Slashdot Mirror
Is There Too Much New Programming On TV?
HughPickens.com writes: John Koblin writes in the NY Times that there's a crisis in television programming felt among executives, viewers and critics, and it's the result of one thing: There is simply too much on television. John Landgraf, chief executive of FX Networks, reported at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour that the total number of original scripted series on TV in 2014 was 371. The total will surpass 400 in 2015. The glut, according to Landgraf, has presented "a huge challenge in finding compelling original stories and the level of talent needed to sustain those stories."
Michael Lombardo, president of programming at HBO, says it is harder than ever to build an audience for a show when viewers are confronted with so many choices and might click away at any moment. "I hear it all the time," says Lombardo. "People going, 'I can't commit to another show, and I don't have the time to emotionally commit to another show.' I hear that, and I'm aware of it, and I get it." Another complication is that shows not only compete against one another, but also against old series that live on in the archives of Amazon, Hulu or Netflix. So a new season of "Scandal," for example, is also competing against old series like "The Wire." "The amount of competition is just literally insane," says Landgraf.
Others point out that the explosion in programming has created more opportunity for shows with diverse casts and topics, such as "Jane the Virgin," "Transparent" and "Orange Is the New Black." Marti Noxon, the showrunner for Lifetime's "UnREAL" and Bravo's "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce," says there has been a "sea change" in the last five years. "I couldn't have gotten those two shows on TV five years ago," says Noxon. "There was not enough opportunity for voices that speak to a smaller audience. Now many of these places are looking to reach some people — not all the people. That's opened up a tremendous opportunity for women and other people that have been left out of the conversation."
Michael Lombardo, president of programming at HBO, says it is harder than ever to build an audience for a show when viewers are confronted with so many choices and might click away at any moment. "I hear it all the time," says Lombardo. "People going, 'I can't commit to another show, and I don't have the time to emotionally commit to another show.' I hear that, and I'm aware of it, and I get it." Another complication is that shows not only compete against one another, but also against old series that live on in the archives of Amazon, Hulu or Netflix. So a new season of "Scandal," for example, is also competing against old series like "The Wire." "The amount of competition is just literally insane," says Landgraf.
Others point out that the explosion in programming has created more opportunity for shows with diverse casts and topics, such as "Jane the Virgin," "Transparent" and "Orange Is the New Black." Marti Noxon, the showrunner for Lifetime's "UnREAL" and Bravo's "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce," says there has been a "sea change" in the last five years. "I couldn't have gotten those two shows on TV five years ago," says Noxon. "There was not enough opportunity for voices that speak to a smaller audience. Now many of these places are looking to reach some people — not all the people. That's opened up a tremendous opportunity for women and other people that have been left out of the conversation."
... and then it's dropped after 1st or 2nd season. Yet piece of shit shows like 'lost' go on for a decade. Fuck this shit. Fuck you executives.
Around here (Australia) there is bugger all new "real TV" coming out now days.
Ever stop to think
Yes, it is a new era. About Amazon: they are seriously competing with Netflix, Apple, the cable companies and others to control the new media distribution system. Many of us that have used Amazon Prime just fell into instant video subscriptions and it is a low cost alternative that might beat out Netflix if they stumble again. It is going to take time for culture to evolve to effective use video on demand. We are at a moment of very rapid change in technological possibilities but people haven't figured out how to use the new possibilities effectively.
SciFi that's out right now
Falling Skies (just ended after 5 seasons - decent)
Dark Matter (boring as all fuck)
Killjoys (not bad)
Defiance (Awesome first episode and then straight downhill... stopped watching after 8 episodes)
Continuum (Couldn't get through season 1, need to check it out again)
Under the Dome (Season 1 was decent but they didn't know what to do with it after that)
Extant (Couldn't get through a single episode... just painful)
Zoo (likes to think it's scifi but it's absolutely moronic)
Minority Report (omg one of the worst leaked pilots of recent memory)
Fantasy/Fantastical Fiction or Horrorish is looking a little better
Dominion (really enjoying)
Lost Girl (love it)
Game of Thrones (last season sucked)
Forever (really enjoyed it, so of course it's cancelled)
The Whisperers (interesting concept)
Strain (not bad if you can get into the editing/shooting style)
All the teen crap (Beauty and the Beast, Teen Wolf, Vampire Diaries, and so on)
Once Upon a Time & spin off (Enjoyed but got played out)