PanthersATL

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Content creators are focused on reaching a particular target audience. It's that target audience that's being sold. CBS has a particular demographic vs MTV's demographic. NPR podcast listeners have a particular demographic vs Joe Rogan's podcast. The advertisers aren't buying into the content - they're buying into the audience that is being targeted. A production company (whether it be Warner Brothers' FRIENDS, or Sony's JEOPARDY, or Dreamwork's VOLTRON .. whatever) sells the program to a network/channel with the right demographics to be distributed. That's how the production gets paid. Now it's up to the network/channel to make their money by selling advertising (or whatever else it takes to recoup their investment costs). SURVIVOR costs, let's say, $1m per episode. If they can get an in-show sponsorship, like Burger King, to provide some prizes and possibly lower the overall episode costs, then that's more money for the production that doesn't go to the network. Local channels get paid by the cable companies to be carried; that's why you often see local channels taken off the air during payment disputes -- the station wants to be fairly paid for their news production and their network licenses, while the carrier is trying to make money by paying out less in carriage fees. One way or the other, someone is going to get paid for the content creation; tools/technology/talent/TIME isn't free. If it's not advertising, then what? One way or the other, the ISPs are going to get paid for carrying that data to your house, whether it be through excess bandwidth charges or via cable fees. As broadband usage goes up with higher-and-higher quality streams, the days of low-cost monthly all-you-can-eat high speed bandwidth plans are going to go away. Switching to mobile-only from broadband (5G and up) isn't going to help either - you'll just get your connection throttled. You'll still have access, it just won't be at high speeds. I don't have solutions to the above - but somebody is going to end up paying something. I'd rather it be the advertisers than it come out of my own pocket if given a choice. (disclaimer: I'd rather pay the extra $2/month for Hulu+ commercial free than sit through the 2m of commercials in a Hulu program -- at least Hulu and others give that option)

Broadcast TV isn't free (it hasn't been since.... well, practically forever). *somebody* has to pay for the creation of the content. If not advertising, then how?

Except Discovery+ and HBOMax have determined that they can't compete with Netflix and Amazon, so they're merging forces into a single package deal (similar to the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN package, I suppose) I see more broadcaster (heh, "content providers") doing more consolidation until we have streaming-only packages that will be (roughly) the same price as what you originally had with a traditional cable bill. The only difference is that by separating out to smaller (but still separate) packages, that will give you some concept of ala cart. Only want ESPN+ during football season? Done. Need Paramount+ for The MTV Challenge? Gotcha covered. Discovery keeps adding more and more exclusive content across their entire library of channels? Can't easily pick only HGTV for a cheap price, might as well get all of them. Presto - you now have a cable bill again.

For those of you with cable subscriptions, do you like that you can log in and access any of the streaming/on demand versions of channels like History, Starz, or Showtime if they're part of your package? Is keeping the cable subscription worth that convenience of "you've already paid for it, so go and watch it?"

We'll start easy. Which services do you personally pay for or subscribe to (if they're free), and why do you like those services enough to pay for 'em? We can cover those services that you "borrow" or otherwise obtain under the table a bit later... Some of the options should be (in no particular order).... Netflix HBO Max HULU ESPN+ Paramount+ Disney+ AppleTV+ Amazon Prime Peacock Free: Crackle Crunchyroll Plex Tubi IMDb TV PlutoTV VUDU TV Alternatives: (pick almost any individual channel, they have some sort of service) Viceland YouTube Premium Hulu + Live TV Sling

Agreed. I started this thread to talk more TV stuff....

There are a number of Huddlers who have cut the cord and are no longer paying to a cable or satellite channel bundle. You're still paying for Internet, and you may be subscribed to at least one paid subscription service. Lots of discussion topics here, ranging from what do you think is going to happen to the broadcast industry in general to ... consolidation, technology, new business opportunties, and more.

There may be interesting previous commentary in this earlier thread. Or not.

Happy to chat the world of tv business models over in the Huddle Lounge or Nerdvana forums so as not to clog up the Panthers forum with non-football related conversation. nutshell: Channels aren't going away. How you access them or what they're bundled with is a different story. And think of "bundles" as yesterday's cable-TV packages.

AT&T has sold (most? some?) DirecTV https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/03/01/att-finally-made-a-deal-to-sell-some-of-directv/

What is the correct number of times to say "CHUGGA" before you say "CHOO CHOO"?

I think we can all agree that the proper sequence is SOCK - SOCK - SHOE - SHOE People who do SOCK - SHOE - SOCK - SHOE are weird.

Honestly, people will be screaming in 6 months no matter how successful or not SF was in the draft. As long as the team gels and we show early season brightness/success, we'll be in better shape than we were this time last year regardless.

SF does seem to be in charge of the room, but also appears to listen to everyone's opinion before making a decision and gaining consensus of the direction to go in. I'm sure that there are some who won't challenge an SF mandate, but it seems that he's open to hearing objections/improvements if the concerns are valid AND have supporting arguments. Observation upon subsequent viewings: The Fetterer "game ball" that Tepper gave him keeps appearing/disappearing from the desk during some of the scenes. Doesn't take away from the overall storyline being told, but makes one wonder more about the out-of-sequence editing that's taking place and where/when those conversations took place during the overall draft

just bought a new mini SUV this weekend. Some takeaways: Comparing our walk-out price vs KBB and Costco's "fair price estimates", we believe we got a good deal. We probably left some money on the table, especially by not sticking harder on a better trade-in value for the 20-year-old 190k high-end sedan that still ran great, but we feel we did okay in the end (which is half the battle). The finance guy -- who may or may not have been telling the truth -- said that the Tower said we drove a hard bargain and that the dealership "took a loss on the purchase". We all agreed wasn't entirely true with manufacturer kickbacks/payments, but he insisted that we actually got a really good deal in the end. SUVs are in short supply. 2022's are being sold for MSRP or higher -- aim for the 2021 (or 2020s if they still have inventory). The compact SUVs are harder to find than the mid-size or full-size models. new Corvettes are being sold for 20k-30k *over* MSRP. We still like Carmax as a great place to compare used cars/models easily on the same lot, next to each other. Not overly impressed with the standard Subaru warranty (3 yrs/36k) vs other manufacturers, but others we know absolutely love their Subarus. That warranty caused us to not go with Subaru. dollar for dollar, if you're looking to buy a relatively recent used car vs something similarly equipped and new.... you're probably going to be looking at roughly the same price neighborhood, but without the New Car Warranty things if you choose used. As always, I'm probably wrong with the above items.

Probably the most important news article you will read today: https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/01/survey-finds-most-popular-underwear-for-men-is-the-tighty-whitie-14685509/

So far, hasn't disappointed. Heist stuff is fun Thx for the suggestion if you want more heist stuff that's a bit older, there's a collection from the same author, all different types of heists: 11 HARROWHOUSE, 18MM BLUES, and 19 PURCHASE STREET (and others by Gerald A Browne) are all kinda fun

Panthers Video/SM team for the win. Let's also give credit to Panthers mgmt for allowing that much access. Plus, it also helps shed a bit of light on the amount of work that goes into the draft (draft day and the weeks building up to it) to help quiet those nay-sayers who watch the draft and say "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?"

Looking forward to watching this. In the meantime.... Caption this. Wrong answers only.

The Athletic is also "for sale this weekend" https://www.axios.com/new-york-times-nytimes-acquisition-athletic-7f1dabf4-9315-4975-93f9-68e13c642a43.html The New York Times is looking into a potential acquisition of The Athletic, three sources familiar with the matter tell Axios.

What are the best (or worst?) team crowd chants you've heard at various stadiums? Some examples: KEEP....... POUNDING! TAMPA..... BAY! WHO...... DAT! J-E-T-S JETS JET JETS GO PACK GO RISE.... UP If we were to have a 2nd Stadium chant to alternate with Keep Pounding, what would you like it to be?

Documentaries: CRIME OF THE CENTURY (HBO) - a look at the opioid crisis and how we got to where we are. It may be slightly biased in presenting a very specific view/side of the situation, but a lot of what they talk about may make you say OMG, that's crazy. LOSING SIGHT OF SHORE (TUBI) - an incredible look at four women who try to become the first crew to row a boat across the Pacific Ocean, with zero external support to help them along the way. Battery failure? Yes. Sunburn in uncomfortable places? Yes. Run out of food? You'll have to watch to see. THE MOLE AGENT (HULU) - a sweet, endearing documentary investigating nursing home abuse. Nominated for an Oscar this year. MIDSOMMAR (AMAZON PRIME) - An look at life in a secluded Swedish/Norwegian cult, and what it really means to be "family".

If you're looking for a traditional sports book, the closest one is probably Harrah's Cherokee or Harrah's Valley River. Either are a bit of a drive from Charlotte, South Carolina, or North Georgia - but on a nice day you can make an adventure out of it.

Eventually I hope we have a catalog of party/fight/tailgate/win-win-win songs like the Packers do: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/01/11/crank-em-up-10-best-packers-songs/96406616/