Is DVR killing TV?

[K.C.]

I love my Tivo...and I love On-Demand.

But I started thinking tonight why so many good scripted TV shows are just absolutely bombing. I mean, we can bitch all we want about the networks not pushing shows but at the end of the day people don't watch them. That's why good shows get cancelled.

But let's.suppose the networks started pushing their scripted shows in an all out blitz. Would anyone even really notice? I would wager that I watch 90% of my TV through Tivo recording, On-Demand, or streaming from the internet. That means most of what I'm watching I'm not seeing commercials during.

That means I don't see the previews, or the big pushes for other shows on the networks most of the time, because of how I watch television.

The biggest hook for TV shows has always been the on-screen promotion...if people aren't watching commercials, people aren't finding out about a lot of shows.

And I get the feeling more and more that scripted TV is dying because people just aren't finding the new shows anymore, or finding them too late.

[Kevin]

Its more of Online stuff, Like Torrents and episodes online that all of the stations now have.. No more need to watch shows on the night they air. You watch a sports team and wait the next day to catch the show online or on demand.

[Devo37]

the neilson ratings are killing tv. i have trouble believing they're anywhere-near accurate.

also killing tv is shows being cancelled after only a few episodes (thanks, mainly, to the inaccurate ratings). how can a tv drama possibly gain a following in such a short time? enough with the itchy-trigger-finger execs! give a show a chance to hit stride before deciding it's no good!!

as for streaming episodes, there's usually only one commercial between segments. i think the networks could get away with an extra 15 second ad promoting one of their other shows per commercial break without too much negative reaction.

also, having the ability to watch shows whenever you want probably cuts down on some of the water-cooler talk buzz that helped shows gain popularity when everyone watched on the same day.

[Bob Impact]

Shitty TV is killing TV

[PapaBear]

Satellite Radio killed the video star.

[Bob Impact]

Satellite Radio killed the video star.

Ipods killed the video star.

[King Imp]

the neilson ratings are killing tv. i have trouble believing they're anywhere-near accurate.

also killing tv is shows being cancelled after only a few episodes (thanks, mainly, to the inaccurate ratings). how can a tv drama possibly gain a following in such a short time? enough with the itchy-trigger-finger execs! give a show a chance to hit stride before deciding it's no good!!


Couldn't agree more!

Let me also add that stupid people are killing TV. How else can you explain crap like Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?, Wife Swap, Super Nanny, and the likes of that garbage going on for seasons while good shows that actually take a modicum of intelligence keep being cancelled within a month of being on the air?

I read somewhere that only 1% of the nation is actually monitored using the Nielsen ratings. How the fuck is that a true measurement of what the country as a whole wants to see? Just because these inbred hicks seem to be the ones who are part of the Nielsen family, we have to suffer by having our shows constantly cancelled.

[Reynolds]

I say everyone in the country gets a free tivo, and ratings are based on thumbs up / down ratings. I dont really care if my opinions are tracked if it helps keep my favorite shows on

[Mike Teacher]

That means most of what I'm watching I'm not seeing commercials during.

=

Watch more closely and see how many commercials are now put on the bottom of the screen during said show.

The TV people know were blowing by the commercial spots, so they're putting them right at the bottom, there it is...

They thought the VCR would do same; and it did what it did. If this ruins TV, for me, thats like saying we're ruining that big pile of shit over there.

And whoever said it nailed it; its the public, us, me, you, to blame for that pile of shit, because we not only Demand shit TV, we will pay good money for Shit TV. We have shouted from on high to the networks, 'We Want Shit'.

High Resolution 1080i 7.2 surround sound THX 16:9 Turds

[Ogre]

High Resolution 1080i 7.2 surround sound THX 16:9 Turds


Now I'm Starvin'

[cougarjake13]

I love my Tivo...and I love On-Demand.

But I started thinking tonight why so many good scripted TV shows are just absolutely bombing. I mean, we can bitch all we want about the networks not pushing shows but at the end of the day people don't watch them. That's why good shows get cancelled.

But let's.suppose the networks started pushing their scripted shows in an all out blitz. Would anyone even really notice? I would wager that I watch 90% of my TV through Tivo recording, On-Demand, or streaming from the internet. That means most of what I'm watching I'm not seeing commercials during.

That means I don't see the previews, or the big pushes for other shows on the networks most of the time, because of how I watch television.

The biggest hook for TV shows has always been the on-screen promotion...if people aren't watching commercials, people aren't finding out about a lot of shows.

And I get the feeling more and more that scripted TV is dying because people just aren't finding the new shows anymore, or finding them too late.


i agree 100%

the only time i see commercials or new promos for new shows are the occasional times i watch the shows i watch live

most of what i find out about is from online otherwise i wouldnt know jack

[Snoogans]

TV will never die as long as people dont want to sit at computers to watch sports

[K.C.]

And whoever said it nailed it; its the public, us, me, you, to blame for that pile of shit, because we not only Demand shit TV, we will pay good money for Shit TV. We have shouted from on high to the networks, 'We Want Shit'.


The Shit TV succeeds because it's easy TV...you can pick it up at any point and it's the same stuff.

It's much harder to get people to watch scripted shows if you've missed early episodes.

And new shows just don't get in the mind of the consumer the same way it used to, because of how we watch TV, so people aren't finding them.

Take a show like Arrested Development. Nobody I knew watched that show when it was on the air. Now, almost everyone I come in contact with on a daily basis has seen it. Why didn't they watch it before? Almost to a person they say 'I just didn't know about it.'


I may see an ad in the bottom right corner of the screen saying 'Watch Eli Stone' during 'Lost.' But I'm not seeing a 30 second commercial, or a trailer for the show because of how I watch.


Now I'm not saying we should burn our DVRs, and blow up our wireless routers...but there's got to be a better solution to this.

[JimBeam]

While DVRs may bur hurting tv for the reasons mentioned it is also saving it.

The ability to watch the show you want, on your tv as opposed to your computer, at any time is good for the networks.

The only other option is to not watch the show at all.

If anything releasing the shows on DVD might be hurting far more.

My personal thing is if I'm watching a show, that has an episode to episode flow, and I miss an episode in the middle for some reason I stop watching and wait for the DVD to watch it in order.

I did this with last year's Lost where I was 7 episodes in and then missed a show. I didnt want to have to worry about finding the episode I missed so I stopped watching knowing I could catch up. Obvioulsy I could've easily watched in on the computer but I wasn't motivated to do that.

I love DVR.

[K.C.]

While DVRs may bur hurting tv for the reasons mentioned it is also saving it.

The ability to watch the show you want, on your tv as opposed to your computer, at any time is good for the networks.

The only other option is to not watch the show at all.

If anything releasing the shows on DVD might be hurting far more.

My personal thing is if I'm watching a show, that has an episode to episode flow, and I miss an episode in the middle for some reason I stop watching and wait for the DVD to watch it in order.

I did this with last year's Lost where I was 7 episodes in and then missed a show. I didnt want to have to worry about finding the episode I missed so I stopped watching knowing I could catch up. Obvioulsy I could've easily watched in on the computer but I wasn't motivated to do that.

I love DVR.

It's an excellent point...and I'm not anti-DVR....I love my Tivo.

My point is that the industry is not keeping up with the tech. People aren't finding out about shows because there not viewing any of the promotion for it.

They need to find a way to fix it. For example...NBC and ABC run 30 second ads you have to watch during shows you stream from their website. Instead of pimping Welch's Grape Juice, maybe throw in trailers for new shows. That way you know you have a captive audience.

[Fallon]

I love the DVR. I work at night, so I'd miss everything. I get most of my sports viewing on DVR, sometimes a day later. It rules.

And with my inno recordings I have the option to listen to 202 when i feel like.

[suggums]

as far as im concerned dvr brought back tv for me, i barely watched anything until i could do it at my leisure

[pittphantoms]

Shows that are DVR'ed and watched that same night still count in the Neilsen ratings, which is good.

I tend to DVR all the new shows to see if I like them - which is also good... what is very bad for TV is that I do not watch ANYTHING live anymore. I will DVR something at 8:00 and at the very earliest will start watching at 8:25 so that I can fast forward every comercial. This has to hurt the ad business.

I think TV networks need to adopt on-demand as well. I know Directv just enhanced their service with a type of on-demand that uses your highspeed internet to download shows, so every major TV brand other than Dish has on-demand available. With shows like Jerico, you could potentially add more viewers if they could catch up quickly. I would love to know if HBO feels that the availability of their shows on on-demand hurts their DVD sales down the road. If it isn't significant, then I can't come up with a reason NOT to show something on-demand.

[Furtherman]

Shows that are DVR'ed and watched that same night still count in the Neilsen ratings, which is good.

They also measure Live + 3 days ratings. Which means if you watched a TiVo'd show within three days, it will count in the ratings. If you are a Nielsen family, that is.

[ChimneyFish]

"What was that????"

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c217/luxa1/485px-Leslie_Nielsen.jpg