The threat to free television. The reason television is free is because it is a life support system for commercials. That fundamental aspect is about to change.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I do remember the moment when, as a child, I realized that the things we call 'TV shows' are really just the stuff that gets put between commercials. Later, I came to see that the kinds of things that get on 'free' TV are shows that help sell products.
Television is more of a business. You can't take as many risks, because there's so many channels now, and the advertising's dropping.
The good thing about TV is that you can still watch the product, even if you're not in charge of it anymore.
Free is really, you know, the gift of Silicon Valley to the world. It's an economic force, it's a technical force. It's a deflationary force, if not handled right. It is abundance, as opposed to scarcity.
I think television's become a downright dangerous thing. It has no moral barometer whatsoever. If you want to talk about something that is all about money, just watch the television.
Television contracts the imagination and radio expands it.
Television has to reflect back to you your own sense of security. It also has to mirror your sense of your own decency and your own limitations.
Television is really fertile ground, and it's because of platforms like Netflix and Hulu and, of course, the cable channels like HBO and Showtime.
Commercials on television are similar to sex and taxes; the more talk there is about them, the less likely they are to be curbed.
Customer freedom! Don't dictate how I want to watch my TV!