Can’t get enough of the “retro” shows like Mad Men? Do the Zombies on The Walking Dead make your night? What is The Office going to be like with Andy Bernard taking Michael Scott’s place? And what DID happen to Peter on Fringe?
The beginning of fall (which technically just started last Fri) also marks the beginning of a new TV season. Along with all of the old shows and characters we have grown to know and love, we will be treated to a plethora of new shows that could be our new Arrested Development or Lost (the greatest two shows on television in my humble opinion).
Typically, broadcasting networks debut all of their shows, new episodes of their old shows and pilots of their new shows, during one week in mid to late September. This is when the ratings war truly heats up and shows make it or break it.
For years, the television industry, especially broadcasting TV, has seen their ratings decline significantly. Viewers (especially on the coasts) simply aren’t tuning in as much as they used to. Combined with DVRs, Tivos, cable televisions, and significant programming options being offered by every market, television shows face stiff competition in winning viewers’ minds and hearts and advertisers’ dollars.
Why does this matter? It all boils down to money. TV studios spend millions of dollars purchasing, producing and distributing these shows. They hope they are investing in a hit that will allow them not only to break even on their budget, but to turn a profit. This is done by attracting advertiser dollars, which really only happens when a show is worth the money based on either their demographic or overall ratings.
These shows are often a dime a dozen. These days everyone can get snazzy movie actors to star in their movie that possesses a fairly compelling plot. Television execs go through months of screening their new shows with test audiences in an attempt to figure out how their show will be perceived by test audiences.
If this sounds like a tricky, competitive and often times frightening process, it is. How are new shows, and for that matter, older shows supposed to distinguish themselves in an industry that is saturated in shows that look and feel the same as all the rest.
Two easy answers: One, writers must pen their work with creative, original thoughts in mind. Secondly, networks need to effectively and efficiently promote their shows. So how does this work in an era where constant new technology and technology updates are occurring continuously?
An article by Mashable today elaborates on just that. Networks have increasingly turned to social networking to promote their shows, understanding that it attracts a huge audience of dedicated followers constantly checking their profiles, wall, news feed and messages.
This is an ingenious way to reach a huge number of people all at once, and also allows for creativity and ingenuity in the advertising process! It will be a couple of weeks until we can definitely rule on how shows did, but in the mean time, we can engage with our new favorite and potential favorite programs that are all new for the first time since May!
