NBC Offers Downloads

The New York Times is running an article entitled, "NBC to Offer Downloads of Its Shows." The article begins, "NBC Universal said yesterday that it would soon permit consumers to download many of NBC’s most popular programs free to personal computers and other devices for one week immediately after their broadcasts." It continues, "NBC’s move comes as companies throughout the television business search for new economic models in the face of enormous changes in the business. Networks continue to lose audience share, and viewers — especially many of the highly prized viewers under 30 years old — are increasingly demanding control of their program choices, insisting on being able to watch shows when, where and how they want."

Read the Article!!

Discussion Questions for Younger Children

• Do your students prefer to watch shows/videos on television sets or the computer? What are your students favorite shows/videos? What do they like about these shows/videos?
  
• Students could draw a picture of their favorite character.
  
• Tell students to imagine that they could chat with their favorite cartoon character. What would they say to this character? What do they think the character would say to them?
  
• Students could develop skits in which they act out conversations with their favorite cartoon characters.
  
• Do your students like any television commercials? Which ones? Do they know any commercials by heart? Which ones? Why do your students think that commercials exist?
  
• Challenge your students to develop commercials for a product of their choice. They might do this in small groups.
  
• Do your students think that televisions will exist when their own children are growing up? Why/why not? Ask your students how televisions sets might be different in twenty five years. Encourage them to be creative.
  
• Ask students to list the ways in which televisions might be different.
  

Discussion Starters for Older Students

• Vocabulary terms to discuss: "Piracy Protection"; Analyst; Hotly; and, Extract.
• Ask your students to imagine that they were executives at television stations when television was first developed. The executives know that they have to make money but they don't know how to do so. What would your students suggests that different from any model for generating television revenue.
  
• Consider asking students to develop proposals in groups of three or four.
  
• Modern technology has greatly influenced the ways in which individuals can watch television/videos. How do your students think that the viewing experience might be different in one hundred years than it is today? Why do they think this way?
  
• These questions might prompt an interesting class discussion.
  
• Ask your students to imagine a conversation between iSuppli's Mr. Crotty and NBC's Mr. Gaspin. What might the two men say to each other? Why might they say this?
  
• Students could actually develop conversations in either writing or skit.