Which Came First, Network Ratings Drop or Cord Cutting?

Today’s adventure in “correlation vs. causation.” Sigh:

As Cord Cutting Grows Network Ratings Continue to Drop
by Luke Bouma

As cord cutting opens Americans up to new content they can’t get with cable TV, it is no surprise that TV ratings are continuing to drop. BTIG, a research group focused on topics like TV, has reported that network ratings are down on average 18% in 2019 compared to 2018. The biggest drop is ABC, which is seeing its viewing down 22% in the ever important 18-49 demographic. read article

Native American TV Writers Lab Selects 2019 Participants

Congrats to the new Fellows – John Timothy, Shelley Dennis, William Paul Smith, Cara Jade Myers, Micah Ian War Dog Wright, Carolina Hoyos,  Robert Vestal!

by Bruce Haring

The LA Skins Fest, a Native American film festival, has selected the fellows for its Native American TV Writers Lab. read article

Google Decides Not to Go Up Against the Big Bad Boys of Streaming

A tragic tale as YouTube (owned by Google) “bows out of Hollywood Arms Race with Netflix and Amazon.

Wusses!

by Lucas Shaw

YouTube has canceled plans for high-end dramas and comedies, people with knowledge of the matter said, a pullback from its grand ambitions for a paid service with Hollywood-quality shows. read article

Cartoon: ‘Stoicism’

Our fave philosopher-cartoonist, Grant Snider, applies himself to another issue that we figure has been debated since the beginning human civilization, if not even earlier.We aren’t exactly sure where the concept of ambition fits into this way of looking at life. Maybe the wind will take us to one?

The Shape of Ideas Sketchbook by Grant Snider features new illustrations, comics on drawing and creativity, and many blank pages for your own ideas, doodles, and observations. Order it from Abrams or wherever you get your books. read article

Larry Brody: Live! From Paradise! #40 – “I’ve Become My Father”

THE USUAL NOTE FROM LB: From the summer of 2002 to  the spring of 2010, Gwen the Beautiful and I were the proud and often exhausted owners of a beautiful Ozarks property we called Cloud Creek Ranch.

In many ways, the ranch was paradise. But it was a paradise with a price that started going up before we even knew it existed. Here’s another Monday musing about our adventure and the lessons we learned.

Oh, and if y’all detect any irony, please believe me when I say it comes straight from the universe and not your kindly Uncle Larry B. read article