IS TV FOLLOWING?

[freqdev]

nbc replaying an old snl in primetime. isn't that like voice tracking? better content is better programming?

 

[carolinaradio]

NBC is an absolute disaster. The ratings are terrible and I don't see any prospect for turnaround any time soon. They only did better earlier in the season due to Sunday Night Football and The Voice.

In the era of cable, with more and more networks successfully programming to a niche (a luxury broadcast can't really afford), I think it's definitely a threat to prime-time broadcast programming. The only network doing well right now, really, is CBS. I think the networks are going to have to work pretty hard if they want to retain an edge over cable.

 

[GordonSims]

It's almost as if CBS was looking long-term and actually investing in the creation, development, marketing, and promotion of their product while NBC is hoping for the best while only spending what this months budget will allow

 

[Gatekeeper007]

Granted things are tough for the networks but I see a trend starting if it keeps going where some people are dumping cable, satellite, ect... and going to off the air networks due to money crunch and high cable and satellite prices, I wonder if this will contue. So far everyone who we have helped with outside antennas has been totally suprised at the number of channels they receive off air now. Granted it's no where near the same as cable or satellite but a lot of people have told me that their favorite shows on cable come back on but only last a few weeks and are gone again before they really get a chance to watch them and they are tired of the high prices. About one third can get internet and said they would also go with something like Hulu or Netflix also. This trend only started about 2 months ago it will be interesting to see if it keeps going.

 

[RadioOCD]

Re: IS TV FOLLOWING? Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper check your inbox.

Granted things are tough for the networks but I see a trend starting if it keeps going where some people are dumping cable, satellite, ect... and going to off the air networks due to money crunch and high cable and satellite prices, I wonder if this will contue. So far everyone who we have helped with outside antennas has been totally suprised at the number of channels they receive off air now. Granted it's no where near the same as cable or satellite but a lot of people have told me that their favorite shows on cable come back on but only last a few weeks and are gone again before they really get a chance to watch them and they are tired of the high prices. About one third can get internet and said they would also go with something like Hulu or Netflix also. This trend only started about 2 months ago it will be interesting to see if it keeps going.

 

[awp69]

NBC is an absolute disaster.  The ratings are terrible and I don't see any prospect for turnaround any time soon. They only did better earlier in the season due to Sunday Night Football and The Voice.

In the era of cable, with more and more networks successfully programming to a niche (a luxury broadcast can't really afford), I think it's definitely a threat to prime-time broadcast programming.  The only network doing well right now, really, is CBS.  I think the networks are going to have to work pretty hard if they want to retain an edge over cable.

I think network TV needs to lighten up the reigns again -- back to the days when they were pushing it with things like "NYPD Blue". I'm not saying profanity, violence and nudity just for the sake of those things, but edgy, well-written adult drama is sorely needed. "Homeland" is a prime example of how cable can produce deep, character driven stories that may have some touchy material not "suitable" for the networks. And that's Showtime ...not even the perennial favorite HBO.

FX and AMC both have produced top notch material -- and I'm referring to things like "Breaking Bad". And even though "The Walking Dead" has plenty of excessive violence, even its writing trumps most network programming.

CBS has done well with "Person of Interest" and "Elementary", both of which may not be all that edgy but definately have better writing than a lot of the trash on TV. But sadly, one of the reason CBS has done well is their comedies, which DO really push the boundaries -- watch any Monday night and its almost a relentless barrage of sexual innuendos that sometimes are surprising to see even in the 8 o'clock hour.

The networks for the most part have put quality on hold when you compare them to the cable networks. Fox blew it big time IMO with "The Following", preferring to use the "shock value" of cable-like shows rather than the better writing.

Maybe TV dramas need to take note of the shorter 13-episode or so seasons of their cable counterparts so perhaps writing can be more of a focus. A show like "Homeland", I don't think would be a niche show on network TV. And if even "niche" shows like "The Walking Dead" are doing better in the ratings than standard network programming, well, maybe the execs need to rethink their audiences.

 

[tylerSC]

Put up an outside antenna and you can receive most Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville channels, as well as several Charlotte signals. In high definition. Then add a Roku or other streaming box for Netflix, Hulu etc. Done deal.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Put up an outside antenna and you can receive most Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville channels, as well as several Charlotte signals. In high definition. Then add a Roku or other streaming box for Netflix, Hulu etc. Done deal.

Depends on where you are.

I haven't got an incentive to put up an outside antenna yet. If I could be sure of a perfect signal at all times on all the stations I get now (not possible: one station on which I watch lots of movies cannot be received here according to warnings we were given during the conversion, and one PBS station is VHF on hamster power), the only problem would be finding a way to record shows and not have to select the channel each time. Shows airing in the middle of the night would be a problem. And any time I forget to change the channel before recording, that's a problem. I have yet to find any machine that will let me do it.

But if Time Warner keeps going up on the price I may have to consider it.

I've never watched original episodes of SNL before, so I like what they're doing. Though I could tape. And still do in case I forget.

 

[carolinaradio]

The Charlotte channels are no different for primetime, which is the main issue.

NBC is an absolute disaster. The ratings are terrible and I don't see any prospect for turnaround any time soon. They only did better earlier in the season due to Sunday Night Football and The Voice.

In the era of cable, with more and more networks successfully programming to a niche (a luxury broadcast can't really afford), I think it's definitely a threat to prime-time broadcast programming. The only network doing well right now, really, is CBS. I think the networks are going to have to work pretty hard if they want to retain an edge over cable.

I think network TV needs to lighten up the reigns again -- back to the days when they were pushing it with things like "NYPD Blue". I'm not saying profanity, violence and nudity just for the sake of those things, but edgy, well-written adult drama is sorely needed. "Homeland" is a prime example of how cable can produce deep, character driven stories that may have some touchy material not "suitable" for the networks. And that's Showtime ...not even the perennial favorite HBO.

FX and AMC both have produced top notch material -- and I'm referring to things like "Breaking Bad". And even though "The Walking Dead" has plenty of excessive violence, even its writing trumps most network programming.

CBS has done well with "Person of Interest" and "Elementary", both of which may not be all that edgy but definately have better writing than a lot of the trash on TV. But sadly, one of the reason CBS has done well is their comedies, which DO really push the boundaries -- watch any Monday night and its almost a relentless barrage of sexual innuendos that sometimes are surprising to see even in the 8 o'clock hour.

The networks for the most part have put quality on hold when you compare them to the cable networks. Fox blew it big time IMO with "The Following", preferring to use the "shock value" of cable-like shows rather than the better writing.

Maybe TV dramas need to take note of the shorter 13-episode or so seasons of their cable counterparts so perhaps writing can be more of a focus. A show like "Homeland", I don't think would be a niche show on network TV. And if even "niche" shows like "The Walking Dead" are doing better in the ratings than standard network programming, well, maybe the execs need to rethink their audiences.

I agree- Cable used to be a supplement for broadcast TV from the 80s in to the 00s, but that's changed and it's a genuine threat now.

The luxury that cable has that broadcast doesn't is that cable is able to target certain audiences. For example, AMC has HBO/Showtime-type material in "Walking Dead" and "Mad Men." FX pushes the boundaries and has gone for an edgy audience with shows like "Sons of Anarchy", "Justified", "Archer", etc. USA runs a lot of "light" comedy-dramas that are tamer than a lot of broadcast with stuff like "Royal Pains" and "Psych." Kids have Disney, ABCFamily, Nickelodeon, etc. producing scripted programming. Since there are more cable channels than broadcast, and since they have a lower bar set for ratings (although it is rising), they are more able to effectively program towards niche/targeted audiences than broadcast networks which have long been expected to produce "mass appeal" programming.

This is not the Gunsmoke era anymore when grandma and the kids all watched the same shows. That's good and bad, I guess. I just think the one-size-fits-all, mass appeal concept we've seen on the 4 major networks in the past is no longer a viable concept. The networks are struggling to launch new shows that do well out of the gate and some of the veteran shows are dying (look how American Idol has fallen and how The X-Factor hasn't reached Idol numbers). CBS seems to be holding up the best, with their sitcoms and crimetime dramas, but eventually NCIS, CSI, Criminal Minds, etc. will run out of steam and they may find themselves where the other networks are. If nets like ABC don't evolve and find a niche, they may find themselves where NBC is soon enough. Broadcast definitely needs to step up their game.

What's interesting is that USA, who is so successful, is owned by NBCUniversal who of course owns the struggling NBC.

 

[Gatekeeper007]

I agree that the networks need to step up their game and with digital TV signals able to provide multi channels often four or more per channel the networks need to make use of this with in many new ways. Program to different audenices on these secondary feeds, produce new shows only for these secondary channels that the entire general public doesn't need to have. Local stations put some local sports on these feeds, america's most wanted in your area's, If they are in an area for fishing put fishing reports/shows, if a hunting area put hunting reports/shows, if a farming area put farming reports/shows, put job service reports for your area on those secondary channels to help people find jobs no matter how big or small, ect... ect... One of the advantages that off air stations has is localism that cable doesn't provide in a lot of cases and satellite can't do at all, use it then people will want to put commericals on these secondary channels. This is just a few idea's of what can be done by local stations and networks to make use of these new channels and give them an edge over cable or satellite.

 

[Scooter Lesley]

Some reference a TV as a "Boob Tube". That points to...you will be(become) stupid, if you watch it too much. As for the big networks, I find them all drastically underwhelming, with my diappointment riding an incoming boomarang. Aside from Pro Wrestling(ROH,TNA,WWE), I limit myself to around three network weeklys. At one point, I thought "Human Target" was a good show, that showed promise. Once I commited to watch it, as always, the network moved it all over the calendar. Then, I couldn't keep-up, and then,...a new episode, in two weeks,...at a new time,...on a new night. After the original core viewers couldn't find it, it made the cancelation list. This season, one of my picks is "Vegas". Recently, they moved it to Friday. To me, it all smacks of a...(do we dare say it?)...Consultant. Oddly enough, NBC does have a winner in "The Voice". I like the show, but I can't help,...but ponder when they will Pee on it?

 

[awp69]

What's interesting is that USA, who is so successful, is owned by NBCUniversal who of course owns the struggling NBC.

I was actually SHOCKED that Hannibal is actually a really, really well done show when I watched it and it's definitely a "niche" show. Surprisingly violent to see on NBC, even more so than The Following. But it wasn't the violence that made it effective, it was just very well acted, written and beautifully directed. I honestly didn't think a show based on Hannibal Lecter could be any good, but it was IMO.
Incredibly creepy and atmospheric. Interesting that it's so much better than the much more hyped The Following.

Sadly, it didn't do well in the overnight ratings, but it's also up against two Thursday biggies - Scandal and Elementary. I wish NBC would move it to another night. But with their low ratings overall on NBC, it may stick around.

 

[carolinaradio]

I have to admit that I haven't checked out many of NBC's new shows this season, but maybe I'll check that one out. NBC has actually been the network taking risks and has put out some good programming (to get such a bad reputation). NBC took risks with the single-camera comedies like The Office and 30 Rock - could you really see CBS or ABC putting something like that on the air back in 2005-2006? They've had a decent number of critically-acclaimed shows. One issue making a lot of these GOOD shows not do well is that there aren't many viewers watching the network in the first place, so they aren't seeing the promotion to at least sample them. Now, with TODAY slipping a little, and Leno leaving next year, it'll be interesting to see how they do even outside of primetime which had been immune until recently. I wish I could see something positive for their ratings in the near future, but they're in quite a spiral. Such a shame when you think about the powerhouse they were from the '80s in to the mid-'00s.

NBC is pretty desperate, so I think we're seeing and going to see a lot of lower-rated shows renewed. Parks & Rec, Parenthood, etc. are more than likely going to be renewed, but wouldn't have a chance on one of the other big networks with those numbers. Heck, maybe even Community. I think they need to really only renew the truly strong shows (for them).

The other networks, particularly CBS and ABC, could be in NBC's position sooner than later, so I would hope they're planning ahead as their heavyweights start to age.