Author Topic: RIP Pilot Season  (Read 1355 times)

Offline DJ Doena

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RIP Pilot Season
« on: February 27, 2014, 09:51:34 AM »
I don't think I've heard about this show before.

Yeah that's one issue the networks haven't quite figured out yet. I will write about this shortly in a new thread.


No, Pilot season is not dead - yet.

But the Networks don't know what to do about it. Recently they've started to notice that there is a slight drop in ratings *understatement* for their shows.

And they've discovered that other people are creating (TV) shows as well. Just like secret intelligence agencies like the GRU or the NSA these competitors have given themselves cryptic names no one has ever heard of, like HBO or AMC.

And these people just don't care about Pilot season or even a "full season" show! They just produce 10 to 14 episodes per season and air them at any point in the year they deem fit!!

Some of these companies are even foreign (like the obscure BBC) and even dare to air their shows during the Christmas/New Year's break! And then they make only three episodes per season and let their viewers wait for two years to get more!!

So, the Networks being forced into this battle they did not see coming in the past few years have decided to employ the enemy's tactics - except they forgot to tell their viewers about it.

Network viewers are accustomed to get new shows in the fall (late September through mid-October). That's when they are on the lookout for new and exciting material they could get addicted to. No one expects a new show to arrive on February 17th and no one's going to watch it.

Especially when it's not even particularly advertised but just thrown in there into the mix.

You can't expect viewers to show up and give you good ratings when you don't tell them LOUDLY that they should be AWARE you've broken the rules that have been established for decades.

Networks either have a long way to go until they catch up with the cable channels or the web producers like Netflix or Amazon - or they will ultimately lose the series-loving crowd completely and have to fill their program with even more scripted reality.


I've posted this video before, but I really think everyone invested in (TV) shows (emotionally or financially) should watch it:



Here's the transcript if you'd rather read it.
« Last Edit: February 27, 2014, 10:17:37 AM by DJ Doena »
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Offline Dragonfire

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Re: RIP Pilot Season
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2014, 06:07:58 AM »
It does seem like a few of the networks over here are doing more like cable ...or BBC ..with 12 or so episodes. 
I've liked a lot of stuff I've seen from BBC America..I wish they aired more of the newer stuff from BBC instead of so many reruns of Kitchen Nighmares and Star Trek Next Generation. 
I have seen some of True Detective on HBO.  Interesting, though somewhat twisted, show.