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theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts) Fri Oct 25, 2013, 07:26 AM Oct 2013

How ad industry's youth obsession is wrecking the TV business

How ad industry's youth obsession is wrecking the TV business
By Scott Collins
October 24, 2013, 5:20 p.m.

"Why does the TV business hate people over 50?" That's one of the most common questions I get asked by viewers.

This is not an idle query. The TV industry, like much of corporate America, chases youth. That pursuit has a major impact on programming. It helps explain why a low-rated show such as NBC's "Community" can keep going (and going, and going ...) while older-skewing shows are usually toast. Even if they have more total viewers.

So now you know why "Harry's Law," the legal drama with sexagenarian Kathy Bates, is no longer on the air. NBC executives said as much when they canceled the show.

Most TV networks are chasing viewers in the "demo," or the demographic ages 18 to 49 as measured by Nielsen. But how and why did that happen? And is that even rational?

MORE at http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-how-ad-industrys-youth-obsession-wrecking-the-tv-business-20131024,0,2122275.story#axzz2ijR5lXHj

4 replies

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How ad industry's youth obsession is wrecking the TV business (Original Post) theHandpuppet Oct 2013 OP

Good!!! I hope it hits them where it hurts...... Little Star Oct 2013 #1

That's who spends the most money Boom Sound 416 Oct 2013 #2

And IMHO the quality of network TV has really declined theHandpuppet Oct 2013 #3

I get you Boom Sound 416 Oct 2013 #4

Little Star

(17,055 posts)

1. Good!!! I hope it hits them where it hurts......

Reply to theHandpuppet (Original post)

Fri Oct 25, 2013, 01:19 PM

Oct 2013

I never understood why we can't have both, something for the youth and something for the rest of us.

Boom Sound 416

(4,185 posts)

2. That's who spends the most money

Reply to theHandpuppet (Original post)

Fri Oct 25, 2013, 03:21 PM

Oct 2013

It's all about disposable income spending

theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)

3. And IMHO the quality of network TV has really declined

Reply to Boom Sound 416 (Reply #2)

Fri Oct 25, 2013, 05:45 PM

Oct 2013

Frankly, the vast majority of network TV these days -- and I'm speaking mostly of the comedies here -- seems aimed at an audience with all the comedic sophistication of a convention of 5 year old nose pickers. I'm not engaged by a steady diet of vulgarity and sexism. I've turned to cable for my TV viewing now.

Boom Sound 416

(4,185 posts)

4. I get you

Reply to theHandpuppet (Reply #3)

Sat Oct 26, 2013, 04:14 PM

Oct 2013

I'll embarrasses that "two and a half men" dominated tv ratings for years, but I do understand it.

The thing about condies and sitcoms in particular is they have to get laughs from both the 18 year old and the 49 year old and a lot of them. So different jokes are meant for those groups. Shows like Seinfeld, mash and others are just plain good writing and everyone is laughing at all of them.

I'm a cable fan. Other than a few of the new comedies with no laugh track, networks don't get my views.

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