Ratings Slide: Now is the Summer of the Networks’ Discontent (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

The New York Times ^ | June 23, 2009 | Bill Carter

[abb]

How bad is network television getting already this summer?

The answer: the worst it has ever been, at least among those younger viewers three of the networks are always saying they are most avid to reach. Last week, the four networks performed abysmally across the board in viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, posting the lowest combined rating in that category ever for the four broadcast networks.

As bad as the total number was, ABC won the most dubious achievement award. ABC’s 18-49 rating of a 1.1 was the worst performance ever for that network.

Once before, last summer, ABC scored a number that low, but that was up against the Beijing Olympics. This year, ABC had no such formidable competition as an excuse. The other networks had very little to offer that anyone young wanted to see.

ABC can’t really blame it all on a lineup of repeats either. About 57 per cent of the network’s schedule was original – and ABC even managed to land three shows in the top 10 for the week in those 18-49 year old viewers.

But ABC also dotted its schedule with original episodes of shows it had left over from series that ran in the regular season but were cancelled before all of its original episodes made it onto the air. Many of these – like “Cupid,” “The Unusuals” and “Eli Stone” – were highly expensive dramas that ABC slotted at 10 p.m. and met with overwhelming rejection during the regular television season.

“Eli Stone,” for example, once one of ABC’s big hopes to finally find some answers at 10 p.m., broadcast an original episode on Saturday night, and pulled in only 625,000 viewers between 18 and 49.

snip

[abb]

"By the end of this decade or shortly thereafter, television networks as we know them today will cease to exist. They will be just another url on the world wide web competing against millions of others."

"Network evening newscasts will go dark after the '08 elections and their news divisions disbanded."

Walter Abbott, (b. 1950), Media observer and commentator

[abb]

Tuesday afternoon good news ping!

[wac3rd]

Nearly every sitcom and drama is Left-wing, except for a few...people tire of Marxist utopian dreams and the continual drumbeat of “Communism-for-you-and-leave-my-gated-Beverly Hills/Upper East Side-gated-lifestyle-alone” crap.

[abb]

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=108440
Paper Thin: Magazine Ad Pages Down 20% In July

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Research_25/Broadband_is_now_woven_into_our_lives.asp
Broadband is now woven into our lives

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090623/FREE/906239982
CBS Chief Moonves hit with a 76% pay cut in 2008

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i4bd3d37ca0da05dce19441665852f069
Media stocks sink Monday

http://www.clickz.com/3634177
New Yahoo Display Tool May Compete with Newspaper Partners

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/06/19/2009-06-19_channel_5_and_channel_9_announce_layoffs_to_offcamera_employees_recession_blamed.html
Bad news: Channel 5 and Channel 9 announce layoffs to off-camera employees - recession blamed

http://www.thedeal.com/dealscape/2009/06/ink-stained_wretches_newspaper.php
Ink-stained wretches: Newspaper sector update

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=34498&seenIt=1
Tribune Co. could end up with bigger stake in Cubs

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/06/editor_others_o.html
Editor, five others out at Boston magazine

[PrincessB]

I like the Unusuals. Sad to see it go. For the most part stuff is absolutely terrible. I finished a craft project last week that I had been working on for months. I usually had the TV on while I worked. Last night I couldn’t believe how little I really paid attention to the TV while I worked. I tried to actually watch The Batchelorette. I lasted about 20 minutes before I had to find something else to do. I watched that because I didn’t care for much else. I am starting a new project next week and will take the time to download a few podcasts everyday to get through the work.

[AUJenn]

We don’t watch TV much at all during the summer. Catch an occasional baseball game, maybe a little golf. Besides that it’s just trashy “reality” shows that feature people we don’t care about.

It doesn’t get dark here til nearly 9 so we are usually outside rather than sitting in front of the tube.

Can’t wait for Mad Men to start back up in August though!

[Landru]

"How bad is network television getting already this summer?" bill carter, NYSlimes

Not as bad as your employer's circ numbers, Billy boy. LOL!!

Oh well abb, the alphabets got to learn somehow.
Right?

Let's hope they all don't sort it out, before it's too late. ;^)

[GOPJ]

Let me get this straight. The shows are written for liberals, by liberals, produced by liberals and acted by liberals. And somehow these folks think conservatives are going to watch and buy the advertised products?

[Costumed Vigilante]

There is a very subtle and complex reason for the networks losing significant audience numbers and failing to halt the slide with their new shows:

The shows *suck*.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Let me get this straight. The shows are written for liberals, by liberals, produced by liberals and acted by liberals. And somehow these folks think conservatives are going to watch and buy the advertised products?”

Comment of the decade.

[KarlInOhio]

I like the Unusuals. Sad to see it go.

From the orignal ads it looked like it was going to be a police comedy. Turned out to be a drama with maybe a little more humor and off-the-wall strangeness than usual.

[Just another Joe]

“Eli Stone,” for example, once one of ABC’s big hopes to finally find some answers at 10 p.m., broadcast an original episode on Saturday night, and pulled in only 625,000 viewers between 18 and 49.

Just how many of those "younger" viewers do they suppose are going to be home at 10:00 PM on a Saturday night?

[abb]

Oh, more bad news!!

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/295556-MTV_Networks_Drops_the_Axe.php
MTV Networks Drops the Axe
Lays off around 75 staff

[spodefly]

As a counterpoint to the usually craptastic network programming, NBC has a show this year called “Kings” that is absolutely fantastic. An obviously high-budget production based on the Biblical David and Goliath storyline, beautifully acted and photographed.

All episodes are available online at:

http://www.hulu.com/kings

Do yourself a favor and watch it from episode 1. You have my personal Spodefly Guarantee of Complete Satisfaction, or your money back.

BTW, it is cancelled after this 13 episode run.

[Landru]

"Oh, more bad news!!"

Go ahead, mock 'em!!
Typical insensitive response.

Just exactly where will one get their daily fix of 50 cent now, pray-tell. LOL!!!!!

[devane617]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2277631/posts

[GSWarrior]

[abb]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003986759
SPECIAL REPORT: More Newspapers Drop Print Editions — And Now Online Must Carry the Day

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003986805
Bidding Opens Again in Tribune Co.’s Stalled Cubs Sale

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=agw4IdF6FtEM
New York Times Considers Paid Access to Mobile News

[neocon1984]

If it wasn’t for poker, football, basketball and DYI/real estate shows, my TV would never be on.

[abb]

JUST DAMN! Now that earworm will be embedded until I go to sleep tonight!

Afternoon Delight