[opendtv] Re: News: Broadcast Erosion: Many Culprits, Few Solutions

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=59
288&Nid=29733&p=428449

> Broadcast Erosion: Many Culprits, Few Solutions
> by Wayne Friedman, Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007 8:00 AM ET
>
> THIS SEASON'S SURPRISING DIP IN broadcast ratings has many analysts
> digging deeper into the reasons, exploring type of programming, DVR
> usage, the Internet and even the usual suspect, cable TV.
>
> Live-only broadcast ratings are down anywhere from 11% to 15%--a
> steep fall off from the last three years, when broadcast viewership
> has been basically flat versus the seasons before.

Sorry, but this is silly. Of course "live-only" viewership dropped. It
should have been dropping for at least 25 years. Who in his right mind
wants to be tied to the broadcast schedule?

On the other hand, that's not to say that the shows are not being
watched. The solution to this is to embrace the timer-shift model
instead of pretending like any time-shifter is a lost viewer.

> But DVRs and the Internet may not be the only reasons. Jack Wakshlag,
> chief research officer for Turner Broadcasting, says when looking at
> live-plus seven days of DVR viewership, cable is up 3% in ratings
> over a year ago. This compares to some lower broadcast erosion than
> just live-only numbers--8% for the six networks, 5% for the four
> networks.

Five percent is a lot less than 15 percent. I think definitely one
problem is when a series is interrupted for weeks and weeks. I really
don't understand this death wish on the part of producers. Of course,
people move on. What do they expect?

Also, if good shows are deliberately transmitted at the same time,
broadcast TV as a whole will lose out. Until multi-tuner PVRs or DVDRs
become commonplace, anyway. There are many examples of this in the
program lineup.

Bert
 
 
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