dhork@lemmy.world 4 days ago
I wonder what is worth more to ABC/Disney, all those direct subscribers, or these affiliates that are consolidating into two or three big media companies?
This might be the beginning of the death of the affiliate model. What would happen if Sinclair simply stopped affiliating with ABC altogether? They own enough stations that they can do their own thing. Would it matter if there is no ABC station in Mobile, Alabama, if people who still want to watch can stream it?
jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
The problem for OTA affiliates/broadcasters is content. Their business model relies on getting eyeballs so they can justify what they charge for advertising. Creating content that your viewers actually want to watch is expensive.
Aside from some of the larger PBS stations, I don’t know that any of the major broadcasters, like Sinclair, have any experience producing their own content. They can throw their little tantrum and refuse to air Kimmel, but that’s just going to hurt them in the short term as advertisers will decide OTA timeslots are not a good investment.
dhork@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Sinclair seems to have some experience producing their own Fantasy shows (masquerading as News Content). They don’t have to put in that much effort to capture the attention of the MAGA crowd.
jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
True. But, that type of content only appeals to idiots.
dhork@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Idiots, who have no problem spending what little money they have on Patriotic Merch. So, the perfect customers to shove Patriotic ads at…