NBC to cut broadcast schedule?
posted at 8:50 am on December 9, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
How bad is the current recession? Bad enough for at least one broadcast network to consider cutting hours and days off of its prime-time schedule. Jeff Zucker, NBC’s CEO, says that all options remain on the table when looking to cut costs:
A terrible fall season at NBC is forcing the network to consider scaling back the number of hours it airs programming, Chief Executive Jeff Zucker told an investor conference Monday.
While NBC will continue to fund the creation of pilots, Zucker told analysts at a media investor conference sponsored by UBS that NBC is considering cutting the number of hours or perhaps even the number of nights it provides programming.
“Can we continue to program 22 hours of prime-time? Three of our competitors don’t. Can we afford to program seven nights a week? One of our competitors doesn’t,” Zucker said. “All of these questions have to be on the table. And we are actively looking at all of those questions.”
Zucker’s comments came after the company last week laid off 500 employees—about 3 percent of its work force of 15,000—as part of a plan to trim $500 million next year.
So what night or hours will NBC kill? Sundays? They have NFL football on Sunday nights. They can’t cut the 10 pm slot either, because they just cut a deal with Jay Leno to move his show to that time to allow Conan O’Brien to take over the Tonight Show.
In a way, Zucker is making a mistake particular to corporate America. Instead of trying harder to compete, NBC may just retreat and pare back its offerings in an attempt to cut costs rather than raise revenue. It’s the easier, straightforward solution, but it makes it more difficult for the company to grow back to its former position.
As with all markets, NBC’s loss will be another’s gain. They’ve already transplanted “Scrubs” to ABC. Fox may take advantage of a dark night at NBC to further expand its own schedule. CBS will look to find ways to play an NBC retreat to its advantage with producers and potential execs. A prime-time liposuction may not make NBC leaner as much as weaker.
Blowback
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as long as they leave my Law and Order alone, i could give a rat’s patoot.
DrW on December 9, 2008 at 8:53 AM
That’s what they get for cancelling Journeyman.
But I’m not bitter.
I’m still waiting for ABC to get its comeuppance for cancelling Sports Night. Ditto for Fox with Firefly.
Darksean on December 9, 2008 at 8:56 AM
If this story really matters to you, then you need to turn off the TV and get a life.
BigD on December 9, 2008 at 8:56 AM
They can start by getting rid of Keith Olbermann and his male companion Rachel Maddow…
ZoneDaiatlas on December 9, 2008 at 8:58 AM
Meh.
Only show we watch on NBC is ER and that’s on its last season. Football on Sunday if the game looks good.
As long as they’re making programs people don’t want to watch they may as well make less of them.
KCSteve on December 9, 2008 at 8:59 AM
Why is it that I wont miss anything? Oh, yah, I forgot, they left me a long time ago…….
DL13 on December 9, 2008 at 8:59 AM
Don’t know much about NBC. But it’s parent, GE, former world class technological marvel, is now a groveling beggar at the government hand-out door, a victim of it’s greedy and liberal current management, which opted to go Hollywood with the other cool people, and lend long and borrow short, like those other cool people, the Wall Street brokers.
But when you bail-out GE you bail-out NBC.
JiangxiDad on December 9, 2008 at 9:00 AM
No…. They can’t cancel Chuck! The blond girl is to cute to cancel. The one with dark hair is pretty cute as is the one with black hair. Heck, Chuck is a showcase for cute girls. Of course I only warch it for the story not the girls.
jmarcure on December 9, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Bring back Ironsides!
radjah shelduck on December 9, 2008 at 9:02 AM
The white middle aged Christian guy did it. There, I just saved you an hour. (that’s the joke me and my friends tell about Law and Order)
Here’s my confession: I don’t even have NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and whatever else are considered regular broadcast TV. I have Direct TV and in my area, they don’t even offer them unless you want the east or west coast feeds for extra cash, of course. I do, however, have the History and Military Channels and that makes me very happy….
mjk on December 9, 2008 at 9:02 AM
Just don’t touch The Office!
Akzed on December 9, 2008 at 9:04 AM
The Office isn’t going anywhere. There would be too many unanswered questions. Will Angela actually marry Andy on a beat farm? Will Michael and Jan make up and live happily ever after with their test tube baby? Can Jim make Dwight’s head explode with one final awesome prank? See too many questions.
sammypants on December 9, 2008 at 9:08 AM
I think prime time ratings on MSNBC would improve if everytime Keith Olbermann says something stupid, a trained monkey farts in his face.
radjah shelduck on December 9, 2008 at 9:09 AM
People want us to react like NBC is some kind of national treasure that we’re losing? Buh bye, and it couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of libs. Hey, maybe they can get some TARP money! Oh wait. They already have through GE.
But it would be great to have Zucker in front of Barney Frank and Chris Dodd and have them telling Zucker what shows they want brought back in order to get the money.
Golden Girls? Manimal? Little House on the Prairie?
Sugar Land on December 9, 2008 at 9:10 AM
You read my mind… anything with Law & Order in the title better still be there when the dust settles…
D2Boston on December 9, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Sell “Law and Order” to the FOX network then scuttle that whole scurvy network.
rplat on December 9, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Your not one of them browncoats are ya?
The new leader elect of the Alliance has ways of dealing with you independence types.
I don’t need the TV show cause I go me a Firefly of my own that I can fly around.
See how perdy she is.
Firefly
Got the shuttles to.
Shuttle
jmarcure on December 9, 2008 at 9:13 AM
Ed, it’s possible that NBC considered the economy and were pessimistic about their ability to raise revenue in this environment or at least enough to keep their current schedule afloat. Maybe their guess is wrong and that they could try some bold programming or other decisions to increase revenues rather than cut but from the outside, without knowing the numbers, it’s hard to make that judgment.
Looking at our media market locally, advertising revenues have just cratered. It’s not a question of main street investing elsewhere with dollars that are gettable, if you just have the right product. As businesses go under or are cutting back drastically, advertising budgets are the first thing to go.
MargaretMN on December 9, 2008 at 9:16 AM
Yes, don’t cancel Chuck, cute girls and all. It also features a conservative actor in its cast: Adam Baldwin.
Gottafang on December 9, 2008 at 9:17 AM
I think they are failing because they are making stupid shows that nobody will watch. I can’t remember the last network television series I watched besides Seinfeld and that was when it went into syndication. Actually there is mostly nothing on tv most days of the week.
Dilophos on December 9, 2008 at 9:17 AM
So you lay off 500 workers because you don’t have the money, yet you have enough money to give Keith Olbermann a huge new contract extension.
SoulGlo on December 9, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Prime time Leno is a cost-saving move. It won’t cost them more than $30 million a year to run 100 original episodes of a prime-time Leno program. That’s $300,000 per episode. Do you know what an hour of prime-time programming typically costs? Try $2-3 million per episode.
Don’t forget that you can catch Summer Glau (River Tam) on Terminator on Fox — a pretty reasonable show, although virtually nobody watches it. You can also catch Jewel Staite (Kaylee Frye) on Stargate Atlantis on SCIFI.
Outlander on December 9, 2008 at 9:20 AM
Whew! You’re right. That was a close one.
Akzed on December 9, 2008 at 9:21 AM
Don’t cancel Chuck. Very cute girls and a man named Jayne!
Darksean on December 9, 2008 at 9:21 AM
You’re going to need a gang of stong men shovelling to keep the requisite amount of beans in that monkey’s feeding trough. Poor devil!
drunyan8315 on December 9, 2008 at 9:21 AM
NBC is just another liberal bastion that is responding to its negative perception by the American public. After the burnout with the over extended election, their prospective has become worn out by their obvious lack of truth in journalism. Intellectual dishonesty has its costs.
volsense on December 9, 2008 at 9:21 AM
NBC is having financial troubles…..?
Oh that’s a shame.
(snicker)
Maybe Zucker can bring back the Barack Obama players and produce another creepy love song to Obama.If NBC constantly wants to tailor it’s programming to a smaller and smaller niche audience what result did they expect…?
That network has shown time and time again that they don’t want certain types of viewers as they regularly show their contempt for them.
NeoKong on December 9, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Chuck has really grown on me. I started off hating it and not wanting to stick with it, but now I’m liking it. I don’t think NBC will cancel it.
Query: Are there any shows on TV that positive portray (i) Republicans, (ii) Christians, (iii) the U.S. military, or (iv) the global war on terror? Even 24 has fallen off that list, since they banished Jack Bauer to Africa and are going to make him sit through a Senate hearing being grilled by Democrats about the cruelties of CTU…
Outlander on December 9, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Not only this but also they have to mess with programming for all their stupid reality tv shows like american idol. I stopped watching broadcast TV when they messed with the programming schedule so much I couldn’t figure out when a show was starting up again as its anytime in September and January not to mention that sometimes they wait until march to start up a show again and even still they just don’t play all the eps in a row.
I switched to Discovery, Sci-Fi, TBS & USA… and I even throw in some nick at night and tvland. If that fails then its a movie or a video game.
nobleclem on December 9, 2008 at 9:30 AM
If the monkey were even somewhat well trained it could probably debate him and then break wind after showing how little sense he makes.
RDuke on December 9, 2008 at 9:30 AM
I read the other day that people watch more TV during recession periods, so they may miss an opportunity.
CP on December 9, 2008 at 9:32 AM
A fallout from MSNBC, it just show the general programming attitude is not in tune with the public.
They go after a few left wing loyalists, and overlook the larger middle to right leaning (who btw have the money) people.
The people ain’t dumb…over a period of time they will sort it out…MSNBC is foolish, but thinks they are smarter. Hey! Just like their poster boy Olby…
right2bright on December 9, 2008 at 9:34 AM
You would need a whole team of monkeys. No one furball could ever produce that much gas.
MarkTheGreat on December 9, 2008 at 9:35 AM
I have somewhere around 150 channels, who knows? I probably watch 15 of them and the alphabet channels are not among the frequently viewed list. I used to watch ER, but it jumped the shark, or nuked the fridge, years ago and I stopped watching 3 seasons ago.
I find most sitcoms insulting, the British version of The Office was much better than the US version, which I suffered through one episode of when it first came out. For reality I’d rather watch Survivorman than Survivor.
Sparky on December 9, 2008 at 9:35 AM
I haven’t watched network television for some 20 years, and don’t feel I have missed a thing, except perhaps some brain damage. I look forward to the day when all three ‘original’ networks are gone, along with most of the top 20 newspapers. At least then people will have to search for news, and may run across some factual stories.
Vashta.Nerada on December 9, 2008 at 9:37 AM
I didn’t know he was conservative, though I loved the one episode where he wore that shirt (or was it a bumper sticker) “when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns” (I think that’s right).
And thanks for bringing that up, because while I was verifying what you wrote, it finally occurred to me that he’s Jayne.
Esthier on December 9, 2008 at 9:37 AM
(v) Businessmen in general.
MarkTheGreat on December 9, 2008 at 9:38 AM
fire all the current writers for ‘Heroes’..
hire a some new ones that will work for half the cost…
improve the show by default..
DaveC on December 9, 2008 at 9:38 AM
I’m still trying to figure out Eureka on SciFi. It only runs during the summer?
MarkTheGreat on December 9, 2008 at 9:39 AM
The only show I can honestly think of where any conservative male (or any father figure) is positively portrayed, but is laughed at for being uptight although he is usually correct by the end of the episode, is King of the Hill. Also cancelled this season.
No sympathies for NBC or any of our near treasonous networks or Hollywood. Just have 5 nights of programming and say you’ve gone green the other 2 nights a week.
Canadian Infidel on December 9, 2008 at 9:39 AM
That makes sense. Less money for shopping or the movies, so “free” tv is a good fallback position.
MarkTheGreat on December 9, 2008 at 9:40 AM
vi) husbands
BigD on December 9, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Other then watching Sunday night football when the Bears are on I haven’t watched NBC in at least 10 years. The number of entertainment shows that I watch is rapidly dwindling. Two are about to die or change to the point where I will stop watching. Stargate Atlantis on Scifi (an NBC enterprise) ends in two weeks and with Grissom leaving CSI this week those two shows will drop off the list. That leaves NCIS as the only regular show that I watch outside of sports and movies.
jerryofva on December 9, 2008 at 9:44 AM
Does ANYBODY still watch “primetime” television anymore?
The only shows I watch with any regularity are a couple Sci-Fi shows (Stargate Atlantis, which is finishing it’s run, and Sanctuary, because it has Amanda Tapping and is generally ok.), Mythbusters, and Dirty Jobs on Discovery Channel.
I don’t think I’ve watched ANY network shows in… Oh geez, almost TEN YEARS! I think the last “network” show I really watched was Star Trek DS9. Other than that it’s been cable programming, Anime DVDs or Bit-torrent downloaded shows. I doubt I’ll EVER go back to Network programming, and even the cable shows are getting a bit lame. I can’t stand watching sports on T.V. (SNORE!) so there isn’t much left to watch.
Within a year or two I may end up just watching all Anime and whatever interesting stuff I can download. Most shows today are crap, and the fact that they are 50% commercial breaks anymore makes it not worth my time to watch.
wearyman on December 9, 2008 at 9:45 AM
(vi) husbands/boyfriends
MarkTheGreat on December 9, 2008 at 9:45 AM
CIS just got too dark for me last year. I watch tv to be informed or entertained. Not depressed.
MarkTheGreat on December 9, 2008 at 9:47 AM
Pretty much. I usually watch that one too, when it’s on. Just a crazy, quirky, fun show. And it gives you something good to watch during the Summer when everybody else is doing reruns.
wearyman on December 9, 2008 at 9:48 AM
All those green peacocks haven’t generated enough buzz to handcuff our economy with carbon offset requirements, so NBC and Al Gore can’t realize obscene profits from the contrived carbon credits they’ve horded. My guess is NBC might try to kill LIFE, so I’m keeping my obscession for LIFE a secret. Imagine the confusion at NBC if they learn that many viewers there are actually pro-LIFE?
Mark30339 on December 9, 2008 at 9:54 AM
NBC could honor the new king of America and his environmental goals by going dark one night per week, thereby reducing their immense carbon footprint.
Just think of the offsets!!
whitetop on December 9, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Yeah, like those of us who lurk at HA, MM, etc.!
mr.blacksheep on December 9, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Or just get a troop of monkeys
DarkCurrent on December 9, 2008 at 10:05 AM
If we weren’t lurking we would have to rely on the networks for info.
thomasaur on December 9, 2008 at 10:09 AM
I think you and I think alike on TV. Ironically, NBC’s cable networks produce better original programming than NBC does. Stargate rocks, as does Eureka, as do USA shows like In Plain Sight, Monk, Psych, and Burn Notice.
But then, of course, you have the matter of MSNBC. It did ok in the ratings when you could have Keith and Chris (and now Rachel Maddow) smacking the Bush pinata every night. But come 1/20/09, Republicans will cease to matter in national government. Everyone will be focused on how our Glorious Leader, Barack the Lightbringer (praise be to him), is going to save the world. Of course, if He chooses to follow a centrist path, the liberals will start heckling him from the left…. But that’s not going to give the left that chum-in-the-water type feeding frenzy that will invite them to watch another 10 minute long Keith Olbermann Special Comment.
Outlander on December 9, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Every time I get devoted to a show, it gets cancelled. I am beyond caring about the Networks. I am the perfect TV viewer: home 24/7 and love TV. Yet these nitwits have paid me no mind. I could fill a post just by naming the shows I’ve loved and then been deprived of. I am convinced that network execs don’t love or watch television. That is the only explanation for their stupidity. So, you know what? NBC and friends can go take a leap. Bitter much? Yep!
Mrs. Happy Housewife on December 9, 2008 at 10:11 AM
R.I.P. NBC
The sooner some one throws the last shovel full of dirt on its grave, they can put up a gravestone that reads: “Moderately born—Liberally died”
Rovin on December 9, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Exactly. My wife watches that crab fishing show every once in a while, and I’ve looked at it with her. That’s not too bad, I suppose. At least it’s real people.
Though many people would consider my hobbies boring, I just think of the hours I’ve been able to spend on them rather than wasting them watching puerile pap on TV, and am pleased with how I chose to use my time.
mr.blacksheep on December 9, 2008 at 10:11 AM
The networks and Hollywood have killed their golden geese.
Think back for a minute…
Remember when there were TV shows that people regularly made a point of staying home and watching? Shows like MASH, Cheers, The Simpsons, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, etc.? (Yes I know I am leaving alot of them out and none I mentioned aired before 1975 but let’s not digress…)
What made those programs great? Great writing, great producing, great directing and great acting. Shows like MASH which were written and produced by very anti war Democrats still managed to appeal to a broad range of people including those who were not Democrats or of the hippie anti war stripe. How did they do that? By making a show that had great characters and great stories and they did not use those shows to continually and blatantly beat you over the head with their writers/producers agenda. They made sure that despite their beliefs and agendas that their show would entertain almost everyone.
Movies like Dr. Strangelove and Catch-22 managed to take a very anti war stance yet to this day remain one of the best movies ever made with lines that are still used by people.
What has changed?
The TV and movie industry are no longer making things to entertain the masses. They are making things to entertain themselves. These people also do not know who “the masses” are. They know more about tribes in the Amazon rain forest then they know about people in Kentucky, Kansas or North Dakota. Their view of the majority of the people in this country has much akin to how the pukka sahibs of India and Singapore viewed the people of those countries or how the plantation owners of the south viewed their slaves and the poor “white trash” family farmers. It is no wonder that the entertainment industry is going out of business because they simply do not (or refuse not to) understand that they are insulting the vast majority of people who they are trying to sell their product to.
They also seem not to understand that they are in a business and the goal of every business is to make money. Under the old studio set up guys like Louis Mayer and Sam Goldwyn understood that the entertainment business was a business. Sam Goldwyn reportedly once said “If you want to send a message, call Western Union.”. They are making a product that more and more people are refusing to buy and they seem not to care as to why people are not buying it anymore.
Can they change their act and regain their audiences? I would have to say no. Watching TV or going to movies are a “habit” and they have made those activities so unpalatable that the habit is broken for way too many. 20 years ago I knew no one that did not have a television, now over half the people I know do not have one and those who still do use them only to watch DVD’s of old movies or TV shows. less then one third of the people I know subscribe to cable and if you asked the ones who do not have cable why they don’t they will tell you that the crap that is on it is not worth the $60-$120/month you have to pay for it. In plainer terms the horse has left the barn and once a habit is broken it generally will never become a habit again.
Nahanni on December 9, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Exactly. Netflix is my friend. Discounting Dr Who episodes, my intake is over 50% black and white movies. I can’t remember the last time I went to a theater, either.
Vashta.Nerada on December 9, 2008 at 10:20 AM
All I have to say is, Comment of the Day™.
steveegg on December 9, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Bring back “The West Wing” and we’ll talk, NBC :-).
BART-LET! BART-LET! BART-LET!
(I know I just torqued off all the Tancredo, Huckabee and a good portion of the Palin lovers… and probably am going to see five or ten attempts to call me a RINO. But it was and is a great American show despite the occassional liberal bias. Hell, I quoted from it in a letter to the editor.)
HotAirJosef on December 9, 2008 at 10:26 AM
It only matters to me in the sense that maybe we are already starting to see the fruits of America slowly turning against the MSM by slowing and quietly just turning it off. Maybe?
hawkdriver on December 9, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Maybe if they got shows on that people liked and left them on longer than 3 weeks we might watch NBC instead of basic cable network (which happen to be owned by NBC) shows.
Neo on December 9, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Exactly. I don’t care for TV, I care for HotAir video.
Oh and BRING. BACK. THE. WEST. WING. PLEASE!!!
HotAirJosef on December 9, 2008 at 10:34 AM
No bailouts for MSM. None.
petefrt on December 9, 2008 at 10:37 AM
While MASH was definitely anti-war/anti-military brass, it was mostly along the lines of railing against the death and destruction of war. There was very little of the “war never solves anything” cr@p. On the other hand, it’s characters were human.
There was one episode where BJ and Hawkeye put a guy selling war souvenirs out of business (kids were getting hurt and killed collecting the souvenirs for him). The guy asked Hawkeye if he was trying to clean up the world. Hawkeye responded. “Not the whole world, just my little corner of it.” An attitude any conservative could agree with.
In the latter half, they had lots of episodes poking fun at the elite, liberal pretenses of Maj. Winchestor. I remember one episode when he got upset because he saw people from his unit eating chocolates from a box he had donated to the local orphanage. Charles’ comeupance came when he realized that he had given the children chocolate, when what they really needed was basic, day in and day out, food. Once again, an issue most conservatives could identify with. That is rich liberals soothing their conscience by giving what they wanted to give, rather than what the recipient really needed.
MarkTheGreat on December 9, 2008 at 10:39 AM
T
That was my precise thought before I even scrolled as far as the comments. You have fine taste, Darksean.
Captain Scarlet on December 9, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Zoe was on Bones a few weeks ago, but she’s not a regular character. And Mal, of course, is in the amazing Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.
Tanya on December 9, 2008 at 10:49 AM
The eventual (or current?) lack of advertising revenue due to everyone that has a dvr/tivo fast-forwarding through commercials had to create an equal and opposite reaction… but since I’ve quit watching NBC – expect for sports – it won’t bother me a bit.
I hope this helps.
Shivas Irons on December 9, 2008 at 10:49 AM
I have one TV, bought it in 1988. In 1999 we disconnected the cable, and we now use it only for DVD’s–old movies and 50′s TV shows, if at all. Showed the kids “Rear Window” last weekend. Not being connected to cable or satellite or an aerial, I’m not too concerned about the whole digital thing.
It would be nice to have now and then, but the risks far outweigh the rewards, especially for the kids. I listen to baseball on the radio. On special occasions, we manage to find someone with a tv :)
JiangxiDad on December 9, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Vote with your dial. Never watch anything on the MSM networks. Not ever sports. Never click their web-sites.
And don’t buy newspapers or news-magazines either.
notagool on December 9, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Check out The Unit at 9pm on Sunday on CBS. They are in the 4th Season now and do a pretty good job featuring husbands who are in the military. This current season is particularly a good one too. It’s on two weeks of reruns now, but will be back with a new episode on the 21st.
thomashton on December 9, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Baseball on the radio is the only way to go. It’s just too bad that there so few good play by play men left due to the visual media. You can also do things around the house and shop while the game unfolds. Having a game painted with words by someone who knows the game is a delight.
thomasaur on December 9, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Yep. The picture of Ronald Reagan that Baldwin’s character has in his apartment is his personal copy.
Gottafang on December 9, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Partly because I go to bed at 8PM and partly because it’s all(probably)garbage, I don’t even know what is on the big three these days. I DVR Fringe on Tuesday nights (I know it’s an X Files ripoff, but I don’t care. The characters are good and the stories are fun). I still watch more TV than I should but it just isn’t network TV. So much good stuff on The History Channel, Travel Channel, Food Network, etc. and I don’t feel my brain cells shrinking as fast.
SKYFOX on December 9, 2008 at 11:30 AM
So why not kill the evening Obamanews and fill with rerns.
droofus on December 9, 2008 at 11:32 AM
That is so cool to know. It’s so nice to have one of our own on TV. They’re like an endangered species.
Thanks.
Esthier on December 9, 2008 at 11:35 AM
I watch 4 prime time shows on network TV: Heroes, My Name Is Earl, the Office, and Pushing Daisies. PD has already been canceled. Heroes has one more final show for the season, which is a huge disappointment. I also enjoyed Journeyman, before that was axed.
The good shows don’t stay on, and yet Kath and Kim seems to remain…
Mallard T. Drake on December 9, 2008 at 11:45 AM
If you like(d) Heroes, you might like Terminator. It’s not bad.
Esthier on December 9, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Thirty years ago, the average household had 3 TV channels, now we have 150. The networks had no competition, so they could all just tacitly agree to turn out crap – and the more of it they turned out, the more money they all made.
Today, I watch maybe three alphabet network shows a week. They’re competing with specialty networks and pay channels like HBO.
So if NBC consolidates its money and talent from fifty shows I don’t watch into one new show that I do watch, great. Or if NBC, ABC and CBS go out of business, well that’s great too. The GOOD shows will simply be taken over by other networks.
Life goes on with or without the alphabet networks.
logis on December 9, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I’m fine with what Zucker is doing although they could pare down production costs across the board and not pay these insane salaries to sitcom hacks.
grdred944 on December 9, 2008 at 11:54 AM
I got tired of all the anti-Bush lines or anti-American themes in prime time shows. And why is it White Christians commit 95% of the murders on TV?
Why doesn’t Zucker just replay Michael Moore movies in a continuous loop?
PattyJ on December 9, 2008 at 11:55 AM
If NBC disappeard tomorrow, I would be delighted. Horrible programming, top to bottom. I don’t watch anything on that network. Is there anything else I can do to speed its demise? And what can I do to get NBC to take CBS down with them?
james23 on December 9, 2008 at 12:09 PM
General Electric and one of its business units having a difficult time? Jack Welch and his business methods are so widely admired in corporate America that companies practically stood in line to hire his disciples and underlings.
I never like Welch nor his ideas about business or corporate governance.
Eventually corporations will learn that it’s not about celebrity CEOs but rather about product.
rokemronnie on December 9, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Start with getting rid of Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry every morning on Today
Kini on December 9, 2008 at 12:12 PM
NBC – Nothin’…But…Crap
Usually, in a free market one has to offer a service that the public has a demand for before monetary success is achieved.
Wyznowski on December 9, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Why don’t they just ask for a bailout? Everyone else is.
vcferlita on December 9, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Actually, if the NBC “entertainment” programming disappeared tomorrow, no one who doesn’t watch it would CARE.
The “delightful” part is that alphabet news programs are what’s known as “loss leaders.” That means they actually lose money; they’re only kept on because the management claims they increase prestige – or something.
The tiny handful of alphabet shows that are popular will be gobbled up by other networks. The propaganda departments will go the way of the dodo bird.
logis on December 9, 2008 at 12:31 PM
mjk on December 9, 2008 at 9:02 AM
Here’s my confession: I don’t even have NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and whatever else are considered regular broadcast TV. I have Direct TV and in my area, they don’t even offer them unless you want the east or west coast feeds for extra cash, of course. I do, however, have the History and Military Channels and that makes me very happy….
Here’s my confession: I haven’t watched the regular programming on any of these channels (including the much-vaunted FOX) for many years (EXCEPT the occasional sports broadcast). When I got high-speed internet service, I pulled the plug on cable TV and broadcast TV altogether. I have been well-served by streaming video to a computer monitor in my living room, or pre-recorded DVDs, giving me substantial control over what I allow into my house. Combined with the fact that I cancelled all newpapers and magazines I once had long ago, I have reduced the nightmare of having to see Hussein’s face to an absolute minimum! And it’s WONDERFUL!!
blackelkspeaks on December 9, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Shiny
LimeyGeek on December 9, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Welch has been gone for years and GE’s product has fallen with it. Jeffery Immelt is the current CEO and he is scum.
thomasaur on December 9, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Does that mean that we are going to have to do without such thought-provoking and socially valuable programs as “The Biggest Loser” and “My Name Is Earl”? Families might have to… gasp… stop avoiding each other?
My house “disconnected” about three years ago and we haven’t noticed any ill effects yet. We actually read, play games and communicate. We watch content on TV and streaming, but selectively, not on auto-binge.
Why is this being reported as a negative?
Unequal Time
bryanmyrick on December 9, 2008 at 12:46 PM
What a legacy for Mr. Zucker and Mr. Capus…very fitting.
d1carter on December 9, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Note to Democrats and Rino’s: This is how capitalism based on a free market economy works, companies offering Shiite burgers and warm pork soda get flushed! I removed all traces of NBC products from my media choices this past summer.
Healing our way to oblivion…..
dmann on December 9, 2008 at 1:06 PM
I’m feeling a little tingle………
JeffinOrlando on December 9, 2008 at 1:17 PM
Ditto.
I have 3 channels-PBS (some good stuff is there-not Lawrence Welk, though), CBS-ok stuff on occasion, NBC-I never watch it bcs it sucks.
That said-TV sucks all the way around. When I had the DISH, it sucked, only there were about 150 channels that sucked to pick from.
This is why DVD is great if you want to watch TV at all.
I have a life, which is why none of this matters.
But will NBC ask for a bailout? I wonder…..
Badger40 on December 9, 2008 at 1:21 PM
What a horrid, disgustingly stupid program. I watched 5 minutes of it once-that was all my stomach could handle.
Badger40 on December 9, 2008 at 1:26 PM
Boston Legal. One of the funniest and the only ‘must see’ tv for me. Yea, they do have their Fiberals who spew, but good ol’ Denny Crane sets them straight!!!
But alas, even that show has gone by the wayside as of last night (of course, last night was the first time I missed it because the buggers started the show an hour earlier and silly me was out Christmas shopping). Thank God for reruns.
As for TV in general, thanks to the writer’s strike, I got over my addiction and now really only watch History, History Int., Science Channel, and Nick. I never like to miss a good Documentary (hence the Nick – I’m not really getting that ‘old’:-)
pcbedamned on December 9, 2008 at 1:37 PM
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