I for one will no longer be watching it, and I plan to email the sponsors and tell them why. Hittem where it hurts!!!!!!!!
Actually, the support comes from the perceived viewership as it is applied to the number of persons watching the show, that will watch the commercial presentations, and subsequently purchase the products, which in turn results in the network being paid for the time based upon the potential exposure. That's why Super Bowl commercial spots cost so much.
Kinda convoluted, yes, but I fight it in my own little way.
I "PVR" (Tivo) the shows on CBS that I like. Actually, there are only two of them, both on the same night: Survivor and CSI Vegas.
I then watch them at my leisure and zap the commercials.
I get to enjoy the shows without the commercial crap, takes less time and I am able to do it at my pace and time.
To tell the truth, I have absolutely no idea who or what sponsors those two shows. Nor do I care.
Commercial television hates the PVR's and Tivos, for that very reason.
And I am sure, that as a upper-middle-class, middle-aged white male with a disposable income, that I am right in the middle of the demographic spectrum that many of the commercials are trying to reach.
You would think that the final end result would be that commercial television would suffer as a result of sponsors realizing that this is done and pulling or reducing the time they purchase, therefore causing the networks to be unable to produce the shows.
It appears the opposite has occurred, though.
I'm sure there are statistics somewhere out there that supports that.
Not that anyone cares, except a tv-time salesman.