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Dec. 22nd, 2005 11:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hnpccI know it's non-ratings season, but even so I'm coming to the opinion that the commercial networks are actually trying to get us to turn off and go out into the summer evening.
It's not just that there's not a whole lot of interest on, it's the more-random-than-usual reshuffling that's bugging the crap out of me.
My partner is currently pissed off because having waited all year for That 70s Show, they had it on for about two weeks and then pulled it in favour of Will and Grace. Not that I have much against W&G, but couldn't they play 2 eps of that, 2 eps of T7S and 1 of something else? Even a 3:2 ratio would be good.
Then last night, after a long rant during the day about commercial reshuffling of programs without notice, I tune into 5 Days until Midnight: and the bastards have moved it back an hour without warning and put on Air Crash in that time slot.
You've seriously got to start wondering what the hell is going on in the programming departments. Personally my current conspiracy theory is that all the programmers own shares in DVD producing companies and are trying to maximise returns. Actually, the whole theory is that the networks own the shares and have directed the programmers to maximise returns, but that may just be wishful thinking that the scheduling isn't currently being organised by means of a dartboard. ("OK, a two, a 10 and a 7 - that's Monday at 3am then.")
I semi-came to the theory after reading an article in last week's Green Guide (TV guide in The Age for non-Melbourne people) where the head of channel 9 said that the letters about the consistent non-scheduling of The West Wing were the result of a small, vocal minority. Obviously that's a group that Channel 9 isn't even interested in even attempting to cater for by - just as an example here - giving the bloody program a regular slot so that they can find it. So obviously it's a minority that are now boycotting channel 9. And equally obviously channel 9 aren't interested in the ratings that that group - no matter how small - would bring. Or the word of mouth that they would spread that might increase the size of the group. Or anything really.
Ditto The Apprentice. Hey guys? Want to mention that you're going to start showing the program at any point? Nah, didn't think so, just leave us to find out three weeks after the start that you might have randomly put it on somewhere. She'll be right. Footy, that's what brings in ratings... and good luck with that next year.
The same goes for so many other programs. Arrested Development is being mauled to death by random scheduling (two episodes together on a night which wasn't advertised and which changed at the last minute). Joan of Arcadia was there for three episodes then apparently vanished into the ether - or quite possibly to 3am Monday, who knows. Even local programs get dumped if they don't instantly attract an audience of millions. Guys, word of mouth? Time? Leave the fucking thing alone so I can find it again the following week?
Seriously, if Buffy were to start up now, we'd be 3 seasons behind the US, the day and time would have changed 6 times already, they'd randomly decide to play 2 episodes together or - as happened to Charmed last week - cut three episodes in a four episode story arc and attempt to sum it up with a "Previously.." 2 minute update and then wonder why it wasn't getting an audience but the DVD sales were booming.
Actually, what I really want to know is what the hell these people are smoking and where I can get some.
It's not just that there's not a whole lot of interest on, it's the more-random-than-usual reshuffling that's bugging the crap out of me.
My partner is currently pissed off because having waited all year for That 70s Show, they had it on for about two weeks and then pulled it in favour of Will and Grace. Not that I have much against W&G, but couldn't they play 2 eps of that, 2 eps of T7S and 1 of something else? Even a 3:2 ratio would be good.
Then last night, after a long rant during the day about commercial reshuffling of programs without notice, I tune into 5 Days until Midnight: and the bastards have moved it back an hour without warning and put on Air Crash in that time slot.
You've seriously got to start wondering what the hell is going on in the programming departments. Personally my current conspiracy theory is that all the programmers own shares in DVD producing companies and are trying to maximise returns. Actually, the whole theory is that the networks own the shares and have directed the programmers to maximise returns, but that may just be wishful thinking that the scheduling isn't currently being organised by means of a dartboard. ("OK, a two, a 10 and a 7 - that's Monday at 3am then.")
I semi-came to the theory after reading an article in last week's Green Guide (TV guide in The Age for non-Melbourne people) where the head of channel 9 said that the letters about the consistent non-scheduling of The West Wing were the result of a small, vocal minority. Obviously that's a group that Channel 9 isn't even interested in even attempting to cater for by - just as an example here - giving the bloody program a regular slot so that they can find it. So obviously it's a minority that are now boycotting channel 9. And equally obviously channel 9 aren't interested in the ratings that that group - no matter how small - would bring. Or the word of mouth that they would spread that might increase the size of the group. Or anything really.
Ditto The Apprentice. Hey guys? Want to mention that you're going to start showing the program at any point? Nah, didn't think so, just leave us to find out three weeks after the start that you might have randomly put it on somewhere. She'll be right. Footy, that's what brings in ratings... and good luck with that next year.
The same goes for so many other programs. Arrested Development is being mauled to death by random scheduling (two episodes together on a night which wasn't advertised and which changed at the last minute). Joan of Arcadia was there for three episodes then apparently vanished into the ether - or quite possibly to 3am Monday, who knows. Even local programs get dumped if they don't instantly attract an audience of millions. Guys, word of mouth? Time? Leave the fucking thing alone so I can find it again the following week?
Seriously, if Buffy were to start up now, we'd be 3 seasons behind the US, the day and time would have changed 6 times already, they'd randomly decide to play 2 episodes together or - as happened to Charmed last week - cut three episodes in a four episode story arc and attempt to sum it up with a "Previously.." 2 minute update and then wonder why it wasn't getting an audience but the DVD sales were booming.
Actually, what I really want to know is what the hell these people are smoking and where I can get some.
