As you may have heard, TBS and TNT both have totally cut their original programming as part of discoverys leadership (they merged). Chad, which was supposed to debut it's second season yesterday, was canned and will be sold to someone else even though the product was finished. Even their unscripted shows are being cut like the big d which was a reality dating game which was even finished and ready to air. What do you think will happen?
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Future of TBS/TNT?
- Thread starter tall_guy1
- Start date
I think the current vision for TBS and TNT (and USA, to some extent) are as sports networks in prime time with general entertainment programming at other hours.
The problem with 24 hour sports networks like NBCSN and FS1 are very low ratings outside live sports hours. Both tried some SportsCenter imitations which were not well-received and did not last very long.
If airing Friends at 8:30 am on Friday will earn better ratings than a SportsCenter imitation, or a collector car auction, or a NASCAR race re-run, then they should air Friends.
The problem with 24 hour sports networks like NBCSN and FS1 are very low ratings outside live sports hours. Both tried some SportsCenter imitations which were not well-received and did not last very long.
If airing Friends at 8:30 am on Friday will earn better ratings than a SportsCenter imitation, or a collector car auction, or a NASCAR race re-run, then they should air Friends.
Actually the budget cuts for TBS/TNT began 2 years ago with AT&T. They couldn't understand why there was so much development money going to those two channels. So they redistributed it to HBO and started HBO Max. The new team at Discovery have a lot of decisions to make because they clearly have a lot more cable channels than they need.
This article is from two years ago:
This article is from two years ago:
Actually discovery is nixing some of their unscripted shows as well. This was a reality show called the big d that was set to premier in July. They yanked it and called it a tax write off. From the looks of it, a good move.
by 2032, internet streaming TV would be the norm, so CBS would move the games to Paramount Plus if WBD kills TNT & TBS before 2032.
Most likely it would be a breach of contract if TNT &TBS shut down. As well as the NBA and NHL and MLB deals.
It would only be a breach if there was not an equivalent or better network substituted, in the same way that NBCSN shut down and sent their sports programming to USA.
For example, if TNT shut down and those sports broadcasts moved to Discovery, that would likely not constitute a breach.
Regardless, I don't foresee TBS or TNT shutting down.
For example, if TNT shut down and those sports broadcasts moved to Discovery, that would likely not constitute a breach.
Regardless, I don't foresee TBS or TNT shutting down.
I don't think they shut the Turner networks down. I can see them trimming some Discovery networks first.
If any networks get trimmed it will most likely be Discovery Family first as that has been up and down for along time with Discovery Kids and then The Hub now discovery Family. TNT and TBS will most likely stick around but have more sports than they use to.
I can see them merging some of Discovery Family's programming into Cartoon Network, but Boomerang is another channel I'm wondering what they will do with. I'm also wondering what they will do with TCM. I hope they will keep it as is.
That would be like asking ten years ago (2012) whether or not Conan would still be on the network, having no knowledge of HBO max which he'd move to. It's completely out of our knowledge that far in the future...
But... unless the government effectively provides high-speed subsidized Internet connections to lower income households there will still be a percentage of families that will depend on OTA or traditional cable for entertainment. That is a huge market for ad-supported TV.
That lower-income segment of the population is so often forgotten when "it's only $19.95 a month" is mentioned.
And with the current high inflation, things like cable and premium channels and services are a quick reduction provider for tight-budget households.
I keep getting notices from Spectrum cable that I may be eligible for a subsidy on my service. I think the subsidy plan was first put into place as a Covid pandemic program, but I think Congress has made it permanent.
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a long-term, $14 billion program to help ensure we can afford the internet connections we need for work, school, health care and more for a long time. Eligible households can receive a monthly discount of up to $30 per month on their internet service bill...
For you prognosticator's who are trying to predict the future of certain cable channels, here's something to consider:
Consolidation came about because it gives a larger network leverage when it comes to negotiating transmission rates with cable companies, because that's a big chunk of income. It also forces cable companies to carry channels that they otherwise would have passed on. Some program providers like Discovery, essentially warehouse formerly well known channels in case some unique programming comes along. Since these networks already own rights to a lot of programming, they can spread it across a lot of real estate and place ads on those channels accordingly.
Consolidation came about because it gives a larger network leverage when it comes to negotiating transmission rates with cable companies, because that's a big chunk of income. It also forces cable companies to carry channels that they otherwise would have passed on. Some program providers like Discovery, essentially warehouse formerly well known channels in case some unique programming comes along. Since these networks already own rights to a lot of programming, they can spread it across a lot of real estate and place ads on those channels accordingly.
JeeperOne
Banned
So does this board
So you don't foresee blowing up TNT?
Somewhere there will always be TNT blown up.
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