> Jackass thrived in an era when TV networks had the power to decide what was cool and who was famous.
Most TV network content fails. TV networks (just like digital networks) can guarantee some level of distribution and marketing support, but they could no more guarantee the kind of virality that Jackass experienced anymore than YouTube can.
I think the lack of entertainment options in years before YouTube and broadband internet would have improved the odds for the limited content that made it into TV channels to become popular and on a national scale.
Most TV network content fails. TV networks (just like digital networks) can guarantee some level of distribution and marketing support, but they could no more guarantee the kind of virality that Jackass experienced anymore than YouTube can.