I recently sent this e-mail to NBC, parent company of MSNBC:
I have a philosophical issue concerning your showing of the recent Democratic presidential debate.
In my home town, Bend, Oregon, the only way to watch this debate was to subscribe to a premium cable package. This seems to be counter to the way democracy is intended to work.
I contacted my local cable affiliate, Bend Broadband, and was told that for $5 I could add a package which would include MSNBC. I responded, “While I will consider adding the premium package, I believe you have a problem which needs to be addressed. Presently, an issue with the presidential debates is that the average viewer has been college-educated, thus leaving out many. Adding a cost to see the debates will only aggravate this issue. You need to be expanding, not shrinking, your audience for this type of presentation. I think it would be to your advantage to review this issue. Certainly, you have the ability to unlock this channel, or another one, during a single presentation.”
The local cable company explained that it was a problem too large for them to solve. BendBroadband’s vice president, John Farwell, explained, “We understand that with more and more debates, the programs are moving between several networks with some being on MSNBC. However unfortunately we do not have the option of simply ‘opening up the channel’ to everyone for a given show. This would have to come from the network (owned by NBC) and of course would require technical manipulations and customer communication each time it occurred – a sizable effort if NBC wanted it to happen, and it would of course not be something they would do for BendBroadband alone.”
NBC needs to review the present policy. If a solution cannot be found, then I propose that MSNBC refrain from covering any future debates and leave this important job to more public access-friendly networks.
Bob Almquist, Bend
This article appears in Mar 6-12, 2008.
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Last time I checked, somebody pays for all TV coverage. ‘Free’ TV is paid for by advertisers. All the rest you buy. If you want to see something, pay for it or shut up. Tv service providers do not owe you a damn thing. You cannot force someone to inform themselves. Your next suggestion will be that those with no TV should be provided with one to watch the debates…
Did you ever hear of personal responsibility? It’s a Republican concept. That’s probably why you’ve never heard of it.
By the way, those with an interest, will damn sure figure out who to vote for.
Good Job Ginny!!!
Of course neither the network nor Bend Broadband was obliged to televise the debate for free. However I think one may question the judgment of the Democratic Party in deciding to have the debate carried on a pay-to-view channel.
The issue is that the debates are only for-pay TV. Debates (info in the public interest) should be on network TV pre-empting (horrors!) regularly scheduled programs. Network TV is FREE for a reason: they get the airtime free guaranteed by the govt b/c when issues to the public interest come about, the networks are supposed (legally required) to turn off their noise TV and deliver.
The issue is not to be resolved thru pay tv/cable. It isn’t their responsibility. The da*mn debates shoulda been on NBC *not* MSNBC.
And ginny… you are an idiot. They will find a way? Obviously, you graduated after the repukes removed civics classes from the curriculum. god help us.