What the hell is up with your TV industry, America?
POSTED BY: pudor
UPDATED: Saturday, February 14, 2004 20:24
VIEWED: 4740
PAGE 2 of 2
Quote:
Originally posted by TeelaBrown:
I wish I knew what was up with American TV, and I live here? What is with our TV?
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"Freedom is the Freedom to say that 2+2 makes 4. If that is granted, all else follws"-Winston, 1984
Teela Brown, keeper of bad typing.
"No one reads these things any way."- Bart on Blackboard
I find that I just watch my DVDs now. At least, that way, I can control the programming I want to watch. I just want to know who has those stoooopid
Nielsen boxes, so I could steal me a few and put them all on a 24-hr. pr0n channel. That would severely mess up all the numbers 
They can have my "Firefly" DVDs when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers....
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Well, US TV with the exception of the "Public Television Network" is a capitalistic model. Ideally a TV network should succeed be airing shows that the viewers want to see the most.
The unfortunate deal breaker in the US is the "Nielsen's Rating" system.
Some sort of measure is important if networks are to gauge what is successful and what is not; but the Nielsen's ratings are corrupt at their base. Some memberships in the Nielsen pool are given away; and others are sold. They are not doled out in a lottery or randomly installed which would be more effective.
Members are allowed to join for a fee. What was it that Douglas Adams said, "they who wish to be president of the galaxy are by definition the least qualified"? Who, without an agenda, would pay a fee to have their television monitored? Not many. This opens the door to all kinds of other corruption.. Memberships given away or "sponsored" by groups for those who are likely to prefer certain programing. Memberships given to those in demographics not likely to watch certain other programing.
Even with a minimal effort the ratings can become very skewed. Couple this with the fact that many of those who use these ratings really don't understand them in the first place.
Just recently there was a collective outcry from the network TV community when they "discovered" that the rating couldn't possibly be accurate. Wow, it was news to them but no one else was surprised.
These days there is just too much competition for any specific TV show to support the type of numbers networks execs expect...
The BBC and Public television, in defense of these, do occasionally come up with good ideas and good TV... but more often for my money they come up with long running shows I would never watch. They don't have to please a large audience. they only need critical acclaim. :O)
I like the capitalist model better but only if it's done right.
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Quote:Because the point of television isn't the programs; it's what's between them: the commercials. Commercials are the sole reason that television exists (broadcast and basic cable, that is). Network execs don't give a f*ck what programs they're running; only how many peoople watch in relation to the cost of the show. It's cheaper to have reality shows, and they make get more commercial-watchers.
If the BBC can do it, why is it so hard for the entertainment giants of America to pull off? How does industry regulation work over there? Is there any watchdog making sure tv exists for all tastes?
I just don't understand how someone, sitting at his expansive desk with DVD sales figures in one hand and a report on the *millions* of merchandise possibilities and outlets available for a show like Firefly or Angel, can decide it's a dead loss.
It sucks a lot, though.
-Steve
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Doran, thanks for explaining some stuff about Nielsen ratings, I had NO idea it is being handled that way in the US. What dimwit came up with that?
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I don't totally understand the Neilsen system, but I know not all of the boxes are given out those ways. I had a friend who had one, and they just got a random phone call on day, got asked some questions, and then basically: "Hey, you're in a demographic we'd like to monitor (at that time, females between 20-25), can we bring this thing over?" And voila, they had a Neilsen box.
It always irritated me, because they were all really outdoorsy & never watched TV & I was trying to save Sports Night.
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