The shit-disturber side of me says, "Take that, Redmond."
Look at California: it takes a full 8 to 9 hours to get from the north end of that state to the south end. If they can connect the Bay Area to Los Angeles and make it a 2 or 2.5 hour trip, it'll be a huge boon (HUGE) to everyone from tourists to commuters to business people.
There are fantastic possibilities here, they're not trying to send little Johnny from NY to California by rail.
Prefer sizzle sounds? O.M.G.
Here's the thing: Fox makes tons of money off of initial ad sales when its found the "next big thing".
"This will be the next Simpsons", "This will be the next 24", "This will be the next Idol".
Phrases like that are what get the ad dollars because companies want their product tied to something big at the very beginning. Fox gets those shows on the air, gets those ad dollars, and gets eyeballs looking at the time slot. Numbers start to wane, another "next big thing" ad opportunity rolls around, and they yank the show and slide in the new one.
Money, people, money money money. They don't give a rat's ass about satisfaction of a small-but-loyal viewer set, they care only about ad revenue.
Tax cuts. More tax cuts and tax rebates and tax credits. It really works, I've seen it.
You get your tax cuts, you take your receipts to that little 4x5 H&R Block kiosk in the middle of Walmart, you walk around while they prepare them, they cut you an advance refund check, and you take it over and buy a new flatscreen Vizio TV to hang on the wood panelling in your trailer. And that stimulates the economy.
Duh.
It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.