According to the latest Nielsen figures, more than 2.5 million fewer people have tuned in to the major four networks this spring than were watching in 2006. In fact, we're in the middle of TV's worst spring . Why?
An early daylight savings time, frustrating "hiatuses" in the middle of seasons, and a temperate spring that has driven many toward outdoor activities. Pick an excuse, any excuse.
I'm of the opinion that prime-time television has rarely been better, so this trend shouldn't be a lack of quality programming.
The Office, 30 Rock, and Entourage are especially smart and original comedies, Lost and Veronica Mars keep me hungry for more, and even American Idol has a magnetic power I simply cannot avoid.
Another (and I think a more compelling) theory is that the TV-viewing public has begun to dramatically change the way it watches TV. These forward-thinking viewers, however, are falling through the ratings cracks.
Digital video recorders are becoming increasingly popular, but Nielsen only measures viewership if a recorded program is watched within 24 hours of its original air time. The ratings service also leaves out entirely those viewers who download shows on iTunes or stream an episode from a network web site.
Translation?
The technology measuring what we're watching hasn't advanced to compensate for the new technology that makes it easier to catch more programs. Phew.
Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at .
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There are very few dramas and sitcoms to catch my attention, and I haven't got much use for reality TV, either. I usually catch at least a half hour of news daily, but it would take a lot more to compel me to make time to watch any other specific program. I have to be sort of ill or injured to watch TV--not ill or injured enough to just crawl off to bed and sleep, well enough to be able to lie on the couch, but ill or injured enough to not be able to do much else.
I don't have cable, and I can't see the point. I've carefully scrutinized TV listings several times to see if I might want to subscribe, but there has never been enough attractive programming to justify the cost. Count me in the shrinking audience, I guess.
2. TV better than ever??
Not at this household.Prime-time TV is mindles junk.
3.
i haven't sen the total HUT numbers(homes using television) but I would be interested to see the erosion percentage if you factor in cable viewership. Broadcast shares have been going down for years while cable shares have risen..
4. by the time the commercials are over you forget whatthe hell you were watching !!
!!!
!!
5.
1. Network TV is not that entertaining anymore..
.no variety musical/comedy shows anymore, ala Laugh-In; Sonny Cher type shows, etc. 2.
The media is so politally biased you feel like throwiing your shoe at the set. You're driven away to find something else to enjoy. 3.
I don't believe the polls do an accurate job of telling the media what is watched and what isn't!
6. When TV stops developing shows that are only targeted to 18-25 years, maybe us 46 year olds will start watching.
Every network show I turn to only shows superficial characters who are young, pretty to look at, and as shallow as Paris Hilton. Reality shows pretty much all suck and American Idol is crap..
.plus, they have an upper age limit of 20-something. I did watch an episode of Heroes and found it enjoyable, but that was an hour of TV out of a week.
The rest of the time I was flipping through junk or settling on The History Channel. Give us something decent to watch!!
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