First, let's get something straight, I don't have a problem with entertainment being the main content on today's TV world. Actually, I believe it is great considering that it is one of the main reasons why TV exists. However, I do have a huge problem with big networks using their resources to generate trashy content that, anyway you see it, does not add any value at all... at any level. I'm against entertainment without a goal.
Now to my main point.
In recent weeks I've seen how much 'content' Univision has put together based on the infamous case of a well-known catholic priest that was caught having a romantic relationship with a woman. Well, no need to give so much details since the issue is not the case but instead the way that it's been used by the network.
To give you an idea, only last week the subject has gave birth to more original content that the swine flu. The worst part is that, to put it in nice words, the content is just stupid! Discussions about the church, their rules, whether the guy did right or not, whether he should still be part of the church or not... You got to be kidding me... I don't know but the way that I see it, there is a huge lack of creativity going on at Univison. Most of their original content is related to whatever is the latest headline going on. The issue is that they seem to be forgetting that one thing is to be on top of the news and another very different is pretend that the news are entertaining. News is not necessarily entertainment.
There are just so much good content out there that it is hard for me to believe that's the best Univision can do. A network that although mainly targeting Hispanics in the US has gone over mainstream networks such as NBC and CBS and rated #2 and #3 among adults 18+ more than once. Call me crazy but this is not my idea of the best content.
We are what we build and to me it seems like Univision is not building on anything long term. I truly respect their news anchors and I am certain they've handle every program with professionalism but for God's sake, someone at the programing senior level had to do something about the subjects of their content. When you are one of the top networks your mission should not be just entertain but instead entertain right.
That's why I love cable. You pay for an upgrade. Does it always needs to be like that?
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4 comments:
Ooh...where should I start...your are making several assumptions on different topics.
You are taking the ratings and are assuming that people will always chose entertainment over news. You are not considering several things, like: maybe people rather get the news in the morning or from different media. Maybe by 9 or 10 pm people will already have been informed about current events and just want to relax. You are comparing across different time frames. Maybe at 6pm, more people are watching the news than Jeopardy or a Seinfeld rerun.
Then, so what? I assume you rather go to a Broadway show or to the movies on a Friday night than watch the news. That's no news.
The Miami priest case is news and entertainment, why do they have to be separate? First Hispanics have been devout Catholics for centuries. There have always been rumors about priests' private lives and celibacy. We finally have an example in the open that's starting a debate. How valid are the church laws? How many of them were developed to safeguard the church's riches? I find this topic much more newsworthy, entertaining and deep than any vampire series on cable.
You are taking the ratings and are assuming that people will always chose entertainment over news. You are not considering several things, like: maybe people rather get the news in the morning or from different media. Maybe by 9 or 10 pm people will have already been informed about current events and just want to relax. You are comparing across different time frames. Maybe at 6pm, more people are watching the news than Jeopardy or a Seinfeld rerun.
Then, so what? I assume you rather go to a Broadway show or to the movies on a Friday night than watch the news. That's no news.
The Miami priest case is news and entertainment, why do they have to be separate? Hispanics have been devout Catholics for centuries. There always have been rumors about priests' private lives and celibacy. We finally have an example in the open that's starting a debate. How valid are the church laws? How many of them were developed to safeguard the church's riches? I find this topic much more newsworthy, entertaining and deep than any vampire series on cable.
I agree that viewers preferences are directly related to many other elements such as daypart and media choices. I also agree that news and entertainment can live together in perfect Harmony. Your right about that, there is a reason why, regardless the market, all networks have news at mornings, late afternoon and late night.
My point is about creating new and original content: something I really don't happen to have seen in Univision. And don't get me wrong, you can see it in Hispanic television. Take Telemundo as an example. They are heavily contributing to the evolution of the Telenovelas genre by touching truly interesting subjects such as DNA evolution and Narcotraffic with El Rostro de Analia and El Cartel.
But let's be honest, the priest subject is NOT new. There is nothing original about it. This just happen to be the first time that affects someone so well known.
See, the idea is to evolve and not get stuck in the same subjects that have been discussed for centuries. The priest case is definitely news and also a worthy source of content (just like any news). However, there is a huge difference between putting together a special on the history of catholic priests or on how they have handled the celibate dilemma through the years, than just spend two weeks debating whether the priest is in love or not.
New generations demands new content. It doesn't need to be about vampires or zombies but, at the very least, it must be something that is worth to watch.
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
That's just it. They don't expect different results.
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