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Let’s face it, The Weather Channel and CNBC are little more than glorified reality television. In fact, they are also very similar to each other. Both know that unless they can create a panic, an emergency, or a sense of urgency, not enough people to satisfy their advertisers care about either issue. Take The Weather Channel, regardless of the size of the storm or even if there even exists a threat, they have to make the most of what they have available to them in order to get us to watch, scaring the wits out of everybody in the process. What storm, who really needs a storm? During the Summer we’re going to get bombarded with shows and weeks about sharks, hurricanes and tornadoes while during the Winter we’re going to get pounded about Nor’Easters and a recap of The Blizzard of the year 18-whatever. Over at CNBC, they also know that business is boring and that, absent any real news, due to the fact that they are a 24-hour business news station, they need to create some. Hmm, let’s see, do we really need to watch CNBC and have our lives interrupted by every data point? Is that helpful in helping us reach our goals? Absent any news, CNBC will still try to scare us to death, get us angry. After all, why air American Greed or The Bernie Madoff Story? Do you really need to interview the self-described “Dr. Doom,” Nouriel Roubini, after the stock market has declined for a few consecutive days? This is not unlike The Weather Channel that perches Jim Cantore or Stefanie Abrams atop some sand dune in their gortex suits describing the fact that it is rain and windy. Oh, by the way, thank God the hurricane/tropical depression/sun shower “just” missed us.
Let’s face it, how often do you watch The Weather Channel unless their is a storm coming? How often do you watch CNBC unless there is big news. The answer, not often enough. The solution for The Weather Channel is to make every storm a Hurricane Katrina and for CNBC to make every business event another Bear Stearns Collapse. Is this must see TV? I think not. I’ll just grab my umbrella when I leave the house to be prepared and with regard to my investments, focus on the long-term where the true value lies.