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Post by sewhite2000 on Jan 29, 2023 12:10:22 GMT
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Post by I Love Melvin on Jan 29, 2023 13:59:14 GMT
Hearing Alicia Malone speak on behalf of the hosts to say "Not on our watch" isn't all that reassuring, especially in light of all the people who have been let go. (R.I.P., Millie De Chirico.) It could be interpreted as a hostage situation where they're trying to save their skins; what power do they have over the ultimate fate of the channel? I'm also wary of the talking point which seems to be everywhere in these discussions, that TCM is "always on" in his office. The point that he's a seasoned player with lots of connections seems more relevant; that's the kind of person who recognizes sea changes when he sees them and who could fold if he felt the situation called for it. Also, if this is coming from Entertainment Weekly, their print operations bit the dust last year so I don't think they should be so inclined to take these protestations of stability so literally. I didn't stick around for reader comments because I always try to stay one step ahead of the cookies, but was there any kind of consensus?
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Post by yanceycravat on Jan 29, 2023 14:52:01 GMT
TCM is "always on" in his office. Call me cynical but it could be it's "always on" so he can figure out what to do with it!
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Post by sewhite2000 on Jan 29, 2023 16:37:18 GMT
Hearing Alicia Malone speak on behalf of the hosts to say "Not on our watch" isn't all that reassuring, especially in light of all the people who have been let go. (R.I.P., Millie De Chirico.) It could be interpreted as a hostage situation where they're trying to save their skins; what power do they have over the ultimate fate of the channel? I'm also wary of the talking point which seems to be everywhere in these discussions, that TCM is "always on" in his office. The point that he's a seasoned player with lots of connections seems more relevant; that's the kind of person who recognizes sea changes when he sees them and who could fold if he felt the situation called for it. Also, if this is coming from Entertainment Weekly, their print operations bit the dust last year so I don't think they should be so inclined to take these protestations of stability so literally. I didn't stick around for reader comments because I always try to stay one step ahead of the cookies, but was there any kind of consensus? My iimpression was the consensus is TCM is awesome, and Eddie Muller and Noir Alley are especially awesome. Also, people seem to like Ben Mankiewicz. I didn't see much discussion about whether TCM would survive or not. I've been using the Internet for 30 years, and I never had any idea there's a correlation between time spent on a website and the amount of cookie interference in your life. Just now is the first moment I ever heard of such a ooncept.
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Post by topbilled on Jan 29, 2023 17:07:03 GMT
TCM is "always on" in his office. Call me cynical but it could be it's "always on" so he can figure out what to do with it! There was something in one of these stories that said he pulled Jack Warner's desk out of storage. How does that exactly make him someone who will champion TCM?
You could get your hands on a piece of driftwood from the Titanic and keep it in your office, but the ship still went down and is no longer around.
Being a collector of memorabilia doesn't exactly mean you are an executive who favors classic films.
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Post by cineclassics on Jan 29, 2023 17:21:23 GMT
I agree Topbilled, but I think it's just circumstantial evidence they're offering up to try and reassure nervous fans that the ship isn't sinking, at least any time soon, that is.
Even if I disagree with the overall direction TCM has taken over the last couple of years, it is still an overall major asset to film preservation and for keeping classic cinema alive. As always, I wish Robert Osborne were alive, as his calm and welcoming demeanor would be a welcomed presence in today's day in age.
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Post by I Love Melvin on Jan 29, 2023 22:30:49 GMT
Call me cynical but it could be it's "always on" so he can figure out what to do with it! There was something in one of these stories that said he pulled Jack Warner's desk out of storage. How does that exactly make him someone who will champion TCM?
Right. And Jack Warner was a shark, not what we're hoping this guy will emulate. If he'd come up with Ted Turner's desk, I'd feel better.
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Post by gerald424 on Jan 31, 2023 1:56:18 GMT
Eventually they'll find a modern way to show the channel. The cable model is going away so they need something new. When they do that, I might be back.
They need a channel to sell the wine, film festivals and cruises. So it will be around.
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Post by cineclassics on May 5, 2023 11:46:41 GMT
Warner Bros. Discovery reports a net quarterly loss of $1.1 billion. WB Reports LossWhile this seems like awful news on the surface, the fact that they haven't made many changes to TCM (they had a few layoffs and cancelled TCM Underground), suggests that TCM is probably safe for the near future, assuming WB turns the ship and starts posting profits again. I do think the streaming option for TCM is inevitable, I just hope it coincides with the over-the-air programming/curation of the TCM channel. Otherwise, just having a library of films with no context is no different than any other video streaming service.
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Post by Fading Fast on May 5, 2023 12:45:46 GMT
Warner Bros. Discovery reports a net quarterly loss of $1.1 billion. WB Reports LossWhile this seems like awful news on the surface, the fact that they haven't made many changes to TCM (they had a few layoffs and cancelled TCM Underground), suggests that TCM is probably safe for the near future, assuming WB turns the ship and starts posting profits again. I do think the streaming option for TCM is inevitable, I just hope it coincides with the over-the-air programming/curation of the TCM channel. Otherwise, just having a library of films with no context is no different than any other video streaming service. I think these ⇧ are all smart observations. I have nothing against streaming services and use and, for the most part, enjoy three services today. But as you note, a streaming service is a (constantly changing) library, but to me anyway, they have no personality at all (away from their libraries). I feel absolutely no loyalty to Netflix, not out of meanness, but because there's nothing to be loyal to.
If a streaming service has titles worth the monthly fee, I'll pay it; otherwise, I won't. So away from the library, other than their graphics/page layout, I don't see anything that makes a streaming service distinctive, and the graphics/layouts are all pretty similar anyway.
TCM on air has a huge personality (that we all here pleasantly argue about, but it has one). I don't love all its movie selections, but I love having the station on in the background for its "feel." I also like the hosts (some more than others) and the extras (I used to like its graphics, but maybe that will change for the better at some point).
In addition to, as noted, having it on in the background a lot, I'll turn it on and watch for a bit - a movie, or a host segment or one of its fillers - because I like the station and will hang around to see what's next (yes, I know about the schedule, but the extras aren't on the schedule and sometimes you'll stay with a movie when you see the first five minutes even if the description didn't capture your attention). You can't feel that way about a streaming service.
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Post by kims on May 5, 2023 14:59:09 GMT
From WBD.com website on 5/5/23 re the earnings report: The Company will conduct a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. A link to the live webcast of the conference call will be available in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at ir.wbd.com/. A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call until May 13, 2023. The replay can be accessed by phone by dialing +1 800-770-2030 or +1 647-362-9199 using playback passcode 1493434. A replay of the audio webcast will also be available in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website for twelve months.
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Post by I Love Melvin on May 5, 2023 15:42:53 GMT
From WBD.com website on 5/5/23 re the earnings report: The Company will conduct a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. A link to the live webcast of the conference call will be available in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at ir.wbd.com/. A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call until May 13, 2023. The replay can be accessed by phone by dialing +1 800-770-2030 or +1 647-362-9199 using playback passcode 1493434. A replay of the audio webcast will also be available in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website for twelve months. Good legwork, kims. As well as the details, it would also be interesting to hear the "tone" of the discussion. Attitude says a lot.
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Post by kims on May 6, 2023 20:56:35 GMT
Thank-you. If they do eliminate TCM or package it differently as they have made MAX the new HBOMAX streaming service, I'll have to use all the influence of my 17 shares against them:)
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Post by sagebrush on May 9, 2023 22:15:36 GMT
Interesting fact: The TCM webpage for Imports is no longer on their website. There is a Silent Sundays, a Noir Alley, and a Musical Matinee, but no more Import listing. I hope this isn't a message of things to come...
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Post by cmovieviewer on May 10, 2023 5:08:22 GMT
I wouldn’t read too much into the lack of a TCM Imports page on the TCM web site.
As far as I know, TCM has never had a regularly updated web page for TCM Imports, and in general is very limited on what they provide on TCM.com. Along side the Wine Club, Classic Cruise, and Film Festival ads, it is difficult to find consistent programming content there.
TCM has been showing TCM Imports in one form or another for over 20 years, and they seem to have a partnership with the Criterion Channel for acquiring international titles (among other sources), so I don’t see it going away anytime soon.
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