Comcast struts out ‘Peacock’ to fill the streaming world
A major cable company, Comcast, with streaming capability acquires one of the original networks, NBC, which is already tied with a fabled production house, Universal, and the result is a library of television programs, movies, and other entertainment offerings that can fill hours of viewing time.
The challenge is how to get them on the air in a way that large audiences can access them. Challenge met. On Wednesday, Xfinity unveiled the first phase of Peacock, named for the colorful logo NBC has used since it was the first network to employ extensive use of color TV.
For Xfinity, X1, and Flex subscribers, which number in the millions, Peacock is a free, advertising-based streaming platform that immediately offers 7,500 hours of programming to viewers. That number doubles when the second phase of Peacock launches July 15. (For non-Xfinity subscribers, Peacock is available for $4.99 a month.)
The programs available cover large chunks of NBC history, with shows from recent decades, such as “30 Rock,” “Cheers,” and “Frasier,” augmented by older hits such as “The Rockford Files” and “Columbo.” Current NBC fare is also streamable. So are hits that originated on other networks, such as “Leave it to Beaver,” “The Carol Burnett Show,” and “Monk.”
Two vintage shows, “Saved by the Bell” and “Punky Brewster,” stream on Peacock now, but will be joined by revivals with original cast members in 2021 when Peacock expands further.
Taking advantages of decades of resources makes sense. The NBC and Universal collections give viewers more popular material to stream, a timely happenstance while many people are at home and depending on television as their primary source of entertainment.
The coronavirus has certainly boosted television use. Dana Strong, President of Consumer Services for Comcast reports a 50 percent increase in on-demand consumption in comparison with last year and a 250 percent rise in voice remote searches.
The advertising base allows Xfinity to provide Peacock to its subscribers for free. The Comcast model keeps the number of advertisers minimal, counts them as partners, and limits the minutes of commercial time to five minutes per hour (eleven less than usual).
The phased approach allows Peacock to be available while viewing demand is high, to bring movies like “E.T.” and “Schindler’s List” to the fore, to roll out more complete shows such as “The Office” in July, and to prime audiences for original material, such as the new “Saved by the Bell” and a serial “Brave New World” later this year or in 2021.
Peacock will also be in place as major events, such as the Olympics, now taking place in consecutive years — Summer in 2021 and Winter in 2022 — unfold. Other sports events, such as an NFL playoff, are also scheduled.
Taff goes national
Channel 6 anchor Brian Taff, who also helms Channel 17’s 10 p.m. edition of “Action News,” contributed in a major way to ABC’s “World News Tonight” and its 7:30 p.m. update on Tuesday.
Taff, reporting from Philadelphia, provided a story about a Penn research team that is conducting Phase 1 clinical trials with humans on a potential vaccine that could render people immune to COVID-19.
The lengthy piece outlined Penn’s study and the process involved in developing and testing the safety and efficacy of its product while also reporting a heartening time frame should — “should” being the operative word here — it be proven practical as a COVID antidote.
That time frame has Phase II trials starting as early as July. If they also yield quick and encouraging data, Penn’s vaccine and method of delivering it might be fast-tracked and become a means to restore daily life to a more routine footing.
In addition to doctors and researchers, Taff interviews people who had volunteered to participate in the study. The “World News” segment also mentioned other American labs that are seeing hopeful results in the quest for a COVID vaccine.
Bringing any new pharmaceutical to the market is a lengthy, painstaking process that involves three phases of clinical trials, with data maintained and monitored to learn about side effects, mortality, delayed reactions, longterm effectiveness, behavior with other medicines, and similar crucial matters.
Double-blind tests and various reviews follow the issuing of the trial data. For most new drugs, this is an extended event that usually takes years. That’s why the speed of the Phase I trials and the July start of Phase II trials at Penn are relatively buoying.
Taff’s report was a highlight of the newscasts on which it appeared and earned the appreciation of “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir, who praised Taff for his “good reporting.”
Gene Shay will be missed
The Philadelphia broadcasting lost its first prominent on-air personality to COVID-19 when folk music champion Gene Shay succumbed to it Friday at age 85.
Shay was instrumental to the local music scene in numerous ways. He brought folk music to radio in the 60s as host of a WHATFM programs that was heard on several other FM stations before evolving into “The World Café” when Mr. Shay moved to WXPN (88.5 FM) in the 90s. He remained with the show, syndicated nationally and beyond by National Public Radio, until early 2015. The show continues with Ian Zoliter as host.
Radio, and the soft-spoken tones of FM, was where Mr. Shay cultivated his audience, but his influence was much more farreaching. He was the adored, revered host of many Philadelphia Folk Festival concerts and events. He was responsible for bringing many top performers to Philadelphia. Among them were Bob Dylan, who Mr. Shay produced in concert in 1963, and Joni Mitchell, who performed “Both Sides Now” for the first time on Shay’s ‘HAT program.
There is little in Philadelphia folk music, and radio, that doesn’t bear Shay’s stamp or participation.
He will be remembered for his remarkable contributions and for being among the celebrities the coronavirus has claimed.
‘One World’ was fine for what it was
Follow this through, please. I enjoyed the “One World: Together at Home” program assembled by Lady Gaga to benefit the World Health Organization, which received more than $50 million in donations from the broadcast that appeared on all three traditional networks and other platforms. (I actually saw it after the fact on a Singapore station.)
Participants were varied and sincere. The transmissions from artists’ houses was mostly clear, and the show, with a few exceptions, steered clear of politics and sentimentality.
Here’s where I want you bear with me.
My one criticism of the show concerns how often and how similarly “One World” delivered the same documentary message.
Yes, it’s an important one. Healthcare personnel, grocery and hardware store workers, cleaning crews, transportation personnel, and the people taking care of those falling under the usual protective radar, are to be lauded to the sky. I hope the gratitude and regard for them lasts far beyond this pandemic.
But how many times do you want to watch the same story, even on a television show devoted to a specific subject?
“One World” featured some good reports and allowed news people such as Robin Roberts, Gayle King, and Norah O’Donnell to be an integral part of the show.
Personally, I would have preferred more diversion in the form of musical acts.
It’s almost fatuous to cavil about a show that included performances by Paul McCartney, Elton John, The Rolling Stones,
Jennifer Lopez, and the quintet of Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, John Legend, Lady Gaga, and Lang Lang who provided the program a spectacular finish.
If Beyonce is going to appear, I want to her do a song, not a spiel.
A few pointed spots, rather than a dozen, would have gotten the tribute to people in the front lines and severity of the coronavirus across.
Rather than many echoing the same sentiment, worthy as it is, “One World” could have satisfied its need for messaging by leaving it to the two First Ladies, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama, who so graciously and tellingly appeared.
The entertainers did well. Personal favorites were The Rolling Stones, John Legend, Maluma, Kacey Musgraves, Lizzo, and Abby Cadabby. Nicest houses were Stevie Wonder’s, Mick Jagger’s, and Legend’s.
The one thing I didn’t get to do was scout all the titles on Stephen Colbert and Usher’s bookcases.
Ukee goes to song
As recording artists from all over the world entertain on various broadcasts, a local singer who happens to be one of the senior anchors on a Philly newscast has chipped in with a solo offering of musical encouragement.
Channel 3’s Ukee Washington, a vocalist since his teen days with the Philadelphia Boys Choir, takes the mike for an inspiring rendition of Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” that went out Saturday on YouTube.
Washington is accompanied
by Bill Jolly, who probably wrote three quarters of the music used for local documentaries and jingles and who is seen at the keyboard, his signature musicalnote scarf draped over an unused mike.
In fine production fashion, the camera doesn’t linger on Ukee or Bill but shows the medical teams, grocery workers, cleaning crews, and others who are forging on to keep things running while most of us follow the sage advice to stay home.