Heroes.
Well my faith in humanity just plummetted, wait, I never had any faith to begin with.
And rather than puzzle over the odd phenomenon of people shoplifting what others won't take for free, I'm interested in what this implies about the problem faced by all TV but particularly broadcast networks, namely that the under-35 crowd wouldn't even bother to steal most of their product (and it's a given, I think, that illegal downloaders generally correspond to the under-35 crowd which explains how Heroes could beat Lost in this listing and it's not just that pirates have terrible taste in TV).
-The studio that makes Heroes (Universal) can use even illegal downloads as a revenue stream by amping up product placements even more. The whole cast gets Nissan Versas! Collorary: we'll never be rid of Hiro and Ando's increasingly pointless antics.
-Downloaders can be lumped together with non-ad-watching TiVO viewers in the same revenue model. That's a big-ass audience, even if product placements are a paltry and indirect way to offset Nielsens, they can add up to a substantial figure through sheer volume.
-NBC should not turn up its nose at Heroes' online popularity because at least it gives them a test case to use, to determine how to do what all networks will need to, mainly find ways not to be dependent on the dying ad-supported broadcast model. Most of NBC's lineup gets ignored even by pirates, and the under-35 crowd is losing interest in broadcast TV compared with older cohorts. (Network TV's average audience age is now 50, outside their 18-49 target.)
-The new advertising model will be created in part by networks starting to take fansites seriously, and yes even that dratted Facebook, as venues for advertising. The online fandom cannot begin and end at their own websites, and ad models need to be far more creative than dumb ad banners. As the article says, about half the downloaders are American, and are getting episodes of American shows early. Why not just wait for the broadcast or TiVO? Because they need to be the first to yak about episodes online, post spoilers, etc. This is social media, and that's how to crack the iceberg. The audience won't generate serious revenue now, because it is still too small. This is investment for the future, to solve a problem that must be solved if network TV doesn't plan to just ride the Titanic all the way to the bottom of the sea.
-Moreso than for other shows, Heroes' future cannot be predicted from this coming season's Nielsens. Even if the ratings continue to slide, I bet it gets an S5 because NBC won't want to lose its guinea pig. I'm sure NBC will have plenty of other shows to cancel, maybe all of them considering how pathetic their lineup is. PS, I wouldn't be surprised if Chuck gets an S4. The whole Subway thing demonstrated that Chuck is a good guinea pig show, too.
-Casting Robert Knepper from Prison Break was a smart and highly calculated move (and I think will at least stabilize the ratings if not push em up). Heroes should think about grabbing Wentworth Miller and William Fichtner if possible. When Lost ends, there's a whole new stable of worthwhile actors to glom onto. When 24 ends, grab Katee Sackhoff and Mary Lyn Rajskub (and Kiefer, but somehow I think he's out of their league). Grab Michael Rosenbaum and don't waste him like you did his dad. Actors with piracy-fostered online followings will become ever more valuable commodities.
-Pirates don't care how badly a show is written, as long as it has sexy stars and lots of zany plot twists. I hate to say it, but casting actors with online followings and keeping everyone dazzled by nonsense is probably more important than water-tight plotting. Heroes (along with the likes of Gossip Girl) will be the model for future young-skewing series.
Lastly, I can't help quoting the wonderful way the article begins, quoting the scholarly journal DUH:
PS, this thread is here since not all of the shows mentioned in the article are sf/f.
Well my faith in humanity just plummetted, wait, I never had any faith to begin with.
And rather than puzzle over the odd phenomenon of people shoplifting what others won't take for free, I'm interested in what this implies about the problem faced by all TV but particularly broadcast networks, namely that the under-35 crowd wouldn't even bother to steal most of their product (and it's a given, I think, that illegal downloaders generally correspond to the under-35 crowd which explains how Heroes could beat Lost in this listing and it's not just that pirates have terrible taste in TV). -The studio that makes Heroes (Universal) can use even illegal downloads as a revenue stream by amping up product placements even more. The whole cast gets Nissan Versas! Collorary: we'll never be rid of Hiro and Ando's increasingly pointless antics.
-Downloaders can be lumped together with non-ad-watching TiVO viewers in the same revenue model. That's a big-ass audience, even if product placements are a paltry and indirect way to offset Nielsens, they can add up to a substantial figure through sheer volume.
-NBC should not turn up its nose at Heroes' online popularity because at least it gives them a test case to use, to determine how to do what all networks will need to, mainly find ways not to be dependent on the dying ad-supported broadcast model. Most of NBC's lineup gets ignored even by pirates, and the under-35 crowd is losing interest in broadcast TV compared with older cohorts. (Network TV's average audience age is now 50, outside their 18-49 target.)
-The new advertising model will be created in part by networks starting to take fansites seriously, and yes even that dratted Facebook, as venues for advertising. The online fandom cannot begin and end at their own websites, and ad models need to be far more creative than dumb ad banners. As the article says, about half the downloaders are American, and are getting episodes of American shows early. Why not just wait for the broadcast or TiVO? Because they need to be the first to yak about episodes online, post spoilers, etc. This is social media, and that's how to crack the iceberg. The audience won't generate serious revenue now, because it is still too small. This is investment for the future, to solve a problem that must be solved if network TV doesn't plan to just ride the Titanic all the way to the bottom of the sea.
-Moreso than for other shows, Heroes' future cannot be predicted from this coming season's Nielsens. Even if the ratings continue to slide, I bet it gets an S5 because NBC won't want to lose its guinea pig. I'm sure NBC will have plenty of other shows to cancel, maybe all of them considering how pathetic their lineup is. PS, I wouldn't be surprised if Chuck gets an S4. The whole Subway thing demonstrated that Chuck is a good guinea pig show, too.
-Casting Robert Knepper from Prison Break was a smart and highly calculated move (and I think will at least stabilize the ratings if not push em up). Heroes should think about grabbing Wentworth Miller and William Fichtner if possible. When Lost ends, there's a whole new stable of worthwhile actors to glom onto. When 24 ends, grab Katee Sackhoff and Mary Lyn Rajskub (and Kiefer, but somehow I think he's out of their league). Grab Michael Rosenbaum and don't waste him like you did his dad. Actors with piracy-fostered online followings will become ever more valuable commodities.
-Pirates don't care how badly a show is written, as long as it has sexy stars and lots of zany plot twists. I hate to say it, but casting actors with online followings and keeping everyone dazzled by nonsense is probably more important than water-tight plotting. Heroes (along with the likes of Gossip Girl) will be the model for future young-skewing series.
Lastly, I can't help quoting the wonderful way the article begins, quoting the scholarly journal DUH:
PS, this thread is here since not all of the shows mentioned in the article are sf/f.
I mean, with the shows I love, wild horses couldn't keep me away from purchasing the DVD sets as soon as they are available.
