Here is some classic scientology “bubble-think”. It supposes that bad press equals interest in participating in scientology -- rather than the newsworthiness of exposed abuses. With this logic the Catholic Church should be excited about the “interest” shown in Catholicism with the coverage of the ongoing pedophile priest scandal. Not to be too logical about this -- if this was in fact true, how come Battle Creek is unable to renovate the building they have had for more than a decade? And have virtually no staff or public? Hubbard formalized this delusional mindset way back in 1958 in … [Read more...]
The Cult Shopping Network
Tonight is the big night! The long awaited, but not anticipated second "season" of the Cult Shopping Network. You can see the trailer here - though I can save you some time as it says absolutely NOTHING. From all indications, the new season WILL defy expectations. Of scientologists hoping for something new, different or effective. As for everyone else -- not so much. The CSN has been a magnificent flop. The REAL audience for this entire scam is internal. They are holding "watching parties" in every org and on L. Ron Hubbard Way. Yet, the public the CSN is NOT aimed at is existing … [Read more...]
CSN Desperate for Content
Apparently the CSN is short of content to put on the air. If you have ever tried to watch it, you will know this is true. They have about 24 hours of total programming that they repeat over and over. It's almost entirely the same stuff on today as was airing the day it launched. I know many cable stations repeat some programming, usually their hit/important shows. Not everything they broadcast. CSN should have a tag line — “Groundhog Day brought to life.” So, they are asking people to send them free stuff they can air. Sort of like a "Writers of the Future" for film and documentary … [Read more...]
Scientology TV Bombing Badly
While there is no way of getting actual audience figures for Scientology TV, there are some available metrics which give some idea. I did a recent blog post about this. Now here are some more unalterable statistical truths. Google tracks interest in websites and gives them global rankings, with #1 being the most popular site on the web, and higher numbers indicate descending volume of traffic. Scientology has spent millions and millions promoting "Scientology.org" -- on billboards, in online ads, TV ads and now featured prominently on "Scientology TV." Every infomercial and ad on … [Read more...]
West Valley Mission Fail
Here is the scientology mission in the Valley. The hotbed of a scientology on planet earth. The photo he used is no doubt putting their best foot forward. A corner of a room with an empty table with two chairs and a bookshelf. Clearly it's hopping and popping out there in the West Valley! Now take a look at the actual location. In the back of an industrial park without even a sign. Let's not forget, every ideal org is supposed to be opening missions and groups around them at a rapid rate. All orgs are supposed to have a minimum of 10 missions, Ideal Orgs are supposed to be opening … [Read more...]
Scientology TV (Cult Shopping Network) Fail
Despite what scientology says, apparently people are NOT "Curious?" At least not to hear the official propaganda from scientology. The problem with the internet is that it makes it so much harder to hide your bs. This is an image from Google Trends. It is not doctored. It's not lies from bitter defrocked apostates on the fringes of the internet. It is available for anyone in the world to see (including the scientologists). No bias. Just raw numbers comparing the interest in scientology tv to the interest in Scientology The Aftermath (don't forget, The Aftermath is not currently airing … [Read more...]
The Big Lie Rolls On
This is one of the more amazing pieces of bubble-think... It was sent to me for the Thursday Funnies, but this little piece of Facebook genius deserves its own post. What a HUGE accomplishment this is -- they got 2 new people doing OCA's! The Cult Shopping Network is clearly flooding the orgs and missions with curious people. OMG, 2 OCA's is a "Win, win, win." If that is true, and these people are not overwhelmed with new public, then the CSN is a complete failure. But even more interesting: Sunland/Tujunga, according to Lydia Hopwood, consists of 30% scientologists. The … [Read more...]
The Truth About the CSN
Though scientology is making efforts to persuade people inside the bubble what an amazing success the CSN is with anecdotal stories of amazingness, the truth is less encouraging. It's impossible to get real numbers of viewership for DirecTV, but there are other measures of success that ARE available. Here are some figures from Google Trends. I have marked on the graph the Super Bowl ad and the CSN launch (and their massive media buys promoting the CSN -- TV, radio and internet). As you can see, after the initial launch, things have sunk back into their normal … [Read more...]
CSN New Shows Premiering Soon
In the spirit of play, and trying to support the Cult Shopping Network with some ideas for programming that might actually get an audience, my old friend Jefferson Hawkins (author of the wonderful Counterfeit Dreams that I highly recommend you read if you have not done so already and mastermind of SkyHawk studios graphic design) put together some promotional pieces. I thought you might enjoy them. Hard to imagine anyone topping the Duggan's, though I think her Royal Governess of the Vast and Entirely Empty Valley Ideal Org might give them a run for their money (so to … [Read more...]
The CSN and Dish TV
The saga of the Cult Shopping Network continues. What we are NOT seeing is shouting from the rooftops about the incredible results of this venture. So far we have been regaled with the amazing feat of one woman starting an extension course after being told her illness was psychosomatic and could be cured. It's been on the air for a week now. If the hype was true, we would be seeing pictures of Introductory Courses full of people and Facebook would be filled with local scientologists boasting about how many people are in their org. Nothing in sight. Instead, they keep telling … [Read more...]