Will Apple's Tablet Save Newspapers and Magazines and Change Behavior?

Yesterday, Apple announced great earnings of iPhones and computers. Tomorrow, Apple will introduce its Tablet to the world. Lots of speculation on what it can and can't do and lots of comparisons to other devices like its own iPhone, Kindle, and others. And lastly, through who's network, AT&T or Verizon, will it connect to the web. Tomorrow's announcement should be a doozy.

"Although Apple has proved its deftness at creating trendy devices and a digital store in which publishers could sell their wares, Gartner Inc. analyst Allen Weiner said there will be plenty of trial and error before newspaper, magazine and book publishers figure out the 'fine art' of creating digital editions that take advantage of the device's graphics and video." It is certainly hard to replace the simplicity and low price of printed material. It is easy to carry, easy to read, and even easy to throw away. Today, we stuff our pockets, pocketbooks, and even belt straps with devices to help us stay connected. A Tablet is certainly much bigger to carry.

So I wonder, who will create the idea bag for both men and women that will make this new device easily portable? Especially for men, this "Man Bag" needs to be the hot new accessory that will change how many carry other personal items as well. Including the Tablet, a "Man Bag" could carry a guy's wallet, keys, and gum. Men will finally have clean pocket lines and no more wallet bulges. Watch carefully. A device that changes human behavior is an absolute game changer!

Hulu mulls $5 charge for shows

Missed a TV Show? Want to watch a movie for free? Well Hulu has quickly found a following with the computer crowd, offering free access to tons of TV and Movie titles. Well that may soon end. "HULU, the free TV web site, has been floating the idea that it may start charging -- and now it's talking price. How much to watch shows online? About $5, according to published reports. A pay plan -- if it is adopted -- won't be in place until this fall at the earliest, officials told the Los Angeles Times."

So, would you pay $5/month to watch shows on your computer? As a cable subscriber, probably not. I suspect most users are not willing to pay and will scour the web for free access at places like TV.com and other sites. Others will go searching their on demand for this free content. Why pay if the milk is free elsewhere.

Will a subscription model work for Hulu? Is $5 below the threshold that consumers won't mind seeing it deducted monthly from their credit cards or checking account. My daughter had me sign her up for Club Penguin and I have $5 deducted every month. I forget it till I see it appear on my bank statement and each month I do, I wonder whether she is using the subscription or should I just cancel it. I then forget about it till the next month. I suspect Hulu hopes the same thing happens for them. People sign up and then let it slide every month. Heck it's only 5 bucks. And that will decide how successful this pay model will become.

Apple and Verizon Wireless To Work Together?

While it has been no secret that Apple is preparing to present its version of a tablet, it has been speculated whether it would run across the AT&T platform or through Verizon Wireless. Clearly, AT&T has been a problem for Apple, especially when it comes to phone calls. And now Apple may finally end that exclusive relationship and add Verizon to the mix.

"Apple is expected to name Verizon Wireless as one of its carriers with its anticipated unveiling of a new tablet device on Wednesday, sources told The Post. That means Apple head Steve Jobs will probably introduce a Verizon iPhone, ending AT&T's exclusive hold on the hot smartphone."

As a Verizon Wireless customer, that is why I have resisted switching providers to buy an iPhone. I was one of the first to switch to Verizon when number portability began. I was fed up with spotty signals, dropped calls, and couldn't wait to switch. Even an Apple iPhone couldn't seduce me to switch back. If it proves true, I might just have to pick an iPhone up.

Howard Stern Leaving Sirius to Return to Terrestrial Radio?

Sirius is trading under $0.70 and Howard Stern, its superstar, may be leaving. For Sirius, digital radio should be more than Howard. Access to all audio sporting events, non-stop music, and unlimited genre choice. For Howard, Sirius was 5 years ago, freedom from FCC violations and the opportunity to make tons of money. He may escaped one but not the other and his future may be back on FCC controlled radio.

Howard lost his wide audience when he moved to Sirius, and perhaps also lost his throne as King of All Media. Is ego more important than money, 5 years later? And can today's radio handle his shock jock antics again. It seems likely it is posturing to renew his Sirius deal, but I doubt the next contract will be as rich as the first.

N. Y. Times to Charge for Frequent Access to Its Web Site

The internet can't remain free. An advertising only business doesn't seem to be enough to carry a business. Broadcast needs license fees to augment is ad model and so do newspapers and magazines. And so, in a not so surprising move, will start to charge for viewing content. "Starting in January 2011, a visitor to NYTimes.com will be allowed to view a certain number of articles free each month; to read more, the reader must pay a flat fee for unlimited access. Subscribers to the print newspaper, even those who subscribe only to the Sunday paper, will receive full access to the site without any additional charge."

The Wall Street Journal was the first down this path and have successfully retained its subscriber model by offering web access with print. The NYT has been watching and is following suit. The question is who is next to follow, USA Today, NY Post? This is he beginning of change, more and more content will be going behind subscription walls.

Hello XBox, Goodbye Set Top Box

Not a fan of your cable company and its set top box. Be patient, change is a coming. Gamers, with access to XBox Live may soon be able to ditch their cable for programming through their game system. Xbox already enables movies on demand via Netflix and other apps, and is now starting to do deals to get cable programming directly.

"They want Xbox to be seen not merely as a gaming machine for teenagers, but as a media portal for parents and grandparents, too. The company is even producing shows for users: it is in the middle of the second season of '1 vs. 100,' an interactive version of a game show that was on NBC. The content ambitions do not end there. Microsoft has held in-depth talks with the Walt Disney Company about a programming deal with ESPN, according to people close to the talks, who requested anonymity because the talks were intended to be private....Similarly, users of the Sony PlayStation can tune into BBC shows and see Weather Channel updates, as well as stream Netflix. Last week, Netflix extended its streaming service to the Nintendo Wii."

Who needs a DVR when everything is accessible on demand. Even so, adding DVR capabilities to the XBox and enable access via antenna for broadcast programming and say so long to your cable subscription. Cable's loss will be Microsoft's gain.

The Tonight Show Is No Longer "The Tonight Show"

In Bill Carter's book, The Late Shift, written more than 15 years ago, he followed the trail of Leno and Letterman and how NBC poorly managed the changing of the hosts. Unfortunately, history seems to have repeated itself. We find ourselves with another debacle caused by NBC's handling of a shifting of hosts from Leno to Conan. And NBC keeps tripping over itself, including Dick Ebersol's unnecessary remarks about Conan.

Back when Johnny Carson was being forced out of The Tonight Show by NBC and Leno was being groomed as the successor, Dave Letterman was then the guy pushed out. Obviously, Dave survived and in fact blossomed in his new role at CBS. But a comment that Carson said to Letterman still seems to resonate. He told Dave that the Tonight Show after him would never have the cache it once had. With Leno scheduled to be at the helm, it would never be the same. Carson said to Letterman to make your new show that next piece of TV history. And Carson was right. The Tonight Show no longer represented the golden age of TV and Letterman has done well.

And today we seem to have deja vu all over again. NBC has made a mess and one host will find himself without a gig on their air. The Tonight Show's storied history has been smudged once again and it's future remains depressed. Can it be fixed. Eventually yes. But bringing Jay back is not really a fix, simply a bandaid. Is there more to this story, most likely yes. Perhaps we need Bill Carter to wrote The Late Shift, Part II, to get the fuller picture.

Jay In, Conan Out; NBC Going In Wrong Direction

Talk about not getting a fair chance. Jay had terrific programming in the 10pm hour to help push the Tonight Show. Conan had The Jay Leno Show. Why should audiences turn the channel back to NBC after being forced to turn it off at 10PM. So Conan ratings suffered.

But NBC believes that bring Jay back to 11:30 will also return it to its former ratings glory. "The Washington Post reported yesterday that barring a last-minute change of heart by O'Brien, Leno would return to his old job." Wrong. You can't have a do-over. Returning Jay to the Tonight Show is not the solution. So then what. You have lost Conan and you have lost the Tonight Show.

Rather, NBC should say goodbye to Jay like they planned to do 5 years ago. Put better programming at 10PM and let Conan and his Tonight Show grow back its ratings. The future is Conan, the past is Jay. It's obvious which way NBC should go, but as they continue to make mistakes, it is only natural to see them pick the wrong choice, AGAIN. NBC screwed with "Must See Thursdays", they screwed up with 10 PM, and they screwed up with the Tonight Show. Not a winning record.

So goodbye Conan. Perhaps once NBC gets a new owner, it can finally return to its former glory.

Conan O'Brien Statement: I Will Not Follow Jay At 12:05

Conan takes the high road. If only NBC would do the same. Here is a copy of Conan O'Brien's letter:

"People of Earth:


In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I've been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky. That said, I've been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way.

Yours,

Conan"