Less television from the networks = more local shows?

From the AP:

[NBC CEO Jeff] Zucker told analysts at a media investor conference [Monday]... that NBC is considering cutting the number of hours or perhaps even the number of nights it provides programming. - “Zucker says NBC may scale down programming hours”

I recall when the TV network feeds weren’t a 24-hour-a-day thing: In the late 50s the typical weekday began at 8am (7am for the Today Show), paused for an hour at noon, paused again from 4pm to 7pm and then finished at 11pm (except for the Tonight Show, which started at 11:15pm and finished at 1am). Weekend programming was even sparser. Stations filled their remaining hours with a mixture of old movies,^[1] cartoons, a few locally-produced programs, and syndicated-on-film off-network shows like Official Detective, The Lone Ranger, and Robin Hood. The few non-network independents got by with a mix of sports, more movies, and, as time went on, off-network reruns. And most stations were off-the-air overnight. So stations don’t absolutely need the nets, although having an affiliation makes filling all those hours much easier.

Having said that, I’m not sure what to make of this:

Several affiliates welcome the possibility, and said Saturday night seems like a logical place to give local content a shot. NBC affiliates board chairman Michael Fiorile was pleased to hear Zucker raise the possibility. “The affiliates asked NBC to do this last summer,” said Fiorile, who seemed somewhat surprised that Zucker had not brought it up sooner.

Affiliates stressed that producing local programming isn’t cheap, but it is a differentiator in the vast landscape of viewing options. “Our niche these days is localism,” says WSAZ Charleston-Huntington (WV) General Manager Don Ray...

If they’re really talking about producing local programming, well, I wish them luck. Don’t get me wrong: “Local” is good. “Local” can generate tremendous followings.^[2] But “local” takes an enormous amount of money and resources to be done right,^[3] especially when compared to what it takes to throw a switch on the satellite receiver. And most affiliates are unready. They lack the personnel and the facilities to do anything beyond an occasional special event. Then there’s the problem of selling enough advertising to cover the costs. And the weak economy militates against staffing up in anticipation of some (uncertain) future reward.

So my prediction is that while network cutbacks may result in more shows “originating” from local facilities, most of those shows won’t really be local. Expect local news to get more time (it’s quick, easy, and only incrementally expensive). Possibly high school sports- which require facilities, but are extremely marketable.  We may get to see a few more old movies. The rest? More Cops, more Judge Judy, and (in unrated hours) more “Paid Programming.” And, possibly, more hours of test cards.

A “renaissance” of local broadcasts? Not gonna happen.


(Loosely) related:

Via: IP (Zucker) and Hear 2.0 (affiliates)

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Posted by: Old Grouch in In Passing at 01:38:52 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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