Posted by
RightTeacher on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 9:12:03 AM
So the writers' strike is over and network TV can begin again. Maybe. Bringing the shows into the pipeline will take many weeks, depending on the progress of the scripts when the writers stopped working on them. Some shows may not get completed until May sweeps. What a novel idea! Good quality original programming for May sweeps. It boggles the mind how networks and advertisers think that they can sample viewership when they bring out special shows and special schedules to try to entice viewers who may not return once the sweeps period ends.
There are problems. Summer would soon be upon us. That means that some shows may only show for four weeks before the summer starts. For other shows--those that are more expensive to produce such as Lost and Heroes, that may mean it isn't worthwhile to start production and expend the expense for only a handful of shows. The networks wouldn't want to use new material in the summer when viewership is down.
Bull puckey.
I understand people may be on vacation. I also understand that, with the sun making extended appearances, people may enjoy spending more time outside. But what data does the network have for the premise that people don't watch TV during the summer? They show reruns during the summer. Perhaps people don't watch TV during the summer because all of the major networks are showing reruns. Perhaps if there was something to watch, people would watch it.
Maybe it is summer itself that diminishes viewership, or maybe it is just the summer reruns. I think it is about time to get some reliable data on that. If you show them, they will watch. And if the shows come on and people would rather play ball outside, well that is why they invented VCRs, TiVos, DVRs, and $40 boxed sets of free TV.
How is that for marketing? Show the season's final episode in July. Release the DVDs in August. Start the next season in September.
That way the whole season won't be Lost and they can make Heroes of the network executives.