Is this advertising? - NASA to offer website sponsorships

BWhite · 2005-04-26 11:46:07

Congress says, NASA & VSE media feeds (can you say streaming virtual reality) are available to ANY network that pays a pro rata share of X billion dollars.

No pay, no programming.

If FOX says "Yes" and CNN says "No" then Bill O'Reilly becomes totally insufferable on this issue.

Once a few networks come on board, they have "sunk costs" they need to recover and we have created a dollar auction where each network has prestige at stake if they fail to garner the highest ratings.

Voila!

The VSE is marketed to the American people and revenue flows into the Treasury rather than out of the Treasury.

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Offer the rights for $4 billion IF only one network signs up. $5.5 if two, $7 if three and $10 if five networks - - FOX CNN NBC ABC CBS.

No one can risk letting a competitor get exclusive rights for $4 billion so they all bid.

Edited By BWhite on 1114537720

clark · 2005-04-26 11:55:39

:laugh:

You're a yankee who figured out how to sell his own rights!

A government agency working for the public trust, who denies access to their actions on the basis of funding is a violation of the freedom of information act, and is probably violating the first amendment in some arcane way.

BWhite · 2005-04-26 12:13:14

:laugh:
You're a yankee who figured out how to sell his own rights!
A government agency working for the public trust, who denies access to their actions on the basis of funding is a violation of the freedom of information act, and is probably violating the first amendment in some arcane way.

Should we permit logging of federal forests without charging a fee? Drilling for oil in protected federal lands without the Treasury being compensated? Those media rights are VALUEABLE and you want to give them away for free?

Press releases (text only); limited still photos; progress reports etc. . . are all released in real time in a format that is not easily commerically exploited.

Some geekazoid reads the mission updates in a drone-like voice. Okay that is free public domain, in real time.

First Amendment solved.

= = =

The current majors unite and boycott? After all, this is a Prisoner's Dilemma variant we are playing.

Some billionaire space enthusiast forms a new network and buys the rights. One defects, they all must defect.

= = =

Also, Congress can enact this with total transparency.

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Legal challenges? The networks would get clobbered in the court of public opinion. CBS wants the taxpayers to pay NASA more so they don't have to?

Edited By BWhite on 1114539520

clark · 2005-04-26 12:21:35

Those media rights are VALUEABLE and you want to give them away for free?

You're equating two very different things here: one is public resources utilized for the benefit and profit of individuals or groups, there is a legitimate and just reason for requiring compensation for the public resources.

Yet you are suggesting that the actions of a public agency can be sold for the benefit of who? The very actions the public agency undertakes is for the public in which it serves, yet you would have that agency limit access to the work done for the benefit of the public with the rationale that it is for the publics benefit?

I understand the motivation, but dosen't this all strike you as a bit absurd? The EPA selling media rights to their reports? The President selling media rights for interviews or QA reports? Afterall, these things are valuable, we have a deficit to pay off.

Edit: As for public opinion- wouldn't that be reported on by the same media conglomerates? Wouldn't the same media conglomerates be able to give air-time to those politicans and man-on-the-street interviews that supported their position?

Freedom of the presses, not the press. :;):

BWhite · 2005-04-26 13:00:23

Yet you are suggesting that the actions of a public agency can be sold for the benefit of who? The very actions the public agency undertakes is for the public in which it serves, yet you would have that agency limit access to the work done for the benefit of the public with the rationale that it is for the publics benefit?

Who benefits?

The taxpayers since NASA can now do more with less tax money.

Give away the media rights and the major networks earn their advertising dollars by "free riding" on the federal expenditures.

Edited By BWhite on 1114542073

clark · 2005-04-26 13:14:23

Who benefits?
The taxpayers since NASA can now do more with less tax money.
Give away the media rights and the major networks earn their advertising dollars by "free riding" on the federal expenditures.

Yet the federal expenditures would be taking place regardless of the free riding by the major networks. In fact, networks are fufilling their public service commitment (part of their charter with the public) to cover national events and report on the people, places, and times that affect the nation.

What you are suggesting is to fundamentaly change the relationship between public media and the relationship it has between the public and the government. I applaude the underlying desire, but I find the cost too great.

Let's take this a step further- the media groups buy their ownership- or even ONE person buys it. Fine, that group or groups are given media rights and redistribution control. So they start charging pay-per view for Moon Landing and NASA updates.

Is the public better served now? The public would foot most of the bill for a return to the Moon, which they can only see if they pay more money , all so the media groups can recoup their costs for paying to show the public the Moon return.

Does that strike you as fair or sound public policy?

Now, we can go further- we would now have government actions being determined for media content. How exactly do we maintain a fair and balanced reporting since the interests of the government and the media groups become so intertwined? Dosen't this system encourage a bias to report and spin on space exploration in a positive manner, which in essence is a violation of the public trust and anthema to an infomred electorate that depends on a free press to make decisons?

BWhite · 2005-04-26 17:03:53

The Aldridge Commission wrote this:

"The entire nation, indeed the world, will be watching as we explore new frontiers and answer profound questions on our journey into space. In fact, public participation is critical to sustaining the space exploration vision. [T]he Commission believes a new model is needed to expand the role of space exploration in our culture. Robust marketing, advertising, and recruitment campaigns that attract and hold the attention of the American public should be created and implemented."

Okay, how do we do that?

Do we spend tax dollars to buy TV ads?

Check out this http://spacepragmatism.blogspot.com/200 … .html]link:

During the 21st National Space Symposium, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson asked Deputy Rear Admiral Craig Steidle, USN, NASA Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems why NASA wasn't in prime time. A video, designed to sum up the Vision for Exploration in 30 seconds, was shown during the panel on said Vision. It was a good video. So again we ask, why isn't it being shown during American Idol?

If its going to be the same old same old NASA, why bother?

= = =

I believe http://www.thespacereview.com/article/272/1]Taylor Dinerman is darn close to spot on with this essay. (Me? I'd change the tone somewhat since hip-hop may not be the best example yet popular culture in general is not conducive to buildign support for space exploration.)

Unless we give space exploration some firepower to survive in the modern media maelstrom, a few space geeks will care about the VSE and every one else will be worried about Brittany Spears' pregnancy.

The US has an urgent need to begin educating thousands of new men and women to replace the superbly-trained people who joined the industry, inspired by Sputnik and the challenge of Apollo to become part of the great adventure.
In the face of this need, there is a counterforce so powerful and so insidious that most commission members and industry leaders prefer to ignore it. Popular culture, in sports and entertainment, is a business that is roughly as big as the aerospace industry. It exerts massive levels of negative energy, especially on young people, which overwhelms the minuscule attempts by the aerospace and high-tech industries to get kids to do the hard work to prepare themselves to become true experts in the STEM area.

Edited By BWhite on 1114557750

BWhite · 2005-04-26 17:06:01

we would now have government actions being determined for media content

How is this different that asking Gallup pollsters what to do?

Think of this media idea as a giant barometer of public opinion. =IF= we cannot raise $10 billion or $12 billion this way maybe NASA's return to the Moon lacks a broad base of public support.

If so, why are we doing it? - - Return to the Moon that is.

= = = =

Let's take this a step further- the media groups buy their ownership- or even ONE person buys it. Fine, that group or groups are given media rights and redistribution control. So they start charging pay-per view for Moon Landing and NASA updates.

If this happened it meant Congress and the space advocacy community played their hand poorly. And it could only happen if 80% of the media executives concluded the public didn't give a bleep about space exploration.

= = =

In fact, networks are fufilling their public service commitment (part of their charter with the public) to cover national events and report on the people, places, and times that affect the nation.

This is precisely the "problem" the Aldridge Commission recognizes. Public service media is "boring" - - think high school health class. Its boring because the best media talent cannot make money at doing it.

If its boring, folks will tune it out.

How do we push space exploration though the media maelstrom we all live in and make it part of the culture?

= = =

Dosen't this system encourage a bias to report and spin on space exploration in a positive manner, which in essence is a violation of the public trust and anthema to an infomred electorate that depends on a free press to make decisons?

Methinks this horse has long fled the barn. Today, our leaders make TV ads with actors who pretend to be news people. That genie has already escaped. What about US tax dollars being spent for promoting social security reform?

With my plan, we are being (1) candid and honest about what we are doing; and (2) doing it for a noble purpose.

Going back to Taylor Dinerman. Why do we do this? In part to encourage kids to study math and science. With seriousness and diligence. Is that an improper purpose?

= = =

If Congress and NASA decline this idea, why couldn't some space enthused billionaire give Roskosmos a call? Maybe that is a "novel" idea.

Edited By BWhite on 1114601385

SpaceNut · 2005-04-27 05:38:05

As you noted; much was said in the Aldridge Commission but without a means to make change or to follow though with the reports stated areas in need of change within Nasa. This must either be passed by law or come from a directive of the president.

BWhite · 2005-04-27 05:43:20

As you noted; much was said in the Aldridge Commission but without a means to make change or to follow though with the reports stated areas in need of change within Nasa. This must either be passed by law or come from a directive of the president.

Exactly. Congress is the actor here, not NASA. Congress tells NASA "why" it exists and how its supposed to do its job.

As citizens we have the inalienable right to tell Congress what we think they should do.

Edited By BWhite on 1114602252

SpaceNut · 2005-04-27 11:26:42

Well not actually advertising but it is about space awaredness.

KB Home Initiates National Promotion to Support Launch of NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery

one of the nation's premier homebuilders, announced today that, as NASA prepares to return to flight this May with the space shuttle Discovery, the company has launched a national promotion in support of America's space shuttle program. Discovery is scheduled to launch between May 22 and June 3, 2005, from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
From May 9 through June 12, the public is invited to visit one of KB Home's 483 communities nationwide and receive a free commemorative "Discovery 2005" glow-in-the-dark wristband. Visitors to the communities may also enter to win one of three space-themed prizes:

Yes there are also prizes to be won for participating.

As Kieth cowling put it:

It is interesting - and refreshing - to see a company with no obvious stake in NASA embark upon a program to raise the public's awareness of space exploration - and to do so on their own dime

We need more of this...

BWhite · 2005-04-27 12:21:27

Yup!

This was the link I posted yesterday at 14:33.

Popular culture is shaped by billion dollar behemoths. A few space nuts (no offense, dude) saying space is cool is like a candle in a maelstrom.

SpaceNut · 2005-04-27 12:46:27

Actually SpaceNut was sort of the way My wife's views for Nasa and all of space stuff that I surf and read daily. She is one that can not see how it impacts us each day.

Space exploration can do alot for us but cost must be maintained to a much lower level without sacrificing the science that can be gained from doing the research there.

Unfortunately I do not live near this stores sales regions here in New Hampshire.

John Creighton · 2005-04-27 15:40:03

My only comment is if the media rights are sold I really hope the guy one fear factor doesn’t present the footage. I really have that show. I can just picture him now, challenging the astronauts to some exercise competition aboard the space shuttle. Come on, you can do it come on. It would make me change the channel.

BWhite · 2005-04-27 16:20:23

My only comment is if the media rights are sold I really hope the guy one fear factor doesn’t present the footage. I really have that show. I can just picture him now, challenging the astronauts to some exercise competition aboard the space shuttle. Come on, you can do it come on. It would make me change the channel.

Actually my idea is that NASA offer the video feed pretty much "as is" - - take it or leave it.

Edited By BWhite on 1114640466

BWhite · 2005-05-03 12:57:13

My current abstract for my ISDC paper on this subject.

ABSTRACT:
The Aldridge Commission has called for vigorous efforts to infuse space exploration into our day-to-day culture. Yet for better or worse, American popular culture is subject to considerable influence from the marketing campaigns of multi-billion dollar media behemoths. These purveyors of popular culture are jealous about consumers attention since commercial success or failure often rests upon whatever a fickle popular culture defines as "cool." Therefore, unless these media and marketing giants are cajoled, enticed or coerced into supporting space exploration, those same entities will undermine public support for space exploration through their well funded efforts to direct public attention towards those topics and subjects that are amenable to commercial exploitation. If space exploration is to become intertwined with our day-to-day culture, this reality must be accomodated and perhaps exploited. The paper proposes one media strategy designed to harness the profit seeking motivations of America's television networks and direct those motivations towards enhancing the visibility and stature of space exploration within our society.

Based on my personal standing policy, any New Mars registered user who finds me at ISDC and says "Hi!" will be entitled to a basic draft beer (or equal) at my expense.

The downside? You have to listen to my ranting, at least until your beer is finished. :;):

= = =

clark? I owe him drinks from before. . .

Edited By BWhite on 1115146668

clark · 2005-05-03 18:09:08

If it were later in the summer, I would go. Can't make May.

These purveyors of popular culture are jealous about consumers attention since commercial success or failure often rests upon whatever a fickle popular culture defines as "cool."

Assumption: Media can generate "cool" factor within a fickle popular culture?

What evidence can you sight that demonstrates media is capable of sustaining a long-term media campagain that will engender the neccessary support for a viable human space exploration program?

Then there is an old saying in "show biz", "the show must go on".

Given the already exsisting pressures and risk inherent in the space program, is it wise (or even neccessary) to compound the pressure by creating a greater monetary incentive to perform on a media derived schedule?

Media has to plan. Media needs to fill time slots, sell air space, plan marketing campaigns to coincide with roll-outs of products or programs.

And I still wonder how the media is supposed to reinvent the space program to be a multi-year, ongoing event that sustains and increases the general publics attention.

My opinion, the plan is flawed, but salvagable. It won't work with NASA as is- it will not succeed without an emphasis on a connection to the "every man". You have to put normal people in space- not government Astronauts.

I think the media plan you propose is better suited for a completely private venture that looks to orbit people, not get NASA to the Moon and beyond. People would tune in for that.

BWhite · 2005-05-03 20:04:27

I think the media plan you propose is better suited for a completely private venture that looks to orbit people, not get NASA to the Moon and beyond. People would tune in for that.

Heh!

Nathan Gillespie thinks so also.

= = =

What evidence can you sight that demonstrates media is capable of sustaining a long-term media campagain that will engender the neccessary support for a viable human space exploration program?

Who else is talking about this? Dude, its a start. Nothing more.

Edited By BWhite on 1115172573

SpaceNut · 2005-05-04 05:03:21

Well media coverage that can be sustained is already and is active on issues of war. But can such a process be done for issues that are not reflected as distructive or negatively displayed as bad things.
Have you ever picked up a news paper to look for good news items to find that maybe as high as 90% is all about bad news in one form or another.
Sports in general gets lots of media coverage everyday that shows everyside of the games good and bad.

Can the same be done for space? On occasion the media has covered key events but most are the tragic side of the story and not the mondane side of everyday life, ex. what is happening on the ISS and of what science is being investigated. Little ever makes it past the screeners desk for what is to be considered news worthy.

BWhite · 2005-05-04 09:20:18

Giving away the media rights for free surely won't help. The networks will be all too eager to resume their "reguarly scheduled programming" which will de-value public perceptoin of space exploration.

Didn't George Bush joke about this at his recent press conference? "Got to wrap this up, Survivor starts at 10:00" or something like that?

Unless we make Big Media our ally, they will be our enemy.

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