Unfortunately you don’t have Warren Buffett’s coin — which is a mere 160 billion. You would settle for one percent of that pile — a paltry 1.6 billion. Preferably, half the amount would be liquid, since you want to fund your own major OTA Network, or smaller national cable television channel like CNN, ESPN, etc. Or you could also choose to go the IPTV route (Internet Protocol Television); but you believe crashing Legacy Media’s OTA playing field would be more irritating and effective, not to speak of a bloody blast. But don’t be misled. You would have no intention to personally organize and implement a new broadcast animal. All you could bring to the enterprise is the idea and somebody else’s money. You would have to hire top drawer execs who would procure killer technology, killer talent and killer content. The field test name for your new TV entity is Broadcast Bunk (BB). The primary purpose of BB would be to review reviewers and commentators — that is, the companies and people who own the national microphone — who are responsible for television and radio programming. Likely, BB would concentrate on talk shows that are in the business of spouting non-stop opinions and analysis. Essentially, Broadcast Bunk would critique the broadcast industry product on a timely basis. You imagine BB would also devote time to critique its own bunk. Broadcast bigwigs might dump on your idea this way: “The marketplace is the proper judge of broadcast programming and talent. If the people don’t like the bunk we dish out, they can tune out; and if they tune out, the advertisers simply wouldn’t spend their money supporting our bunk. It’s called free market capitalism.” As a capitalist, you would reply, “Exactly. Let the people decide.” For instance, they could decide if advertisers themselves aren’t in the dishing-out-bunk business. Since the BB concept is still under development, you’re not prepared to divulge specific programming and formatting; but you’re willing to share some initial concepts. Most likely, BB would resemble Gutfeld and other bold gabfests. However, BB would require a huge cast — hosts, permanent talent and a bevy of expert guests keen on audacity. Also likely, the daily content would consist of departments and/or categories like Politics, Advertising, Sports, Entertainment, etc. For instance, political prattle on shows like The Five or The View would definitely stand scrutiny as would the Sean (you know) Hannity Show on Fox, or his daily, three-hour (count it) syndicated radio broadcast. Since ESPN airs wall-to-wall chatter like Get Up, First Take, College Game Day, etc., the cliche-ridden channel is ripe fruit for picking. Advertising perhaps represents the most fertile plowing ground, since so much of it is impossibly insipid. Without question, BB must be funny, outrageously provocative, often offensive, devoted to the truth and religiously opposed to all things PC. The big question for this endeavor? Can it gradually build and sustain a large audience? Can the audience justify attracting advertisers, considering that most of them would be subject to ridicule? It’s simply too early to tell how the concept might jell. Let’s just say for now it’s a good idea — that it would motivate Mr. Buffett to send you the gravy asap, and that BB would stimulate the entire nation and entertain the brains of viewers who at this very moment agree that 80% of broadcast media is swill. However, if this particular fantasy fizzles, something else has to happen. Because the American Way needs defenders. Raped repeatedly, The Constitution needs restorative surgery. Journalism is in a coma. Group Identity tramples individualism. America’s soul — Her moral precept — is long forsaken. Hmm. Matilda, Buffett could pass on BB. It would be tough to identify 1000 people willing to shell out a million apiece. You have to face the very real possibility that BB is far-fetched. Charlie Kirk was headed in this direction. If people like Charlie, Tucker, Joe, JP and Elon, don’t see a place for BB, you have to face reality. Well, all you can do is wait. You really want to pummel MSNBC
www.conventionofstates.com