I thought broadcast television was going to be phased out soon – was I misinformed?
Apparently. As I understand it, broadcast TV is simply switching from analogue to digital – a process also underway here in the UK. You’ll need a TV with a digital tuner, or a plug-in tuner for your old TV, but you’ll still be able to receive broadcast TV.
Whether TV as we know it is sustainable in the long term in a climate of cable, satellite and broadband downloads is another matter, but the end is nowhere in sight just yet.
Re the OP: it looks like NBC is changing to something much more like the pattern on UK television, so they’re not – in that sense – being entirely innovative. They know it works here, so the real question is how audiences and (perhaps more importantly) advertisers and sponsors respond in the US
It’s also similar to the way shows on cable are scheduled. USA, for example runs each season of Monk in two halves, with one half beginning in July and the second half beginning in January. They also buy fewer episodes per season, with only 16 episodes instead of the broadcast networks’ normal run of 22 to 24 episodes per season.
Whoosh?
I think the season format has been detrimental to tv. It forces the writers to stretch x amount of good material into 22 to 24 episodes. I hope the new format will allow some give and take so that the overall product is more satisfying.
Honestly, with the DVR even being home isn’t important any more. The industry would be smart to recognize how the horizon has been altered in recent years and make necessary changes.
Didn’t Fox get the ball rolling for this when they started running 24 in January with no repeats and putting on practically a whole summer season of shows?
If this means a higher likelihood of a good show surviving because it’s not pitched directly against similarly themed shows in the same timeslot, then I’m all for it.
As far as I can tell, in the UK and down here in the antipodes, it’s done that way and it works pretty well, assuming they make good shows in the first place. But then again, down here summer is at the end of the calendar year anyway, so maybe I’m blinded by a more logically structured seasonal period.
Possibly, but if it is you’ll have to explain to me why. The question’s been asked in all seriousness within the last month – I saw no reason not to take it at face value.
Is there a joke I’ve missed? (I like jokes).
Yep. I’m waiting for the advertiser who figures out that a static image of his product name for a 30 second commercial spot will ensure that I, fastforwarding through the commercials on my DVR, actually get a good “long” look at his name and product nonetheless. Blipverts in reverse, kinda. I think I might buy his product just out of admiration for his chutzpah.
Head-On already did this…their initial run of commercials was essentially a 15-second static image of their product with a voiceover saying, “Head-On, apply directly to the forehead,” four or five times. The voiceover was annoying, but not necessary to the product, since “apply directly to the forehead” was also printed on the screen. I always saw it in FF on my DVR and knew exactly what was being advertised.
I skip right over the commercials. Why FFW through them?
WotNot, I thought brujaja was joking about the whole idea of scheduled TV becoming obsolete, but I could be wrong.
Wait, can you DO that? Tell me how!
Um, you press the “jump forward” button a few times. Sounds like not all DVRs have them?
I can FFW very quickly by pressing the FF button a few times, but often if I am not paying VERY close attention, I’ll be partway into the show after the commercial break and have to back it up…my DVR does not have a “jump” button, or whatever.
Nope. I have several levels of “fast”, but nothing that will jump the commercial and start playing at the show. Drat.
DVR? What is that? Is that the thing that you put those big, black, boxy things into? I have one of those, but I haven’t used it in a few years.
By the way, get off my lawn.
I’ve heard talk of this happening for some time, and it makes sense that they’re doing this now since the recent writer’s strike has badly messed with most TV programs anyway. By foregoing the traditional “season”, NBC is free to bring programs to the air as soon as they’ve recovered from the strike and are back in production again.
I wonder if this will include SNL as well?
I remember when the same thing happened to cars. Used to be a big deal each year. Now, they all look alike for four or five years in a row.