DC> On 05 Sep 05  08:20:26, Raymond Yates got back to Danny Ceppa   
    DC> -> Re: John's Surgery   
      
    DC>> I think that the days of the "Big 3" broadcasting systems are   
    DC>> numbered.   
      
    DC>> It's actually a shame.   
      
    RY>> At some point Networks are going to realise that they can drop   
    RY>> the affilliate system entirely, and go to cable/satellite only,   
    RY>> not lose a lot of customers, and not have to share the revenues   
    RY>> with the local stations... The locals can fill the time slots   
    RY>> with syndicated programming, of course. It's only a matter of   
    RY>> time..   
      
    DC> What I'm thinking is of the loss of national news at the local level.   
    DC> Not everyone has cable.   
      
   More than most, I'm aware of that. presuming that happens, though the   
   seperation of local and national , I'm sure someone would step in and provide   
   packages. Which is really all the stations do now, they get packs from Network   
   and play them during the local news shows. As for National  News programming,   
   like we have now, that could be provided by syndicators.   
      
   Of course, there's nothing in the works like this, at the moment.   
      
   And, right now, Network is dependent on the local stations for HD coverage,   
   which is a good thing.   
      
   But it could happen, where network starts broadcasting on satellite only,   
   routed to cable and set-yop or dish networks, if the economics of things   
   demand it.   
      
   ---   
    * Origin: Ray's Rocket Shop - Out to Launch (1:3613/48)