Local television question

Economics Economics Questions
1

I live in Oklahoma and we get a lot of severe weather this time of year. Every time there is even a hint of a potential tornado, the local news stations interrupt broadcasting. This is incredibly annoying because they do it on at least three local stations, interrupting popular broadcasting: LOST, NBA playoffs, etc. Keep in mind that this happens even when the storm is in a lesser populated part of the state (5,000 people).

Here’s the question: Why do all three local stations interrupt broadcasting just to talk about this? It seems like only one would suffice. I understand that there is potential danger from these storms, but they have local sirens, television stations dedicated just to this sort of thing, websites for warning information, radio stations, etc. Even if you don’t turn own any electronic device, you will still hear the sirens and know to take cover.

I have a feeling that these local stations are protected from competition and therefore they don’t have to worry about screwing over the customer by interrupting popular broadcasting just to talk about storms that affect only a few people.

2

Things that sound scary are the most favorite topic of regulated broadcasters. It appears to legitimize their existence.

3

Two reasons:

  1. They are required by the Fascist licensing system to provide a public service in exchange for a 5 channel broadcast monopoly. So they put on anything that even hints of a public service message.

  2. Doom and gloom sells. And the more sensational the better. So these goof balls just love to jump into action to prove their hutzpa. Just look at the idiots standing outside in a hurricane.