Tag Archives: LA Times

YOU CAN WATCH THE MOVIE ON MY FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

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Facebook is becoming the new generation of TV sets.

Very shortly, you won’t be hearing this question much longer–”Which movie theater do you want to go to?”  That question will be replaced with — “Whose Facebook account do you want to use to watch the movie?” Crazy isn’t it!!! But, its real and its happening now.

Facebook will become the next movie-house, and in my humble opinion, this utility will make a dent into businesses like Netflix as well as Hulu and the other companies who stream movies directly into your homes. The only difference between Facebook and the others is its available library. It will only take a matter of time for Facebook to cut similar distribution deals like it did last Wednesday with Warner Bros. And sooner than later, you’ll be purchasing movies to watch off of Facebook on a regular basis.  So is Facebook becoming the new TV set? Yes.

THE SOCIAL MOVIE EXPERIENCE

I still can’t fully wrap my head about this idea and I personally need to see it in action. I do watch video now on Facebook through services like Ustream or Livestream.  And I have to admit those images are grainy, but that’s because they are live. When I watch posted videos on Facebook, the video is picture perfect, but the video lags and I have to wait for the video to catch up with the streaming…which is annoying.

So I am unsure as to how movies will play out on Facebook. I do have to endure commercial interruptions on broadcast and some cable TV, however, I don’t know if I will be able to tolerate long lag times while watching a movie.  For when the video stalls over the Internet, one is never certain of when it will return. Will be a matter of seconds? A minute or maybe two? And you can’t control when the lags will occur. I’d hate to have the movie stall at a crucial moment in the action. But, I do think that these transmissions will improve over time and that Facebook will become the new choice for movie screenings.

Fewer and Fewer People and Muppets will Patron Movie Theaters, Once Facebook offers more Movies. Flickr Credit: Positiviely Puzzled

FACEBOOK WILL REPLACE GOING TO THE MOVIES

Right now I use the services of Redbox to rent recent movies. I like the price (a mere buck) and the number of locations where I can find the rental units.  I do pay for a number of premium cable channels and through that distribution platform I do get my fill of movie choices and movie watching.

But, it doesn’t take a fortune teller to predict the future of movie theaters. They have just out-priced themselves. It has to be a spectacular movie for me to fork out $12 for two-hours of entertainment at a theater. I’d rather wait the 16 weeks for the DVD window. One month after that, it’s everywhere for rent. With the current sub-par movie fare I can wait that long and pay a buck.

But this is huge idea of watching Facebook movies and how you would watch them..on what device.  I do have a 27″ iMac screen, but I do not have an Internet ready television set yet. I could probably seat three comfortably in my office to watch a movie on Facebook, but the thought never crossed my mind to make my office function as a movie theater as well.

In fact, there really isn’t a room appropriate in my current home to transform into a movie theater-like setting. However, with movie theaters fading into the sunset, this new requirement will be need to be in every home. I have seen it done. I have visited two homes recently where the owners have transformed one of their existing rooms into a home theater.  And it was a great room in the house.

Home theaters will be replacing the family den.  They are the new den, where all the games and electronic gadgets are housed. And if I was going to purchase a new home now, I’d make sure that if it didn’t have a home theater, then one of the rooms could be transformed into one.

Now this is a Home Theater! Credit: jdesigngroup

If I worked at one of those home improvement cable networks, I would start producing a show on how to transform an ordinary space into a home theater “den” and of course, I’d emphasize cost-efficiency. This is going to be a real boom. I can just see it.

But this does come with a warning. If you are one of the first to have a home theater, then you must also love to host gatherings at your home. For it may be some time before your friends will be able to reciprocate and invite you over. You are welcome to come here and watch a movie on Facebook with me, but you’ll have to not mind my cramped office quarters er office/home theater.

Oh, how the times are changing.

In closing, I’ve got a few questions for you as I wrap up this post.

How do you plan on watching movies on Facebook. Over your iPad? Mobile phone? Home computer?

Do you have a home theater? If not, do your plans call for one in the future?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cindy

 

 

Can Dubuc Make Lifetime More Relevant? It Will Be History in the Making.

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Can Nancy Dubuc make 'History' At Lifetime

Today, Lifetime Networks announced that Nancy Dubuc has been named President and General Manager of Lifetime Television. She succeeds Andrea Wong, who recently departed the company.  (In full disclosure, I was employed by Lifetime in its corporate communications department from Jan. 09 to Nov. 09, however, my position became redundant due to AETN’s acquisition late last year.)  The announcement of Dubuc today in the LA Times by Joe Flint, wasn’t really a surprise to those in the industry for her name has been speculated in the press since Wong announced her plans.

I liked my time at Lifetime, but I often scratched my head a bit about the network’s choice of programming.  The network labels itself – a network for women – but, I’m a woman and I never watched it until they acquired Project Runway.  I know that I am an anomaly for I am single business woman, however, many of my friends are married with children and I hear what they say.  You see, most of the women that I hang around have big concerns about marriage, parenting and finances, especially during this economy. But, I never saw that resonate on-air.  We were charged with promoting “women in peril” programming, because, sadly to say – that’s what got the higher ratings. And ratings are the heroine (drug of choice) at every network. I don’t know what drives women in mass amounts to tune into stories about murder, mayhem and betrayal. I will never figure that out!

Lifetime May Get Some Changes

But with every The Capture of the Green River Killer and Natalee Holloway, the Network did try and provide a more contemporary view of womanhood with the likes of Army Wives and the new comedy Sherri. Also, Drop Dead Diva, a popular comedic drama, attempts to tackle self-worth and self-esteem issues weekly – so the network does try. But, it really needs to do more.

With Dubac, I hope comes a breath of fresh air in ideas and none too soon.  The Lifetime viewers are on life-support at the moment  and with added competition coming from OWN next year–they should “energize” their brand as soon as possible. And I believe she has the chops to do it.  Her scorecard proves that she can invigorate oldish brands as she re-invented the stodgy History Channel.  So, if I was a betting woman, I’d put money down that she will turn this network around – well all their networks around (Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Channel and Lifetime Real Women).

Lifetime Hit A Home Run With Drop Dead Diva

So in case she doesn’t have a clear game plan already, I’d like to present a few suggestions for topical programming.

Idea #1 – Instead of supporting breast cancer year-long on the mylifetime.com website – why not produce a reality show following those going through breast cancer in real life.  I know that breast cancer doesn’t only effect those with it, but the family hurts as well, especially the husbands. It would be fantastic to depict those issues in a supportive series.

Idea #2 – Pick up where Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution left off – America banded around this Brit to ensure that the children of tomorrow stand a chance to live healthy long lives by eating right.  Find another chef and take off after another fatty town and school district.  Made a difference in others lives.

Idea #3 – Go inside troubled homes and bring in a counselor to help them deal with non-communicative husbands and/or stubborn kids.  Produce a show that provides practical tips to running your home without losing your mind. And I’m not talking Wife Swap here, something more real.

Idea #4 – Give the top Mommy bloggers their own show. Heck, I’d watch it.  They could point out great discounts on the web and sweepstakes to die for.  Also, they could highlight great non-profit efforts.

Idea #5 – Women entrepreneurs – I have been meeting some dynamic women executives who are running incredible companies that they have started up.  I’d like to see women portrayed positively in the workplace as opposed to the stereotype we’re most presented with…let’s showcase these gals!

That’s just a few of my thoughts and I’ve got a bunch more…but, I’ll leave it at that.   I am excited about Dubuc’s appointment and I wish her tremendous success.  She now has inherited a wonderful opportunity to influence millions of women – please don’t let us down.

Best,

Cindy