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About 10-12 years ago, I cancelled my cable subscription because I decided I didn't want to support an industry that crapped on everything I believe in. One of the interesting side effects of that choice was that I discovered how absolutely disgusting and infuriating TV was in general.

Because I didn't have TV, I only saw it when at other people's houses, and then, after months or years of non-exposure, I found that the whole structure of commercial TV - the program, the commercials, the interjected news blurbs and pop-up ads, was like nails on a chalkboard. Sitcoms are mindless gutter jokes that are dumbed down to the level of a 4th grader (except perverted). Dramas are nothing but meaningless inane dialogue. And the commercials - the commercials! It's like having stupidity pumped directly into your brain. TV is garbage, always has been.

So, I imagine time away from the NFL might give a few people time to reflect how much of a silly waste of time it is - how much the game has been nerfed or dumbed-down, how silly it is to wait five minutes after every play to see what the refs are going to conjure this time. Even if folks stay away for just one season, it might be enough to wake them up to realizing just how silly and worthless it all is. Go watch your kids play Little League or Pee-Wee instead, or just go to the park.

I discovered how absolutely disgusting and infuriating TV was in general.

American broadcasters need to adopt some techniques the Japanese at NHK are using.

My wife gets the TV Japan broadcast, most of the shows being produced by NHK, the leading network in Japan (a network owned by the government).

One show I like to watch is The Professional, a series of documentaries that focus on a particular person, but speak to a larger theme of success in many venues. They have highlighted people of many professions: business leaders, industrial craftsmen, inventors, musicians, you name it.

Have a look at this highly interesting one featuring a Hiroshi Michiwaki who became famous (in Japan) for inventing self-locking screw/nuts and many other useful industrial products. Notice how this YouTube video (in English) accomplishes several things:

Treats this genius inventor as an approachable regular guy who drinks 10 bottles of ice tea per day.
Tells a bit about his personal history without going overboard.
Films factories, infrastructure projects, and conference room meetings to explain the invenor's challenges and the way they are overcome.
Features graphic animations showing how his inventions work.
Uses everyday camera shots and lighting to make it more real, credible, and cost effective in terms of production.
Artfully inserts a few of Michiwaki's life lessons and principles on how he sharpens his innovative thinking.
Instills an excitement about machinery and normally mundane stuff such as screws and nuts.
Shows how hard work, teamwork, and a quest for excellence Makes Japan Great Again.

CNN, ABC, NBC: are you listening?