Any predictions (or guesses) on what 2018 might have in store for any aspects of television in general? Such as new stations (if any), sign-offs, station consolidations, program cancellations/ratings, cable channel rebrands/shutdowns, ownership matters, cable/satellite operations, etc.
I'm going to go onto a limb and make a few general guesses:
--Super Bowl LII on NBC Feb. 4 will be among the lowest-rated Super Bowls since 2000. Some major advertisers will announce plans to pull out of SB LIII after this year's ratings disaster.
--Lower ratings than in recent years will spread to most other major sporting events (e.g., Winter Olympics, World Series, NBA Finals, College Football Playoff, maybe even the NCAA men's basketball tournament). As well as awards shows (e.g., Oscars, Tonys, Grammys) and Miss America.
--The cancellation of "General Hospital" and/or "Days of Our Lives" will be announced (final show either next December or at the end of the 2018-19 season). Which will put ABC and/or NBC out of the soap business. (I will go on a further limb and predict both shows will be cancelled if not this year, by the end of 2019).
--NBC fires Megyn Kelly
--At least one long-running cable network shuts down
--At least one Netlet will be cancelled nationally
--More sexual harassment scandals/charges
--The Disney/Fox deal will lead to the cancellation of "The Simpsons," either after this current season or the 2018-19 season (its cancellation will be announced this year).
--There will be at least one major cable provider that will take significant steps toward converting their system to an all-HD lineup in some markets (other than network still only available in SD). If so I predict Comcast will do this--including no longer offering SD converter boxes to new customers.
--There will also be at least one large or even major city (one at least 10,000 population) that will lose their cable system entirely. This may even happen much closer to home to me than I think: http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171110/springfield-in-talks-with-comcast-to-collect-underpayment-of-fees
Any other predictions for TV in 2018 that you want to throw out there?
I'm going to go onto a limb and make a few general guesses:
--Super Bowl LII on NBC Feb. 4 will be among the lowest-rated Super Bowls since 2000. Some major advertisers will announce plans to pull out of SB LIII after this year's ratings disaster.
--Lower ratings than in recent years will spread to most other major sporting events (e.g., Winter Olympics, World Series, NBA Finals, College Football Playoff, maybe even the NCAA men's basketball tournament). As well as awards shows (e.g., Oscars, Tonys, Grammys) and Miss America.
--The cancellation of "General Hospital" and/or "Days of Our Lives" will be announced (final show either next December or at the end of the 2018-19 season). Which will put ABC and/or NBC out of the soap business. (I will go on a further limb and predict both shows will be cancelled if not this year, by the end of 2019).
--NBC fires Megyn Kelly
--At least one long-running cable network shuts down
--At least one Netlet will be cancelled nationally
--More sexual harassment scandals/charges
--The Disney/Fox deal will lead to the cancellation of "The Simpsons," either after this current season or the 2018-19 season (its cancellation will be announced this year).
--There will be at least one major cable provider that will take significant steps toward converting their system to an all-HD lineup in some markets (other than network still only available in SD). If so I predict Comcast will do this--including no longer offering SD converter boxes to new customers.
--There will also be at least one large or even major city (one at least 10,000 population) that will lose their cable system entirely. This may even happen much closer to home to me than I think: http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171110/springfield-in-talks-with-comcast-to-collect-underpayment-of-fees
Any other predictions for TV in 2018 that you want to throw out there?
