The Commercialization of TV

     The Economist is the most enlightened news magazine (sic) in the world, but its economic underskirt is showing in the article "Taming media monsters" (12/11), subtitled "Special rules for media companies designed to protect the public interest are not only redundant, but also counter-productive." This is in line with the frequent belittling of the BBC, which was established on the principle that our lives should obey laws higher than economic ones.
     It is ironic that the article appeared just as the world was learning of the role Hollywood played in the killings at the Littleton, CO high school. The international impact of the visual media is evident in odd ways. Today's TV news from Sao Paulo, Brazil (a city which has horrendous slums) featured a story about a mansion built there which is a replica, furnishings and all, of the Tara mansion in "Gone with the Wind." The owners play at being Southern gentility, oblivious to the surrounding misery of the favelas (slums).
     A TV crisis has hit Palo Alto/Stanford, statistically the most educated community in the United States. It is important because it is a straw in a poisonous wind sweeping the country. AT&T/ TCI is buying up cable stations, and now Palo Alto Cable Coop is its target for a takeover. We depend on Cable Coop to bring us important programs not tailored for mass audiences, which is where the money is.
     In similar takeovers by AT&T/TCI, many of these quality programs have disappeared. Palo Alto/Stanford is a wealthy community, but because of lack of civic-mindedness on the part of both the city and the university, Cable Coop has become a financial disaster. AT&T/TCI's offer sounds attractive because it would solve the financial problem, and naturally the station employees support the takeover.
     This would be fine if there were legal guarantees that the quality programs would remain. However, the response to a query about this is merely a brushoff. Subscribers have received a fat package about the takeover, merely listing its financial benefits. Last night I received a call as part of a campaign to get a yes vote. I told the caller of my concerns, but he showed no interest.
     The Economist should learn that man does not live by bread (i.e. money) alone.

Ronald Hilton - 12/16/99