# NBC Gives Up on TV Seasons **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2008, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541 "2008-02-21T10:14:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/1 "2008-02-21T10:14:33Z")
[I wonder if the other networks will follow suit.](http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080220/ZNYT01/802200499/1002/business) > [@](#): > > NBC Universal took a big step toward undoing one of the television industry’s oldest traditions by announcing Tuesday that it would move to a year-round schedule of staggered program introductions. The move is intended to appeal to advertisers, who crave fresh content to keep viewers tuned in. > > And if it succeeds — and leads other broadcast networks to shift from their focus on a mass introduction of new shows — it could alter an American cultural cycle that extends all the way back to the days of radio, when families gathered around the Philco every September, as the school year began, to sample the new entertainment choices. > > NBC plans to announce a 52-week schedule in April, a month before ABC and CBS will unveil their fall lineups at splashy presentations known as upfronts. The decision means that NBC will be committing to a new lineup of shows earlier than any of its competitors, while also inviting advertisers to build marketing plans around specific shows and perhaps to integrate brands and products into the plots of the shows themselves. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/2 "2008-02-21T10:58:02Z")
I thought broadcast television was going to be phased out soon – was I misinformed? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/3 "2008-02-21T12:05:00Z")
[QUOTE=brujaja] I thought broadcast television was going to be phased out soon – was I misinformed? [/QUOTE] 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 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/4 "2008-02-21T12:17:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/5 "2008-02-21T12:24:33Z")
[QUOTE=WotNot] > [@brujaja](#): > > 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 [/QUOTE] Whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/6 "2008-02-21T12:35:17Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/7 "2008-02-21T12:47:26Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/8 "2008-02-21T13:07:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/9 "2008-02-21T13:27:09Z")
[QUOTE=Usram] Whoosh? [/QUOTE] Possibly, but if it is you’ll have to explain to me why. The [question’s been asked](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=453679&highlight=digital+receiver) 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). ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/10 "2008-02-21T13:27:18Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/11 "2008-02-21T13:57:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/12 "2008-02-21T13:59:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/13 "2008-02-21T14:01:29Z")
[QUOTE=Usram] I skip right over the commercials. Why FFW through them? [/QUOTE] Wait, can you DO that? Tell me how! ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/14 "2008-02-21T14:02:56Z")
Um, you press the “jump forward” button a few times. Sounds like not all DVRs have them? ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/15 "2008-02-21T14:07:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/16 "2008-02-21T14:10:00Z")
[QUOTE=Usram] Um, you press the “jump forward” button a few times. Sounds like not all DVRs have them? [/QUOTE] Nope. I have several levels of “fast”, but nothing that will jump the commercial and start playing at the show. Drat. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/17 "2008-02-21T14:27:30Z")
[QUOTE=Usram] Um, you press the “jump forward” button a few times. Sounds like not all DVRs have them? [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/18 "2008-02-21T14:52:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/19 "2008-02-21T14:54:40Z")
I wonder if this will include SNL as well? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541/20 "2008-02-21T14:59:14Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-gives-up-on-tv-seasons/438541.md?page=2)