Monday, July 06, 2009

Network TV Is Dying

Do you watch any of the big three networks much anymore? I don't. Cable does national news much better and you can get your fix any time you want. The local independent stations do local news much better. Prime time dramas on TNT, FX, AMC and other cable outlets are kicking the networks ass. For those with pay channels, a virtual non stop lineup of award winning series are available. I get four sports channels. My favorite program is the several hours of horse racing, live, from all over the World on Sunday afternoons.

Mostly, what you find on network primetime is a never ending procession of increasingly lame reality shows and derivative dramas of the Ghost Whisperer variety. Soon, Jay Leno will begin hosting a late night talk show that isn't on late night. They will get late night talk show numbers, if they're lucky. What's really happening is that they are abandoning the last hour of prime time programming five nights a week.

CBS, NBC and ABC are dead men walking. Bloated, expensive businesses with decreasing viewership and decreasing ad revenues. Just a few years ago, these were coveted jewels in the crown of global corporate empires. They are fast becoming cement strait jackets.

Detroit iron. Daily newspapers. Glossy magazines. Recorded music. All dinosaurs. All down on their knees bellowing in rage and pain as they die.

What's next? A lot of things. I would bet book publishing, big hotel chains, cruise lines and resorts, mid price restaurant franchises, airlines, regional banks, recreational boat and yacht builders, union supermarket chains. The list goes on and on.

1 comment:

beebs said...

The last time I watched network TeeVee was the last episode of Boston Legal.

I did watch some of the Lakers games. Kobe is a giant of a player.

Other than that, I can't remember the last time I watched network tv.