The Long Tail: Meanwhile, network TV continues to fade

July 12, 2006

Meanwhile, network TV continues to fade

July 3-9 was the lowest recorded week in history for network TV viewership. I'm just saying....

Jul 12, 2006 4:09:00 AM | Media Meltdown

7 Comments

Do they actually broadcast TV shows in the summer? I thought they were all on vacation. I've only watched Firefly on DVD this week so I hadn't looked. Someone should tell me these things.....

Posted by: Ron W. | July 12, 2006 at 08:36 AM

Do they actually broadcast TV shows in the summer? I thought they were all on vacation. I've only watched Firefly on DVD this week so I hadn't looked. Someone should tell me these things.....

Posted by: Ron W. | July 13, 2006 at 04:25 AM

In years past, you could grab a summer audience, if you were good and had original programming.

Didn't 'Survivor' get it's highest ratings during summer?

The 1976, as well as 1984, Summer Olympics managed to corral a huge audience.

'General Hospital' in both the summers of 1980 and 1981 was top-notch entertainment and highly original.

But that was back when TV was actually good.

Originality.

Distinctive-ness.

Those things don't exist on anymore....not on TV, at least.

Everything TV is derivative and generic.

Posted by: Maxine | July 13, 2006 at 02:41 PM

Many shows have gotten there start over the summer. Now it is basically a dump for network reality shows.

However, Enoutrage and Deadwood have me glued to my set on Sundays, but they do not command the numbers that would help the ratings. Cable is getting the beter of the big four during the summer. I think that is because cable shows are more like movies. Summer is about the movies.

Posted by: Jason | July 14, 2006 at 04:33 AM

Great observation by Maxine, but I think television in summer still has more of a license to cut loose. It's a fertile period, like the season itself.

Posted by: Jack Coleman | July 14, 2006 at 09:14 AM