“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY, 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 add or subtract words at a moment’s 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 2013-18 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see and hear? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Programs from the week of March 24, 2019
This Week’s Podcast
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.
Apple Speaks
There
are few events in the modern media world guaranteed to generate more
excitement, buzz or discussion than when Apple let’s us know that
an announcement is coming. Before a member of the anti-Apple
community rises up to challenge me with Google or whoever else, let
me ask a question. Does anyone else out there, ANYONE, have the kind
of “sex appeal” that Apple brings to everything it does? I’m
not a member of the Apple cult. I’ve owned Apple products and
liked them fine. But I don’t see what is so special about most of
their products that I should pay the high prices demanded. And I’m
not someone who puts much value on owning the “right” brand
names. Just not me.
are few events in the modern media world guaranteed to generate more
excitement, buzz or discussion than when Apple let’s us know that
an announcement is coming. Before a member of the anti-Apple
community rises up to challenge me with Google or whoever else, let
me ask a question. Does anyone else out there, ANYONE, have the kind
of “sex appeal” that Apple brings to everything it does? I’m
not a member of the Apple cult. I’ve owned Apple products and
liked them fine. But I don’t see what is so special about most of
their products that I should pay the high prices demanded. And I’m
not someone who puts much value on owning the “right” brand
names. Just not me.
But
when Apple debuts something, it’s always worth a look. Even when
they’ve come up short (which they have done more often than their
fans want to admit), their lesser products were interesting if
nothing else.
when Apple debuts something, it’s always worth a look. Even when
they’ve come up short (which they have done more often than their
fans want to admit), their lesser products were interesting if
nothing else.
And
this week they have an announcement. Early this week Apple will
unveil their streaming service. Now they’ve been trying to break
into the movie/TV business for a decade now. It was one of Steve
Jobs’ unfulfilled dreams. Apple TV has been a tepid success at
best. This version of the project has been underway in some form for
about two years. Here’s the fun part, nothing has leaked so far.
Price, structure, even what channels will be available on the service
are still up in the air. We do know that they will be providing a
wide range of original series, including ones from J.J. Abrams, Reese
Witherspoon, and a show starring Brie Larson from Captain Marvel,
among others. While the question of HBO availability is unanswered
as I write this, we do know that Netflix will NOT.
this week they have an announcement. Early this week Apple will
unveil their streaming service. Now they’ve been trying to break
into the movie/TV business for a decade now. It was one of Steve
Jobs’ unfulfilled dreams. Apple TV has been a tepid success at
best. This version of the project has been underway in some form for
about two years. Here’s the fun part, nothing has leaked so far.
Price, structure, even what channels will be available on the service
are still up in the air. We do know that they will be providing a
wide range of original series, including ones from J.J. Abrams, Reese
Witherspoon, and a show starring Brie Larson from Captain Marvel,
among others. While the question of HBO availability is unanswered
as I write this, we do know that Netflix will NOT.
There
are a lot of challenges still in front of Apple. As I mentioned,
they haven’t set the world on fire in their previous attempts.
Plus Amazon has a multi-year head start and has established their
Amazon Channels as the team to beat. It’s not often that Apple has
to play catch-up. It will be interesting to see how they do.
are a lot of challenges still in front of Apple. As I mentioned,
they haven’t set the world on fire in their previous attempts.
Plus Amazon has a multi-year head start and has established their
Amazon Channels as the team to beat. It’s not often that Apple has
to play catch-up. It will be interesting to see how they do.
Finally,
there is the Steve Jobs factor. A curious coincidence has shown up
in the past. When Jobs left the company, Apple has struggled. They
have had their greatest moments when he has been the visionary. Jobs
passed away eight years ago, and this may be the biggest new idea the
company has had since then.
there is the Steve Jobs factor. A curious coincidence has shown up
in the past. When Jobs left the company, Apple has struggled. They
have had their greatest moments when he has been the visionary. Jobs
passed away eight years ago, and this may be the biggest new idea the
company has had since then.
The
one thing guaranteed this week? It’s going to be interesting.
one thing guaranteed this week? It’s going to be interesting.
Television’s Demise?
Everything
is not always what it seems. We prefer simple explanations even when
that gives us a false understanding of complex issues. I like to
repeat a saying popularized in this country by Mark Twain. “There
are lies, damn lies and statistics”. Our moment in history has a
greater reverence for statistics than Twain could have imagined. The
issue is taking the time to look at what is being presented.
is not always what it seems. We prefer simple explanations even when
that gives us a false understanding of complex issues. I like to
repeat a saying popularized in this country by Mark Twain. “There
are lies, damn lies and statistics”. Our moment in history has a
greater reverence for statistics than Twain could have imagined. The
issue is taking the time to look at what is being presented.
As
an example, let’s look at television. The common refrain is that
television is dying. Broadcast network viewing is down. People are
cable cutting, leaving cable and satellite television in greater
numbers. Seems pretty obvious, right?
an example, let’s look at television. The common refrain is that
television is dying. Broadcast network viewing is down. People are
cable cutting, leaving cable and satellite television in greater
numbers. Seems pretty obvious, right?
What
got me started thinking about this was a recent snark-fest by the
director general of the BBC, Tony Hall, aimed at the Netflix show
“The Crown”. Hall made a big deal out of the fact that it
had “only” seven million viewers despite its big budget and
promotional buzz. He compared it to the lower budgets and larger
audiences for the broadcast network’s shows. What’s ridiculous
is the apples and oranges nature of the comparison. The potential
audiences are so different that it makes the comparison useless.
got me started thinking about this was a recent snark-fest by the
director general of the BBC, Tony Hall, aimed at the Netflix show
“The Crown”. Hall made a big deal out of the fact that it
had “only” seven million viewers despite its big budget and
promotional buzz. He compared it to the lower budgets and larger
audiences for the broadcast network’s shows. What’s ridiculous
is the apples and oranges nature of the comparison. The potential
audiences are so different that it makes the comparison useless.
But
that’s not the only useless statistic floating around television.
Yes, people are not watching TV the old fashioned way as much (unless
you’re in the 65+ category). They are watching streaming video.
But what still makes up the largest percentage of WHAT is being
watched? The programs from the television networks. Television
programming remains the largest portion of our weekly media usage.
Smartphone app/web viewed media is second, and somewhat to my
surprise, terrestrial radio, that’s the old school radio, is the
third largest segment of media usage.
that’s not the only useless statistic floating around television.
Yes, people are not watching TV the old fashioned way as much (unless
you’re in the 65+ category). They are watching streaming video.
But what still makes up the largest percentage of WHAT is being
watched? The programs from the television networks. Television
programming remains the largest portion of our weekly media usage.
Smartphone app/web viewed media is second, and somewhat to my
surprise, terrestrial radio, that’s the old school radio, is the
third largest segment of media usage.
A
recent survey in the United Kingdom may shed some light on this as
well. Almost 1 out of 3 viewers there use streaming as their primary
way to watch television. 63% of younger viewers believe they get
better value through streaming over traditional delivery. I would
expect the numbers in the U.S. to be close to that as well.
recent survey in the United Kingdom may shed some light on this as
well. Almost 1 out of 3 viewers there use streaming as their primary
way to watch television. 63% of younger viewers believe they get
better value through streaming over traditional delivery. I would
expect the numbers in the U.S. to be close to that as well.
Which
brings us back to the original question. How is television doing?
Given that the definition of what television is has changed (Netflix,
Hulu, Amazon Prime? Television or not? They are trying to compete
with and create product modeled on the older technology), it becomes
more and more difficult to set our parameters for success. If we set
aside the question of how the programming is delivered, then it looks
like the reports of television’s death, much like the rumor that
swirled around Mark Twain, has been greatly exaggerated.
brings us back to the original question. How is television doing?
Given that the definition of what television is has changed (Netflix,
Hulu, Amazon Prime? Television or not? They are trying to compete
with and create product modeled on the older technology), it becomes
more and more difficult to set our parameters for success. If we set
aside the question of how the programming is delivered, then it looks
like the reports of television’s death, much like the rumor that
swirled around Mark Twain, has been greatly exaggerated.
Watching You Watching
How
much do you love the movies? My personal love is not a secret. I
watch movies every week and have reviewed hundreds of them on
The
View From The Phlipside website. Watching them at home is fun. I
can stop and start them, get up and walk around, make as much noise
as I want, and the refreshments are a whole lot cheaper. Having said
that, there is nothing like the experience of the “big screen”.
Even I had forgotten the wonder of the movie theater experience until
three years ago when I got to see David O. Selznick’s iconic “Gone
With the Wind” on a proper theater screen for the first time. A
movie that I had mocked in the past showed me all of its epic
grandeur in the theater.
much do you love the movies? My personal love is not a secret. I
watch movies every week and have reviewed hundreds of them on
The
View From The Phlipside website. Watching them at home is fun. I
can stop and start them, get up and walk around, make as much noise
as I want, and the refreshments are a whole lot cheaper. Having said
that, there is nothing like the experience of the “big screen”.
Even I had forgotten the wonder of the movie theater experience until
three years ago when I got to see David O. Selznick’s iconic “Gone
With the Wind” on a proper theater screen for the first time. A
movie that I had mocked in the past showed me all of its epic
grandeur in the theater.
So
I look forward to the chance to sit in the theater with a big tub of
popcorn, (which
you don’t start eating till the movie starts),
waiting
for the lights to dim, the music to swell and a new adventure to
roll out before my eyes.
I look forward to the chance to sit in the theater with a big tub of
popcorn, (which
you don’t start eating till the movie starts),
waiting
for the lights to dim, the music to swell and a new adventure to
roll out before my eyes.
With
that in mind, you would think that I would be thrilled to discover a
new app that helps you get free tickets to the movie theater, right?
Well, first off, my enthusiasm is dulled by the unfulfilled promise
of MoviePass, the program that I grudgingly had to acknowledge had
lived beyond my prophecy of their demise. Burn me once… Plus, I
am old enough to realize that nothing is really free. There’s a
hook in there somewhere.
that in mind, you would think that I would be thrilled to discover a
new app that helps you get free tickets to the movie theater, right?
Well, first off, my enthusiasm is dulled by the unfulfilled promise
of MoviePass, the program that I grudgingly had to acknowledge had
lived beyond my prophecy of their demise. Burn me once… Plus, I
am old enough to realize that nothing is really free. There’s a
hook in there somewhere.
In
the
new app PreShow there is not one but TWO hooks. Created by Stacy
Spikes, one of the founders of MoviePass, the smartphone app offers
you the chance to earn free movie tickets. How do you earn them?
That’s hook number one. You have to watch advertisements on your
smartphone. 15-20 minutes of advertisements. That would be a deal
breaker for a lot of people right there. But there’s a creepy hook
number two as well. The app, using facial recognition software and
your phones camera, watches you watching the ads. If you set the
phone down, it pauses for five seconds and then shuts down the
session. Your phone watches you watching the ads to make sure you’re
not scamming the system.
the
new app PreShow there is not one but TWO hooks. Created by Stacy
Spikes, one of the founders of MoviePass, the smartphone app offers
you the chance to earn free movie tickets. How do you earn them?
That’s hook number one. You have to watch advertisements on your
smartphone. 15-20 minutes of advertisements. That would be a deal
breaker for a lot of people right there. But there’s a creepy hook
number two as well. The app, using facial recognition software and
your phones camera, watches you watching the ads. If you set the
phone down, it pauses for five seconds and then shuts down the
session. Your phone watches you watching the ads to make sure you’re
not scamming the system.
While
the logic of the system makes sense from a business point of view, I
can’t see people getting excited about this at all. Fifteen to
twenty minutes of advertisements is enough to sink the concept all by
itself. Having my phone watch me watching them? It’s enough to
make me reach for my home movie collection.
the logic of the system makes sense from a business point of view, I
can’t see people getting excited about this at all. Fifteen to
twenty minutes of advertisements is enough to sink the concept all by
itself. Having my phone watch me watching them? It’s enough to
make me reach for my home movie collection.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2018
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
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