New
#11
Why does ABC (USA) cancel anything even half decent
-
-
New #12
I suppose that location is a factor here - all TV has been only available on digital here for several years and so it's normal to have some type of recording technology available.
It's become so natural now that I quite often find myself pressing the skip button on sport and news programming which I do normally watch live.
Of course I can also "Timeshift" (record one program and watch a show from an hour previously), so I do not get the problem of "Spoilers" from others
-
New #13
I watch virtually all series of interest to me on hire/library loan DVDs. When you get hooked you flick to the next episode. I'm currently hooked on "Fringe".
-
New #14
I dropped cable about 20 years ago, now I only have the networks and UHF channels. I suppose the good news is that I'm too far from ABC's tower, so I really only get two of the big 3.
MDW works shift work and often wants to sleep, so I can't watch shows without disturbing her rest.
Lots of stuff on demand or Hulu, but I won't have that option much longer - so what's a fella to do?
Books!
- They're quiet,
- they're never canceled (banned sometimes),
- can be read at one's own schedule,
- can be paused,
- don't have commercials,
- libraries are full of them,
- require no more energy than a lightbulb
- .....
-
New #15
-
New #16
-
New #17
Scripted shows are expensive to produce, cost a lot to syndicate and generally don't make as much money. Ratings equal $$$ and regardless of how good a show is, if the demographic isn't large enough - CANCEL! I've lost track of how many good or promising shows get the chop before they've had a chance to make it.
Reality TV on the other hand are veritable cash cows. Cheap to make, easy to clone and are absolute licenses to print money for advertisers and networks. Plus the masses love them for some reason so they rate well. Those that do fail to rate are easily replaced by the next silly idea.
But the biggest things that irk me about "reality shows" is that they aren't all that real (manipulative editing), all must have a compulsory competitive/vote off aspect and worst of all - the clones! One network has a 'new' successful idea so automatically other networks have to have their own version. Bah, enough already!
And when a former "big rater" shows start to lose their appeal, what do they all do? Have a 'celebrity' version. And they really do use the term 'celebrity' loosely.
I can understand some people like having some 'light hearted/brainless' shows to switch off too. But there are still plenty of us who wish for something more substantial and cerebral.
-
-
New #19
-
New #20
Hi everyone.
Maybe we should go back to reading books again -- no viewers - no $$$'s -- so maybe they WILL have to change what they push out -- actually as some BBC and other European Public broadcasters show there is a demand for DECENT high quality stuff as well and there's even some passable stuff coming from Commercial organisations like SKY too. (Books are really easy to read in BULK now with e-readers etc in all sorts of places where you can't really enjoy a film).
In the USA a lot of Public Classical music radio stations get support from their listeners too and the PBS channels themselves are watched so even in that most competitive of markets people are there who want quality stuff. We don't always have to pander to the lowest denominator.
There's an interesting show on now - co UK French production Called THE TUNNEL on the SKY ATLANTIC channel -- starts with a Body found mid-way in the Channel tunnel --gets a bit more interesting as the body is composed of two halves - the top half is a French MP (Member of Parliament) while the other are the legs of a Prostitute from Wales so both UK and French cops get involved -- and the interplay between the French up tight young female cop and the older typically cynical British cop is quite interesting.
Where the European systems tend to score is that the series are filmed in advance so a show won't get pulled mid flight.
Also shows are given longer lead times so perhaps a slow burner which would probably be pulled in the USA after two episodes can be given a chance and often these become really popular.
I'd love it though if every time there was yet another "Reality" show -- the TV companies would be BOMBARDED with complaints from irate viewers -- or an even better tactic is to complain to the manufacturers / seller of services advertised during these shows -- no commercials - no shows !!!.
Cheers
jimbo
Quote
Related Discussions