Hitting the TV viewing saturation point
As I was answered calls and e-mails from readers unhappy with our TV listings change, I stumbled upon this bit of information today:.
While the average number of channels received by American households hit an all time high in 2007 -- 118.6 -- the number actually viewed was only 16, only a fraction more than the 15.7 channels tuned to in 2006, the 15.4 channels tuned to in 2005, or the 15.0 channels tuned to in 2004. The finding suggests that while the supply of media options is expanding, consumer attention may have reached its limits.
Now, if they were all watching the same 16 channels....
Comments (10)
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John,
Has anyone mentioned Sunday's TV listing? In my newspaper, it appeared that the bottom of the page was merely a duplicate of the top of the page. So after 4:00pm, the schedule repeated itself.
With all of the uproar about eliminating the "old" TV section, one would think you would double check the new section prior to printing.
MD
Posted on June 10, 2008 9:49 AM
Yes, it was mentioned in the comments here. My apology for it, too.
Random thought: what's the deal with all the "dog" names? We have commenters who call themselves Yellow Dog, This Dog Bites Back and now Mad Dog.
Posted on June 10, 2008 10:03 AM
Mr. Robinson,
I do think you have a niche with the Saturday TV Listings pullout. There were advertisers willing to fund it. Some of your readers don't have internet access over the weekend or cable service. It is difficult to manipulate the cable guides to 4 or 5 evenings out. Please reconsider this decision. Thank you.
Posted on June 10, 2008 10:15 AM
John,
Don't know about the others, but Mad Dog was a moniker I picked up in my earlier years. As Noel Coward once said "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun."
When I started with the blogs, it seemed to be an appropriate nom de plume.
MD
Posted on June 10, 2008 12:25 PM
Okay. I need:
The Fashion Channel (Style)
The Discovery Channel
The History Channel
Local Affiliates
HBO
AMC
And I'm good to go....
I'd like the Travel Channel, Sci Fi, & Comedy Central, Showtime, & Cinemax..... but stranded on a desert island with a' la carte cable I could live with the first list.
Posted on June 10, 2008 2:26 PM
Shucks the Dallas Morning is giving away its hard copy paper. Wonder if it has a TV week. ?
Hmmm.. The Dallas Mlorning News is giving away for free 200,00 copies of it's 16 page broadsheet to a certain demographic group in their circulation area. Wonder if they include a TV week ???
Now here is bargin newspaper
Posted on June 10, 2008 11:45 PM
I'm doubtful, Sandra, given that it is only 16 pages. But can you imagine what would happen if we decided to deliver a paper free to only the affluent, which is what Dallas is doing?
Posted on June 11, 2008 8:30 AM
Mr. Robinson
Here is a common sense ( rare commodity) and practical approach to the TV weekly dilemma which is now being utilized by the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The solution? They are charging customers who want it an extra .25 cents per week. Works for me and I'll bet a lot of now angry and disappointed subscribers. How about you ??
Read the details ,
in/">Here
Posted on June 16, 2008 2:05 PM
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The link for details to above comment
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Posted on June 16, 2008 2:09 PM
Maybe. I've passed it to our circulation person, who would have to figure out how each carrier would pick and choose who gets the TV week on each route. We're going to talk.
Posted on June 16, 2008 2:45 PM