What's the future of syndicated TV?

[anotherguyTN]

I'm wondering as 2015 starts that perhaps it's now the infomercial that's going the way of the dodo. I don't have any numbers to support this theory, just what I see. Fewer are being produced, mostly from Time-Life, health, beauty, and fitness products, and the occasional house flipper. All the rest have either gone bankrupt, or gone to jail. ION TV - once the infomercial king....the longest block is 5 1/2 hours early Monday mornings....It shrinks from there! Here in LA in the overnight hours are being filled more and more with either sitcoms or re-runs of cable reality shows. Is there a big difference in the hours devoted to infomercials in other cities. Will we wonder were they all went say in two years time?

It seems like some cable networks may have cut back on infomercials, but local stations in my area are just as bad or worse than ever.

 

[MarcB]

I still see infomercials for cooking products, like the NuWave Oven, Ronco's Six Star Cutlery Set (has aired for years), and...wait for it...Mick and Mimi's Magic Bullet! I swear that infomercial has aired for 10 or more years straight.
I still miss seeing the Miracle Blade III with Chef Tony, and the Showtime Rotisserie infomercial. Those were entertaining programs. "Set it and Forget It! (R)"

-crainbebo

The NuWave Oven, Magic Bullet, and Showtime Rotisserie are all products that work. I know people who have those products.

As for Chef Tony he's a product demonstrator on The QVC. Watch In The Kitchen with David Sundays at Noon Eastern and Wednesdays at 8PM Eastern to see him. He's on with David demonstrating products almost every show.

 

[Mr Tony]

I'm wondering as 2015 starts that perhaps it's now the infomercial that's going the way of the dodo.

nah. Instead of it saying "Paid Program" in the guide they come up with "cutesy" names like
Cant sleep?
Made in America
Breaking Bald
21 day fix
got a Turkey Neck
Body Beast
Larry King Special Report

and so on

In Minneapolis on Satudays there will be HOURS of paid programs during the day on stations. Example this Saturday7
Fox 9 has it from noon to 4
KSTC 45 (Independent) has it pretty much from 3:30AM-3PM. There are two 1/2 hour blocks of actual programming like This Old house and Midwest Outdoors
WFTC 29 My Network also goes from 3:30AM to 3PM (sans the 2 hour EI block)
WCCO 4 CBS has a block from noon to 1PM
KSTP 5 ABC has a block form 1-2

 

[crainbebo]

I've even seen listings for "The Carol Burnett Show" and "Montel Williams" on some TV stations. Infomercials trying to confuse TV viewers that they are watching an old Carol Burnett episode.

-crainbebo

 

[anotherguyTN]

I've seen this with infomercials for Johnny Carson and Laugh-in DVD sets as well. I'll admit I don't mind watching those or Carol Burnett as bad since they do have some funny moments.

 

[Mr Tony]

I've even seen listings for "The Carol Burnett Show" and "Montel Williams" on some TV stations. Infomercials trying to confuse TV viewers that they are watching an old Carol Burnett episode.

-crainbebo

agreed. Probably confuses folks now even more that Carol Burnett is on MeTV