Do You Want To Change The Future Of Television?
POSTED BY: NewsAdmin
UPDATED: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 07:59
VIEWED: 8546
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I am mostly posting to keep this up a while longer. Have you ALL signed on? Have you passed this around to your twenty closest friends? Remind them that this isn't just for Firefly or Farscape but any show you ever loved that was cancelled (in spirit anyway).
By the way, is this Jeremy-the-DVD-Guy's venture or someone else's?
Also, I'd pay $10 per episode and suggest you increase your choice of dollar amounts beyond $5! Then we'd only need half as many people ;-)
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Okay...neat idea, but here are my reservations:
1) Most importantly, there's no actual address for these guys. Typically, if there is no mailing address you can bet it's a scam. Their only links are to fan "save my show" sites and not to any of the official sites for the shows/networks running things. If they were really all that benevolent, I'd expect more forthrightness as to who they really are. All their e-mail links only open to domain-named e-mails. Not particularly winning me over as authentic. It sounds like a couple of guys that have worked out a way to get people's e-mails and private info in order to get more via the web again. Why am I so suspicious?
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Are donations tax-deductible?
Not yet. The approval process for status as a charitable organization can take 4-6 months, which is time that we don't think we have right now. Donations, therefore, are not tax-deductible - but they are good karma.
I bet they are "good karma" particularly since there's no way to tell where the donation is really being sent.
Not only that, folks, but the name on the Amazon Paypage is someone named Jim Magdych, of whom a quick google search will tell you is Security Research Manager at something called Network Associates, Inc. His name is pretty wide spread on many net articles as a "net snoop" hunting down hackers and virus inducing weasles like the blokes who crashed all those MS Servers in Asia last week. Here's a sample of what this guys apparently does and works to prevent:
http://www.crmdaily.com/perl/story/7086.html
2) The cost of DVD replication is nominal. It's the cost of making the master that is rather high, but one thing is not addressed: The cost of production. Who or what covers that? Presumably it's the "sponsor" or the "consumer" by the flow charts, and yes, if a million people were in the system outlined then each would merely need to pay $2 per episode for a show like Firefly. My reservations lie in that there is an up-front cost of producing shows and investors handle that, right? So who exactly is investing in shows with no guaranteed audience? The "sponsor"? Of course not. The only link in the chain that can possibly get the cost deffered to them is the consumer and that's you and me.
The shere magnitude of money handling seems unwieldy for a couple of guys and a start up company and the cost defferal for inception and pre-production is not accounted for in either plan. It simply states that "If you think it sucks that Show X got canceled, boy do we have a deal for you." and then you can:
(A) register...but for what exactly and with whom? OR
(B) Donate money...but for what exactly and to whom? And you don't even get a reciept...
3) Time shifting...well, summed up I see two money arrows going from "consumer" to TVNext/Sponsor, and that's assuming that a partnership exists.
4) Looking at the source code for the Home Page of TV Next results in two names, "Magdych" and "Stjernstrom", of which the first, evidently is Jim Magdytch and since the e-mail account for the second guy is "magnus@" I searched Google for Magnus Stjernstrom and guess what: Product marketing manager at Network Associates.
Network Associates is this company:
http://www.nai.com/
What do you think they do?
Stop guys posing as NAI execs from pillaging adressee info to invade servers and pirate further info or release viruses.
Yes, Network Asscociates is the distrivutor for MacAfree and Sniffer anti-virus software.
I say, sign up at your own risk. That, and check out my quote...
Mal: ?The next time you decide to stab me in the back, have the guts to do it to my face.?
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*sigh*
I'm sorry that you felt the need to make a comment about our personal lives in a public forum without first attempting to contact us, but we're certainly not trying to hide anything... we wouldn't have used our real names on the site if we were. We're happy to answer questions - you just have to ask.
Comments:
> 1) Most importantly, there's no actual address for these guys.
> Typically, if there is no mailing address you can bet it's a scam.
No scam... We're just tired of seeing good shows get cancelled. We saw a chance to make a difference, and we're trying. That's it.
> Their only links are to fan "save my show" sites and not to any of
> the official sites for the shows/networks running things. If they
> were really all that benevolent, I'd expect more forthrightness as to
> who they really are. All their e-mail links only open to domain-named
> e-mails. Not particularly winning me over as authentic. It sounds
> like a couple of guys that have worked out a way to get people's e-
> mails and private info in order to get more via the web again. Why am
> I so suspicious?
Efforts to deal directly with the networks seem to have failed. If you would like us to add those links, though, we're happy to do so. As far as the site is concerned, we're just fans trying to keep our favorite shows alive. We've spent our own money registering and hosting the site, and our own time putting it together. Donations are welcome, but registration is absolutely free.
> * SNIP *
>
> Not only that, folks, but the name on the Amazon Paypage is someone
> named Jim Magdych, of whom a quick google search will tell you is
> Security Research Manager at something called Network Associates,
> Inc. His name is pretty wide spread on many net articles as a "net
> snoop" hunting down hackers and virus inducing weasles like the
> blokes who crashed all those MS Servers in Asia last week. Here's a
> sample of what this guys apparently does and works to prevent:
I no longer work there, but that's where I met Magnus. We still spend time chatting about the TV shows that we both enjoy, and it was during one of these conversations that we tried to come up with a way to keep Firefly flying.
> 2) The cost of DVD replication is nominal.
Nominal when you're making one. Not nominal when you're making and shipping a million copies. Compared to those costs, in fact, mastering a disc is a negligible expense.
> It's the cost of making the master that is rather high, but one thing
> is not addressed: The cost of production. Who or what covers that?
> Presumably it's the "sponsor" or the "consumer" by the flow charts,
> and yes, if a million people were in the system outlined then each
> would merely need to pay $2 per episode for a show like Firefly. My
> reservations lie in that there is an up-front cost of producing shows
> and investors handle that, right? So who exactly is investing in
> shows with no guaranteed audience? The "sponsor"? Of course not. The
> only link in the chain that can possibly get the cost deffered to
> them is the consumer and that's you and me.
You're absolutely right. The whole point of this project is to determine if there are enough fans who would pay to directly subsidize most or all of the production and distribution costs. We hope so. We don't know for certain either way. Unless we try, though, these shows will be cancelled by default.
> The shere magnitude of money handling seems unwieldy for a couple of
> guys and a start up company and the cost defferal for inception and
> pre-production is not accounted for in either plan.
First, we're talking about shows that are already in production and have more or less fixed production costs. Second, WE'RE NOT COLLECTING ANY MONEY. Not until we have enough people to make a difference. If we reach that point, or seem to be getting close, then of course we will invest in the infrastructure necessary to collect and disburse the funds.
> It simply states that "If you
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Jim,
Not to completely hijack the show, but you really didn't adress my concerns and I'll let my comments stand and let the folks here decide. I appreciate your response but it just still doesn't seem like anything but a database of people's adresses that is being collected for a purpose that, as yet, does not exist. Your last names are not anywhere on the site except in the source, and that concerns me. As someone trying to start a company, I understand the fine line between a public operational efficiency and maintaining one's anonymity, but It seems like being more forthright would be the better idea. Put your personal emails up or a derivision of them but at least put a bio that can be verified, otherwise skeptics like myself will do precisely the same thing I did, but not take the time to voice thier concerns and, if it's legitimate, you lose anyway.
Of course, if you two did work for NAI then one of the most recent thing you looked into was server fraud and tampering where databases are used in info-theft. Lot's of that on the web. I just thought it was odd that someone with your background would maintain a simple database of people with no means for them to verify your intentions, information or even existance. Perhaps I'm naive or paranoid, but if you are who you say you are, you can see my point I'm sure.
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You don't even have to look at the source - it's right there on the bottom of every page. As I said, we used to work together. Shouldn't you be glad that we actually exist? :-)
You dont actually exist and for that matter, neither do I. All you are is a single post here and an e-mail adress there, as am I. That's the beauty of the internet. But where someone trying to start a company is concerned, some of that anonymity should be expected to be sacrificed.
Besides, I'm not really sure, but I can almost guarantee that Blockbuster video's existance proves that people are willing to follow the basics of your plan. Signature would suffice to determine intrest in your scheme, but personal info isn't necessary at all to start a company. To claim that only reinforces my concerns and suspicions.
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Who do you work for? And does it matter, as long as you're a fan?
I'm a grapic designer and a sci-fi fan. Who I work for isn't important and the reason is that I'm not obtaining private information about people for "plan to be named later" with no means of verification of myself, my collegues or my company. It's just good business practice to say who you are, where you are and then hit people with the mission statement.
Now, you may be 100% on the up-and-up, but I wouldn't be a sci-fi fan if I didn't point out the inconsistancies I believe exist in your site and your claims. I feel a responsibility to the shows I'm a fan of and to the people on this site to speak my mind because of the potential for it to be exponetially more damaging than helpful should it be a scam.
Good luck to you,
Cliff
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Cliff -
I'm curious as to whether or not you've read the privacy policy or the registration guidelines. The only information we require is a name and address. Just like a petition.
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I appreciate your response but it just still doesn't seem like anything but a database of people's adresses that is being collected for a purpose that, as yet, does not exist.
The purpose most definitely exists - to save Firefly. We want to find out if there are enough fans who support the idea of paying for content to make a real pitch to the studios and networks. I can't make it any plainer than that.
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Your last names are not anywhere on the site except in the source, and that concerns me.
They're all over. See the bottom of every page? There they are. If you click on the donation links, they're there, too.
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As someone trying to start a company, I understand the fine line between a public operational efficiency and maintaining one's anonymity, but It seems like being more forthright would be the better idea. Put your personal emails up or a derivision of them but at least put a bio that can be verified, otherwise skeptics like myself will do precisely the same thing I did, but not take the time to voice thier concerns and, if it's legitimate, you lose anyway.
As of right now this is a purely volunteer effort designed to raise awareness and gauge public response. Would including an anonymous Hotmail address make you more comfortable than a legitimately registered domain name address? I can't imagine why.
Think of this like taking a survey - a bio is completely irrelevant to the process. If enough people sign up, and we start conducting financial transactions with fans and studios, suddenly your request becomes reasonable.
Quote:
Of course, if you two did work for NAI then one of the most recent thing you looked into was server fraud and tampering where databases are used in info-theft. Lot's of that on the web. I just thought it was odd that someone with your background would maintain a simple database of people with no means for them to verify your intentions, information or even existance. Perhaps I'm naive or paranoid, but if you are who you say you are, you can see my point I'm sure.
If people have concerns, they ask. If they don't like the response, they don't sign up.
Quote:
You dont actually exist and for that matter, neither do I. All you are is a single post here and an e-mail adress there, as am I. That's the beauty of the internet. But where someone trying to start a company is concerned, some of that anonymity should be expected to be sacrificed.
As of right now, TV-Next is essentialy a petition. It's an idea that we think has merit, and one that we're willing to spend time developing. We're not asking for anonymity - just a signature.
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Besides, I'm not really sure, but I can almost guarantee that Blockbuster video's existance proves that people are willing to follow the basics of your plan. Signature would suffice to determine intrest in your scheme, but personal info isn't necessary at all to start a company. To claim that only reinforces my concerns and suspicions.
Once more, all we ask for is a signature. The rest is information that can help us fine-tune our proposal. As we say on the site, if you don't want to tell us - don't.
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I'm a grapic designer and a sci-fi fan. Who I work for isn't important and the reason is that I'm not obtaining private information about people for "plan to be named later" with no means of verification of myself, my collegues or my company. It's just good business practice to say who you are, where you are and then hit people with the mission statement.
Yet again, we require nothing in the way of private information. TV-Next offers several possible solutions, and our hope is that the fans who express an interest in it will help us to create something that best suits their needs and desires.
[qu
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I took a look at the website and must say that I was intrigued. I am looking into it, but I must admit that the concept is a very sound one.
"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."
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Read this about how TiVo gathered info on
live viewer responses off from their TiVo
boxes... Most Paused, Most Rewound during
the Oscars....
http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=37446
could this be the future of polling?
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