CBS & Hulu

This past February, I was off work while I recovered from knee surgery and while I had a lot of time on my hands, I was pretty much out of it because vicodin makes me loopy. While I was recovering, Cheryl was in Green Bay helping Kim with little Nicholas, so I was pretty much on my own. With all that time on my hands and no one with which I could talk, I watched a lot of TV and I found the site Hulu. I was able to watch various old TV shows, which is something I love to do. The best part was that Hulu offers very few commercials, so it brings back the good old days where one or two companies would sponsor a show.
Flash forward to today: This morning, I was reading my Business Week and there's an article about Hulu and CBS. It seems that there is a debate as to how many commercials consumers are willing to watch during online content. According to the article, CBS conducts tests by aimming infrared beams into the eyes. Somehow, this can tell them when a watcher has stopped paying attention. CBS has taken this to mean that web viewers will tolerate the same number of commercials in online content as they have for TV.
Now, I should add this before I go any farther, outside of my being out of commission for two weeks, I have rarely watched any online content. I prefer my content the old fashioned way -- in front of my TV set. I DVR nearly everything I watch and I skip the commercials. According to the article, only 4% of people would be willing to pay for commercial free content -- I'm one of those people.
Having said all of that, I do like Hulu's concept of less is more. They charge twice as much for commercials (again, according to the article) and I like that. You can't fast forward through the ads, so you're stuck watching them. But, they stick with you. I had a much easier time remembering the ads on Hulu than I do watching television. I think Hulu has the right idea. Less ads means more impact.
I think CBS with its more is more option is a little nuts. Plus, the last time I looked, Ghost Whisper wasn't offered online, nor was Criminal Minds. And, this sucked because I had managed to miss both of those shows in one week. And, the main reason I turn to online viewing is to watch a show I missed.
Remember, people, less is more.
God Bless

Ghost Whisperer - Don't Read If You Haven't Seen Last Night's Episode!

Spoiler Alert: This article discusses the Ghost Whisperer episode from last night (November 7th). If you don't want to know what happens, stop reading now.

To the writers of Ghost Whisperer: You guys suck - big time!

One, you killed off Jim. Why would you do that? The whole premise of the show is someone who talks to ghosts with a lovely understanding husband. You've taken away the best part of the whole show. Jim can't hang around as a ghost.

And,two, that sixth sense, "look at me" nonsense when he died was just stupid. You couldn't write it any better than that? Aren't you supposed to be professionals? He's going to be all right, but the nurse mentions the one thing that could go wrong and it does. Dumb, Dumb, and Dumb. He deserved better than that.

And, three, what a shitty thing to do to the characters. Not only has Melinda lost her husband, but if I remember Jim's family history, his mother is now burying a second son. Haven't these people lost enough? Which brings me to point four.

Four: No baby? Melinda now goes through life without a piece of her husband -- the love of her life? No baby. Yeah, that's the way it happens in real life, spouses lose their partners all the time and are left with nothing but memories, but I don't watch TV to see real life, I watch TV to see things that'll never happen to me. So, not having Melinda pregnant is just stupid and dumb. Plus, you've lost the coolness of her passing her gift to her child. And, don't try putting Melinda with some other guy, because I can't see that happening.

Now, Cheryl tells me we have to watch the next episode, so I will, but pretty much -- you've lost a fan.

Jerks.

God Bless