The writer’s strike has certainly changed the face of television by throwing the new policies of the networks into sharp relief — the lack of reruns in the last few years has had some side effects that I’m not sure they thought through.
A large number of popular programs are now, basically, ending their run this season because no episodes were produced after the strike begun. Such shows as Ugly Betty, CSI, Chuck, Desperate Housewives, ER, Gray’s Anatomy, The Office, and Law & Order have no episodes left. The television landscape is becoming barren.
Which simply highlights the new no-reruns policy. Networks decided a while ago that reruns are bad for business, that they usually come with low ratings and aren’t worth airing. But there is an up side to reruns: they act as placeholders to assure audience loyalty.
The lack of reruns now means that the hiatus between seasons is seemingly longer than ever before. With no reruns to “remind” viewers and get them habituated to “Thursday at 9pm”, they are more and more likely to forget about a show, to lose interest. TV networks could learn a lot from cigarette companies when it comes to ensuring audience addiction.
“Medium” returned to the airwaves a few weeks ago. I used to watch it habitually but was totally taken by surprise when it returned. I had to watch it online because I was unprepared and didn’t know it was on television. And even so, I only watched it because I had nothing better to do. It had been off for so long — wasn’t it at least a year? — that I had lost interest.
The same is happening with “Lost.” It’s been off the air for too long, with no reruns or reminders of its existence, that at least one of my friends has made the decision to not bother watching. And that may not be such a bad idea, considering that there will be only eight episodes due to the strike. Frankly, even the BBC pattern of series of 13 episodes once a year seems more palatable.
Still, I waited years for a single new Futurama episode and there’s no word on when the next one will be released. It makes me wonder if the television networks are in a death spiral. Frankly, I’d pretty much prefer to buy or rent a DVD of a season’s worth of episodes instead of waiting for a network to air it, complete with annoying promos and logos spammed all over the screen. Which, of course, is another good reason that writers expect a more equitable royalty from DVD sales.
What do you think?
The writer’s strike has certainly changed the face of television by throwing the new policies of the networks into sharp relief — the lack of reruns in the last few years has had some side effects that I’m not sure they thought through.
This is why I love sports. Frankly they are the only things I habitually watch on TV anymore (welll, home improvement shows as well). Sure I love The Office and 30 Rock, but I only watch them when I’m flipping tru channels and say “hey, The Office is on!”
Used to be I would be planted in front of the TV for NBC’s Thursday “Cosby, Cheers, Night Court, Hill St. Blues” penultimate lineup- but now I couldn’t tell you when anything is on… except maybe Monday Night Football.