Upfront and Personal

So the networks are wrapping up their upfront sessions in which they sell a large chunk of their advertising time to gi-normous ad agencies.

The income for the five big nets (yes, The CW apparently still qualifies) totals some $9.23 billion. That's right billion - with a B.

That number got me to thinking.

In the coming age, where DVRs skip over commercials and more and more of the network programming is becoming available online (bypassing the local stations), one wonders how much longer the networks are going to be able to continue to demand that much money for an ever dwindling audience.

Case in point: In the most recent TV season (yes, there was a strike - but still!) all of EIGHT scripted shows increased their audience vs. 2007:
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (+3%);
THE UNIT (+1%);
LAW & ORDER (+19%);
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (+1%);
MEDIUM (+21%);
BONES (+2%);
KING OF THE HILL (+20%)
30 ROCK (+12%)

Note that two of those shows are old-timers that were helped in the doldrums of the strike by a combination of reduced competition and better time slots. The results for MEDIUM are probably the most promising on the list.

So shy do the advertisers keep paying increasing rates for this slipping medium? Because it's the best there is, that's why.

It was announced today that the average household in the USA gets over 100 channels on their TV. You can advertise online to your heart's content, but there's no way you're ever going to get as broad and instantaneous a reach online - even if there are billions of web pages out there.

And for those of you who are complaining about all those commercials... the money ponied up by those sponsors is the equivalent of a $6.99 monthly subscription from each and every of the 100,000,000 TV households in the nation. (HBO has 40 million subscribers)

Good luck getting me to pay for any package that includes CBS.

The WB Returns!

With the CW flailing in the ratings race (some nights it doesn't even manage a 1 rating) something interesting is about to happen online.

Get ready for the return of The WB.

Warner Bros. announced today that they're putting together a nostalgic website (tentatively wb.com) that will feature advertiser supported episodes of Warner Bros. produced series that ran on the little network we miss so much.

Let's face it, The CW knows young and stylin' about as well as CBS does. Could that be because CBS owns 50% - yeah, probably so.

There's no word yet whether old WB shows that were produced by outside studios (BUFFY or ANGEL were produced by 20th Television) will be included, but there is an expectation that new micro-series will be available, featuring 5 minute long episodes of programs that would have been at home on the old WB.

Here's to hoping Michigan J. Frog will be back at work soon.

Will it work? Who knows? But, God bless 'em for trying. The WB's presence is sorely lacking on TV today. A rebirth online would be kinda cool.

That website again: dubba-dubba-dubba-wb.com.

Dig it.

It's Over for Three

And the first three fatalities of the new TV season are:

ONLINE NATION - The CW - a review of the hottest stuff you can find online - which you can find online - without having to sit through annoying hosts and commercials....

NASHVILLE - FOX - A bad attempt at a reality documentary that wasn't very real. MTV would have canceled this one - and they'll air anything.

VIVA LAUGHLIN! - CBS - COP ROCK goes to Vegas - with worse results.

Someone cue the logo lady - "It's Over" for them.

Who's next?

Bells Silenced, Heaven Closed

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised....

After a complete lack of faith in linear storytelling (see previous post) FOX has cancelled THE WEDDING BELLS.

With just 6 of the 13 episode order in the can, FOX has shut the show down.

Also today, ABC canned SIX DEGREES (one week after returning from hiatus), THE CW announced the end of 7TH HEAVEN and NBC is dropping THE BLACK DONNELLYS in favor of another piece of crap reality show.