What Network Television Refuses To Learn From The Music Industry

by John Davidson
30 October 2007

Does NBC Universal chief executive Jeff Zucker know that people laugh about him behind his back? Here’s a guy who, after having failed upward and presided over an unprecedented ratings freefall, still has the balls to carp that Apple Computer “destroyed music pricing.” The hubris is so thick that it nearly obscures his ignorance.

Speaking at Syracuse, Zucker cried like a baby that Apple wouldn’t let him double the retail price of NBC shows released on iTunes, a business that gave NBC $15M for almost no investment and even less risk. As if that wasn’t enough, he wanted action on the sales of hardware, claiming that Apple had profited on his content unfairly. What’s next Jeff, you want a kickback from the television manufacturers because they couldn’t survive without you either? Someone needs to muzzle this guy with a dose of reality.

But sadly, Zucker’s sense of entitlement shadows that of those who are out to destroy the music business. Label heads once secretly blamed the iPod for all their problems, and they are still in denial about the cultural change underfoot. It’s all about choice and ultimately, empowering the consumer. Apple Computer didn’t destroy pricing, consumers did through changing technology. It’s not Apple’s fault that nobody wants to watch “SNL” in its entirety anymore; that’s always been the case. It’s just that with technology, we don’t have to. And it’s not just skipping the commercials or bad sketches with a DVR—it’s letting the masses clip and share the good stuff. Nobody would have bothered to care about “Lazy Sunday” if it weren’t for uploading and YouTube. We’ve seen a different chapter of the same book over and over in the music industry.

Thing is, the music industry has fought technology rather than embrace it. Oh sure, they’ve made conservative attempts to blend in or participate, but there’s virtually no examples of a serious attempt to lead the market. And it makes sense, given the publicly-traded status of the major labels. But with the dearth of sales now inhabiting virtually every genre of music, you’d think people like Jeff Zucker would have more sense than to shoot the messenger.

Filed under music industry TV industry