Next American Idol Judge

Fox’s American Idol has been a hit since season one with the trial and tribulations of singers trying to make it in Hollywood. Much of the success of this is also due to the judges whom either America seems to love or hate. Over the past few season the show has tried to add some variety with guest judges and adding a 4^th judge to the mix. With the 9^th season the beloved or hated Simon Cowell will be filming his last season. There is no need to worry though because American Idol producers are already in the works with negotiations to have the perfect man replace Cowell, none other than Howard Stern himself.

Howard Stern is one of the highest paid radio personalities, partly due to his blunt personality. He says what he feels and exactly how he feels with no reservations or apologies. He is a Simon Cowell to the extreme. Hollywood reporter Chuck Ross thinks Stern would be a “dazzling choice.” Idol bosses think he would be even meaner then Cowell and clash with the other judges which also helps ratings and makes great TV. Stern has announced many times that his contract with Sirius radio is up in January and he open to looking to other markets for work. Stern himself though has not said whether he is going to make the switch or stay with Sirius radio, but he has announced on his show that he is considering the option, we will just have to wait and see.

This would make a huge impact on the TV industry because Howard Stern has made his career on radio. Not only would he be making the switch to television but to a family show. If Stern did do the show it would be interesting to see how he would keep his edge but also tone down for audiences of all ages who watch American Idol. I wonder if more people would watch the show knowing about Stern’s past and the personality that he does have. I feel he would help the industry and particularly American Idol because I do think bringing him on board would make more people interested in watching the show.

WEBSITES USED

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/2010/02/howard-sterns-an-a-holeand-why-hes-the-right-choice-to-replace-simon-cowell.php

http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/idol_producers_want_howard_stern_YUKlMlwQkfqa7EgK1nvRaN

Digital Channels

With the new age of digital television TV has found a new wasteland. With the transition for local channel from analog to digital there have been some new problems that have arisen over the past few months.

The reason for the switch in the fist place was to free up air frequencies for emergency services such as police, fire departments, and ambulances. Besides the initial airwaves to be used for emergencies, the leftover frequencies can be used for the switch is that some of their airwaves for wireless services, like broadband for example. With the big switchover local channels were allowed several digital channels which allows for multicasting. This means that one broadcaster can offer their programming on more than one channel. So if a local station had channel 6 they would then also own 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, and also 6.4 and this station can offer various programs on these channels simultaneously. Another advantage of the digital switch is that the picture and sound quality has been improved on those local channels. Long gone are the days of bunny ears which folks would have to play with to get a mostly clear picture. Now the local digital channels are the same as those clear channels found.

The problem with these new channels is the companies don’t know how to draw audiences and produce revenue with these channels. It has been compared to the recent real estate crisis in the middle of this recession we are in right now. As in the market is available but there are no buyers. Some have found some programs which are improving the situation but are no solutions. For example one local station is running a 24-hour local new channel and one is trying a 24-hour Spanish channel. The most successful of these channels was found in a tiny city near Mexico. With a simple mounted camera so audiences at home can watch the town-folk, surprisingly something about this combination works. It seems to just be more localized which some think those extra channels should focus most on. Commissioner Michael Copps thinks these digital channels should focus on local politics, religions, music, and cultural diversity.

I think it is important first of all for people to understand the reason for the whole digital conversion because I had no clue why this was happening all of a sudden. Knowing that it will help emergency services makes me feel better about the whole switch because in my house we still had two analog TV sets, so I actually was involved in the whole switch. Secondly I think it is important for people to know about the extra stations which many are making specific to local events and such. It is another way to be involved in the community and find out new things through media.

I think one way it impacts the industry is through advertising which the article talks about as well. Broadcasters need extra ads to support these extra stations. If the extra digital channels are more specified toward local event s it is a great place for the mom and pop shops and lots of local venues to air commercials since the target audience will be viewers from the area.

WEBSITES USED

http://www.dtv.gov/whatisdtv.html

http://www.dtvanswers.com/dtv_multicasting.html

http://blackboard.rider.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_56860_1%26url%3D