Are rich media better than single media in online learning?

Are rich media better than single media in online learning?
Tony Bates, online learning and distance education resources, 2015/01/02
Tony Bates suggests, "In general, it is usually a useful guideline always to look for the simplest medium first then only opt for a more complex or richer medium if the simple medium can’t deliver the learning goals as adequately." One reason for this is "there may be too many distractions in a rich medium for students to grasp the essential point of the teaching." But if what Daniel Lemire says below is true, then this is fals. More...