In a story wonderfully headlined "Ratings are the TV serial killers" our friend Aaron Barnhart of the Kansas City Star writes:
“Caprica,” the prequel to “Battlestar Galactica,” is dying on Syfy Friday nights. Just 1.1 million souls are tuning in per episode, about half of “Battlestar’s” audience. FX’s “Damages,” which has won some serious Emmy Awards, is trying to stay north of 1 million viewers.
Well, you say, that’s because I record “Damages” on my DVR. And that is true — “Damages” and “Battlestar” were two of the 10 most time-shifted shows in 2009, according to Nielsen. But the show that led that list — Fox’s “Dollhouse,” a procedural with a serial component — got canceled anyway.
I've written about this meme before, which has been precipitated by Lost's final season. Though I agree there are challenges with serials on TV these days, the problem I have with the articles is they are typically so one-sided.
For a show in its 8th season, 24's ratings really aren't that bad (this is not a comment on the quality show, only on its ratings).
Though I can't think of a single recent success with a heavily serialized drama on the broadcast networks, with cable several quickly spring to mind.
I regularly have been beating the "hold your nose, here are this week's ratings for Caprica and Damages" drum, but I also regularly trumpeted cable's heavily serialized successes like Sons Of Anarchy and True Blood. In its fourth season Dexter set ratings records for Showtime. And though its numbers are relatively somewhat meager (due at least in part to only being available in relatively few homes) Starz has had early success with Spartacus: Blood and Sand.
"Serialized dramas make a home on cable" is probably a more accurate meme, but I'll concede that it doesn't make nearly as good of a headline.
The faster the networks do away with the neilsen ratings or change how they are used the better. Can’t believe that the networks haven’t found a way to make DVR viewers have to watch commercials. I don’t even bother 99 percent of the time to FF. I use my DVR because there are multiple shows on at the same time.
There are exceptions and let’s hope nets look for quality programming in all genres. Dexter is serialized. I would dare say it is not “heavily” serialized, though. One can pretty much figure out what’s what even if one started watching in season 3 It’s ratings have grown to record levels in its most recent season.
CK, I’d argue that about most shows not named Lost. While it would be hard to come in during the middle of a season of Dexter, it still wouldn’t be impossible and coming in at the beginning of the season would be easy. I started watching SOA with season two, watched it all the way through and then went back and watched season 1. I didn’t have any difficulty figuring things out though obviously there were some spoilers that removed some of the suspense from the first season when I watched it.
The reason why Caprica is dying is not because TV Serials are yesterday. On the contrary, Battlestar Galactica proved that TV Serials are in if you do them well. Caprica is a slow boring show. That’s why it sucks….
I do not understand why they do not just get a list of all shows watched on cable boxes. The info is sent to the cable companies, why not just use it for the neilsen ratings
Joe that would make too much sense. They would rather rely on 10,000 people who quite probably don’t make up a good mix of the general population. Most people who I know who watch serial based shows and sci fi based shows etc would never want to be a nielsen family.
This article makes no sense to me. Just like what you said, Dexter is going strong, as is Lost (good luck jumping into THAT at any point), SOA, etc.
Yes, serialized shows have it harder, but they aren’t DEAD.
Some of the best shows (read: highest rated) are a blend of stand-alone and serialized: The Office, House, Burn Notice.
Myabe it was a slow news day, and they had to write SOMETHING for their section.
@Joe. I have also wondered why we just don’t get the ratings data from people watching on cable boxes from Comcast, AT&T, TiVo, and others. That would likely cover 50% of all viewers. We could use Nielsen for the demographic specific data that would not be easily determined using the cable networks.
@Joe and WhoKnows?
Cable boxes don’t tell us how many are watching (just that the TV is on) or who is watching (their ages, gender, education, income, etc.), so they aren’t all that useful for advertisers, who really care about that stuff. Also, I’m quite sure the cable companies would be willing to sell that information to the networks and advertisers if they wanted it, but the fact is, they don’t want it. Until it provides more information than “the TV was on”, they aren’t willing to pay for it.
I enjoy serialized dramas, but ratings-wise they are dependant on an ‘appointment TV’ mindset that these days people just don’t have anymore. I’m old enough to remember when there were far fewer choices on TV and far fewer distractions splitting the audience and it was VHS vs Beta no such thing as TV shows on DVD. Communal viewing of event and appointment TV was much more commonplace.
It seems to me that expectations for performance haven’t changed as much as viewing habits have. Probably costs haven’t either – but maybe being dependant on broadcast ad revenue isn’t the way to market/ recoup serial tv costs.
For example, I haven’t watched Dexter – if I decide to, I’ll get the DVD’s and catch up in a few sittings – product placement and the DVD revenue is all that I will contribute.
Sorry – viewing of product palcement — left out ‘viewing’
Caprica is a boring show, that is why is getting bad ratings. Also, the entire premise is ill conceived (Drama – aka Soap opera – with some SF elements, on a SF channel, who on earth was going to watch that).
As for the article, just another overblown BS. Luckily we have TVBTN to shift through the BS, and bring us the real info. Like I said before, you are like Jon Stewart of TV blogs
If 24, Heroes, Flash Forward and V don’t make it to next season it is possible that there will be NOT ONE single highly serialized drama on the networks. With The Event there is only 1 pilot for a new serial(if I’m not wrong). So, yes I don’t think it is too early to talk about the death of the TV-serial.
The quality dramas on HBO, Showtime, FX and AMC were always serialized and the mainstream cable channels like USA and TNT will stay with procedurals. So cable/Pay TV can’t fill that void.
Mackey, of course they can fill the void, assuming that is, there is any void to be filled. You list four highly serialized shows, but only one of those (plus Lost) is even on the air this week.
You also don’t bring up the likes of Grey’s Anatomy or Desperate Housewives. Perhaps not your cup of tea, but still highly serialized
Caprica is flopping because it is slow paced and one of the most ambitious and smart shows in TV these days. Unlike Battlestar there isn’t even a little space action to get some Joe Sixpacks before the screen.
Don’t forget about The Vampire Diaries. Its the most highly rated show on the CW and heavily serialized.
@ Robert
Assuming the networks lose 5 serialized dramas. How can cable/pay TV make up for that loss when they don’t put additional serials on the air.
@ Grey and DH.
Ok, of course you could count soaps as highly serialized, but they are not really the kind of serials I am thinking about. Soaps will always find a place on the networks. They are like the crime procedurals for women.
people with cable can miss a dexter or big love and catch up using OnDemand
i think it’s important to look at the individual shows. although it’s a smart show, “damages” NEVER had a fan base. from day one, it had a limited number of viewers. despite sony investing in two seasons and emmys for the movie star. and history shows us that that the base viewership will trail off as the seasons continue (“SOA” is the anomaly, look at “the shield”). so why is anyone surprised?
and right now, “caprica” is not nearly as good as “bsg”. it’s actors are still figuring out what kind of show they are in, the writers are forcing viewers to make huge leaps of logic (we aren’t cylons, we can’t just download all the data) and it’s core thematic issue is not an original one — “bsg” already exploited it. i’m rooting for ron and his team, but “caprica” has to EARN more viewers. you can’t just expect loyal bsg fans to show up and stay.
viewers are like sweet, beautiful, needy children. they get distracted by the new and the shiny. you have to constantly stir their emotions and tweak their adrenals. and like children, they get smarter and more sophisticated every day. and when you’re audience outgrows you, a showrunner becomes a superfluous parent with an empty nest and a cancelled show.
good morning. i clearly need more coffee.
This is cyclical. I remember everyone crowing about the “rise of reality TV” a couple years ago. Then the networks went back to Serials.