Declining Dominance (cont.)

Here's a little anecdotal evidence from our household. When the Holland family watches television (which isn't a lot) we're very likely to be tuned to HGTV, The Food Network or Turner Classic Movies. Separately, my girls watch some Disney Channel programming while I catch my favorites on The Discovery Channel (Myth Busters, Deadliest Catch, etc.)

And...what we're viewing was most likely previously "Tivo-ed."

Bottom line...we almost never, ever watch broadcast television. (Two exceptions...American Idol and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.)

The Declining Dominance of Broadcast Television

More and more TV viewers are choosing cable channels over traditional broadcast networks. So says a recent article in MediaLife magazine. The article cites a recent study by Turner Broadcasting which showed:

"Cable drew a best-ever 61 household share between May 30 and Aug. 21, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Turner Broadcasting and released yesterday. That was up 7 percent over last year's 57. Broadcast sank to a 32 share for the seven networks, including Pax, down 12 percent from last year.
It was the biggest summer dropoff since 1997, according to Turner, and it marks the fifth straight summer that cable has outdrawn broadcast in households.

Put another way, television audiences are continuing to fragment and segment into increasingly narrow niches.

Public Endorsements of Assassination

While the rest of the world is piling on Pat Robertson, consider this little nugget from George Stephanopolous in an obscure publication called Newsweek, December 1, 1997:

"But what's unlawful -- and unpopular with the allies -- is not necessarily immoral. So now that I'm not in the White House, I can say what I couldn't say then: we should seriously explore the assassination option. [emphasis added] Even though the current crisis may be subsiding temporarily, we don't know what the future holds. A direct attack on Saddam would no doubt be politically risky -- the president, concerned about his place in history, would be torn between the desire to get rid of a bully and the worry that an assassination plan gone awry would embarrass him late in his term. But the president should think about it: the gulf-war coalition is teetering and we have not eliminated Saddam's capacity to inflict mass destruction. That's why killing him may be the more sensible -- and moral -- course over the long run."

Target Your Emails for Better Results

From TargetMarketing's "Tipline":

According to aJupiterResearch report, few marketers are sending highly contextually targeted e-mail campaigns. Most still are using broadcast and basic personalization tactics that do little to make the messages highly relevant.

This report also suggests a number of emerging trends and tactics marketers should begin to incorporate into their e-mail marketing practice.

When asked about the influence of promotional e-mail on their purchasing decisions, 60 percent of consumers who made immediate purchases from e-mail did so because the e-mail contained products they were already considering, underscoring the need to catch the customer at the right time with the right offer.

Re: That Cindy Sheehan Woman

I posted below a link to Stephen Mansfield's "An Open Letter to Cindy Sheehan." Well on Friday I turned my car radio to NPR just in time to hear them introducing Stephen who read his letter out loud, without comment. Stephen was identified as "the author of Faith of the American Soldier." Hear it here.

Good news for those of us who wanted to see Stephen's comments reach a wider audience... though I'm not sure how they were received by the typical NPR listener.

Moron, I Tracking

I mean... More On Eye Tracking...

Here's a follow up to some fascinating research Brent posted several months ago re: How people's eyes intereact with a web page. Brent's earlier post revealed the portions of a web page the eye tends to go to first, and linger on the longest.

This new study explores the role of color in influencing viewing behavior. This article from I-Media has the goods.

The bottom line? You should not place exotic colors near points where you want people to act (such as a "Purchase Now" button.) Instead, use Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Black or White (the six basic colors.) No designer colors like lilac, coral, eggplant, etc.

Cindy Sheehan might be on to something

You know, the more I see and read about this poor woman the clearer it is becoming to me. She is bitter and angry (and who can blame her?). But what she doesn't realize is how terribly the MSM has taken advantage of her. They have built this whole thing up into something far beyond what she really cares about, which I think is drifting further and further away. She actually has a publicist now! I saw a clip where the publicist was coaching her as to how to hold her protest sign as media coverage was present as to not cover her face. But all of this has got me to thinking. Maybe I should try this too? Inspired by Cindy Sheehan I have decided to stage a protest (a ?peaceful occupation?) of Tim Burton?s home in Long Beach, California home. I just want to sit down with Mr. Burton and get some answers about Wonka. I am a grieving movie-goer. We were told that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was going to be a fun-filled romp, a veritable triumph of the human spirit. Burton lied. We were told that Wonka had scenes of mass delightfulness. Burton lied. We were told this movie was about humorism. Burton lied. I shudder to think of all the young men and women who needlessly had to suffer though this movie. It is tragic and I hold Tim Burton personally responsible. I just want to sit down with the Director and ask him ?why?? I think he owes the country an explanation.

That Cindy Sheehan Woman...

Our good friend and associate, Stephen Mansfield (who has a new book out) recently posted "An Open Letter to Cindy Sheehan" on his personal blog. (Scroll down a bit to find it.)

To his credit, he was much kinder and gracious than I would have been.

Ben Stein on Real Heroes

Speaking of expressions of gratitude for our military... You really must read this column by Ben Stein (actor, economist, host of "Win Ben Stein's Money).

Read the whole thing. Do it now.

Really.
I mean it.

(Hat tip to Stephen Mansfield)

Doing Us Proud

I was on a flight to Nashville a few days ago that carried about 15 Army soldiers in desert fatigues. They were all returning from Iraq for some R&R. As we prepared to board, I was pleased to hear the American Airlines gate attendant welcome the soldiers and invite them to board in the first group. They received a warm round of applause from the other passengers.

I had the privilege of sitting beside an Army Major who headed up a regiment (if that's the right term) of Bradley armored vehicles and M1 Abram tanks Northeast of Baghdad, near the Iranian border.

"It's pretty quiet and stable there now," he told me. "But it wasn't that way when we got there."

What an outstanding example of a man he was. Although he had been on the move for the better part of five days trying to get home to East Tennesee, he was eager to talk about the work he and his men were doing there.

It was clear he believed in their mission, was proud of the good they were doing, and desired to see the job through. He indicated that it would be a tragedy, after all the American blood and sweat, to pull out too quickly and have the country spiral down into civil war and chaos.

Before we parted company, I made a feeble attempt to let him know how much I appreciate his service to our nation and how everyone I know feels the same way.

His eyes moistened as he extended his hand. "We'll do you proud," he said.

You already have, sir. You already have.