but WHO IS PLACING all this big money?? That is left out of the article. What happened to the 7 W'S???

The internet has tons of pro-eating disorders not just social media and it isn't going away the sad thing is those who seek it out will find it no matter what can't put that back into the tube. Just like porn as well online. 

I was just a kid when Phil Donahue was on my grandma would have him on when I was at my grandparent's house or WOTV which is now Wood TV for the local news. I didn't watch his talker all that much Phil did make you think I didn't ever agree with a lot of his views when I saw him on Fox News or the morning shows. Phil Donahue was on WWMT forever at 5PM I think they moved him to morning at 9AM in the fall of 92 when they finally put the news on at 5PM. R.I.P Phil Donahue.

The news reports also said that the event was held in tandem with the entertainment industry.

Ed, well said, but let us not forget Dick Cavett and Larry King in the discussion about intelligent talk shows.

Yes - they all lie.  In a country where everything is so personalized - avatars and pick your color iPhones and customize almost anything you can think of - while the majority of the country identifies as independent, we are given two lousy choices every 4 years the diehard fringes vocally lashing out that their side is somehow better.

The majority of people in the house and senate have been sitting in those seats for 40+ years - they created all the problems and now claim they can fix them while pointing fingers at the other side.

I will say that this DNC feels incredibly odd.  The speakers are presenting America as currently being in a very dark place and that Harris will lead us to the light....while conveniently ignorning that their party has been running the country for the past 3.5 years and she's been in a position to change current conditions...or is it because she co-piloted into this dark place they speak of?

Doesn't make much sense.

Save your money for a home. Stop spending it on things you don't need. You want that home of your own don't you?

Adam, I agree that Phil made a major contribution to TV talk shows but I'm  surprised that you didn't credit the other pioneers---for example  Group W's Mike Douglas amd Merv Griffin Shows ---both syndication stalwarts and competitors of Donahue. Also on the list, would be Dinah Shore's syndicated talker as well as one by David Frost. They all emphasized respectable discussions ---not the absurd and ofte disgusting antics of Jerry Springer's show which was so offensive that the president of the companty that put out the show---Barry Diller--- was embarrassed to be associated with it.

Wayne, a correction re "legacy media companies". Our estimates of upfront  ad revenues for streaming include services like ROKU, Netflix and Amazon, not just the traditional TV network/cable players' streaming services.

The problem with offering consumers "skinnier" packages---meaning that consumers can largely pick only those services or channels that they want----is that most consumers will select only 5, 10 or, maybe 20 ---not the far larger numbers now included in many bundles.To make that work  the subscription prices for individual selections will have to rise tremendously and many channels will not survive long at such high prices as their audience  and  ad revenue bases will be severely  reduced. Obviously, as the great shakeout of lesser cable channels---to be followed by their streaming counterparts-----unfolds, bundling of some magnitude will still be needed to create the essential business plan efficiencies that most program content supplier require .

The sad thing is Fentanyl is here to stay since there is demand for it, the only thing is you can get a distributor and take them down but there are 10 or thousands of them.   

I haven't watched any of the pep rallies since that is all it is with these conventions and I'd rather watch paint dry. Joe was forced out as he was pushed out and the backstabbing by Nancy, Barack Obama, and the DNC machine. They'll do anything to win if it means backstabbing to do it they'll do it just to win. And the DNC shouldn't have pushed Joe Biden's speech out of primetime that was just wrong in my opinion and I don't buy their excuse on why.

Politicians make all these promises and they never get it done on either side and seems like they don't want to comprise either my way or the highway and party over the country, It is the 2 evils with Kamala & Donald and I'm not voting for either I'm voting 3RD party once again like in 2020, and I wish I did it in 2016 and voted for Gary Johnson for president in 2016.    

Reality TV is here to stay and isn't dead American Idol, The Challenge, Big Brother, Survivor will outlive us all LOL. I enjoyed The Quiz With Balls interesting take on a quiz show just like The 1% Club as well.

I agree Ed reality TV isn't dead I have been watching The Challenge since day 1 in 98 and season 40 just started last week only ones I haven't seen are the All-Star seasons as I don't have Paramount+. Wheel, Jeopardy, Family Feud, etc still do quite well in syndication ratings all in the top 5 in the ratings.

It's The Way Back Machine meets Apple's Time Machine but with continuous inputs and you can search it with AI. Phew. Marketers with forethought ought to be predicting what inouts are next. 

@Dan Ciccone: By all means, I hope you do.

Cory, reality TV is far from dead. Most reality shows are shown by cable channels and in syndication---not only in prime time on the broadcast TV networks. And many are run at all hours of the day, not just prime time. Also, most reality shows are all about their personalities and their long running situations---which is why they hook their audiences and induce repeat viewing. Game shows are also still chugging along---not in prime but in other time periods. In both cases the main appeal of these formats ---to the networks or cable channels and stations ---is their relatively low cost. I doubt that "creator" content will soon replace professionally produced "reality fare" any time soon---at least not on national TV.

"When they go low, we go high."

       - Michlle Obama

Yes, we are all entitled to change our position.

Sad to watch this continuing demise of so many great publications.

Bravo J.W.!! Keep a running list to remind brands that these petty fees are consumer irritants and there will be a tipping point. What's next...25-cents for napkins at QSRs?

@Dan Ciccone: This is a personal opinion column titled "Red, White & Blog: Truth, Mud & The American Media." It's supposed to be subjective.

I write and edit plenty of MediaPost' straight news coverage that strives to be objective

They are two different things.

That said, I subjectively disagree with your assessment of American media coverage of the elections. If anything, I think most media outlets have given Trump a free pass and would go ballistic if any normal candidate did, said or dog whistled what Trump has done 

I mean just look at how the White House press corps has treated Biden pressers vs. Trump's. There's no comparison.

But you're entitled to your opinion and welcome to post comments on anything we publish.

It's still a free country.

@Joe - you clearly have zero objectivity when it comes to the media and how it's covering this election. The overt left leanings of the stories, the staff, the commentary -one cannot read MP any longer trying to gauge the real state of media in the U.S. and feel like we are getting objective reporting.  

I hash on you because you are editor in chief and should hold yourself to a higher standard of objectivity. 

That ship sailed a long time ago. 

@Dan Ciccone: You should read up on the history of primaries in the U.S. For most of our democracy, they were not even a factor in presidential party nominations.

That said, primary voters voted for a ticket (Biden/Harris), Biden stepped down and endorsed Harris, as did a majority of party delegates. The delegates will cast their votes during the convention, as they always have since we began electing presidents.

Any other talking points?

Now if you really want to kvetch about democracy, let's dig into the Electoral College.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_election