Viewers Abandon TV Networks

NewsMax ^ | 10/22/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Fox's smutty and wildly hyped "Skin" is bombing, along with most of the rest of the new television season, and Tinseltown execs just can't figure out why.

Gee, why wouldn't people want to see a TV version of "Romeo and Juliet" set in the porn industry, a story where the pornographer is depicted as the ideal family man and the prosecutor is a villain? Obviously they have better taste.

Only 6.3 million people in the entire nation watched the debut of "Skin," which scored a dismal 2.7 rating in the prized demographic of adult viewers under 50.

The plunge in TV viewers is unprecedented, the New York Times reported today. Old - and we do mean old - favorites such as NBC's "ER" and "Friends" are shedding viewers even faster than the Democrat party is losing voters.

Fox's "Joe Millionaire" attracted only 6.8 million viewers Monday, far below its peak of 40 million.

Men between 18 and 24 are especially uninterested in the boob tube. Viewership in this group has plunged 20 percent in a year.

"Frankly what we're seeing strains credulity," said Alan Wurtzel, the president of research for NBC.

Believe it. Here's a shocking idea: If you offer a decent program, people might watch it. Hollywood big shots ought to note that one of the season's few successes, "Joan of Arcadia," doesn't treat religious faith with the usual contempt displayed by the Left Coast.

[gcruse]

I watch JAG and the NFL. Otherwise, network television is nonexistent in this house. Cable via TIVO rules.

[montomike]

I watch Fox News and the NFL and the evil Yankees (for two more games).

[bedolido]

Jag is my favorite program. I even like the new NCSI (Navy Crime Scene Investigator) spinoff from JAG. Also, I like the NFL. hmmmm... you didn't post this for me did you?

[diamond6]

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Bring back "The Flying Nun"! :)
Hehehehehehe

[smith288]

We have been watching Playmakers lately.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I read Coulter's book last night.

[1Old Pro]

I watch FOX news, The NFL regular & post season, and the baseball playoffs which happens to also be on FOX. Anyone who wants to advertise TO me had better get on those programs.

[OpusatFR]

Home and Garden TV, Fox (when the morning airheads are not on). The rest is garbage. It is either so politically slanted as to be offensive, or it is moronic and boring.

My time is a lot more valuable to me than sitting in front the tube. It just could be that we are outgrowing television as a medium of entertainment and information.

[1Old Pro]

oops, I do watch golf as well.

[AD from SpringBay]

Let's not forget Coupling - ha ha - watch a bunch of young people talk and insinuate about sex for a whole 21 minutes a week. And if that isn't hilarious enough, they'll also talk about sex. Don't worry though, there are never consequences to having lots of sex in tv land. No AIDS, STDs, pregnancies, or destroyed emotional foundations and families here. No sir. Did I mention this show is about sex? Ha ha. Stay tuned . . .

[Lee Heggy]

"Frankly what we're seeing strains credulity,"

My thoughts exactly whenever I watch the video flatulence that passes for entertainment from the networks.

[HungarianGypsy]

Does the WB count as network television? Otherwise, I usually watch movies rented from Netflix or nothing.

[Sgt_Schultze]

The advertisers on the NFL on CBS will feel the sting of boycotters as fallout from the Reagan mocumentary. The NFL on FOX should post improved numbers.

[Centurion2000]

If it's not on DVD or a good Dallas Stars hockey game .... it's not on. My TV is a big dust collecting piece of furniture.

[dogbyte12]

I want to give props out to Joan of Arcadia, and to Cold Case. I watch less and less tv, but those two new shows I like.

Cold Case is a very sensitively done Crime Show about a female philadelphia detective who examines cold (old) homicide cases and tries to solve them. On after 60 minutes on CBS on Sundays.

[ampat]

I have a few favorites of contempory tv, otherwise I like AMC/TCM for real movies.

[CougarGA7]

The only Non Sporting Event shows that I watch on Network television is Jeopardy and CSI. Other than those two I have no use for ABCNBCCBS.

[gcruse]

LOL Come on over. I'll throw a shrimp on the barbie!!

[Spacemonkey1023]

Erm....NCIS, Naval (Navy?) Criminal Investigative Service. Great show, but the title is kinda redundant.