Can we survive a transition back to real schedules

[lighthammer]

Here's something very interesting to consider.

Over the last several years, many networks have been attempting to monopolize use of their shows in the format of mini-marathons in an attempt to garner the maximum profit from their shows.

I know a lot of people hanging out in this forum have been part of conversations and debates leading towards "realistic" and "normalized" schedules.

I got to thinking the other day however, I'm not sure if society as a whole would like non-mini-marathon schedules anymore.

It almost seems to me that people like to find a show they like and just watch as many episodes as they can till either the mini-marathon is over or until they get bored of it. I find myself thinking it may be true that this leads to why season box sets and streaming video sites have garnered such popularity in the last 10 years.

This might also mean it may simply be high time to shift premier series into a 60 minute format from the current 30 minute format that has been popular over the last 30 years.

What do you guys think?

[Sketch]

I don't think it's exactly impossible to get back to traditional schedule formats but it is true that viewers of all ages tend to latch on to just a few shows and would prefer to see more of those than a greater level of variety. Once they find a show they like, they want to see as much of it as possible in as short a time as possible.

Plenty of networks don't over do it on marathons but most do run hour blocks of half hour shows and often repeat the same episode a few times a day.

Shifting premieres to 60 minute format essentially doubling up premieres can work and has in some cases but the whole reason most networks don't do back to back premieres is because it uses up new content too quickly. However, reruns are where shows tend to do their best or prove if they are worth airing so maybe getting through premieres faster wouldn't be a bad thing for at least some networks.

On the opposite side of that. Cartoon Network decided to try quarter hour premieres and it seems to be working alright for them and always worked decently enough for Adult Swim.

[Neomysterion X. Prime]

I'd rather have real schedules back on the telly. Nick's been making me ill with all the SpongeBob overkill. At least CN did manage to cut the Johnny Test airings this year compared to a year or two ago.

EDIT: Marathons are okay, but not all the time, especially with shows like SpongeBob and Johnny Test.

[VSigma100]

It all depends on what makes the networks money now a days. I'm sure we could go back to REAL schedules again, if the networks actually TRIED, to see what works, and what doesn't. But then of course, the kids would go complaining, saying they don't get enough of DBZKai or Avenger's.

So really it has to do with the viewers and the money the networks make off of it.

If this doesn't make sense tell me please, so I can edit it again.

[Sketch]

Cartoon Network has actually started having a lot more variety on their daily schedule. Much less mini-marathons and very few hour blocks compared to recent years. I don't know how much longer that's going to last but I appreciate the experimenting they're doing with older shows on the line-up lately. Maybe traditional schedules aren't so unlikely after all.

However, Prime makes a very valid point. Kids like these blocks of shows and so do adults in the case of adult targeted shows. Maybe that's because they've gotten used to them but more than likely it's the mentality that you can never have too much of a good thing. Believe it or not, people don't really want variety. They want the shows they like and only the shows they like. They want them on often so they can watch them multiple times in a day or pick a time to watch and miss the other time due to having something else to do then. With DVR there's less concern for missing shows because you don't even have to go through the bother of programming a VCR anymore but people still like knowing exactly when their shows will be on and how often and along with that want their shows on as often as possible. Because the majority of television viewers crave entertainment in this fashion, people who aren't into the mainstream shows or like those but want to see other shows as well are out of luck.

And that's how the television world turns.