Paul Allen the co-founder of Microsoft and owner of Techtv is selling Techtv to Comcast the cablevision company. It is said that Comcast will merge the channel with their gamer channel called G4. I consider this move a loss to broadcasting.
I believe in diversity of ownership of media outlets. Having too few individuals and corporations owning media outlets leads to an end of the diversity of perspectives, and programming. This is bad for consumers and bad for democracy.
You can expect most of the quirky or risqué programs to disappear from the Techtv network. Many programs that have ‘out there’ viewpoints and ideas will be cancelled under the charge of low ratings.
Programs will not be given sufficient time to attract and develop an audience or programs will be very selectively allowed to try and attract viewers. This probably goes on now but more diversity in programming is still achieved because what programs stay or go and how quickly is partially up to Allen (his likes and taste) and his ‘point’ man or woman.
This probably happens at Comcast too (with management serving the Allen and point man roles) but less diversity will result because corporations like to play it safe. By playing it safe a homogenousion slowly occurs and many different types of programming are not considered. Diversity in media is slowly extinguished.
The purchase probably will lead to a shakeup of the players on the various programs too. Some may even loose their jobs or be placed in positions not on television.
One can already see the shift in power at the channel. Leo Laporte who wielded a lot of power at the channel because of his relationship with key people will begin to see his power diminish. He has already lost his co-hosting job on The Screen Savers and now is host only of Call For Help although he says he will still do segments on The Screen Savers (I wouldn’t cry for Leo. He is well respected in television and radio for his knowledge and skills. He is on radio in parts of California).
The problem for Leo is his age. The channel will mainly be pursuing a younger demographic (Patrick is up there in age but has a few more years before a channel after a younger demographic considers him too old, but he will probably be the next host replaced). Leo should not get too comfortable at Call For Help until the new corporation comes in and due its analysis which may take a year or so.
There is likely to be a major shakeup in programming soon after the merger and again within a year or so.
Joshua should feel pretty happy. Techtv is going to be merged with a gamer channel and he has been dealing with the small Thursday gaming part of The Screen Savers for a long time. He is handsome and has the characteristics the media in the US look for. He is in position to capitalize on the pending merger but there probably are gamer host already on G4 (I’ve never watched the channel), which means competition for positions.
Kevin (the Dark Tipper) will probably slide into the co-host position on The Screen Savers. He looks okay but more importantly he fits the demographic that the television media wants to attract. He is also into ‘extreme computing’ (the computer user underworld or hacker and cracker community-some hackers do not want to be associated with those that due bad things on the internet so they decided to use the name cracker for those that due evil deeds on the internet).
Minority members like the Asian-American lab techs that periodically appear on the various programs on techtv can expect more opportunities. Comcast is an ‘equal opportunity employer’ and will seek to attract the hip, techie, young, and more urban audience.
I hope Comcast doesn’t mess up the programs that I like the most on the channel. I also hope the diversity of programming and controversial programming still have a home on the channel whether it is still called the Techtv channel or the G4 channel.