TV's Bad Reception

USA Today ^ | November 13, 2004 | Gary Levin

[RayChuang88]

Quick, can you name a new hit show this fall?

No? You're not alone.

There aren't any.

In a fall season that usually showcases network TV at its boastful finest, the words "disconcerting," "depressing" and "malaise" are on the lips of network executives as new series falter and returning hits fade. Fox's critically praised Skin, NBC's massively hyped sex comedy Coupling and WB's heroic Tarzan — each considered a network best bet as the season began — are among the first casualties.

Young-adult viewers, the darlings of Madison Avenue, are more scarce than ever, defecting in larger numbers as older folks remain loyal.

One telltale sign: This week, in the middle of the crucial November sweeps period, brings 121/2 hours of repeats — an extraordinary effort to fill gaps left by hastily canceled failures and the aborted CBS miniseries The Reagans. Usually sweeps months, which are used to set local ad rates, offer non-stop fresh programming.

[RayChuang88]

Like the New York Times article I posted earlier, the folks in the entertainment industry should have seen this coming a LONG time ago when Alvin Toffler published his famous book The Third Wave (1979).

One chapter of that book, "De-Massifying the Media," says that as communications technologies improves the once hammerlock-level control of the over-air TV networks over television watching habits will come to an end. Toffler's prophecies have now become 2003 reality, and the major networks are being left behind in the age of 60-plus channel cable TV, 200-plus channel direct-broadcast satellite TV, pre-recorded home video on videocassette and DVD, and the public Internet.

[templar]

Why? Opinions differ, and the causes are varied:,,,

They left out all of my resons:
1 Pro homo stuff gets the channel changed or the tv off. And advertisers boycotted.
2 Blatantly anti-gun propaganda in any form gets the channel changed or the TV off. I'm probably already boycotting these advertisers.
3 Anti Christian messages get the channel changed or the TV off.
4 Pro "Religion of peace" propaganda gets the channel changed or the TV off.
5 White conservative right wing terrorist propaganda gets the channel changed or the TV off.
6 A pro abortion message gets the TV unplugged, and almost smashed sometimes.
7 Sexual imorality as the basic theme of a program gets it turned off .
8 Reality shows bore the heck out of me. I've got a REAL life, I don't have time to waste watching someone elses pretended real life.
9 I find a theme based on deception (Joe millionaire, etc.) to be offensive. TV changed or off.
10 Pro wrestling ... Well, OK, I still watch it. But I wish they'd get rid of some of the more obscene psuedo macho crap and clean up their act a bit. Or I'm gonna change channels and quit watching... someday ... maybe.

[billorites]

I just don't watch networks anymore. It's not a premeditated decision, but there's nothing I seek. I get news, info and entertainment elsewhere.

When I do watch tube I'm watching DVD's from NetFlix, PBS, C-SPAN or FOX.

Networks? Never.

[Eala]

as older folks remain loyal.

As a Boomer, am I "older folks"? I think in the past three months I've turned the TV on (to a broadcast channel) twice. And the second turned out to be a re-run of the program I watched the first time -- even Star Trek doesn't seem to cut it any more...

OTOH, my mother-in-law counts as almost fanatically loyal. She's quite bright; I don't understand how she can watch that daytime TV drivel.

[irv]

One guy in the article hit it on the head. The shows are dull. Or offensive. Or both. I work nights. I don't miss TV.

I videotape Angel and Mail Call. Both of these are much funnier than the highest rated sit-coms (except Malcolm in the Middle. I like that one).

There are two or three other things I'll watch if they're in front of me but, at the moment, I can't think of what any of them are called. Does this tell network executives anything? Of course not. It's all Neilsen's fault ...

[Cicero]

I haven't watched TV for about 15 years. My wife and kids watch it a little, but I've noticed they seem to watch it less and less. Instead, with no urging from me, they seem to prefer playing computer games or watching DVD movies.

The only show my youngest kids don't want to miss these days is "The Simpsons."

[ex-Texan]

Mostly -- I agree with you. I do not watch wrestling (but I did watch it occasionally many years ago). Joe Milionaire is the sort of BSCrapola I would never watch in a million years. Also, those terrible "dating shows" that exhibit worse "viewer appeal" than those air-headed-bimbos and over-sexed-weirdos they often feature. Automatic off button response from me.

Most of all: I resent those total flaming idiots at CBS, NBC, ABC et al trying to influence my opinion on anything newsworthy.

[Spunky]

For something to laugh at I still like "Everybody loves Raymond" and "Fraser" and then CMI for forensic evidence stuff.

[fjsva]

With rules like that you don't watch much tv.

I watch 3-4 channels of the 90+ on my cable system.

Reason...Most tv shows just plain stink.

[ex-Texan]

Mostly -- I agree with you. I do not watch wrestling (but I did watch it occasionally many years ago). Joe Milionaire is the sort of BSCrapola I would never watch in a million years. Also, those terrible "dating shows" that exhibit worse "viewer appeal" than those air-headed-bimbos and over-sexed-weirdos they often feature. Automatic off button response from me.

Most of all: I resent those total flaming idiots at CBS, NBC, ABC et al trying to influence my opinion on anything newsworthy.

[Nita Nupress]

What else does one need besides FR and Fox News? Absolutely nothing.

Wellllll.... Maybe The History Channel. But only on a slow news day. :-)

[Interesting Times]

Just a temporary setback, no doubt...

[sweetliberty]

[polemikos]

Have you ever timed how long your tv set is on before you hit the 'off' button? I'm thinking it only takes a minute or 2 ;-)

Channel surfing with kids in the room is an impossibility anymore. Haven't watched broadcast in a couple of years. Now, if I could just get a credit for all the channels I won't watch...

[dwilli]

I thought The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire was a fairly entertaining show but apparently few others did.

[tiki]

Wht do they expect when they go against everything that the normal person stands for?

[CIB-173RDABN]

I have never sat down and made a list of why I don't watch a certain TV show, but if I did, it would look a lot like yours.

[freedumb2003]

"It begs the question of what's the right space for broadcasters."

No it doesn't. It may raise the question, but by no means does the question provide its own answer.

Sheesh -- and this person writes for a living.

[whereasandsoforth]

I always believed the almighty dollar was king but I think it has met it's match. Progressing the liberal line of BS must be the most important thing. If that's not the explaination, what is? All these TV executives sit around and mouth-off about all the wrong reasons people have stopped watching their crappy networks. The true answer is right before their eyes as big as Mt. Rushmore.

The vast majority of the people are not liberals. Even some of the ones that thought they were liberal have found out they really aren't. As long as the networks refuse to program for the decent and conservative folks that use to be their audience, they are doomed to fade away into Infomercial Hell. And they obviously do refuse to change. They can't bring themselves to admit the liberal's day is done.

So hanging in there with their liberalism has to mean more than the almighty dollar now. I'm glad I'm not a stockholder.

[JoeSixPack1]

Television's lock on in-home entertainment has finally met its match.

But it took B. Gates, S. Jobs & JimRob to make it hurt! <|:-)~~