I don’t if anybody has been following the this story, but it sounds as if Brewmaster’s the Discovery Channel about the Dogfish Head Brewery was canceled due to Coor’s putting pressure on the Discovery Channel. It would appear that they threatened to stop advertising on their channel unless they cut the show. I’m continually baffled at the lengths that “Big Beer” has gone to try to stop craft beer from servicing their niche market. It’s starting to become a trend that big companies go out of their way to destroy small businesses that don’t even pose a threat to them at all. Gotta love capitalism.
Ah, but craft beer IS a threat to, and is certainly perceived as such by big beer. Just look at the continuing downward trend of big beer’s percentage of the beer market, and craft beer’s continuing increase in share if you you need confirmation of this threat. And it’s not “starting to be a trend”, but rather a continuation of a long established practice. Doesn’t make it right, or justified, but it’s certainly part of the capitalistic system to fight in any legal way to keep/make your product successful. Just a damn shame they have to resort to these methods.
I can definitely see where your coming from, but some of their methods should be illegal. For example, the frivolous lawsuits that Budweiser made against Dogfish Head for the names of a couple of his beers. Which he had in production for a decade before they decided they should own the rights to those names. Their monopolistic control shelf stocking in stores is becoming an insult to the so called “free market.” Plus, the fact that they can basically control which brands are allowed to be distributed to any major store. Anyway, I’m venting at this point, but your right when you say that it seems to be an inherent part of capitalism.
I haven’t watched the show, but I hear it wasn’t any good anyway.
In any case, Big Beer can try, but in the end craft brew still survives and flourishes. Actually here in NY beer stores pride themselves on how much craft brew they have on their shelves and there are more and more bars that carry EXTENSIVE craft selections not to mention 4 (or is it 5 now craft breweries in Brooklyn alone.) Most restaurants and bars still only carry Big Beer, but I see a very noticeable increase in craft presence all over town. I mean you can get bigfoot in a shabby grocery that sells ginger ale and toilet paper.
Maybe in idealistic future Big Beer will be forced to become drinkable…
Actually the same trend is appearing in the Scotch world. There are now small distilleries that don’t add caramel and don’t chill-filter. These are becoming more sought after and sometimes even 7 year olds are as good of better than 17 year olds. Another thing they do is make kind of “coalitions” where 5 or more distillers come together, give one cask each to the cause, blend it, let it mature and meld, and produce something stunning as a result. Maybe brewers should try the same.
I guess I’m skeptical of that’s really the reason it was canceled. What about the fact that it wasn’t a very good show and couldn’t find an audience?
It certainly didn’t satisfy me. If it was more about the actual brewing process I think people would have been further curious. As it was I lost interest after the first couple of episodes.
But, I certainly believe it possible that the Bigg Side of Brewing could put the pressure to the network. But, I think the lack of success is what killed the show.
+1
That could be true, but most of the articles I’ve read are say the ratings were good considering the time slots and competing schedule. However, it is hard to know for sure what role ratings and lack of audience contributed to it being declined.
Here’s one example-
Beer writer Andy Crouch- “Discovery confirms to me cancellation of @dogfishbeer Brew Masters. Blames poor audience reception.” The show’s ratings were solid — around one million viewers per episode — even though it bounced around the schedule (it moved from Sunday nights to Monday nights without much fanfare). As to why Discovery programmed a beer show against Sunday Night Football and then Monday Night Football, that’s for them to explain."
Cite your sources please.
Here 's couple of the articles for anyone wants to read them. The beer and whiskey bros article is also talking Zero-Point-Zero possibly working on a phone app and some other possible projects.
http://eater.com/archives/2011/03/31/bourdain-claims-brew-masters-was-canceled-because-of-big-beer.php
http://beerandwhiskeybros.com/2011/09/26/sam-calagione-talks-about-whats-next-after-brew-masters/
Looks like big beer is getting bigger as INBev is planning on buying SABmiller.
Maybe they can buy their own show called MegaBrewers! Mediocrity at its best!
Very intersting… All based on a tweet…
FWIW - TV is quickly going the way of newspapers. Interwebs content is becoming ubiquitous.
How did Phil Collins say it? “Can you can feel it coming in the air tonight? Hold on, hold on…”
I wouldn’t bet on it happening too quickly though. Everyone I know who’s hard at work spinning internet viewing into gold is still just trying to cover their bills. Right now everyone is dumping money into their iPad apps because that’s the hot ticket for attention and funding, but so far the actual uptake right on the iOS tablet apps (or any tablet app) is pretty pathetic.
Will we get there eventually? Maybe, but there’s something terrible seductive about large format push content and for all the criticism slung around that tv is a bunch of crap, we as a country have mastered the skill of making easy to consume entertainment.
FWIW Brewmasters is still on on Discovery International, I watch it in Europe regularly. Second, Big Beer is aware of the potential of craft beer, and is riding it’s coat tails just nicely. You will be amazed to learn how much craft beer is owned by big beer. Goose Island and Leffe are just a few that come to mind.
What makes the least sense to me about this theory is that Coors had Blue Moon spots out the yin yang on Discovery during Brewmasters. I’m not sure I buy it, Blue Moon or the conspiracy theory.
If this theory is true coors advertising in that spot would be totally consistant with it. In order to apply preasure to the network you first have to buy lots of ad space and then threaten to remove said dollars if the show is not cancelled.
I am not saying the theory is true but your argument against doesn’t work. Have you ever wondered why the big pharm companies advertise so much on network TV even though we, as consumers, have no real control over what kind of meds we are prescribed? it provides them with leverage over the networks.
“Ask your doctor if conspiracy is right for you!”
Yeah…I’d be curious as well to know where such a bizarre claim originated.
I can just picture the blurry footage of an alleged Coors rep standing on the grassy knoll, yelling threats at the Discovery Channel.
The show was cancelled because it was one-note, and just wasn’t compelling enough to attract an audience. Hopefully along the way it attracted some interest and curiosity from folks who were mainly BNC drinkers… but mostly the show seemed to be “preaching to the choir”
And ironically enough, it seems like even the choir didn’t like the sermon. :o
I would totally watch MegaBrewers. Big breweries are the ones that can hire the best scientists and engineers. Charlie Bamforth worked for Bass for years.
I too felt like Brewmasters could have been a much better show - maybe if it wasn’t just DFH and they had Sam visit smaller craft breweries and European brewpubs to check out different styles and techniques… then go and try them out at DFH… But the show seemed all about dumping beer and brewing with things that didn’t taste good.
Why do they need leverage over the networks? Are they morally opposed to shows where the main character is not on cholesterol/acid reflux/erection pills?
Drug companies are marketing to consumers as part of their push to convince people they need medication. Many drugs are prescribed by GPs, not specialists, and when a patient requests something, they usually get it.