Do Not Underestimate the Power of the Oprah

   A long, long time ago, not too far away.  There was once a time when television stations, radio networks, newspapers and magazines across the country weren't all owned by the same half-dozen media overlords that control 99% of all media today.  There was a time when TV station owners couldn't own every paper and broadcast channel in the area.  There was a time when businesses that were granted TV licenses had to allow airtime for people to talk about community relevant issues of the day.   After all, the airwaves belong to everyone.  Maybe as a boy you remember those editorials and rebuttals?  Maybe being annoyed about some guy talking about the rising cost of mass transit or the ethical use of eminent domain before your favorite show was about to come on?   Well not anymore, kids don't have to sit through any more worthless information and opinion pieces.  They can watch uninterrupted (unless you count the 10 minutes of commercials per half hour.)  But hey, if it pays, it plays.

               

           "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen."

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Well, things certainly have changed.  Over the decades, mass media has turned into a huge propaganda tool distributed by the ruling elite, packaged in a big bowl of bread and circus so it goes down nice and easy.  The Federal Communications Act of 1996 was only 12 years ago and by that time, things were already being controlled by a select few.    Remember Phil Donahue?   There actual was some rational discourse on that program.  But he was no match for the Oprah.  His shows about the pharmaceutical industry's methods and practices gave way to Oprah's diet tips.   His shows with Ralph Nader about unfair business practices have been replaced by Oprah's top picks for best bargains and his shows on mental health in this country have been replaced by Doctor Phil, big load extraordinaire.

With The Oprah establishing dominance by the early 90's, she was poised to take advantage of the changes in the media landscape.   Discourse on important issues was out while gossip, celebrity worship and slogans were in.   And with media consolidation, syndication was highly favored over local programming.  Synergy became the big thing and The Oprah was great for that.   

         

Most people are under the false assumption that what TV sells is on the commercials.  But that's just wrong.  The viewers are the product being sold.  Like a fisherman gets paid for the amount of fish he can bring in to the market, the TV broadcaster get paid by the amount of people they bring to the advertisers.  Well, the Oprah brought in an unprecedented amount of females who flocked to her as she presented a talk show that was upbeat, dramatic, confessional, personalized and void of substance. 

Now The Oprah is worth 2 Billion dollars + the 240 million she took in last year.   She has the loyal ear of millions and she is not bashful about promoting....anything whether it's a book or even a walking piece of shit like that Doctor Phil (I'm not even going to get into Phil now, this scumwad needs his own entry) and she is so influential and people are sooo stupid that Phil took in 95 million dollars last year.    This is the perfect media star, a living, breathing commercial.  She even promotes a book to her largely illiterate audience and it goes to #1 on the bestseller list.   She just mentions things she likes and sales go through the roof.  In a culture and system like ours where commerce is king, what could be more powerful? 

          

             "You will pay the price for your lack of vision!"