NBC Considering Giving 10pm/9pm Back To Affiliates

[DirtyHarry 727]

7 hours ago, JTT said:

The ratings are already low on these nights.  The networks have tried many different types of programming on these two nights and have not been successful.   Even if the ratings are geared towards older viewers, if the older viewers tune in, and if they can attract other viewers in addition to the older viewers, the total viewers might be more than whatever they're getting now.  Isn't the main goal of the networks is to get as many viewers to watch the programs that they put on the air?  

I understand it is also about making profit off of the programming.   This might be a way to argue that they can attract more viewers with the classic programs that put on the air.

 

 

 

My argument is that this is just like a retail store. If they're not open when you need them, and you're forced to go somewhere else, sooner or later you get out of the habit of going there. So if Kroger closes at 9:00, but Meijer's is open until midnight, you're going to get into the habit of going to Meijer's and Kroger's fades away for you.

 

Radio tried that. The argument is that they have so few listeners after 7:00 p.m. that it's not worth it to have live talent. You can see how relevant radio is everywhere except for the car anymore.

[nycnewsjunkie 1439]

2 hours ago, DirtyHarry said:

My argument is that this is just like a retail store. If they're not open when you need them, and you're forced to go somewhere else, sooner or later you get out of the habit of going there. So if Kroger closes at 9:00, but Meijer's is open until midnight, you're going to get into the habit of going to Meijer's and Kroger's fades away for you.

 

Radio tried that. The argument is that they have so few listeners after 7:00 p.m. that it's not worth it to have live talent. You can see how relevant radio is everywhere except for the car anymore.

I generally agree, but I think radio was heading in that direction whether they had live talent or not. Musical artists, talk show hosts, and anything else that’s on the radio have never been more accessible, so most people (especially my age) aren’t going to consume content via an outdated medium unless we’re driving. Even then, I usually listen to either a podcast or my Spotify playlist. People are already “going somewhere else.”

 

I think NBC’s 10pm proposal is a symptom of a bigger problem. Other than live sports, I can’t remember the last time when there was an original show on one of the major networks that I actually wanted to watch. “Abbott Elementary” and “Ghosts” are pretty good, but most shows are either safe, unfunny comedies (the “Night Court” reboot,) cheesy crime dramas (most of the CBS schedule), or game shows. There’s also outright garbage like “Farmer Wants a Wife,” which is better fit for meme material than something I’d actually want to watch as a full series.

[DirtyHarry 727]

1 hour ago, nycnewsjunkie said:

I generally agree, but I think radio was heading in that direction whether they had live talent or not. Musical artists, talk show hosts, and anything else that’s on the radio have never been more accessible, so most people (especially my age) aren’t going to consume content via an outdated medium unless we’re driving. Even then, I usually listen to either a podcast or my Spotify playlist. People are already “going somewhere else.”

 

I think NBC’s 10pm proposal is a symptom of a bigger problem. Other than live sports, I can’t remember the last time when there was an original show on one of the major networks that I actually wanted to watch. “Abbott Elementary” and “Ghosts” are pretty good, but most shows are either safe, unfunny comedies (the “Night Court” reboot,) cheesy crime dramas (most of the CBS schedule), or game shows. There’s also outright garbage like “Farmer Wants a Wife,” which is better fit for meme material than something I’d actually want to watch as a full series.

 

I totally agree that they've got the bigger problem of not having anything anybody wants to watch anymore and not having a clue how to create things people want to watch. 

[JTT 111]

There are many programs out there on many different networks, cable networks, digi-networks, and streaming services. It's a matter of what standards you are talking about.  At what level is the audience level too low to produce programs at a certain time?  I believe that the audience for network TV and every other platform will become so fragmented that they should continue to produce or maintain programming at certain hours, especially the 10pm slot.

[mrsunshine 17]

Another reason that networks might not want to show legacy content on primetime is the royalties and stuff that actors may want. Yeah it could technically be cheaper than creating new shows, but if that is evened out by the millions of dollars they'd need to pay to protagonists X, Y, and Z, they might as well just keep on making new shows or repeating the ones from the current season. This is without counting that many networks' biggest hits were made by other production companies (Friends and Warner for example). That's more big bucks to give to broadcast the show.

[JTT 111]

When will NBC decide and announce what their plans are for the 10pm hour?

[NowBergen 679]

1 hour ago, JTT said:

When will NBC decide and announce what their plans are for the 10pm hour?

They shelved the idea several months ago.  It does not mean they or another of the Big 3 networks look to do this again.

[The Frog 429]

NBC dropping 10pm is still considered a 'real possibility' for the 2024-25 season.

[NowBergen 679]

On 3/24/2023 at 10:18 PM, The Frog said:

NBC dropping 10pm is still considered a 'real possibility' for the 2024-25 season.

Yet they are giving Dick Wolf another multiyear renewal for One Chicago and SVU (L&O and Organized Crime are still to new to earn that).  That causes an issue for NBC and its top producer.  Unless all 3 big networks do it, I doubt one will go alone, especially after NBC being burnt before.  With Paramount Global and Disney also belt tightening, it will be interesting to see if this actually happens.  

[MediaZone4K 2158]

On 3/27/2023 at 6:01 PM, NowBergen said:

Yet they are giving Dick Wolf another multiyear renewal for One Chicago and SVU (L&O and Organized Crime are still to new to earn that).  That causes an issue for NBC and its top producer.  Unless all 3 big networks do it, I doubt one will go alone, especially after NBC being burnt before.  With Paramount Global and Disney also belt tightening, it will be interesting to see if this actually happens.  

Well one of the solid Dick Wolf blocks has been broken up. Law & Order Organized Crime is moving to Peacock.

 

I'm surprised by this because the strength of this block came from having Stabler and Benson on back to back shows. 

10 minutes ago, Jase said:

 

It's not too surprising L&O: OC moved to Peacock. Ratings-wise, it is the weakest of the L&O block and it just doesn't work well as a 22-episode show. I wouldn't be surprised if they move Chicago PD (Season 13) to Peacock as well.

 

As far as slashing the 3rd hr. of primetime, that likely isn't necessary if they get the NBA. Their scripted slate would be greatly reduced and result in cost-savings long term (which is part of the reason why they wanted to cut the hour in the first place). 

Admittedly I find myself having to rewatch during streaming because if you miss details during an episode you might end up lost.

 

To your point yes, it would probably work work better as 10-episode show focused on one crime ring for the entire season rather than moving on to a new crime ring after 2 to 3 episodes.

 

Interesting thought on sports.

Edited May 20, 2024 by MediaZone4K

[24994J 5552]

Please don't bump a thread that hasn't been touched in 14 months, unless, in the case of this thread, primetime on NBC was actually being cut down. A one-off schedule change, even if previously mentioned, doesn't warrant the bump.

[MediaZone4K 2158]

7 hours ago, 24994J said:

Please don't bump a thread that hasn't been touched in 14 months, unless, in the case of this thread, primetime on NBC was actually being cut down. A one-off schedule change, even if previously mentioned, doesn't warrant the bump.

What is the issue?

 

So no one can comment on a thread that hasn't been active in a while?

 

And I think my comment fits because many people in this thread have discussed the hesitancy to break up the Dick Wolf blocks as an obstacle to slashing 10pm. I'm just mentioning that they have. So I see no issue with what I've commented.

Edited May 20, 2024 by MediaZone4K

[JTT 111]

Other shows that were not doing well on NBC, should be given a chance to continue another season on peacock, especially if they were on the borderline,  like Quantlum Leap.  This was a show they were also producing, instead of being canceled.  I understand the ratings were lower, but there were fans that were upset that this show was canceled. 

[channel2 977]

3 hours ago, JTT said:

Other shows that were not doing well on NBC, should be given a chance to continue another season on peacock, especially if they were on the borderline,  like Quantlum Leap.  This was a show they were also producing, instead of being canceled.  I understand the ratings were lower, but there were fans that were upset that this show was canceled. 

 

Or they could shop them around instead of automatically putting them into the black box that is streaming?

[Rusty Muck 4366]

On 5/20/2024 at 12:45 PM, channel2 said:

 

Or they could shop them around instead of automatically putting them into the black box that is streaming?

The problem is young people watch shows on streaming. Young Sheldon actually had changing demos when reruns went to Netflix.

 

From the New York Times:

 

The show also struck a chord with viewers under the age of 34, according to Nielsen. Mr. Molaro, the show’s co-creator, said the Netflix bump became apparent to him when the crew was shooting a scene recently near a church in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles. “Young Sheldon” had filmed in that location dozens of times without incident. But this time, roughly five months after the show began streaming on Netflix, it was a vastly different situation.

“There were hundreds of kids at the fence screaming for Wallace Shawn,” he said, referring to the 80-year-old cast member. “We were like, ‘What is happening?’”

 

So yeah, linear television is in a very bad state right now, and the last thing the affiliates need is for the networks to give up on them, because they have no Plan B. And contrary to the sentiments of a few people in this fandom, MOAR NEWS is not, I repeat NOT, an acceptable Plan B.

[mer764KCTV5 148]

11 hours ago, Rusty Muck said:

And contrary to the sentiments of a few people in this fandom, MOAR NEWS is not, I repeat NOT, an acceptable Plan B.

Locally in Kansas City, if any and I will repeat this literally ANY Television station tries to put an 9pm newscast on thier main channel or if they are in a duopoly, the secondary channel, it WILL get defeated by WDAF-TV (A FOX AFFILIATE) because Channel 4 just have the experience with an 9pm newscast SINCE 1994. It doesn't even care if it's Channel 9, 5, or 41, it will lose against Channel 4.

 

That's an local, but important example why the Plan B wouldn't be an More News situation.

[Georgie56 3292]

1 hour ago, mer764KCTV5 said:

Locally in Kansas City, if any and I will repeat this literally ANY Television station tries to put an 9pm newscast on thier main channel or if they are in a duopoly, the secondary channel, it WILL get defeated by WDAF-TV (A FOX AFFILIATE) because Channel 4 just have the experience with an 9pm newscast SINCE 1994. It doesn't even care if it's Channel 9, 5, or 41, it will lose against Channel 4.

 

That's an local, but important example why the Plan B wouldn't be an More News situation.

Funny, since KMBC has had a long-running 7-9am and 9pm newscast on KCWE for awhile now.

[mer764KCTV5 148]

4 minutes ago, Georgie56 said:

Funny, since KMBC has had a long-running 7-9am and 9pm newscast on KCWE for awhile now.

Despite the fact KMBC is the market leader, WDAF is considered an strong 2nd place, with the 9pm timeslot being considered an leader due to the longevity (WDAF started an prime-time newscast in 1994)

[tyrannical bastard 3931]

If NBC does return this timeslot to their affiliates, news is going to be the most likely outcome.

 

As NBC learned during the Jay Leno disaster of 2009, any M-F program in that timeslot is going to bomb and bring down the ratings of anything that follows it. 

 

Now if it's a hamstrung affiliate run by Sinclair or Scripps, or any other group that can't program local news, they would hopefully see the wisdom of cutting back their filler garbage programing (a la National Desk) to program something competitive at 9/10 pm.

 

NBC affiliates usually command high ratings, and if the Fox affiliate is weaker, this is a chance to compete against them using a proven product.

 

And just because a primetime newscast has been around a while, it can be unseated.  Cleveland got theirs in 1988 with WUAB.  WJW joined FOX 6 years later and the rest is history.  If anything, WUAB's news department basically became WOIO's when they got CBS and WUAB became the alternative once WOIO filled out their schedule with local news.

 

Now where this may also be a problem is your NBC/FOX duopolies.  WRAZ used to be pretty separate to WRAL, but that has changed over the last decade or so.  GIven that market, it may be smart to separate them again.

 

Other markets (like Hampton Roads and WAVY/WVBT)?  Expect a straight simulcast.  But FOX may balk at this and take their stations elsewhere once the affiliation is up.

Edited May 22, 2024 by tyrannical bastard

[JTT 111]

It doesn't appear NBC will be cutting back in prime time programming from recent reports.   Also, they plan on getting NBA rights back.  With that, it will help them reduce their scripted programming and allow them to shift shows to other nights where they don't have sports programming. 

[bpatrick 73]

Quote

 

KSHB would be the station that would have to compete with WDAF at 9 PM.  I  don't know much about Kansas City but from what you say, I don't think Channel 41 would make much of a dent in WDAF's ratings.

I said this when this subject came up the first time.  There are markets where the Fox station has established newscasts at 10/9 and are not likely to lose audience to an NBC station starting a newscast at that time.  WXIA, for example, can't compete with WAGA any other time so what makes anybody think they'll have better luck at 10?  WBRC, Fox6 in Birmingham, has shares in the 60 range, and that would be extremely difficult for WVTM at 9 (CT).  WFLA in Tampa might find it rough going against WTVT.

For all this, however, I have often wondered why ABC, CBS, and NBC don't follow the lead of Fox and the CW and end primetime at 10/9.

[mre29 1513]

5 hours ago, bpatrick said:

For all this, however, I have often wondered why ABC, CBS, and NBC don't follow the lead of Fox and the CW and end primetime at 10/9.

 

One of them would have to blink first and hope the other two don't wipe the floor with them.

 

[NowBergen 679]

Not sure why this continues to be a discussion.  NBC Universal killed the idea a while ago. If one of the full networks decides to do this (I would bet on ABC first as a cost cutting move). then it is worth the discussion.  Sorry.  And why so much about Kansas City?  It's all speculative.

[mer764KCTV5 148]

2 hours ago, NowBergen said:

Not sure why this continues to be a discussion.  NBC Universal killed the idea a while ago. If one of the full networks decides to do this (I would bet on ABC first as a cost cutting move). then it is worth the discussion.  Sorry.  And why so much about Kansas City?  It's all speculative.

Hello, it was me that did that. 

 

The reason was to explain that if ANY stations (in this case, KSHB) tries to put an 9pm newscast, it will get beaten by WDAF-TV. 

 

But yea, this seems boring...

[HanSolo 143]

On 5/21/2024 at 9:52 PM, Rusty Muck said:

 

 

So yeah, linear television is in a very bad state right now, and the last thing the affiliates need is for the networks to give up on them, because they have no Plan B. And contrary to the sentiments of a few people in this fandom, MOAR NEWS is not, I repeat NOT, an acceptable Plan B.

Stipulated that this is not currently on the table, but even if the time comes at some future period TBD, there is no other viable option. Consumers have gone where they've gone. Assuming you can't make a go of "traditional" fare in the 10 pm hour, you either program it with something less costly and perhaps more topical, or you throw in the towel on the time. I know we love to get down on people for lack of creativity and whatnot, but sometimes that's not the issue. The issue is the world evolves and old models sometimes need to give way. 

 

Since it's almost inevitable the Leno experiment would be brought up in that context, that failure was also a set of circumstances unique to that time and that program, on that network. It doesn't automatically mean anything in the general world of late-night-esque shows can't work when that day comes, any more than the flameout of countless 10 pm dramas over the decades meant every drama airing at 10 pm was going to be a failure. 

 

In a world in which linear TV is declining, wringing revenue from news is a way to make something out of the inevitable. It won't work for everyone, and there may be various flexible options if and when the time comes, but for some, it will be a path to keep the lights on a little bit longer.