You're certainly right about the info they don't include, Dryrod. I've never seen a flyfishing show in which the host actually explained what was going on.
As to who cares about the other stuff? Well, the lodge and guides that are comping the host in return for the coverage care. And the restaurants providing free meals care. Etc.
I am not badmouthing the practice. Not when I've been the beneficiary of it myself. But the TV guys do tend to go overboard.
Here's an example of the difference. When we went to Sweden as guests of the Swedish government, SAS flew us over and back. One short mention in an article I wrote more than satisfied them. Somebody doing a TV show, on the other hand, would mention SAS time after time after time. It does get old.
I can't prove this, but my gut feeling is that it's a difference in the relationship between print and broadcast media as regards advertisers.
In print, my concern is with the content. Sure, I want to acknowledge hosts, both because bills have to be paid and there's an obligation to the reader to let them know you didn't pay your own way. But Somebody else has to worry about the advertisers. Indeed, there is usually an arms-length relationship between them and the writers.
But with broadcast, the host is so involved with advertisers that it becomes second nature to tout any commercial concern involved with the production. This spills over into things like thanking the host. Net result: Many outdoor shows seem to be nothing but ads, separated by a minor amount of content. Sort of like a catalog versus a magazine.
Brook
http://www.the-outdoor-sports-advisor.com
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