If MSM newscasts are for profit - how do they make money if nobody watches?

[devilgrrl]

Randi was just discussing how the news being cancelled the past 6 years because the media conglomerates want to make money off of it. My opinion is that the MSM news has gotten so bad that NOBODY watches it anymore. So how are they making money off of it?

Just thought I'd ask. :shrug:

[greymattermom]

1. reality tv

It's all reality tv now. News=America's next top model.

[jpgray]

2. If you do no research or investigation, your costs are very low. Thus you don't need many viewers

Cable news is notorious for this--put up a hand-holder, invite some experts, and bullshit for half an hour about nothing in particular.

[rinsd]

3. Plenty of people watch MSM news.

Shit you'll find some of the biggest news channel junkies right here on DU top say nothing of the masses that get their primary news from MSM.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Not nearly as many as used to. But it's still a pretty good demographic [wealthy]...

even if they are older.

[rinsd]

11. I would certainly agree that the demographic skews older. (nt)

[rock]

4. Management doesn't make decisions on what makes

the most profit. They make decisions on what they think makes the most profit. (In general, they're not too awfully bright.)

[depakid]

5. Use a bogus rating system

and charge advertisers based on its reported viewership.

[mrcheerful]

6. Because people buy the products that the ads on the program tells them to buy

there is no sure way to know if ads work or not, but its a win win for the MSM money wise. They used to know if it worked or not by product sells, but in todays world of ad kids, it's changed, people who grew up after the 80's tend to want anything new with a brand name on it. It's conditioning at it's best.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. It wouldn't. But people are still watching

[NashVegas]

8. They Are Traditionally Considered "Loss Leaders"

The parent company accepts that a serious news broadcasting operation is going to lose money, so they look elsewhere for the profits. I believe this was touched on in Good Night and Good Luck.

While no one you know may be watching MSM news anymore, plenty still are.

[Captain Hilts]

9. Fewer people are watching. That's why foreign reporting has gone down and they just...

buy stuff from the BBC or ITN.

[Bitwit1234]

12. I got an email from the Washington Post for a survey about newspapers

They wanted to know Did I buy or read the printed newspapers. Heck no.And then they wanted to know where I got my news...INTERNET.

It also went to politics. And you could give your own opinion. I said if the newspapers and TV would print the news instead of republican talking points people might start to buy them again.

I said that you couldn't believe ANYTHING you read in one of their newspapers. And if it was online in one of the more main line sites I wouldn't believe it.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

13. Why,...corporate sponsors, of course, via 'commercials'. Besides,...

,...the average American is watching about 4 hours of tee vee each day.

[devilgrrl]

15. Four hours of TV doesn't mean people are watching the news...

nor does it mean that people are buying products of the sponsors either.

[Crunchy Frog]

14. The corporate interests that they propagandize for. n/t

[EFerrari]

16. And isn't that the best question of the week.

:)