Career Advice

I'm in Indianapolis, Indiana. I've spent the morning and afternoon at a Student Career Workshop sponsored by the Educational Foundation of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE). NATPE is a TV trade association for TV stations and companies that produce and sell content for TV and other video devices. Go to www.natpe.org for more info.

I actually work for the Ed Foundation--have been working with them for about 15 years. NATPE sponsors two career seminars for college students each year. Want some career advice? Take a look at some of the career advice videos we've posted on YouTube. Just do a search with the terms: NATPE Career Advice or click here:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=natpe+career+advice&search_type=

The Beatles Box Set a Bargain or Not?

The Beatles and Yo-Yo Ma, have quality enhanced box sets available this month in stereo and mono. Box sets are being directed to older age groups. This is partly because the younger population is downloading music. They are interested in getting individual songs. The older population is interested in these original box sets. According to Mr. Eisenberg “It preserves a time that we want to remember, that we want to remain in.” Record companies are now targeting the older population with something special, because they have the money and attention span.

The Beatles box set is going for around $200 and the Yo-Yo Ma around $800. Box sets of worldwide celebrities according to the article box sets are leaping into the market “like a rain of bowling balls.” There are many different things to consider with box sets. Listening to all the CD’s is not what having them is all about, it’s that the collector or fan owns it they are in complete control of it. They could be a great gift for someone, and the online charges are less expensive because you’re paying for it once.

What is expensive for one person is a bargain for another. Is this a bargain to you or would you never consider it? Should we re-examine box sets and their value. Will it be a waste to buy a box set because something new will replace it, or are they preserving something classic that will never fade out?

Check out the full article at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/weekinreview/27wakin.html?_r=1&ref=music

Down but hanging on.....

Network television....those over-the-air stations and their affiliated Big Five broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW) are doing pretty well, so far this TV season. Ok, we're only four days into the new TV season but here are some numbers.

Once upon a time, before the growth of so many cable channels, the over-the-air networks and their affiliates received 90%+ of all television viewing. The latest number shows a 42% share. There is real erosion but in 100+ channel homes, that's still not a bad percentage of viewers. To simplify the figure: If a group of 100 people were watching television, 42 of this 100 would likely be watching one of the Big Five networks.

Read the full article here:

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=114358

Network Phenom: Little Broadcast Erosion

Wayne Friedman, Sep 25, 2009 06:26 PM

The first four big days of the broadcast season might tell you of something that the networks have not seen in recent years -- very little broadcast erosion. The collective average ratings of the big five broadcast networks was at a Nielsen 15.4 rating among 18-49 viewers, down just 3% from a 15.8 a year ago. Total shares for the five networks were 42 versus 41 through the first four days a year ago.