“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday around 7:30 AM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moments notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-15 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of December 15, 2015
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
Banning Drug Ads
Please
excuse my voice today, I am suffering from a massive cold.
excuse my voice today, I am suffering from a massive cold.
Advertising.
That
one word can create a lot of different emotions in people. I
consider it one of the great American art forms. On the Internet
most of us consider it a huge inconvenience. In fact, in more and
more places people don’t want to deal with it. The advent of the
“skip” function on TV is probably considered one of the great
technological advances of the last decade by many folks.
one word can create a lot of different emotions in people. I
consider it one of the great American art forms. On the Internet
most of us consider it a huge inconvenience. In fact, in more and
more places people don’t want to deal with it. The advent of the
“skip” function on TV is probably considered one of the great
technological advances of the last decade by many folks.
At
the same time, we all need to remember that advertising is what pays
for virtually all those programs and online services. The
alternative is making every thing a paid service. While some of us
are willing to pay for some services, in the end would you be willing
to pay for everything? To be honest my favorite paid service STILL
includes advertising.
the same time, we all need to remember that advertising is what pays
for virtually all those programs and online services. The
alternative is making every thing a paid service. While some of us
are willing to pay for some services, in the end would you be willing
to pay for everything? To be honest my favorite paid service STILL
includes advertising.
So
I am fascinated by the battle developing over advertising. The
American Medical Association (the AMA), has come out in favor of
banning all advertising of prescription drugs. Don’t forget, we
already ban advertising of tobacco products and hard liquor. So the
idea of banning advertising for a full category based on the impact
of those products is not unheard of.
I am fascinated by the battle developing over advertising. The
American Medical Association (the AMA), has come out in favor of
banning all advertising of prescription drugs. Don’t forget, we
already ban advertising of tobacco products and hard liquor. So the
idea of banning advertising for a full category based on the impact
of those products is not unheard of.
A
couple facts worth knowing in this discussion. First, advertising by
pharmaceutical companies run somewhere in the billions of dollars.
Second, the United States and New Zealand are the only nations on the
planet that permit direct to consumer marketing of prescription
drugs. The AMA would like to shorten that list by one.
couple facts worth knowing in this discussion. First, advertising by
pharmaceutical companies run somewhere in the billions of dollars.
Second, the United States and New Zealand are the only nations on the
planet that permit direct to consumer marketing of prescription
drugs. The AMA would like to shorten that list by one.
The
idea is pretty simple. First, they see the ads as the pharmaceutical
companies inserting themselves in the doctor- patient relationship.
Plus the emphasis moves from choosing the best treatment at the best
price to one that is new and, therefore, expensive. The cost for
medicine is already enormous, having to cover the expense of billions
of dollars of advertising only makes it worse.
idea is pretty simple. First, they see the ads as the pharmaceutical
companies inserting themselves in the doctor- patient relationship.
Plus the emphasis moves from choosing the best treatment at the best
price to one that is new and, therefore, expensive. The cost for
medicine is already enormous, having to cover the expense of billions
of dollars of advertising only makes it worse.
The
drug companies want us to believe that they are “informing” us
about all the latest treatments. They claim that the are trying to
inspire more discussion between us and our physicians.
drug companies want us to believe that they are “informing” us
about all the latest treatments. They claim that the are trying to
inspire more discussion between us and our physicians.
In
the end, I look at this from the point of view of who benefits.
Clearly the pharmaceutical companies believe they benefit. You don’t
just throw away billions of dollars. Certainly the media benefits
because that’s where a lot of those dollars go. It’s equally clear
that the doctors don’t see a benefit. So that just leaves us.
the end, I look at this from the point of view of who benefits.
Clearly the pharmaceutical companies believe they benefit. You don’t
just throw away billions of dollars. Certainly the media benefits
because that’s where a lot of those dollars go. It’s equally clear
that the doctors don’t see a benefit. So that just leaves us.
Given
the number of people I see continuing to pass along bad information
just on Facebook without ever bothering to do even a simple check on
the facts, I think I’m probably going to side with the doctors.
the number of people I see continuing to pass along bad information
just on Facebook without ever bothering to do even a simple check on
the facts, I think I’m probably going to side with the doctors.
TV Choice
There
is a new report out that talks about how we watch TV and what we
would really like from our service providers. The survey was done by
Digitalsmiths, which is owned by Tivo, and polled people from the
U.S. and Canada.
is a new report out that talks about how we watch TV and what we
would really like from our service providers. The survey was done by
Digitalsmiths, which is owned by Tivo, and polled people from the
U.S. and Canada.
Here’s
facts one and two from the study. The average cost for our TV
service that we would find agreeable is about forty dollars. And
most people could be perfectly happy with just twenty channels.
Because the survey says that 83% of us regularly watch between one
and ten channels. I had to go back on that one. One channel? I
assume that if the lowest number listed by one of the respondents had
been five, it would have been between five and ten channels. So I
don’t think I’m reaching when I wonder about someone who only watches
one channel. What channel would that be? And do I really want to
know?
facts one and two from the study. The average cost for our TV
service that we would find agreeable is about forty dollars. And
most people could be perfectly happy with just twenty channels.
Because the survey says that 83% of us regularly watch between one
and ten channels. I had to go back on that one. One channel? I
assume that if the lowest number listed by one of the respondents had
been five, it would have been between five and ten channels. So I
don’t think I’m reaching when I wonder about someone who only watches
one channel. What channel would that be? And do I really want to
know?
Elsewhere
it notes that 76% would like to be able to choose which channels they
get. And that got me thinking. If the number is twenty channels for
forty bucks, could I do it? Mrs. Phlipside and I watch a fair bit of
television. So I had her whip up a list of the channels she would
have to have. Start off with the five major networks, ABC, CBS, Fox,
NBC and PBS. BBC America makes the list, so does USA. I’m a sports
fan so ESPN, ESPN2, NBCSN, CBS Sports and Fox Sports bring us to
twelve channels. She added History Channel, Discover, Travel Channel
and Syfy. That’s sixteen. We could flesh it out easily so the idea
that twenty channels might be enough could work.
it notes that 76% would like to be able to choose which channels they
get. And that got me thinking. If the number is twenty channels for
forty bucks, could I do it? Mrs. Phlipside and I watch a fair bit of
television. So I had her whip up a list of the channels she would
have to have. Start off with the five major networks, ABC, CBS, Fox,
NBC and PBS. BBC America makes the list, so does USA. I’m a sports
fan so ESPN, ESPN2, NBCSN, CBS Sports and Fox Sports bring us to
twelve channels. She added History Channel, Discover, Travel Channel
and Syfy. That’s sixteen. We could flesh it out easily so the idea
that twenty channels might be enough could work.
You’ll
note no movie channels listed. With Netflix I can get whatever I
want.
note no movie channels listed. With Netflix I can get whatever I
want.
The
current business model in the cable/satellite industry isn’t set up
to ever make this a reality. It would also mean the inevitable
demise of some smaller channels that exist because they have hyper
successful “big brothers” that can mandate that systems carry
them.
current business model in the cable/satellite industry isn’t set up
to ever make this a reality. It would also mean the inevitable
demise of some smaller channels that exist because they have hyper
successful “big brothers” that can mandate that systems carry
them.
The
stinger in all of this is that the same study shows that cord
cutting, the move away from traditional paid services, is still on
the rise. The number of those moving back to antennas for their TV
was up almost twelve percent in just the last quarter. That’s a
number that has the industry thinking. With more and more
programming available through other means, finding a way to appeal to
people who want to stay is going to be an increasing concern.
stinger in all of this is that the same study shows that cord
cutting, the move away from traditional paid services, is still on
the rise. The number of those moving back to antennas for their TV
was up almost twelve percent in just the last quarter. That’s a
number that has the industry thinking. With more and more
programming available through other means, finding a way to appeal to
people who want to stay is going to be an increasing concern.
Given
that I’m paying more than ninety dollars a month for some three
hundred channels when I only need about twenty is something that I’ll
be thinking about as well.
that I’m paying more than ninety dollars a month for some three
hundred channels when I only need about twenty is something that I’ll
be thinking about as well.
RFID Fun
This
is a completely trivial commentary. Just thought I should warn you
up front.
is a completely trivial commentary. Just thought I should warn you
up front.
Came
across a story the other day that just grabbed my attention and I
ended up thinking about the possibilities all day long. It has to do
with the new high tech mirrors being tried in the changing room at
Ralph Lauren.
across a story the other day that just grabbed my attention and I
ended up thinking about the possibilities all day long. It has to do
with the new high tech mirrors being tried in the changing room at
Ralph Lauren.
Told
you this was going to be trivial.
you this was going to be trivial.
It
seems that the hot new thing for some retailers are these mirrors
that double as screens for information. The clothes have RFID tags,
so that when you bring them into the dressing room the mirror screen
can list other colors, prices, whatever. But that’s not all! The
computer can also alter the lighting in the dressing room so you can
see what it would look like in a club, at dusk, in regular white
light, or my personal favorite, aquarium lighting. Not sure if
that’s for events AT an aquarium or IN an aquarium. It all seemed
like a pretty silly thing to be doing with your technology.
seems that the hot new thing for some retailers are these mirrors
that double as screens for information. The clothes have RFID tags,
so that when you bring them into the dressing room the mirror screen
can list other colors, prices, whatever. But that’s not all! The
computer can also alter the lighting in the dressing room so you can
see what it would look like in a club, at dusk, in regular white
light, or my personal favorite, aquarium lighting. Not sure if
that’s for events AT an aquarium or IN an aquarium. It all seemed
like a pretty silly thing to be doing with your technology.
But
then I started thinking about other ways to use the same tech. RFID
stands for “radio frequency identification” and it’s used in a
lot of things these days. Delivery trucks have RFID chips so they
can be tracked. If your pet has been “chipped” by the vet or the
Humane Society, that’s an RFID device as well. Passports have them
now, the list is constantly growing. The idea has been around for a
while. The earliest form of it was probably developed as a spy tool
for the Soviet Union. The transponders used to track and identify
airplanes is from the same family of technology.
then I started thinking about other ways to use the same tech. RFID
stands for “radio frequency identification” and it’s used in a
lot of things these days. Delivery trucks have RFID chips so they
can be tracked. If your pet has been “chipped” by the vet or the
Humane Society, that’s an RFID device as well. Passports have them
now, the list is constantly growing. The idea has been around for a
while. The earliest form of it was probably developed as a spy tool
for the Soviet Union. The transponders used to track and identify
airplanes is from the same family of technology.
All
of that is fine but what else could it do? That got my mental motor
running.
of that is fine but what else could it do? That got my mental motor
running.
What
if you had a small RFID device that carried your personal preferences
on it? If you travel for business, imagine one that would tell the
satellite radio in your rental car what your favorite stations are
and have them preset for you. Same for the TV in your hotel room.
Most of us are creatures of habit, so maybe you tell it what you
always order at your favorite fast food restaurant so that when you
come up to the register it’s “Welcome to Burger Barn! Would you
like your usual?”. We could eliminate scanning our rewards program
cards at our favorite stores. It would just “zoop”, and take
care of that for you.
if you had a small RFID device that carried your personal preferences
on it? If you travel for business, imagine one that would tell the
satellite radio in your rental car what your favorite stations are
and have them preset for you. Same for the TV in your hotel room.
Most of us are creatures of habit, so maybe you tell it what you
always order at your favorite fast food restaurant so that when you
come up to the register it’s “Welcome to Burger Barn! Would you
like your usual?”. We could eliminate scanning our rewards program
cards at our favorite stores. It would just “zoop”, and take
care of that for you.
As
much fun as I had thinking of all the different silly things an RFID chip could do for you, it became obvious the enormous privacy issues
that would go along with it. There is already concern about people
being able to steal personal id from such a device as you walk along
the street.
much fun as I had thinking of all the different silly things an RFID chip could do for you, it became obvious the enormous privacy issues
that would go along with it. There is already concern about people
being able to steal personal id from such a device as you walk along
the street.
But
the aquarium lighting. I just can’t quite get over the aquarium
lighting.
the aquarium lighting. I just can’t quite get over the aquarium
lighting.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2015
Theme music for “The View From the Phlipside” and “TVFTP – Podcast” is “Hustle”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Stories Are My Life 
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