Soap Opera Uncensored: Issue 21 Read online

not a factor in others.

 

  The issue transcended to SoapNet (a Disney-owned property) where for many the same incorrect March 1st synopsis accompanied the March 2nd episode. Many thought there was no Friday episode when seeing the listing and as a result did not watch or record the SoapNet rebroadcast.

 

  If the GH video feed from Disney/ABC is the only common denominator, how could the video feed have any kind of effect on recording devices? Any computer file we create contains metadata (information) about the content. If the file is a document, it contains the formatting instructions to view and print the document along with when it was created, who created it, the file size, type, etc. Metadata is configurable. Systems that integrate with or access the content are able to read the metadata and behave accordingly. For example, if a metadata field for printing is set to “NO,” then the document cannot be printed. If a metadata field for modifying a file is set to “NO,” no one can change the file.

 

  With that in mind, if the Disney/ABC video feeds (and by extension networks in general) had metadata fields encoded into the files, they could be triggers for such things as date identification, episode number, etc. What if those metadata fields also contained flags or coding that could manipulate or control a recording device? In the easiest example – a wrong date could trigger a recorder to think it had already recorded that episode. What would prevent the metadata from containing a Yes/No switch for series recordings? Could Disney/ABC, or any network, have the ability to manipulate a recording device’s behavior based on code embedded directly in the video file? What would the implications of that be?

 

  In an article published in the March 5th edition of THE LA TIMES, Charles Kennedy, Head of Research, Disney/ABC discusses viewership and ratings. Mr. Kennedy, in speaking about primetime show MODERN FAMILY ratings, viewership, and live-plus-three days versus seven-day numbers said, “…we’ve had to build in a fudge factor when we know… that the total number will be significantly higher.” A fudge factor? Will this fudge factor be applied to GH numbers for Friday, March 2nd, or could the GH recording blackout be classified by Disney/ABC as one of their fudge factors? Paul Lee, President of ABC Entertainment is quoted in the same article as saying ABC is able to “capture about 93 percent” of the value of the MODERN FAMILY audience with C3 (live-plus-three days) ratings. That means, according to Mr Lee, 93% of the viewing audience watches a show within three days of its airing. According to Mr. Lee’s logic, it also means only 7% of viewers record programming and wait until the weekend to watch it. These numbers seem a bit ‘fudged.’

 

  Preliminary data shows that at least 25 states and at least a dozen different cable/satellite providers were affected by this blackout. A third of those reporting that GH did not record on March 2nd also reported that their recorder’s GH series recording was erased.

 

  The intentional or unintentional affect of this snafu is blatant manipulation of GH ratings. Because of this recording blackout in many areas, true GH viewership for the Friday, March 2nd episode will never be known. Meanwhile, viewership for Disney/ABC replacement reality shows continues to decline dramatically while GH’s increases. Unfortunately, last week’s viewership will likely be drastically discounted and marginalized due to the lack of viewership on Friday, March 2nd. This matter needs to be formally investigated and the public deserves answers. How does a device located in a viewer’s home get reconfigured without their knowledge or the knowledge of their cable/satellite provider? Viewers deserve an answer.

 

  Author's Note: If you experienced an issue recording GH on Friday, March 2nd, or have experienced issues since, please report it via the March 2nd DVR Blackout form at https://savethesoapgenre.com/march-2nd-dvr-blackout#dialog:close. Also, please call your local affiliate and your satellite/cable provider to report the issue and let them know that you want to know what happened.

  INSTRUCTIONS: NOTE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE REPORTING

  1. Your cable/satellite provider.

  2. Your local ABC affiliate call letters (example: WCVB)

  3. Your location.

  4. Was this a live broadcast?

  5. Was this DVR failure to record?

  6. Did you get any response from your local provider as to why this happened or was it due to storm coverage?

 

  *Originally published on CNN’s iREPORT