WE ARE SPARTANS !
So goes the battle cry from the movie….. ’300′. Spartans are a proud people protecting their land and way of life from the incoming Persians. Do I smell a historical analogy coming on ?
The Spartans: Local TV, Radio and Newspaper properties. They’ve had a very nice run for the past 50 to 100 years or so. Profit margins hovering around 50%, huge barriers to entry, powerful lobbying arms, virtual ownership of all local advertising revenues, etc. They would like to protect this way of life. It is has been good. Real good.
The Persians: Recently created outsiders like Google, online ad networks like Centro, pure-play sites like Facebook and ReachLocal. They have their eye on the next massive pot of Internet gold; the local marketplace. They want to infiltrate, take share, and potentially take-over the lion’s share of local ad expenditures. They are willing to initially cooperate, share the growing riches, and work with the local properties………until they have their hooks in real deep. Then watch out.
King Leonidas, the bearded Spartan general, desperately tries to warn his Greek countrymen that the crafty and be-jeweled Persian King Xerxes, doesn’t just want to ‘partner’ with them, but ultimately wants to make them their slaves.
In the short term the offer seems genuine and generous. Yet, Leonidas knows that it would likely be the beginning of the end for their local state, culture and freedom.
And so the 300 fight……to no avail. They are crushed by the insurmountable forces from afar. Alas, the mighty Spartans did not get full support and buy-in from their own country’s leaders. They were held back by the politician’s legacy thinking, fear, and lack of vision.
If you’ve seen the movie, or know about this piece of ancient history, it may provide some insight as to what local media is facing right now. What needs to be done? Broadcast and Newspaper need to develop and execute an aggressive war-plan NOW, in order to defeat (or at least keep in check) the forces looking to invade their local media turf.
Today’s lesson: Those who ignore history, are doomed to repeat it.
