Thursday, July 30, 2015
Last Summer Hiatus
I've got one last summer trip that will take me away from the blog, but I'll be back early next week. You can follow #TCA15 on Twitter to keep up with all of that news in the meantime.
Good TVeets
Was going to make a joke about an all-male Little Women but then remembered Entourage
— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) July 30, 2015
FX launches emojis based on its series, but leaves out #YoureTheWorst. I'll continue to wait for a "vibrator housefire" emoji in vain.
— Ryan McGee (@TVMcGee) July 29, 2015
I'm 28 minutes into #bb17 and I've been uncomfortable for the past 28 minutes
— Ali Lasher (@lashtweets) July 30, 2015
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Digital Siphoning From TV
Anthony Crupi reports on how much digital media is siphoning ad dollars away from network TV.
Measuring TV Everywhere's Growth
TV Everywhere use is growing, but Nielsen measurement and viewing challenges remain.
The Game's Legacy
Emily Yahr takes note of the impending series finale of The Game and considers its impact.
Netflix Costs
Cory Barker considers the consequences of Netflix's spending spree on content rights and original programming.
Only Black Writer
Gene Demby addresses the Wyatt Cynac/Jon Stewart story by exploring the idea of being the only black person in the writers' room.
New Daily Show
Trevor Noah took the stage at TCA today. Noah says the Daily Show will change in his tenure, though, Alex Weprin notes that the senior staff and correspondents will carry over from Stewart's reign.
Audiences & Advertisers
Gavin Douglas says the next evolution of television will be powered by better data about audiences for advertisers.
HBO's Push
Matt Brennan looks at how HBO is making a push to dominate in all areas of television programming.
Network Questions
Michael O'Connell proposes tough questions that should be fired at broadcast network chiefs this TCA.
Daily Show Ad Rates
Viacom is asking big money for a 30-second spot during Jon Stewart's final Daily Show.
Live TV Declines
Tim Stenovec says the importance of live television will only continue to decline as content availability expands.
ESPN's Competitors
Bill Cromwell looks at how Fox Sports 1 and NBC Sports Network are trying to encroach on ESPN's sports rights turf.
DVRed Dramas
Toni Fitzgerald notes that network summer dramas are doing well in DVR viewership compared to live viewing.
Cait's Ratings
I Am Cait performed solidly in the ratings, and Josef Adalian notes that the show's premiere brought new viewers over to E!.
Banshee Ending
The creators of Banshee say they decided to end the series at season 4 because the story naturally ends there, not because Cinemax cancelled it.
Netflix Storytelling
Todd VanDerWerff says the Netflix model for original series is creating a new form of storytelling.
Netflix at TCA
TCA began with Netflix yesterday: Ted Sarandos talked about some upcoming series, like more Arrested Development; BoJack Horseman has been renewed; there were panels on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Orange in the New Black, Longmire, Wet Hot American Summer, Sense 8, Aziz Ansari's Master of None, and Bloodline; Chelsea Handler talked about her upcoming series; and documentarians talked about why they love Netflix.
Liz Shannon Miller says a lesson of the day is that Netflix is doing things right.
Liz Shannon Miller says a lesson of the day is that Netflix is doing things right.
Good TVeets
I'm a House Hunter, but I use every part of the house.
— Caissie St.Onge (@Caissie) July 28, 2015
How quickly can ZOO write in an ill-fated dentist character?
— Matt Mitovich (@MattMitovich) July 29, 2015
One of these years, Netflix is going to just light a bunch of DVDs on fire onstage while everyone under 30 cheers rapturously. #TCA15
— Todd VanDerWerff (@tvoti) July 28, 2015
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Harrison Criticizes UnREAL
The Bachelor franchise host Chris Harrison unloaded on UnREAL, calling it "really terrible."
ESPN'S Future Online
Colin Dixon responds to Disney saying ESPN won't be OTT anytime soon by pointing out that sports leagues have already gotten there and might not be dependent on ESPN in the future online world.
Live-Streaming Super Bowl Ads
Brian Steinberg reports that CBS will live-stream all of the Super Bowl ads during the game's online airing.
Verizon Adds HBO Now
Verizon will now offer HBO Now to broadband subscribers and will add it to the Go90 mobile service.
Public Broadcasting Under Threat
Rebecca Kesby looks at the pressures pushing down public service broadcasting in Britain and around the globe.
Weather Channel CEO Confident
Weather Channel's CEO thinks the future is bright despite ratings declines, subscriber losses, and a Comcast snub.
Broadcast's Platform
Harry A. Jessell says despite viewer erosion and fragmentation, the broadcast networks still offer the best video advertising platform. But John Gruber points out the impending game-changer of kids not watching TV.
Daily Show News
Politico reports that Jon Stewart made secret visits to the White House during his Daily Show run. Scott Timberg says this looks bad for Stewart's integrity and independence. Meanwhile, all of the current Daily Show correspondents will stay around when Trevor Noah takes over.
Netflix's Original Rise
Josef Adalian highlights Netflix's rapid rise in original programming output, as it now outpaces its cable competition.
Anti-Google Campaign
Mike Masnick reports on MPAA emails that reveal plans for "a coordinated propaganda campaign of bogus anti-Google stories."
Writing & Development Hell
TV writer Mere Smith tweeted about the challenges of sustaining a TV writing career through development hell.
Muslim-American Actors
Jon Ronson profiles seven Muslim-American actors who struggle against typecasting as terrorists.
Complex Awards Landscape
Brian Steinberg says nominations for TV awards like the Emmys are inevitably complicated due to the proliferation of candidates.
Monday Ratings
Marc Berman's summary:
- Winners: The Bachelorette (ABC), American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
- Honorable Mention: Penn & Teller: Fool Us (CW)
- Losers (excluding repeats) Cedric’s Barber Battles (CW)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
- Winners: The Bachelorette (ABC), American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
- Honorable Mention: Penn & Teller: Fool Us (CW)
- Losers (excluding repeats) Cedric’s Barber Battles (CW)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
TCA Stakes
Tony Maglio considers who has the most at stake at this summer's TCA press tour, and Daniel Fienberg outlines the knowns and unknowns in regard to pilots going into TCA. Rob Owen reminds publicists why critics don't clap at press tour.
Good TVeets
"It's a tough situation," says Harrison. Come on. You're sending them on group dates, not to the beaches of Normandy. #thebachelorette
— Jennifer Weiner (@jenniferweiner) July 28, 2015
If Nick proposes, I bet he makes Kaitlyn reach into his pocket for the ring. #TheBachelorette
— Dana Weiss (@Possessionista) July 28, 2015
What if Billy Corgan is still on that Disneyland ride
— Anne T. Donahue (@annetdonahue) July 28, 2015
Monday, July 27, 2015
True Detective & Auteur TV
Scott TImberg argues that True Detective illustrates the pitfalls of putting too much in the hands of a single showrunner auteur.
Sports Media Pregnancy
Richard Deitsch covers how women have handled being pregnant while working in sports media.
YouTube Success
Cecilia Kang looks at how strategic corporate planning has resulted in lucrative lives for some YouTube stars. And Lisa Richwine notes that TV networks showed up to VidCon to try to reach audiences they're losing to YouTube, but Richard Greenfield isn't optimistic about their chances. Will Richmond considers the pay TV perspective.
TCA Press Tour
TCA's summer press tour begins tonight; check out the schedule of events. Jason Lynch explains what it's all about.
Roker on Meerkat
Brian Steinberg reports that Al Roker will debut three cooking shows on Meerkat this week.
Sunday Ratings
Marc Berman's summary:
- Winners: Celebrity Family Feud (ABC), Big Brother 17 (CBS)
- Losers (excluding repeats): Welcome to Sweden (NBC)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
- Winners: Celebrity Family Feud (ABC), Big Brother 17 (CBS)
- Losers (excluding repeats): Welcome to Sweden (NBC)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
ESPN & Disney Future
Disney CEO Bob Iger says ESPN could eventually unbundle but not within the next five years, and he's also excited about what Disney can do in China.
New GH Head Writers
General Hospital is replacing its head writer with a pair of veteran soap writers.
Death of Satire
Ted Gioia laments the declining state of satire, which "mostly subsists as fake news stories served up as clickbait on social networks."
Stewart Tributes
TV Insider has a series of tributes to Jon Stewart from friends and colleagues and speculation about who might dominate late night in his wake.
Netflix's DVD Business
Emily Steel looks at the state of Netflix's DVD operations, as it now turns most of its attention to streaming.
Comcast-Discovery Carriage Deal
Comcast and Discovery Communications have renewed their carriage agreement.
Cosby Assault Stories
New York magazine talked with 35 women who accuse Bill Cosby of sexually assaulting them. (The site was previously down for unrelated reasons; you can read the article here if it goes offline again, or, of course, find it on your nearest newsstand.)
Good TVeets
Caitlyn Jenner deserves a Nobel Prize for making us proud to watch the E! Network.
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) July 27, 2015
I would kill to sit in on a True Detective tone meeting. "No, darker. More serious. Ten times darker and more serious than what you think."
— Aaron Fullerton (@AaronFullerton) July 27, 2015
If you missed any portion of the current season of True Detective, here it is in its entirety. pic.twitter.com/SWDzPdtJhY
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) July 27, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Key & Peele to End
Key and Peele have announced that this will be the final season of their Comedy Central series.
Good TVeets
The best shows of the summer are a USA hacker drama starring Christian Slater and a cartoon about a depressed millionaire horse. Naturally.
— Danger Guerrero (@DangerGuerrero) July 25, 2015
“Mr. Robot” is 85% less interesting if Christian Slater is real. The actor. Not his character. But… still.
— Daniel Fienberg (@TheFienPrint) July 26, 2015
WILL: Hello, Dr. Lecter.
HANNIBAL: Hello, Will.
NBC: Please watch this likely asinine action series in the fall! PLEASE.
— Noel Kirkpatrick (@noelrk) July 26, 2015
Saturday, July 25, 2015
WWE Drops Hogan
Hulk Hogan has been fired from WWE for racist remarks; Jen Yamato puts this in context of WWE's racist past.
AT&T-DirecTV Analysis
Vikas Bajaj says the conditions placed on the AT&T-DirecTV merger are good, but don't address the key problem of lack of competition among broadband and pay TV services. Edward C. Baig talks to the AT&T executive now in charge of DirecTV.
Comcast Customer Service
Jon Brodkin reports on the changes Comcast is making in customer service, such as preventing employees from changing customer names to insults.
Catastrophe Praise
Lizzie Plaugic calls Catastrophe a revolutionary rom com, and Sara Stewart praises the show's gynecological realism and character depth.
Writing Arrested Development
Brian Stelter reports on the plans for writing new episodes of Arrested Development, with the number of episodes dependent on the volume of ideas generated in the writers' room.
Stewart-Cenac Dispute
Dave Itzkoff reports on the Wyatt Cenac-Jon Stewart dispute with reaction from Daily Show producers.
Good TVeets
I like WAYWARD PINES, but I think Matt Dillon could also convincingly play a guy who can't figure out how to leave a regular town.
— Scott Tobias (@scott_tobias) July 24, 2015
When we live in a post-apocalyptic wasteland w/o TVs our grandchildren will rank Buffy seasons based only on our rankings of Buffy seasons
— Matt (@digifreak642) July 25, 2015
wow look at the new gawker pic.twitter.com/kSuaj1zmzI
— libby watson (@libbycwatson) July 25, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015
YouTube Video Subscriptions
Todd Spangler predicts that YouTube will have difficulty selling subscriptions for its video service.
Verizon's Video Service
Janko Roettgers has details on Verizon's upcoming mobile video service, which will be called Go90.
AT&T-DirecTV Approved
The AT&T-DirecTV merger has been approved and will create the biggest pay TV company in the U.S. Brian Stelter has analysis.
Wayward Pines' Qualified Success
Louisa Ada Seltzer says Wayward Pines' ratings weren't great, but ad buyers appreciated having something different to offer clients during summer.
Subtitling Sherlock
Jamie Fullerton takes us inside the world of devoted volunteers in China who subtitle Sherlock and its paratexts for unofficial outlets.
OTT Retrans
Paul Sweeting says regulation regarding OTT retransmission of broadcast outlets is the next net neutrality-esque battle.
New CST
New Critical Studies in Television blogs:
- BBC Charter Review: How Bad Will It Get? by John Ellis
- Make It Digital! Bringing 'Old' TV Into the Multi-Platform Age by Richard Hewett
- Quality Time by Geoff Lealand
- The Voyage of the Harpsichord: Popular Television and the Revival of the Instrument of Death by Marcus Harmes
The Problem of Wayward Pines' Twist
Ben Travers sees doom for broadcast TV in comparison to cable with the finale of Wayward Pines.
Broadcast Network Sports
Dave Warner says broadcast networks are in a position to reclaim live sports given the state of the pay TV landscape.
Netflix's War Chest
Benny Evangelista looks at how the money Netflix is spending on original series is paying off and challenging HBO. (Note: This article is behind a paywall.)
Comcast's X1
Colin Dixon's podcast discusses the possibility that Comcast's X1 set-top box is responsible for its successful Q2, and Jeff Baumgartner reports that Comcast is revving up the rollout of more X1s.
Fuller on Hannibal 3 & 4
Bryan Fuller talks about knowing season 3 would be the end for Hannibal on NBC and about what he'd want for season 4.
Cenac & Stewart
Wyatt Cenac revealed a problematic racial confrontation he had with Jon Stewart while working on The Daily Show.
Finding New Sports TV Stars
John Ourand says outlets like ESPN are scouring non-traditional sources like Twitter to find new on-air talent for sports coverage.
Producing Cait
John Koblin reports that the producers of I Am Cait tried to avoid reality TV excesses with the series.
Berlin Production
Ed Meza reports that production of shows like Homeland are boosting revenue in Berlin, leading the local government to boost production subsidies.
Comcast's New Media Talks
The WSJ reports that Comcast is in talks with new media outlets like BuzzFeed and Vice for potential deals (google news link) Brian Stelter has analysis.
The Duplasses
Jason Tanz profiles the Duplass brothers and their dominance in indie cinema and online.
Naked Billboard
A billboard for VH-1's Dating Naked has grabbed attention with a striptease element facilitated by passers-by.
Thursday Ratings
Marc Berman's summary:
- Winners: Big Brother 17 (CBS), The Big Bang Theory (CBS) (R), Mom (CBS) (R)
- Honorable Mention: Dateline (NBC)
- Losers: Food Fighters (NBC), Boom! (Fox), Mistresses (ABC), Beauty and the Beast (CW), Dates (CW)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
- Winners: Big Brother 17 (CBS), The Big Bang Theory (CBS) (R), Mom (CBS) (R)
- Honorable Mention: Dateline (NBC)
- Losers: Food Fighters (NBC), Boom! (Fox), Mistresses (ABC), Beauty and the Beast (CW), Dates (CW)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
Uncanny TV
Lance Richardson notes the rise of bizarre and surreal elements in numerous TV shows today, with Hannibal as a prime example. And Jethro Nededog explores why horror is a big genre on TV right now.
Good TVeets
Cosby's a rapist.
Hogan's a racist.
If I find out Mr. Rogers had even one overdue library book, I give up.
— Guy Endore-Kaiser (@GuyEndoreKaiser) July 24, 2015
— Carrie Raisler (@TVandDinners) July 24, 2015
Don’t tell the British office about time zones. The American office has been clocking out at 1 p.m. for years.
— BBC America (@BBCAMERICA) July 23, 2015
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Cord Cutting Myth
A panel of cable execs said they think cord cutting is largely a myth perpetuated by the media. But Colin Dixon says this ignores the erosion of traditional TV pillars, especially youth audience declines.
Comcast Swagger
Brian Stelter reports that Comcast feels very positive about its last quarterly financial results.
Wednesday Ratings
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
Sharknado 3's ratings were down from last year, though it beat out most other shows on the night, and there was a lot of tweeting about it.
Analysis from Spotted.
Sharknado 3's ratings were down from last year, though it beat out most other shows on the night, and there was a lot of tweeting about it.
Good TVeets
"The safest place to be in a #sharknado? Any heavily branded Disney location." #goodadvice
— Linda Holmes (@nprmonkeysee) July 23, 2015
If you can't handle me at my Peggy Olson series one, you don't deserve me at my Peggy Olson series seven.
— Ailbhe Malone (@ailbhetross) July 23, 2015
David Simon is now on Twitter. Please don't analyze any of his tweets until he's finished with the account.
— Ryan McGee (@TVMcGee) July 23, 2015
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
VidCon Stars
Nick Bilton looks at how VidCon, a conference for online video makers, has become a huge fan showcase for celebrities that mostly only teenagers have heard of.
LeBron's WB Deal
NBA star LeBron James has signed a content creation deal with Warner Bros., and it could mean he'll star in Space Jam 2.
Understanding The Wire
Paul Achter laments how many white fans don't seem to understand The Wire's lessons about systemic racism.
Crackle Viewing Figures
Crackle has released viewing figures for Joe Dirt 2, a move which Jason Lynch highlights as unique among big streaming services.
Murdoch, Ailes, Trump
Gabriel Sherman reports that Rupert Murdoch asked Roger Ailes to cut down on Fox News' coverage and defenses of Donald Trump, but Ailes has refused. Update: Ailes dismisses these reports.
AT&T-DirecTV Approval
The FCC and Justice Dept have both announced their support for the AT&T-DirecTV merger, though the FCC has a few conditions.
Tuesday Ratings
Marc Berman's summary:
- Winners: America’s Got Talent (NBC)
- Losers (excluding repeats): So You Think You Can Dance Special (Fox), Extreme Weight Loss (ABC), Knock Knock Live (Fox)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
- Winners: America’s Got Talent (NBC)
- Losers (excluding repeats): So You Think You Can Dance Special (Fox), Extreme Weight Loss (ABC), Knock Knock Live (Fox)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
Simmons to HBO
Bill Simmons has signed a multi-platform deal with HBO and will have a weekly talk show on the channel next year. Will Leitch says it's a perfect pairing.
Good TVeets
BICKERING LESBIANS VS KILLER BATS! #Zoo (I'm not even making this up guys!).
— Abby McDonald (@abbymcdonald) July 22, 2015
If Trump's taking suggestions for his next controversy I think selling an opponent's son to a gang of pirates would be pretty cool..
— Dan Clyne (@danCLYNE) July 22, 2015
I've been on LinkedIn all night, and still can't find a "Get Paid To Tweet About #JaneTheVirgin" anywhere.
— Ryan McGee (@TVMcGee) July 22, 2015
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Spectrum Auction Date
Mark March 29 on your 2016 calendar as the start date for the FCC's broadcast spectrum auction.
Defending the BBC
British comedian Stewart Lee offers a defense of the BBC from reformer attacks, and Simon Brew explains why the BBC's model is worth fighting to defend.
Orlando Jones & Supernatural Fandom
Bertha Chin has posted a conference paper on the relationship between fans and actor Orlando Jones in regard to Supernatural.
Media Buyers Predict C3
Brian Steinberg reports on a Variety survey of top media buyers that reveals what programs advertisers think will fare best in C3 ratings next season. Football and Empire lead the way.
Trevor Noah Profile
GQ has a feature profile on upcoming Daily Show host Trevor Noah, who acknowledges his early missteps.
Sports Stadium Funding
Michael Z. Newman argues that we need to view public funding for sports stadiums as cultural policy.
Duck Dynasty House
Kelli Marshall points out that a house identified by Duck Dynasty captions as a Robertson house is not where they live.
UnREAL Profile
Kate Aurthur talks to UnREAL's co-creator and star about the show's dramatic first season.
YouTube Service's TV Challenge
Bloomberg says it looks like YouTube's upcoming paid video service will lack TV network options.
Amazon India Launch
Nyay Bhushan reports on Amazon looking to expand its video service in India ahead of Netflix.
Sharknado's Made for TV
Joshua Alston argues Sharknado proves that schlock cinema belongs on TV, not in movie theaters.
Cost of Cord Cutting
Oriana Schwindt has updated her post on what alternatives to pay TV can add up to.
TV Everywhere Campaign
Cable operators and channels are uniting on a summer marketing campaign to raise awareness of TV Everywhere options. Colin Dixon says this campaign could backfire.
iPlayer Viewership
New research claims more than 60 million people watch the BBC's iPlayer from outside the UK via VPNs and proxy servers, offering a potential future revenue source. Colin Dixon questions some of the assumptions of analysis of this research.
Celebrity Family Feud's Success
Jason Lynch explains how Celebrity Family Feud became a rare summer hit.
TV's Alzheimer's Risk
A new study suggests watching more than four hours of TV per day raises one's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
The Very Special Episode
Tyler Moss looks back on the evolution of "very special episode" to its near-obsolescence today in the age of complex TV.
Good TVeets
You know you've had a bad season on #thebachelorette when you need to start off with "first of all, I am a straight man."
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) July 21, 2015
You can sort all the dudes on #TheBachelorette by whether you'd think from a picture that they sell insurance, gym memberships, or weed.
— Linda Holmes (@nprmonkeysee) July 21, 2015
"They're sending us their worst people, so we'll send Mexico ours." - Donald Trump on how he came up with the idea for #BachelorInParadise
— Jill Biden (@JillBidenVeep) July 21, 2015
Monday, July 20, 2015
Sunday Ratings
Marc Berman's summary:
- Winners: Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
- Losers (Excluding Repeats): Welcome to Sweden (NBC), Golan the Insatiable (Fox), Save My Life: Boston Trauma (ABC)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
- Winners: Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
- Losers (Excluding Repeats): Welcome to Sweden (NBC), Golan the Insatiable (Fox), Save My Life: Boston Trauma (ABC)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
State of Public Broadcasting
With the BBC's system under attack, the Guardian looks at how public service broadcasters in a handful other countries are faring.
Over-35 Actresses
Zeba Blay says it's important to note that 15 of the 18 women nominated for lead actress Emmys are over 35-years-old.
ESPN Strategy
Kavitha A. Davidson says ESPN seems to be shifting away from personalities and toward live sports.
Virtual MVPD Regulation Objection
Colin Dixon covers the objections that Republican FCC commissioner Ajit Pai has to Tom Wheeler's plan to classify online video providers as MVPDs.
National Streaming Services
Japanese TV networks will launch a joint streaming service, while an attempt to create one in France to compete with Netflix has been dropped.
Fall Predictions
Toni Fitzgerald summarizes what ad buyers are predicting for how the broadcast networks will perform this fall. Without the Super Bowl, NBC is expected to drop.
Targeting Bilingual Millennials
Yvonne Villarreal says Spanish-language outlets are trying to court bilingual millennials, or "billennials," as Univision dubs them.
Sling TV Ads
Peter Kafka analyzes new ads for Sling TV and tries to pin down who they're targeting with what message. Alan Wolk also has analysis.
Good TVeets
New True Detective theory: HBO is showing the episodes out of order.
— Liana Maeby (@lianamaeby) July 20, 2015
Can't wait for the big reveal when Colin Farrell turns out to be Gossip Girl #TrueDetective
— Anne T. Donahue (@annetdonahue) July 20, 2015
in one week we will have the new rick and morty and sunday night twitter will be worthwhile again
— Sophie (@insopherable) July 20, 2015
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Online Comedy Venture
Brian Steinberg reports on a new Lorne Michaels endeavor, an online comedy outlet called Above Average.
New Tech Stars
Natalie Jarvey highlights how the next generation of online stars are coming via Periscope, Vine, Snapchat and other new outlets.
Hannibal's Craziness
Todd VanDerWerff lists crazy things that happened on Hannibal last night that make it TV's most messed-up show.
RIP Marlene Sanders
Katherine Rosman profiles the late Marlene Sanders, a pioneering female television reporter.
New CST
New posts at Critical Studies in Television:
- The Channels No One Writes About: Is QVC Television? by Pat Holland
- The Status of TV Scholarship -- and What We Could Do About It by Elke Weissman and David Leventes Palatinus
- Social Media in the Television Workplace by James Bennett
Rick & Morty's Return
John Jurgensen profiles Rick and Morty as it's on the verge of returning for a second season.
Finding An Agent
Priyanka Mattoo offers advice on how an aspiring TV writer can get an agent in Hollywood.
MTV's Reinvention
Robert Levine highlights how MTV is trying to reinvent itself yet again in response to declining ratings and teen viewing.
GoT's Impact on Belfast
Dana Kennedy looks at how Game of Thrones has transformed Belfast's economy and tourism due to the show shooting in Northern Ireland.
FilmOn Ruling Analysis
Harry A. Jessell says the FilmOn ruling isn't the shocker many think and won't have an immediate impact. Fox will fight the ruling.
Showtime's Changes
Brian Stelter talks to Showtime President David Nevins about the new OTT service and other changes happening at the outlet.
Good TVeets
#DonaldTrump is like if a Comments Section ran for office.
— Barbara Haynes (@barbhaynes) July 18, 2015
There's a Lifetime movie marathon on and from what I can tell the theme is "murderers who have a pretty decent point."
— Julieanne Smolinski (@BoobsRadley) July 19, 2015
I feel like the studio notes on a typical #Hannibal script are along the lines of
“What is…I mean…Can we just…Fuck it…I’m getting a taco"
— Matt Fowler (@TheMattFowler) July 19, 2015
Friday, July 17, 2015
HBO's Online Services
Ben Popper has an interview with Bernadette Aulestia, who oversees HBO Now and HBO Go.
Emmy Nominations
Emmy nominations are out, including an info sheet with handy summaries. Alan Sepinwall offers early predictions on winners. Scott Collins says the nominations indicate an era of diversity. Todd VanDerWerff considers the role played by new rules, and Brian Stelter considers the impact of streaming services. Andy Dehnart is frustrated once again by the same old reality TV noms. Brian Lowry identifies 10 things the Academy got right. James Poniewozik offers a glass half-full view. Tim Goodman says the Academy did pretty well. Matt Zoller Seitz takes stock of the nominations. Reactions from Daniel Fienberg, K.M. McFarland, and Eric Thurm. ToddVanDerWerff identifies snubs and surprises. Cynthia Littleton notes the dearth of women among the writing and directing nominees.
More analysis from Eric Deggans and Gregory Ellwood and Richard Rushfield, Ileane Rudolph is frustrated by the ill-timed recognition for nominees like Tatiana Maslany, Emma Fraser covers the costuming nominations, Willa Paskin says there shouldn't be complaining this year, but David Wiegand sees a mixed bag, John Doyle says the noms are almost legit. Tim Goodmand has suggestions for fixing the Emmy nominations.
More analysis from Eric Deggans and Gregory Ellwood and Richard Rushfield, Ileane Rudolph is frustrated by the ill-timed recognition for nominees like Tatiana Maslany, Emma Fraser covers the costuming nominations, Willa Paskin says there shouldn't be complaining this year, but David Wiegand sees a mixed bag, John Doyle says the noms are almost legit. Tim Goodmand has suggestions for fixing the Emmy nominations.
Local News Growth
Katerina Eva Matsa reports that viewership for local TV news broadcasts in non-traditional time slots, such as 4:30am and 7pm, is driving local news growth.
Vessel Interview
Natalie Jarvey talks to Jason Kilar about Vessel and his hopes for the future viability of short online videos.
FCC Divisiveness
One of the Republican commissioners on the FCC complains that the commission leadership is unwilling to seek consensus on issues.
Comcast's Trojan Horse
Alan Wolk tries to get at what Comcast's Xfinity Stream might really be about.
MundoFox Sold
Brian Steinberg reports that 21st Century Fox has sold off the Spanish-language MundoFox outlet.
UnREAL Analysis
Phillip Maciak deconstructs what UnREAL says about reality TV production and spectatorship.
CBS All Access Expansion
CBS's All Access streaming service now reaches 75% of the U.S. across 124 markets, while the live service reaches 59 markets.
Gilligan Podcast
Sorry, not a podcast about Gilligan's Island; just Vince Gilligan on WTF with Marc Maron.
Netflix News
Will Richmond's podcast discusses Netflix's disruptive potential and Colin Dixon's podcast also reflects on what Netflix's Q2 results say about the state of OTT services, while a new study finds Netflix is the favorite programming outlet for viewers aged 13-49.
FilmOn Ruling
Eriq Gardner reports on a ruling in favor of FilmOn that "could mean that CBS, Fox, NBC and ABC have to license their programming to a digital outlet at below-market rates."
Ad-Free Hulu
Mike Shields and Shalini Ramachandran report that Hulu is mulling over adding an ad-free tier to its subscription service (the google news link). Jason Lynch has analysis.
Thursday Ratings
Marc Berman's summary:
- Winners: Big Brother (CBS)
- Losers: Food Fighters (NBC), Boom! (Fox), Mistresses (ABC), Beauty and the Beast (CW), Dates (CW)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
- Winners: Big Brother (CBS)
- Losers: Food Fighters (NBC), Boom! (Fox), Mistresses (ABC), Beauty and the Beast (CW), Dates (CW)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
Good TVeets
TLC sent a clear message today: If one of their stars is a child molester, they will cancel the show after months of careful deliberation.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) July 16, 2015
Tempted to Tweet: A Lifetime Original Movie
— Amanda Hess (@amandahess) July 17, 2015
TONIGHT ON #HANNIBAL
A COLD CASE IS REOPENED SURROUNDING A MYSTERIOUS KIDNAPPING OH WAIT THIS IS DATELINE
Hannibal: Now Saturdays 10pm/NBC
— Aaron Abrams (@MrAaronAbrams) July 16, 2015
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Reviewing Shows
Alyssa Rosenberg explains why TV shows don't have to be reviewed in the way books are.
ESPN Analysis
Allen Kenney takes issue with the claim that ESPN is suffering from cord cutting's impact. John Ourand talks to ESPN's EVP of affiliate sales and marketing about how ESPN is handling a new era of competition.
Password Sharing Impact
Todd Spangler reports on the possible impact of password-sharing for services like HBO Now and Netflix.
Netflix Numbers
Netflix beat the latest subscriber estimates and now has over 65 million subscribers worldwide. Will Richmond points out the importance of the US subscriber numbers. Wall Street was pleased by this news. But Reed Hastings did indicate that higher-priced subscription plans are coming.
The BBC's Fate
The future of the BBC is in question, as the corporation is being put under government review. The Guardian has a bullet-point list of what's under review. The license fee funding structure is up for consideration, and BBC Worldwide could end up being privatized and sold off. Prominent names are speaking out in favor of the BBC, while Rupert Murdoch's newspapers are not. THR reports on what the cuts already scheduled could mean, and the NYT looks at how the Conservative government is targeting the BBC.
Wednesday Ratings
Marc Berman's summary:
- Winners: 2015 ESPY Awards (ABC), Big Brother (CBS)
- Losers (excluding repeats): Bullseye (Fox), Extant (CBS)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
The ESPY Awards tripled its viewership in the move to ABC.
- Winners: 2015 ESPY Awards (ABC), Big Brother (CBS)
- Losers (excluding repeats): Bullseye (Fox), Extant (CBS)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
The ESPY Awards tripled its viewership in the move to ABC.
Good TVeets
You think that 40% trans suicide rate is nuts until you put someone trans on national TV for ten minutes and see how people react.
— Craig Jenkins (@CraigSJ) July 16, 2015
I'm pissed off and ecstatic all at once. Must be Emmy nominations day.
— Emma Fraser (@frazbelina) July 16, 2015
Parks and Recreation has never won an Emmy. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/hn5NEwJiOi
— Josh Kurp (@JoshKurp) July 16, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Comcast Streaming Service
Howard Homonoff has four questions about Comcast's Xfinity Stream, the new streaming service that Brian Barrett says sounds pointless. Jeff Baumgartner notes that Stream won't technically be an OTT service.
Miss USA Results
Daniel Holloway reports that Reelz did end up losing money on carrying the Miss USA pageant, but it did strong ratings compared to the usual for Reelz.
Holt Thriving
Brian Stelter reports that Lester Holt is on a ratings roll since taking over NBC's evening newscast.
Summer Problems
Toni Fitzgerald reports that scripted summer shows are faltering in the network ratings, and Bill Cromwell offers five fixes for the networks to fix their summer woes.
Tuesday Ratings
Marc Berman's summary:
- Winners: MLB All-Star Game (Fox), America’s Got Talent (NBC)
- Losers (excluding repeats): Extreme Weight Loss (ABC)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
- Winners: MLB All-Star Game (Fox), America’s Got Talent (NBC)
- Losers (excluding repeats): Extreme Weight Loss (ABC)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
Apple TV Deals
Claire Atkinson reports that Apple is making progress on securing deals with networks for its streaming TV service. Jeff John Roberts has analysis.
Update: New word is that negotiations are bogging down and the service won't be a possibility til at least next year.
Update: New word is that negotiations are bogging down and the service won't be a possibility til at least next year.
Netflix Supports Charter-TWC
Alex Sherman reports that Netflix will support the Charter-Time Warner Cable merger due to Charter's pledge that it won't charge subscribers for faster streaming access.
DirecTV Lawsuits
DirecTV's Sunday Ticket deal is under legal attack from a class-action lawsuit focusing on anti-trust issues. DirecTV is also dealing with a racial discrimination lawsuit.
NBCU Upfronts Done
NBCU has completed its upfronts deals, with NBC seeing flat volume for prime time.
Good TVeets
Wolves are breaking a dude out of a prison on #ZooCBS right now. People keep saying we're in a golden age of TV, now I know what they mean.
— LevyOnTV (@LevyOnTV) July 15, 2015
Baseball Twitter: [argues about complicated statistics across eras]
Basketball Twitter: [posts 20 Vines of dunks and mascots falling down]
— Danger Guerrero (@DangerGuerrero) July 15, 2015
"Hollywood Game Night not having a tiebreaker seems to go against the spirit of the show," he said aloud to no one else in the room.
— itsonlyzach (@itsonlyzach) July 15, 2015
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Trump's Losses & Gains
Charles Gasparino notes that Donald Trump has cost himself significant revenue yet gained invaluable publicity lately.
Millennial Viewing Time
Will Richmond reports on a study finding that Millennials spend only 18% of their viewing time with traditional TV.
Seinfeld's Evolution
Sam Adams analyzes dialogue and scene data from Seinfeld and traces its comedic and character evolution.
ESPN Problems
Clay Travis details ESPN's finances and warns that its bundle bubble may soon burst. M.G. Siegler also sees doom coming for ESPN and proposes that the company might start think about unbundling.
Cable Ratings, Earnings & Subscriptions
As cable ratings continue to decline, earnings are likely to follow, Anthony Crupi reports. Also, an analysts foresees faster subscription declines coming.
Starz' Strategy
Josef Adalian looks at how Starz has forged premium channel success by following a different model of programming than HBO.
Cost of Sets & Cable
Kathleen Madigan notes that the cost of TV set goods is declining significantly just as bills pay TV services are rising.
Hannibal & Aquarius Moved
NBC is shunting Hannibal and Aquarius off to Saturdays, while insisting it's still happy with Aquarius.
TV & Class
Zaid Jilani traces a historical trajectory in the representation of class in U.S. sitcoms.
New HBO Era
Ben Travers explains how 7 Days in Hell could represent a new era of programming at HBO thanks to HBO Now.
Monday Ratings
Marc Berman's summary:
-Winners: The Bachelorette (ABC), American Ninja Warrior (NBC) -Losers: Cedric’s Barber Battles (CW), The Whispers (ABC)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
-Winners: The Bachelorette (ABC), American Ninja Warrior (NBC) -Losers: Cedric’s Barber Battles (CW), The Whispers (ABC)
Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Analysis from Spotted.
Good TVeets
Can True Detective season 3 just be Hannibal season 4?
— Brendan Hay (@B_Hay) July 13, 2015
*in Bachelorette fantasy suite*
Now that we're alone I need to show you something.
*finds Saved By The Bell oil spill episode on YouTube*
— Jensen Karp (@JensenClan88) July 14, 2015
Someone needs to explain to Chris Berman that some of the phrases he uses like "upper decker" have alternate meanings. #GetHimUrbanDictonary
— Brian Scott Rippee (@Rippee_2) July 14, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
Streaming TV in China
The Big Bang Theory will be the first US show to appear legally on online video platforms in China under new regulations.
Comic-Con Coverage
Nick Statt analyzes this year's Comic-Con as an epicenter of pop culture fandom. Brian Lowry says Conan O'Brien's special Comic-Con episodes were a success. TV panels and info releases at Comic-Con included Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Warner Bros. TV and DC, a new Arrow costume, Game of Thrones, women who kick ass, Hannibal, Orphan Black, Joss Whedon, Doctor Who and Sherlock, and Supernatural.
ESPN & OTT
Chris Ciaccia notes that ESPN is struggling to decide about over-the-top possibilities, while Shalini Ramachandran and Joe Flint highlight how ESPN is having to trim costs as pay TV subscribers look to reduce their bills.
Moffat's Heroes
Joanne Robinson looks at how Steven Moffat is shaping the main characters in Doctor Who and Sherlock.
Women's World Cup Revenue
Jason Lynch reports on the millions in ad revenue Fox hauled in from the successful Women's World Cup this year.
Renewal News
Ballers and Teen Wolf are both getting new seasons. Hannibal could come back as a movie. Person of Interest will be back next season but only for 13 episodes.
Ratings Down, Advertising Up
Bill Cromwell looks at why TV advertising reportedly continues to grow despite ratings declines.
Comcast Streaming TV Service
Comcast is launching an OTT TV service called Xfinity Stream, which requires that you have broadband service from Xfinity too. Todd Spangler says this is targeted at cord-nevers. The service offers the broadcast networks plus HBO, but no other cable channels right now. Will Richmond sees a parallel to Aereo in the reliance on broadcast networks. Richard Greenfield considers how HBO Now might factor into this.
Good TVeets
Bill Cosby is a brilliant comedian and a serial rapist. I think we can round that down to serial rapist.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) July 13, 2015
Been giving much thought to this season of TRUE DETECTIVE and I think we should all agree no one should be allowed to get an MFA ever again.
— Alison Willmore (@alisonwillmore) July 13, 2015
I feel like there's a 50/50 chance that this season of True Detective will end with an amusement park owner taking off a ghost costume.
— Vanessa Ramos (@thatRamosgirl) July 13, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015
OTT Winners & Losers
The Eric Jackson Podcast welcomes Richard Greenfield on to discuss over-the-top winners and losers.
Fall Casting
Scott Collins says summer in the TV industry is a busy time for recasting fall shows in cases where pilot actors didn't quite work out.
Summer Viewing
This summer's network programming features fewer reruns than previous years, while Spanish-language programming is soaring as usual this time of year.
Sitcom Representation
LaToya Ferguson assesses claims of stereotyping in Black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat.
Survivor Cheating
Richard Hatch claims that Survivor producers fed favored contestants across the show's first season.
Rise of Transgender TV
Gregory E. Miller chronicles the past year in TV shows with transgender characters.
Facebook & Video Piracy
Will Oremus says pirated YouTube videos could be fueling Facebook's online video success.
America's Got Talent Auditions
Cody C. Delistrary describes his audition for America's Got Talent and the sad sights he saw along the way.
Rectify's Radical Storytelling
Matt Zoller Seitz analyzes the radical storytelling displayed by Rectify.
Pay TV Stability
Jeff Baumgartner reports on a new study finding pay TV subscriptions steady even as Netflix use among pay TV subscribers rises.
TV Underwear
Emma Fraser talks with costume designers at Masters of Sex, The Americans, and You're the Worst about designing undergarments for their characters.
The Ethics of Reruns
James Poniewozik analyzes the ethical and cultural issues raised when reruns like Cosby Show or Dukes of Hazzard become problematic
Prestigious Darkness
Elizabeth Alsop argues that genre series like True Detective are using bleakness to reach for prestige.