NY Times: NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS Struggle to cover "War Zones"
Why is Network Television not covering the wars?
- TV channels base their schedule on advertising slots before they even think of content. In the time of a major economic crisis, showing a war that people don't want to hear about or pay for does not help sponsors to sell their products. As a result, the traditional Television Networks give the War in Afganistan limited exposure.
- The Obama Administration is hesitant about bringing this war into conversation. Obama was supposed to reduce the American presence in Afganistan.
- US citizens are desensitized after so many years of War. Very few are "connected" to the war.
In today's New York Times, there is a very interesting story in "The Arts" section titled:
It states:
"On television, the war zones have not been nearly as visible. Though personal war stories are told on dramas like “Brothers & Sisters,” on ABC, and “Homeland,” the new Showtime series, rarely are scenes set on battlefields or military bases. Ten years into Afghanistan, there has been no “M*A*S*H,” which was set in Korea and tapped into antiwar sentiment about Vietnam in the 1970s. But smaller-scale attempts have taken viewers to the conflicts in entertaining ways. Over the summer ABC screened a Canadian drama, “Combat Hospital,” that was set in Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan. On Tuesday the G4 cable channel will introduce “Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan,” a 10-part documentary series about a United States Navy platoon that disarms improvised explosive devices in the northern part of the country, using state-of-the-art robots, Xbox controllers and intuition."
Film Annex has begun the broadcasting of official NATO videos. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO, also called the (North) Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty, which was signed on 4 April 1949. The NATO headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium.
These NATO films are:
- Being filmed on the battlefield in Afghanistan,
- Contain interviews with battlefield soldiers,
- Contain press conferences, and more.
The aired content comes directly from NATO and provides a detailed look into some of the most important current events, such as the 20-hour Kabul attack that took place the previous day. Film Annex will be updating its database with one new video every day. The full list of content can be seen on http://filmannex.com/NATO.
So why did NATO choose to partner with Film Annex?
NATO contacted Film Annex with the goal to reach a different and independent community of viewers and creative contributors. Working with Film Annex, they have been able to show a different, more human side of the war.
The latest NATO clips from Afghanistan have actually been edited in "Film Annex Style" by NATO, and NATO is getting on board with The Film Annex vision and concept. In contrast to our Network TV conterparts, Film Annex is looking to have direct contact with the soldiers by putting them in the international spotlight and giving them exposure.
Here, Francesco Rulli and Abel Ferrara discuss the Film Annex and NATO relationship.
Watch more on Film Annex
Finally, Film Annex financially supports The Troops, and for more information, please contact Film Annex Troop Support.