Exceeding their Grasp, or What's a Cable Channel For?   August 17, 1998

In the final analysis the book seems an exercise in egotism.


poor documentation, designed to justify $1/2 Billion loss   July 7, 1998
  2 out of 6 found this review helpful

A classic case of poor journalism. Initially designed as a ghost written book for the management team that created one of Boston's greatest fiscal disasters. Few objective sources were used, documentation of the "other side" was white washed.

A classic case of the paranoia that encompasses this book is the claim that the Boston Globe sought to destroy this TV project out of fear of competition. The plans for the Monitor Channel and the subsequent efforts were based on the management team's firm assumption that owning the distribution process (transponder et al) was the critical element to sucess (they bought and built shortwave stations-the distribution network for their radio efforts- around the globe, only to sell them at great losses as revenue hopes crashed).

As the internet evolves we all see that owning the distribution method is precisely the wrong strategy; content is the main goal. Meeting the viewers and readers needs is the only priority. This was the fundamental error and the book tends to gloss over this as well as the millions spent of extravegant employment contracts, offices, dinners and travel.

However this books tries to justify the millions of dollars tossed out the door to launch a project that only the highest paid consultants would endorse (those that disagreed were were terminated). A fact never addressed.

All in all academics should be more than skeptical as they take a look at this book. It was designed as a PR piece and takes liberties with facts, facts that distort this avoidable financial debacle.