Grammy's 2008 and CBS discriminate against West Coast viewers

"Grammy's 2008 and CBS discriminate against West Coast viewers
In what I believe is the ultimate irony in the entertainment industry, West Coast television viewers routinely, except for the Oscars, see award events three hours after they air live. Although this has been occurring for years the use of interactive programming is changing the playing field....for the worse.

In tonight's "live" 50th Anniversary Grammy event viewers were asked to vote to select one of three classical musicians to play later on in the evening with the Foo Fighters. Unfortunately, West Coast viewers were informed with an on-screen message that "voting is closed" because what they were watching was pre-recorded. Nothing says "you're unimportant" than being told you don't have a vote because you live closer to the Pacific than the Atlantic.

As all traditional media tries to find ways to incorporate new technology and the internet into their programming to reach younger audiences, viewer involved activities that determine the course of a show are becoming more and more popular. American Idol thrives on viewer participation. However, because the show counts votes from all over the country before announcing a decision on a following night, all who wish to participate can.

The exclusion of West Coast viewers tonight should galvanize the left coast into demanding that all networks that air award shows show them live in all time zones. Or a possible alternative option for viewers who subscribe to DirecTV and other cable-like services would be to be allowed to access East Coast feeds during these events. I have been told the reason this doesn't happen is that advertisers who pay to reach West Coast viewers would object to this fact. (It's always about money, isn't it?)

I think it is time for a change as many politicians are espousing.....stop discriminating against West Coast viewers and show us some love!--that's what John Lennon would have wanted.

Watching out for you everyday."