For Rural Viewers, Local News Is Anything But

[pstokely]

https://tvnewscheck.com/article/241608/for-rural-viewers-local-news-is-anything-but/

"LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — When Dianne Johnson channel-surfs for news in her rural western Nebraska home, all she sees are stories about Colorado crime and car crashes from a Denver television station more than 200 miles away.

It’s frustrating for the 61-year-old rancher, who wants to know the latest developments in Nebraska politics and sports. When floods devastated huge swaths of Nebraska this year, Johnson struggled to keep tabs on what was happening.

“If we actually had local news, we would watch it,” she said. “But all we get is Colorado drug busts and stories about who got murdered in Denver. It has nothing to do with us.”

Johnson is among an estimated 870,000 households nationwide that receive at least one distant network affiliate’s feed from their satellite TV service providers because they don’t live close enough to get conventional over-the-air signals. With no local TV news stations and a dwindling number of newspapers, many rural Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to track local elections or government decisions that affect their lives."

[roamer65]

1. With the depopulation of rural areas, television isn't a money maker in them anymore.

Best way to get out their local news is via internet.

[DAMANgoldberg]

2. When I was an OTR trucker

During the cross-country trips along Interstate 70, 80, 90, and others, there is a lot of nothingness abound. The major problem with the internet theory is some of the same issues with remote TV from places like Denver, Amarillo, and the Cities affect the build-out of broadband Internet.

The solution needs to really make Broadband available and the local telephone co-ops or rural exchange companies that are in the best position to identify and make the investments needed to level the playing field.

[roamer65]

3. I agree.

Best route is via 5G wireless.

[spinbaby]

4. My sister in-law lived in rural Tennessee for years

She was extremely conservative politically. Most of her “facts” and opinions came from talking to the neighbors. No Internet and the only “news” channel on her basic $19.95 satellite TV was Fox. No local newspaper.

Then she moved to Cleveland, got Internet and real TV. Suddenly she’s liberal.

[uponit7771]

6. +1, Media outlets should not be able to align themselves with political parties without announcing

... it hourly.

It brings on the hyper division we have now.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. In suburban NJ and NY states, "News 12" is tailored to local and state news.

They go into NJ and NY cities and towns from news to weather to human interest news. Totally independent of politics. Just news.

It is so needed.

It can hoped this format can go into other geographic areas.

[brooklynite]

7. Does Ms. Johnson imagine that a Nebraska TV station would offer roundtable discussions on farming?

She’d get stories about car crashes and drug arrests in Omaha.

[gulliver]

8. There could be news cooperatives like there are for electricity

But, in a pinch, you can just go have breakfast in town.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

9. conglomeration eliminates competition

The FCC doesn't work for you.

[H2O Man]

10. +1

[Johonny]

11. The death of small town news papers has led to the prediction corruption

at the city level will sky socket. These local candidates eventually form state and national candidates. The third estate is in trouble.