappointment of "Justice League"

1A. "Disney Realigns..."

-"realigns units to speed growth" -trait is message sources (how do message sources make money --> growth) -Disney is a huge conglomerate and they're looking to make money by combining their units for the company to achieve global growth -Disney restructuring to accelerate global growth -Disney's restructuring move will include combining the parks and resorts business with their consumer products group -combining streaming and global media businesses -speeding up global expansion by combining international media business and its content streaming operation into one unit -they would create another unit for their consumer products business including parks and resorts -they were making changes as they were preparing to launch 2 streaming services and buying film and TV assets owned by 21st Century Fox -their new international and direct to customer unit included Disney+ and ESPN+ as well as buying film and TV owned by 21st Century Fox (possibly Hulu too if the Fox deal goes through) -the change would position the company, "for the future, creating a more effective, global framework to serve consumers worldwide, increasing growth and maximizing shareholder value." (Disney Chairman & Chief Executive, Robert Iger) -developing direct to consumer digital distribution

1I. "Father of Web..."

-"says tech giants may have to be split up" -trait is message content -technology giants like Facebook and Google have grown so dominant that they may need to be broken up -Tim Berners-Lee, computer scientist who created the Web, said he was disappointed with the current state of the internet, following scandals over the abuse of personal data and the use of social media to spread hate -Lee said the speed of innovation in both technology and tastes could ultimately cut some of the biggest technology companies -Lee indicates that he believes that "we have lost the feeling of individual empowerment" -Lee said social media was being used to spread hate (ex: spreading love on twitter decays but spreading hate propagates more strongly; wondering if that's the way twitter, as a medium, has been built)

1C. "Pepsi Scores..."

-"scores in branded film" -trait is message sources (how do message sources make money--> advertising) -viewers considered the movie "Uncle Drew" to be a 105-minute long Pepsi commercial -Pepsi co-produced the movie "Uncle Drew" where it prominently featured Pepsi's logo in some scenes and centered the plot on a character who is compatible with Pepsi's online ad campaign -branded content is different from advertising; instead of selling, it informs and entertains -branded content has followed viewers in video games, movies, tv shows, etc. -Pepsi has linked its branded content with popular culture (ex: halftime shows, celebrity endorsements) -Kyrie Irving first created an "Uncle Drew" video with more than 50 million views on Pepsi's youtube channel (then it went from ad campaign to film) -Pepsi considered the film a success (film ranked 4th in box office sales its opening weekend) -key to success of these branded experiences (no matter the platform) is that the content hits the right note with the audience -Pepsi used product placement and integrated marketing in the movie "Uncle Drew"

1E. "Hollywood Grows Wary..."

-"wary of deals with Saudis" -trait is message sources (how do message sources make money --> growth) -Hollywood rethinks Saudi deals -executives rethink ties to the rich kingdom after a journalist's disappearance -entertainment industry opened its arms to Saudi Arabia's prince Mohammed bin Salman -Jamal Khashoggi, the U.S, based dissident Saudi journalist has not been seen since he walked into the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey -Saudi officials have disavowed any knowledge of what happened to Khashoggi -film industry is reevaluating their ties with the kingdom because of the journalist's disappearance -multiple entertainment leaders have decided to drop out of the investment conference/deal -studio executives hoped the kingdom would invest in American movies, tv shows, and entertainment companies (idea was that cash from Saudi royalty might make up for the slowdown of investment from China) -Saudi Arabia has more than 30 million people, many of whom are young and highly educated, and are largely deprived of entertainment options -U.S. entertainment industry in the past has been willing to overlook political misdeeds or human rights abuses for access to a big new market and piles of money -many show business insiders were skeptical of the prince's promise to bring the country to the 21st Century and turn Saudi Arabia into an entertainment hub -there were questions over how theaters and studios would address the social norms in Saudi Arabia, including the separation of unrelated men and women in public places -after Mohammed and his team toured LA, it became clear that Saudi Arabia was not interested in becoming an investor in the movie business -unclear where cinema expansion stands -expanding the kingdom's cinema business was going a lot slower than expected