MovieChat Forums > The Assets (2014) Discussion > TV Networks are a cowardly, untrustworth...

TV Networks are a cowardly, untrustworthy lot.

posted 11 years ago by Shadoefax
6 replies | jump to latest

TV execs and TV viewers exist in a symbiotic relationship. Each group exists only to help the other and each group has a certain set of expectations. TV viewers expect to be entertained, informed or otherwise enlightened. TV execs expect to sell advertising space to companies that, in turn, will profit from TV viewers buying their products.

Occasionally an entertaining, informative show like “The Assets” is produced and aired with the promise of several episodes in which tell an entire story. TV execs test these shows in advance with targeted demographic audiences to ensure they will be popular enough to sell their ad space.

“The Assets” was (presumably) tested and did well enough to warrant a limited run (eight episodes, I think) miniseries. What happened? The show was cancelled after only two episodes. Do the TV execs not trust their testing techniques well enough to deliver on their promise? Any new show needs more than two showings to find its audience. TV viewers want to get emotionally invested in the characters to heighten the viewing experience and it takes good writing and a little time. “The Assets” had the writing but not the time.

Once a network commits to a show, they are obligated to fulfill their promise if they ever hope to gain the trust of the very viewers they are profiting from. If the show in question does not do as well as expected during the time slot it is aired, it surely can be moved to a different one (even if it is during the early morning hours on a weekday where it can be recorded). The networks owe us that much.

Essentially, the TV networks don’t give a damn about their promises or their viewers. They don’t have the balls to follow through and they treat their viewers with contempt and disregard. I have absolutely no respect or tolerance for these bastards.

[–] painted_aura 11 years ago

It didn't seem that bad.
I read somewhere that they'll be airing re-runs of some *beep* show for the next 6 weeks instead. Retarded.

I hope they at least make them available for web DL sometime soon.

[–] Shadoefax 11 years ago

What really get me is that the last showing (Thursday, January 9th) had previews of the upcoming next week's episode. And in big red letters: "Next week - 10:00 PM, 9:00 Central". The very next day (Friday) they announce the cancellation. So it would seem like an "emergency" cancellation with absolutely no advanced warning. Again, total disregard and contempt for their viewers.

[–] PVarjak 11 years ago

It's a tough call. The ratings were the worst in history for a new show on a Big 3 network. That means the network has to offer a lot of 'make-goods' to the advertisers. On the other hand, ABC dropped the ball in doing ZERO promotion of this show. I only happened to notice it on the schedule in its second week. Were any of the principals on any talk shows or did ABC advertise this show at all? I don't think I saw that.

Anyone know if it was being shown in other countries?

[–] jonmiktay-730-2315 11 years ago

American TV networks. A Yeoman effort. If US TV could get away from the season format and into the idea of story arcs with a beginning and end, people will come back for a story and characters they empathize with and care about. So is the rest of this going to be torrented so we can watch it and get closure?
PS I know one of the FBI agents who arrested Ames, he was really a piece of *beep* Not just a traitor but a real pervert.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (41638798) 11 years ago

And it's "Netflix" that's giving us "House of Cards" and "Lilyhammer" as original programming

Putting all the eps up simultaneously, for those want to binge-watch--or not.

This is the new "normal."

Yet ABC expects to actually attempt to "do drama" and sell adverts for shows that are going to be yanked after 2 episodes of a miniseries?

They stumble around, trying to air a show but oops nobody liked it did they, so oops, guess we won't show the rest. Well, hell, maybe SOMEBODY out there liked it! But ABC did their usual bungling job. They are dopes. Really.

Why in the hell would anybody want to watch a single show on that network? Like Shadoefax so well stated---ABC just screw their viewers.

We've got many, many options for watching great shows all the way through--Netflix for one. YouTube. And loads of other things that aren't quite kosher, for those who wish to I suppose.

I've dipped my toe in US network programming twice in the past few years and been bitten twice now: "The Assets" and "Pan Am."

Made me realize why I hadn't watched an NBC, ABC or CBS show for almost a decade. The dreck parade can now continue.

It'll prolly be another decade before I do.

Roll on "Anzac Girls" from ABC in AUSTRALIA. And "Doctor Blake Mysteries" also from Australia. The world is filled with superb drama. ABC (USA), I'm so over you.

[–] acb132 11 years ago

Exactly! They start during a ridiculous time, on January 2nd, and then are shocked at the slow start and then they leave people hanging.... with a short run mini-series??

To not even have enough respect for your viewers to finish of a SHORT MINI-SERIES. And to dump in reality tv repeats instead?

As it is people have started not watching shows right away because they fear it's a waste since they might get pulled. Now that they can't even finish of a mini-series, wow, that will really help them avoid that. It's just spirals down the drain ever more, people are more wary and start watching less easily and then they cancel ever more quickly and then people....

They may be getting themselves into an downward spiral. I know a lot of people just DVR up the first few episodes of new shows since they don't want to waste time starting stuff that will be cancelled, of course that helps leads things to get cancelled. In this case a mini-series, not even a series was in play. They just had a few more episodes to go. If they are going to leave people hanging on a mini-series why should anyone ever trust to start watching anything on your station again? Not even a promise to just the run the whole thing over the summer or anything at all??

And for repeats of a reality show? Really?

The mini-series is already finished shooting, so it's not like they needed to spend more money picking up additional episodes past a pilot for a show or something.

And it's just a pretty sad state of affairs in general if repeats of Shark Tank is expected to do better. (and I guess it has, although it's hardly some ratings gem, but was it worth it, a few weeks of modest Shark Tank repeat ratings which will lead no where long term while at the same time hitting viewer trust and loyalty?

Oh and even though they are a BROADCAST network I love how they make people have to sign in through cable to even view videos on their site now!