justin2kx 237 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Let's face it, Saturday Nights -on Primetime that is- is dead, been dead a long time. Except for College Football, Movie Showcases, occasional figure skating and 48 Hours mystery. Gone are the nights of Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family, Golden Girls, 227, Walker Texas Ranger, COPS, and America's most wanted. When the only original show on Saturday Night (outside of CBS' 48 hours) is Univision's Sabado Gigante, therein lies the problem. In the article from TVNEWSCheck on Fred Silverman, which deals with the opportunity for local stations to produce more locality and less dependent on network and syndication programming, one paragraph is highlighted to support this case: "Finding time for locally produced programming schedules won't be a problem, he says. Within a few years, all the broadcast networks will give up on Saturday night and give it back to affiliates, he says. And Friday nights and the flagging 10 p.m. slot may not be far behind, he adds." Source: http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/74322/silverman-out-to-remake-local-broadcasting Granted, that is Silverman's prediction and all, but do you think it is time for the networks to revert Saturday night to affiliates so stations take the opportunity to program their own schedule. What kind of programs will they schedule though if it is the case? or will it be too much of a task for stations that are downright lazy, they'll schedule infomercials if necessary (like that would happen,really?) Also do you think Silverman's plan to work with station groups to produce local programming on key parts for daytime and primetime even on main or subchannels can be realized for the future? Also, do you think KSNV in las vegas should be a model for the future for the stations, foregoing syndication for more locality, in their case, more news? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glimmer 282 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 It's simply never gonna happen, and certainly not with Fridays gaining a second wind for the networks. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99149 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1513 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 If Fridays are gaining, it could be at Saturday's expense though. Maybe making Saturday nights all sports is the answer? During the winter and spring, they could put hockey and basketball, for example, on Saturday nights? Even perhaps experiment with golf under the lights? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99153 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomadcowatbk 149 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 why? so they could on prime time infomercials? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99154 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeters 1916 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Thinking the stations would fill all that time with local programming is on the extreme end of wishful thinking. It'd end up being some news programming and existing programming (i.e. the weekend public affairs show, sports shows) along with infomercials and syndicated programming. I would bet that any other local programming would be from outside sources. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99155 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 If Fridays are gaining, it could be at Saturday's expense though. Maybe making Saturday nights all sports is the answer? During the winter and spring, they could put hockey and basketball, for example, on Saturday nights? Even perhaps experiment with golf under the lights? Saturday Night College Football has been a smashing success for ABC. And now I think Fox's strategy is to have sports on Saturday Night as well. I'm not sure what the other networks would do but I see them doing something more like that instead of giving it back to the affiliates who will probably waste it running second-run movies and infomercials. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99156 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson R. 569 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I could see the affiliates getting 10-11 pm Eastern someday but not an entire night. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99165 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hathawaynson2 39 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Let's face it, Saturday Nights -on Primetime that is- is dead, been dead a long time. Except for College Football, Movie Showcases, occasional figure skating and 48 Hours mystery. Gone are the nights of Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family, Golden Girls, 227, Walker Texas Ranger, COPS, and America's most wanted. When the only original show on Saturday Night (outside of CBS' 48 hours) is Univision's Sabado Gigante, therein lies the problem. In the article from TVNEWSCheck on Fred Silverman, which deals with the opportunity for local stations to produce more locality and less dependent on network and syndication programming, one paragraph is highlighted to support this case: "Finding time for locally produced programming schedules won't be a problem, he says. Within a few years, all the broadcast networks will give up on Saturday night and give it back to affiliates, he says. And Friday nights and the flagging 10 p.m. slot may not be far behind, he adds." Source: http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/74322/silverman-out-to-remake-local-broadcasting Granted, that is Silverman's prediction and all, but do you think it is time for the networks to revert Saturday night to affiliates so stations take the opportunity to program their own schedule. What kind of programs will they schedule though if it is the case? or will it be too much of a task for stations that are downright lazy, they'll schedule infomercials if necessary (like that would happen,really?) Also do you think Silverman's plan to work with station groups to produce local programming on key parts for daytime and primetime even on main or subchannels can be realized for the future? Also, do you think KSNV in las vegas should be a model for the future for the stations, foregoing syndication for more locality, in their case, more news? As far as I know, KSHB (NBC affiliate in (Kansas city) airs paid programing after Saturday night live, if Saturday Night Live was dropped completely from the network, I would be okay with an 10 pm news rebroadcast. However, is NBC Really dropping Saturday Night Live? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99175 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5577 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 As far as I know, KSHB (NBC affiliate in (Kansas city) airs paid programing after Saturday night live, if Saturday Night Live was dropped completely from the network, I would be okay with an 10 pm news rebroadcast. However, is NBC Really dropping Saturday Night Live? NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO. No. 'SNL' isn't going anywhere. We're talking about the prospect of returning PRIMETIME (8-11 or 7-10) to the affiliates, not late night (in NBC's case). Even if the comedy program isn't "as good as it used to be", it's still very successful and making money. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99177 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3951 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I think the days of hit shows on Saturday nights are long gone. The only viable things anymore are movies, college football, and repeats of hit shows. If anything, it gives a "second chance" for people to catch a show if they can't watch it during the week, or a way to DVR it if they're maxed out at a particular time period. Cable has enough time to run a show into the ground within a short amount of time, where broadcast airings are less frequent. I don't think the affiliates are going to do anything fancy either should they ever get their time back. Most people have lives on the weekend, and hiring staff could get real expensive, if they have to pay weekend rates and/or overtime. If anything, it's going to be syndicated content that could make a few extra local ad dollars.... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99191 Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin2kx 237 Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 Saturday Night College Football has been a smashing success for ABC. And now I think Fox's strategy is to have sports on Saturday Night as well. I'm not sure what the other networks would do but I see them doing something more like that instead of giving it back to the affiliates who will probably waste it running second-run movies and infomercials. It just dawned on me that ABC has saturday night college football. Maybe Saturday can actually be a betheren for sports since sports is dvr-proof. The audience of course will come. with ABC and college football, NBC can put some Notre dame football there, and after the season, maybe the figure skating contests they would sporadically air or NHL on saturdays. CBS can air SEC football double header (after the 3:30 ET game that is) and perhaps air 48 hours on fridays or shelve until the season ends. They can also use College Basketball as a big primetime platform with a mixup matchups of big and small time teams. Perhaps ABC can try NBA towards playoff season, but movies and 20/20 would do fine. So does NBC and their crime drama repeats. Question: Why couldn't networks do more movies often, don't they have large respective libraries in their own right? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99195 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVNewsLover 779 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Question: Why couldn't networks do more movies often, don't they have large respective libraries in their own right? I remember when ABC, NBC, and CBS all had Sunday night movies at one time. Those were the good ole days!! Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99200 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmkcool2002 8 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I think this is very feasible. As networks look for way to cut costs, I would expect them to give back Saturdays to affiliates whenever they aren't showing any sports broadcasting. As has been mentioned though, it would be wishful thinking to assume affiliate would create a local programming block. It's more likely that Scripps, Sinclair, Gannett etc. would either create their own programming, as they've already started doing OR that they would replace network programming with shows from their diginets. And their diginets are most likely networks which broadcast no original programming and all classic shows, which depending on the show, could be a good or bad thing for ratings. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99201 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4374 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Barter syndicated shows/movies and evergreen offerings like "Matlock" would be obvious choices for affiliates to run. "Matlock" has no national avails and thus is easily used by affiliates if they wish to preempt network programming to satisfy local ad inventory. WKYC in Cleveland famously did such a thing last May when they aired a Matlock movie in place of NBC's Thursday night lineup. One other thing that Fred predicted is that networks like MeTV and AntennaTV will have to develop alternative programming, as they apparently cannot run on their libraries forever, citing TV Land as an example. (Apparently, he's never heard of Svengoolie. Go figure.) A suggestion like that only can result in two things: cheap, crappy "reality" shows and overall channel drift/network decay that renders the channel unwatchable. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99205 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4374 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Question: Why couldn't networks do more movies often, don't they have large respective libraries in their own right? I thought ABC still had a Saturday night movie. Or if they still do, it's sporadic. Otherwise, all four networks have cable outlets for which to exploit their existing movie libraries. Which is likely more desirable than standard OTA TV, especially when it comes to editing for time and content (especially with OTA TV). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13342-should-saturday-night-be-reverted-to-affiliates/#findComment-99207 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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