Don't leave! Stay with us ! , by Erik Pevernagie, oil on canvas,(100 x 80 cm)

Media seem to get off easy to stuff the "sheeple" with canned and standardized messages that they can digest at ease in their comfort zone, without leaving any bitter aftertaste

Since a permanent fear of losing customers is haunting them, they suffer from the terror of media metrics. Competition forces them to beg and implore viewers and listeners to stay with them. Therefore they use a variety of wordings: keep listening, keep watching, stay put, don't change the channel, stay with us, stay right where you are, don't move, stick with us, be connected, stick around, hang around, sit tight, stay tuned. "Don't go away!" was CNN host Larry King's usual saying.

To ensure they keep their audience tuned up and shrink channel surfing, they don't hesitate to yield to infantilizing their medium, giving infotainment, and shortening commercial breaks.

As the channel media war does not diminish, they have to seduce clients to avoid a decrease of fast-forwarding past the advertisements. Sam Smith gives a personal note: 'Stay with Me.'

Phenomenon: Fidelity to television program

Factual starting point of the picture: Person in leaving position