Why are some of you folks doing this?

[MadHound]

I open up DU and see thread after thread about the coverage of Russert's death. Breathless and outraged, posters rant and rave about how over the top the coverage is, blasting every new program in turn as it comes up for having more Russert content.

Yet the irony is that these very same people, who are glued to their tube reporting all this 24/7 coverage that they're so outraged about, are actually helping to perpetrate that ongoing coverage. If they've got cable or satellite, all those viewing hits are being transmitted back to the networks, and judging from the reports around here, NBC is getting lots of hits for their coverage. The networks don't know that you're pissed about this over the top madness, all they know is that your household has been watching NBC and its affiliates for the past, what, four days now, that it has all these extra eyeballs glued to the Russert coverage. They don't know that you're outraged, they don't read your screeds on DU, all they know is that they're getting all those extra hits, and all those extra eyes on their networks. That's all that matters to them, for all those extra eyes translate into extra advertising dollars, and all you're doing is encouraging NBC and other networks to continue this sort of madness in the future.

If you're truly disgusted by the Russert coverage(and yes, I can fully understand and empathize with you) then do the smart thing, don't feed the beast. Turn off your TV, don't give NBC those extra hits and that extra money. If NBC starts seeing that their viewership is going down, then they'll cut back on coverage. Besides, by tuning out, you're helping your own sanity and blood pressure.

Otherwise, all you're doing is feeding the beast

[elocs]

1. That is ironic--their bitching about it keeps it going and keeps it going.

Then they bitch about how it never stops.

[wtmusic]

2. Then others bitch about the bitching.

Oh the humanity!

[QueenOfCalifornia]

14. Personally

I like to bitch about the bitchers who are bitching about the original bitching.

I refuse to watch the MSM crap news until they bring me the sandwich Obama was supposed to bring me and quit talking about Tim Russert.

AND WHERE THE HELL IS MY FREE PONY!!!!!??????

:rofl::rofl:

[MadHound]

4. I find the outrage more than odd

These people are glued to their sets apparently, breathlessly reporting every new Russert tribute in tones of outrage and anger, wondering why NBC and others are doing this, when the reality is their TV hits are actually contributing to this sort of madness.

It isn't only Russert either, I've seen it with Reagan's death and sucklike. My thought is, if you don't like what's on the tube, turn the channel or turn it off. Don't keep it on and continuously complain, all you're doing with your TV set on is encouraging the programming folks at the networks, "Oh, we had X amount of people watching our 24/7 coverage of Russert's death-a-palooza, we'll step it up for the next celebrity death then and bring in even more viewers!":eyes:

[skooooo]

3. How dare you!

There are folks who need to make public their over-the-top outrage, and you want to stifle their expression!!!!!!!

:sarcasm:

[mdmc]

5. I don't have TV

so all I saw was the DU threads...

[MadHound]

8. Thank you for not contributing to the revenues of the MSM!

I have a television, but rarely watch it anymore, some sporting events, a decent movie or documentary, that's it. I have yet to see one minute of television coverage of Russert's death, and don't plan to.

I used to live without a TV for many years, but the desire to watch DVD's and other factors prompted me to buy one. Sure, it has it's high points, but for the most part I could do without it.

[mdmc]

19. What I really meant was that I don't have cable

I watch movies / tv shows on dvd or off of the internets.

Peace and low stress

[Elidor]

6. Thank god we have another thread on this

I couldn't find any of the others to post in.

[Lex]

9. LOL. True!

nt

[NC_Nurse]

7. Apparently a lot of people have nothing better to do.

There are a lot of volunteer opportunities at the Obama website. They can hook you up
with the folks in your area. Working with a campaign helps you ignore all kinds of media
bullshit. :-)

[MadHound]

10. True, true, though personally I have work to do around the farm

That's my problem, I get caught up posting on DU and completely ignore the farm work for an hour or two at a stretch, and thus have to resort to working in the heat of the day. Oh well.

As far as working officially for the Obama campaign this year, I've got to take a pass. However I will be working to convince my friends and neighbors to vote for him.

[NC_Nurse]

18. Sounds like a plan! Man, I don't envy you having to work out in this heat...

drink LOTS of water! :hug:

[EFerrari]

11. Is it really true that if I don't turn on ABC or have it blocked

that information gets back to ABC (for example)?

[MadHound]

15. If you have cable or satellite TV, your viewing habits are known by cable or satellite provider

Who then sells that info back to the networks. Anymore Nielsen is much more of a cover story for the real way that viewing habits are gathered. If the majority of people in this country knew how closely their viewing habits are tracked, they would be outraged(or perhaps not), thus they keep up the Nielsen facade.

If you want to opt out of having your habits recorded, it is easy with a satellite, simply pull little phone line out of the wall. With cable the process is harder, since incoming and outgoing signals use the same line. My suggestion would be to pull the cable cord out of the wall when you're not watching.

[EFerrari]

20. Oh, I see. There is no phone line connected to my sat box.

Maybe I should plug it in, just to piss them off. lol

[arcadian]

12. That is a completely false and unsupported premise.

I'm commenting on the coverage and I have not watched one second of the Tim Russert cock suck on the MSM.

[MadHound]

13. If you're not watching, then you're not part of problem now, are you?

I'm specifically addressing those posters who are breathlessly reporting every single new Russert program or segment that appears on television, and then being thoroughly outraged that NBC and others are still broadcasting such material.

[arcadian]

21. You said that merely commenting on this was perpetuating the coverage.

I'm commenting on it and I'm not watching, so I'm not feeding the beast as you say. Also i seriously doubt, TVNews agencies know how many hits they get from people viewing their programming.

[MadHound]

22. Please reread my OP

I was specifically addressing it to those who were watching the various TV programs concerning Russert's death and then coming here to post about such coverage. But hey, if you want to feel like that somehow includes you, go for it:shrug:

The fact of the matter is that if you have a cable box, or a satellite receiver(with that little phone line connected) then yes, your viewing habits are well known. If you don't believe me, fine, but I got this little piece of info from one of the people in the biz who should know.

[arcadian]

23. Unless you can show me documented evidence

then what you just posted is hearsay. Like I said, unfounded.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. And this thread isn't feeding the beast?

LOL

[MadHound]

17. No, I don't consider it to be such

Since I'm not watching the 24/7 Russert coverage and thus not contributing to increasing NBC's revenue. Is it contributing to the Russert madness threads here on DU, sure, but I'm hoping to be a voice of sanity. I know, I know,:rofl: