Dec
21
2009

When Should a Brand Blame a Supplier? Hint, Never.

time-warner

I recently received my second email from Time Warner, forewarning that the cost of programming may go up as much as 300%. It seems that they are trying to create some sense of activism from their existing customers by beating the drum of discontent against those big meanies at my beloved TV brands. There’s even a web site asking for support at http://rolloverorgettough.com. Dark days are ahead; “Don’t let these TV networks hold your TV hostage. Together, we just might make a difference in what America pays for TV.” Amen brother, you and all of us that watch TV must save America’s TV. Put your hands on the TV and feel the loving touch of your cable company.

Should companies ask customers to fix their business? Should the auto industry send out a plea for help against tire manufacturers? Should my utility company call to complain about the cost of natural gas and ask me to do something? Nice try, but the buck stops with your invoice, your business model and your brand.

Don’t feel bad for your cable company. The advent of Internet aware TV and TV widgets will create more content options than we can currently comprehend. Imagine your boob tube with the brains to find the content you want when you want from a cornucopia of sources on the net? The market will determine what the cost of content needs to be, not the urgings of a company.

Stay tuned, or maybe not. For more information on our media planning agency, visit our contact us page.

So what do you think?

When Should a Brand Blame a Supplier? Hint, Never.

  • http://YesTruebloodIsMyRealName.com Mark Trueblood

    I think TV viewers who have been itching for an a la carte cable option might just rely on Internet TV and cancel their cable in a couple of years.

    Few people really wanted all those channels, yet cable insisted we HAD to pay for all of them. But the internets are giving us lots of options on how and when we want to watch our shows. Do casual TV viewers really need cable, if they have fast and reliable internet?

    I personally don’t watch TV more than an hour or two a week, so haven’t used cable for many years. XBox 360 too damn compelling!

  • http://pointtopoint.com Mark Goren

    Does that mean you’re not watching Mad Men?

    Thanks for your thoughts. Everyone thinks they want all the channels until they start watching all the channels, only to find most of the programming just doesn’t apply.

  • http://YesTruebloodIsMyRealName.com Mark Trueblood

    Nope, never seen Mad Men. Pardon my cynicism, but there’s already enough sexist egomaniacs in this business without celebrating it.

  • http://pointtopoint.com Mark Goren

    No argument here Mark.