Continuing the theme of the rise of internet and the local television affiliate...
Run a search on the subject of my last blog, and you'll find the subject is nothing new. There are umpteen articles, blogs and forum posts about the subject of the internet and local tv affiliates. Everyone has a opinion about the future of the local TV affiliates, with theories ranging from the complete demise of local TV to a broad integration of local TV stations, live streaming video on the internet and local TV stations broadcast to cell phones.
To those who think the local TV affiliate will go the way of the newspaper into the realm of "antique media", I disagree. There will always be a place for local television, particularly when it comes to breaking news. Think back to that terrible morning, seven years ago in September. Every person in this generation remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing the morning of September 11th - where did you FIRST go to for information? I guarantee that it was most likely your local television affiliate. I remember seeing that dramatic video of the plane crashing into the towers, and the live video of the towers falling - it was a moment I shall never forget.
Had I gone to the internet first, however, it most likely would not have had as much of a powerful effect on me. Nevermind that internet video had not reached the technical capabilities in 2001 that we see now. Imagine, for a moment, that 9/11 happened this morning. The majority of people would still turn to their local television affiliate for full news coverage. The small minority that turned to the internet would see a small 300x250 pixel video pillow, surrounded by perhaps hundreds of flashing banners and ads for cars and homes and travel - all the typical "mess" that occupies most video websites today. The impact would have been lessoned significantly.
Research shows us that time and time again people turn to television first and foremost in urgent news situations. We are the comforting home for information, when people need us most. So, the next question becomes, if people are more than willing to embrace local television in urgent news, how do we get them to embrace television at other times?
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