What is with network TV lately??

[RStar]

Okay, what is with these TV stations that do funky things with the show times and dates???

It use to be that shows started in the fall, the season ended in spring, and then you had re-runs durring the summer. It was like clockwork, and aushered in the changing of the seasons for me here in So Cal. And if the show was on a Tuesday night, it stayed there for the most part.

Now there is no such thing as a "season" any more. And they mix re-runs and new shows, move nights around at a whim, and might have "mini seasons" that start durring the summer.

Case in point the new show "New Amsterdam". It sounded interesting, I marked my calandar and waited. It was on a Tuesday night and I watched it (good show), and I figured I'd see the second one next Tuesday. WRONG! The second show was the next Thursday and I missed it. And the third show is on Monday. WTF, I they trying to kill the show right out of the gate???

Now I know that with Tivo, DVR, and online viewing it's not as big a deal, but come on......

I just watched it online so I could get caught up before tommorrow night, but what a pain. And now my DVR is set to record the series (I forgot to set it prior). I hate watching it streamed all jearky and sitting at my computer desk! And KTLA needs to learn how to set up their website. It took me just as long to find the show as it did to watch it. ABC has a much better set up.

[wolfy999]

Might have something to do with the Writer's Strike......just a guess.

[Alex]

No, the slow abandonment of the "season" has been gong on for about a decade and has picked up a lot of speed in recent years. DVR, TV on DVD, encroachment by cable into the original programming market have all played a role.

Originally, cable networks would counter program by doing their new shows over the summer and now that is pretty common and success with it has prompted the broadcast networks to try it. The current fad for heavily serialized dramas has meant that you have to keep feeding the audience a steady stream of new since reruns have little rewatchability and once someone wanders off a strong arc means they don't come back because they'll feel like their behind. So you get half seasons with long breaks in between or things like 24 where you start the season late so that you can run 24 consecutive weeks without a rerun.

Also, with improvements in continuous measurement of ratings, advertisers aren't so eager to lock in year round rates based on the individual months of programming where networks pull every stunt they can to boost ratings.

[Mousey Girl]

One of the main reasons I got rid of HBO was how they handled their series'. I watched Oz and Carnivalle. With Oz they had one season that only had about 6-8 episodes and then mad you wait more than 9 months for the next season. Carnivalle was the end for me. I really enjoyed season one, but they only seemed to release 3 episodes at a time, with more than a month before a new one came out. I am glad I didn't watch season 2, because they never really ended the show.

Years ago they did this with Voyager and Babylon 5. It was impossible to try to figure out when they were going to be on from one week to the next, or even what network was going to carry them.

[RStar]

Might have something to do with the Writer's Strike......just a guess.

What Alex said.

But why have a new show that premiers on Tuesday, then the 2nd show on Thursday, then the next one on Monday unless you are trying to lose your audience? :evil:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

It used to be - get this - that people watched less TV in the summer. <snicker> No, dude, I'm totally serious! People went out and did outdoor things, everyone went on vacation in the summer, it was so weird. Odd to think of it that way now...

[Kevy Baby]

Now I know that with Tivo, DVR, and online viewing it's not as big a deal......For this reason alone, I never know there is an issue.

[Ghoulish Delight]

But why have a new show that premiers on Tuesday, then the 2nd show on Thursday, then the next one on Monday unless you are trying to lose your audience? :evil:
Generally it's because they are losing audience already and either A) They're taking a show that doesn't have an audience and trying to find a spot where they can compete against the other networks or B) They're taking a show that they know DOES have an audience and are trying to boost numbers in certain timeslots.

[blueerica]

I actually don't mind the change in "seasons" for network television, especially since my DVR can pick up new episodes on whichever date it's appearing.

But, I have considered how a staggered "season" could affect viewing choices down the line.