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Time-shifters dictating what average viewers watch on TV
Time-shifters watch prime-time shows on their own schedule, whether it be by video on demand, DVRs or computer sites such as hulu.com or fancast.com. And, increasingly, it's that group of viewers that is controlling what's programmed on the networks.
How hot is time shifting?
A TV Pulse Survey reports 50 percent of those 35 and older and an eye-opening 78 percent of individuals under 35 plan to watch at least some of their favorite shows on delay. Because advertisers crave that 35-and-under audience, networks are unlikely to cancel or renew a series until they see how it's faring with belated viewers. (One might suspect that those prime-time procrastinators also are fast forwarding past commercials, but that's another story).
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For its part, Comcast's On Demand service has significantly increased its delayed-viewing options to include 200 new and classic shows that also can be found on its Fancast Web site. (There are still a few glaring exceptions - no "Big Bang Theory," for instance - but generally, you can catch up with a missed episode of a favorite series anytime, anywhere.) Riding a bus to work? Check out "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on your laptop.
While there's no doubt that easy access of shows is convenient (I was able to catch up with the Pittsburgh Pirates-mocking skit on "Saturday Night Live" and David Lettermen's confessions online), one wonders if such availability will eventually do in series that don't qualify as must-see TV. For instance, NBC hammers home the point that "The Jay Leno Show" can be seen on its Web site anytime. That makes it easy to pass on the show in its 10 p.m. weekday slot - and to forget about watching it at all as well.
n When TV Pulse Survey suggested that 81 percent of TV viewers planned to watch network prime time this fall, it raised a lot of eyebrows. But the big number was right on. For the first three weeks of the new season, more than 50 million people were often tuned to the five networks, a significant spike over previous years. And while numbers have leveled off slightly, most networks are still pulling viewers in for new shows.
n Part of the cable trend reversal may be credited to the sudden abundance of network comedy series. The survey showed 68 percent planned to watch dramas, 67 percent comedies and 61 percent movies. That's a huge leap for sitcoms, which have been but a blip in prime time in recent years. The sitcom has evidently adversely affected reality shows, which are - as the survey predicted - losing steam. (Though still a top 10 performer, "Dancing with the Stars" has taken a significant tumble.)
n Among the new shows now on board for a full season are "The Good Wife," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Glee," "Modern Family," "Cougar Town" and "The Middle." "NCIS: LA," paired with its parent series, "NCIS," has been drawing "American Idol"-like numbers so far, and, even more surprisingly, been tops in its time period among those ages 18 to 49.
n NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" is barely meeting its modest expectations, losing out to ABC and CBS regularly, although it did beat ABC's "Eastwick" last week. Part of the problem, I think, is that the show is over-rehearsed. Interviewees seem to be reading from cue cards, and the celebrities participating in the "10 at 10" segment seem to know the supposedly off-the-cuff questions beforehand. Also, producers need to put the brakes on the "Green Car" raceway gimmick. It ran out of gas long before Rush Limbaugh slammed into a cardboard Al Gore.
n Last Thursday, NBC canceled the second season of "Southland" before an episode even aired. Seems the network is pleased with ratings for "Dateline," which "Southland" was to replace later this month. OK, but wouldn't it have made sense to at least plug in "Southland" temporarily for the free-falling "Heroes?"
n ESPN's "Monday Night Football" is having its best season ever, with a record 21.8 million tuning in last week. Evidently, it took fans a couple years to figure out that "MNF" had been moved, not canceled. Of course, it didn't hurt to have a much-hyped Bret Favre facing his old teammates last week.
n The networks are 2-1 with their controversial moving of new series this fall. Both "The Mentalist" and "Big Bang Theory" have picked up viewers in their new homes, while Fox's "Fringe" has, as expected, lost out to tough competition from "CSI," "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Office" on Thursdays. As "Fringe" is a serialized drama, it needs to be moved before plot arcs become hopelessly confusing.
n CBS's Pittsburgh-based hospital drama, "Three Rivers," was DOA on its arrival two Sundays ago. There weren't even many people in the 'Burgh tuned in. Someone might want to send CBS execs a Terrible Towel to cry in. "Three Rivers" premiered opposite the Steelers-San Diego game.
Terry Hazlett covers TV and radio for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at snowballrizzo@aol.com.
