HD Net Cuts Budget on News
The outstanding television news program, “World Report,” on Mark Cuban’s HD Net cable channel is undergoing a major cutback, in staff and funding. Chances are you’ve never heard of “World Report” because it has never really been promoted. But, it has been a first-class professional television news magazine in the same league with “CBS 60 Minutes.”
We’ve seen in-depth stories about the lingering damage of Agent Orange on the people of Vietnam, the death of the Chesapeake Bay because of vast pollution, the poor medical treatment of returning war veterans and break-throughs in stem cell research. “World Report” provided the most comprehensive coverage of how European countries are delivering more affordable and better healthcare than the U.S.
What’s happening at “World Report” is happening throughout the mainstream news media, broadcast and print. Seasoned and highly experienced journalists are being laid-off, and there is a shift to acquiring stories from freelancers who have various shades of expertise.
Instead of a staff of producers and correspondents, the program will “acquire” pre-cut finished pieces submitted by freelancers. The change comes because “World Report” has been one of the most expensive shows to produce at HD Net, and in light of other programming, apparently it isn’t consistent with the direction the network is going and how the network wants to grow.
I emailed Cuban, the eccentric Dallas billionaire who independently owns HD Net. I have interviewed him before. Here’s how he explained the changes at “World Report“:
It’s going through some big changes. We want to continue to same level of work, we just have to do it differently.
“Differently” means, of course, cheaper. No one can fault Cuban, in my opinion. He’s funded the program out of his own pocket for more than seven years. The really curious thing is why he never promoted the news program. But, that is now moot.
“World Report” airs on HD Net Tuesday evenings and Saturday morning. Individual programs are also available through iTunes.
And … so it goes in the shrinking world of the mainstream news media.
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