Size Matters
I hear and see the fans of less popular shows often rail against hits like American Idol and the CSI franchise. I understand the fan’s lament, though I do not personally share it. Although I watch neither CSI or American Idol, I don’t fault the networks for airing them. The business is pretty simple – there are multiple ways to come at it, including the age and gender demographics, but more viewers generally means more money.
While there may be no extra premiums paid for massive scale, since advertising is a business that pays based on scale, the bigger your audience, the better the business. Size certainly does matter when it comes to television. If not overall size, than size among demographics that are important to advertisers.
I do watch some shows that are considered more mainstream and enjoy them. I love FOX’s House and though it has fewer viewers than House, I love ABC’s LOST as well. Outside of sports, all of my other viewing could hardly be considered mainstream when compared to the ratings a show like Idol gets. Certainly my favorite show ever, HBO’s The Wire couldn’t be considered mainstream compared to Idol. It didn’t even draw 2 million viewers typically.
It seems though the concept of mainstream is different to everyone. A show with even 2 million viewers for example, might be considered mainstream versus a show that only reaches 800,000.
If anything, what’s surprising to me is that from the outside looking in, it appears as if the major networks do not attempt to maximize the opportunity in front of them. They each have a few cash cows each (except perhaps for the CW) that seemingly then subsidize the lesser performing shows ratings-wise.
The thing to keep in mind is that save for a very few special events like the Super Bowl, no program gets the lion’s share of the viewing audience. American Idol is a big hit, but you know what? When it was on last night from 8pm-9pm, 78% of the televisions turned on were watching something else. 22% were on Idol, and that’s indeed very, very impressive in this day and age. But don’t lose sight of the notion is that overwhelmingly, more people watching TV were watching something else besides American Idol. Seventy-eight percent of people watching TV last night at 8pm.
I’ll probably be revisiting this notion regularly.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
It would be crazy to expect the networks to “stop airing these”. But I just can’t understand why say CSI is THAT popular compared to a lot of other things. That are IMHO much better, but regardless are at least the same quality.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
It would be crazy to expect the networks to “stop airing these”. But I just can't understand why say CSI is THAT popular compared to a lot of other things. That are IMHO much better, but regardless are at least the same quality.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Why ask why? Accept that 20 million or so regularly do enjoy it. Perhaps you could take comfort in the knowledge that even when that happens the other 80% of the television viewing public isn’t watching it.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Why ask why? Accept that 20 million or so regularly do enjoy it. Perhaps you could take comfort in the knowledge that even when that happens the other 80% of the television viewing public isn't watching it.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
All the more amazing that in 1972, more than half the TV sets in use at the time (and more than a third of the nation as a whole) watched All in the Family.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:28 pm
All the more amazing that in 1972, more than half the TV sets in use at the time (and more than a third of the nation as a whole) watched All in the Family.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I think there are some things I like that are pretty mainstream. I enjoy Lost and have fun watching a marathon of Grey’s Anatomy in my PJs. However it seems that the shows that I love, the shows that get me really emotionally invested, are the shows that are canceled the quickest–or on the verge of cancelation. For whatever reason Firefly, Wonderfalls, Supernatural, The Black Donnellys, Veronica Mars, Jericho–they’re all shows that more than just made me a fan, they made me fall in love with a them. I dont know if its just I have a taste in shows thats just not mainstream at all. Or maybe it has to do with a level of commitment some of the shows require. I don’t know. I’m baffled when I rewatch the end of the Black Donnelly’s. How did the show get canceled?? I put on Firefly and see one of the greatest convieved shows I’ve ever come across (IMO of course). I watch Supernatural and wonder why more people aren’t watching this awesome family drama. I don’t really get it. What does The Biggest Loser have that Jericho does?
I’m babbling because I’m tired and not feeling well. Sorry Robert.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I think there are some things I like that are pretty mainstream. I enjoy Lost and have fun watching a marathon of Grey's Anatomy in my PJs. However it seems that the shows that I love, the shows that get me really emotionally invested, are the shows that are canceled the quickest–or on the verge of cancelation. For whatever reason Firefly, Wonderfalls, Supernatural, The Black Donnellys, Veronica Mars, Jericho–they're all shows that more than just made me a fan, they made me fall in love with a them. I dont know if its just I have a taste in shows thats just not mainstream at all. Or maybe it has to do with a level of commitment some of the shows require. I don't know. I'm baffled when I rewatch the end of the Black Donnelly's. How did the show get canceled?? I put on Firefly and see one of the greatest convieved shows I've ever come across (IMO of course). I watch Supernatural and wonder why more people aren't watching this awesome family drama. I don't really get it. What does The Biggest Loser have that Jericho does?
I'm babbling because I'm tired and not feeling well. Sorry Robert.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
It’s OK, feel better soon. Go watch some late season 2 episodes of Supernatural. LOVED those.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
It's OK, feel better soon. Go watch some late season 2 episodes of Supernatural. LOVED those.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
What Is And What Should Never Be is probably still my favorite Supernatural Episode to-date. I was just blown away by it and still am everytime I watch it.
Can’t wait for new episodes starting tomorrow.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
What Is And What Should Never Be is probably still my favorite Supernatural Episode to-date. I was just blown away by it and still am everytime I watch it.
Can't wait for new episodes starting tomorrow.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
As for myself, I don’t watch ABC Or NBC at all and only C.S.I. on CBS. I still watch Smallville on the CW and used to watch several shows when the WB was on the air. T.V. in general has become a wasteland of insipid, uninspired drivel. It makes me wonder which of the current generation of T.V. shows Hollywood will be turning into a ‘Big Screen’ project in 20 years. Now, when I watch T.V. it’s usually the Food Network or DIY Or TCM.
Of course, you have to remember that the people running the networks now are from the “Johnny can’t read” generation so I guess the quality of the programming should be no surprise.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am
As for myself, I don't watch ABC Or NBC at all and only C.S.I. on CBS. I still watch Smallville on the CW and used to watch several shows when the WB was on the air. T.V. in general has become a wasteland of insipid, uninspired drivel. It makes me wonder which of the current generation of T.V. shows Hollywood will be turning into a 'Big Screen' project in 20 years. Now, when I watch T.V. it's usually the Food Network or DIY Or TCM.
Of course, you have to remember that the people running the networks now are from the “Johnny can't read” generation so I guess the quality of the programming should be no surprise.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:10 am
Hi Robert. I’m sure that I’m not considered mainstream. Every morning I check my guide on Directv.I only check to see what is on the 2 History Channels,Discovery,NatGeo and the Travel Channel. I watch no network Tv. I do watch alot of news. But I did watch Jericho. I don’t understand why people watch Reality shows. They are so silly to me. I want to learn something when I watch.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Hi Robert. I'm sure that I'm not considered mainstream. Every morning I check my guide on Directv.I only check to see what is on the 2 History Channels,Discovery,NatGeo and the Travel Channel. I watch no network Tv. I do watch alot of news. But I did watch Jericho. I don't understand why people watch Reality shows. They are so silly to me. I want to learn something when I watch.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Danielle, I totally agree with you. Added to that is: why do networks show 3 or 4 shows that I like, at the same day and time, while at lots of other days and times, there is not even one thing that I want to watch. I have basic, regular, digital, A Movie Package (10 Channels), a Lifestyles Package (11 channels), and it’s still hard sometimes to find something to watch. Ridiculous! I’ve already decided that I’ll will find out if the full episode will be aired online (and watch it there!) of one of the shows and if yes, then I’ll watch something else, and then watch, say, Grey’s Anat online. Lost and Ghost Whisperer are going to have to wait until they come out on DVD and then I can catch up with what I missed. I think I’m going to have to do this more and more because of the ridiculous network scheduling. Didn’t any of TPTB taking Scheduling 101?
And the only 2 good (that i would never miss) shows on the CW are Supernatural & Reaper (RIP Veronica Mars!!!)
April 24th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Danielle, I totally agree with you. Added to that is: why do networks show 3 or 4 shows that I like, at the same day and time, while at lots of other days and times, there is not even one thing that I want to watch. I have basic, regular, digital, A Movie Package (10 Channels), a Lifestyles Package (11 channels), and it's still hard sometimes to find something to watch. Ridiculous! I've already decided that I'll will find out if the full episode will be aired online (and watch it there!) of one of the shows and if yes, then I'll watch something else, and then watch, say, Grey's Anat online. Lost and Ghost Whisperer are going to have to wait until they come out on DVD and then I can catch up with what I missed. I think I'm going to have to do this more and more because of the ridiculous network scheduling. Didn't any of TPTB taking Scheduling 101?
And the only 2 good (that i would never miss) shows on the CW are Supernatural & Reaper (RIP Veronica Mars!!!)