Back in the
90’s televisions shows were not watched religiously as it is today. Shows such as Breaking Bad, Walking Dead and
Game of Thrones were not watched in
the same way as shows such as Full House,
Friends and Family Matters. Some may
argue that shows such as Full House, Friends and Family Matters cannot be compared within the same category as Breaking Bad, Walking Dead and Game of Thrones because of the different
genres of each shows. But what shows from the 90s can be
compared within the same genre as Breaking
Bad, Walking Dead and Game of Thrones? The closest shows I can think of are Buffy the Vampire Slayer and possibly Sex in the City but that is even a
stretch. Could it be that the genre
category for current popular shows were non-existent then? To turn the first question around, what
current popular shows can be compared to with Full House, Friends and Family
Matters.
Shows such
as Full House, Friends and Family Matters
could be watched within a family setting.
It could be watch on and off without having to pay too much attention to
it. There is not a strong plot or strong
line. These shows were often even put on
as background noise. Current popular
shows that fit into the universal show category are Big Bang Theory and Modern
Family. The list of universal shows
that can be watched with the family is a lot shorter than when it was in the
90s. I can easily name five shows from the 90’s off the top of my head but I
have trouble naming three shows that are currently popular now that can be
lightly watched within the family setting.
Although Big Bang Theory and Modern Family are popular, they are not nearly as popular as the
more intense shows such as Breaking Bad,
Walking Dead and Game of Thrones.
The more intense shows with an on-going
plot have a niche audience and a specific demographic. For example, according to Civic Science, the
people who watch Game of Thrones tend
to be highly educated Millennia males living in the Northeast part of the Unite
States. 36% of the viewers report an
income of $100k or higher. These viewers
also enjoy watching dramas and reading science fiction and fantasy books (Civic
Science). Although there is a specific
demographic for Game of Thrones it is
still highly popular with 18.4 million Americans watching (Thomas). The same goes for Walking Dead. There is a
very specific target audience in mine when filming and producing Walking Dead but it is one of the most
watched shows. According to The Guardian, the return of Walking Dead drew in 17 million viewers during its season five
premiere in the United States. It even broke the record for the most-watched television
drama in American cable history. The
Walking Dead was so popular that it also broke illegal downloading records
with 1.3 million unique IP addresses worldwide downloading the first episode of
season five (Sweney).
Game of Thrones and Walking Dead both have very specific audiences as oppose to shows
such as Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Friends, Full House and Family Matter. Game of Thrones and Walking Dead are considered niche media
where it has a specific place in media with a specific audience. Universal shows made without a targeted audience
in mind are not making the cut and receiving many viewers. How is it possible that a show with smaller
targeted audience is attracting more viewer than a show that is made for
everyone and therefor has a larger targeted audience?
It is a interesting
thing that is happening with niche media where people are looking to shows for
a more meaningful experience. Audiences
want interesting shows that they can tweet about and connect with other people
who are just as interested in the show’s plots as they are. Prior to the excessiveness of television,
technology and media people read intriguing, thought provoking novels and
stories about adventures and struggles in far away lands. As humans and social creatures we love stories.
We satisfy the need for fascinating stories that will engulf us into another
world the way books use to do in a different form and that being in the form of
shows.
The
lighthearted shows with minor laughs are a thing of the past because we want to
be captivated into another world. There might be one or two shows such as the Big Bang Theory and Modern Family for people
to casually watch but even that is being replaced by reality television shows
that are designed with a specific audience in mind. There are hundreds of books
and different genres written for different interests, so why should one shows
appeal and capture the full attention of all audiences.
Works Cited
Beaumont-Thomas, Ben. “Game of Thrones becomes most popular
HBO show ever.” The Guardian. 6 Jun. 2014. Guardian News and Media Limited., 2015.
Web. 22 Feb. 2015
de Moraes, Lisa, and David Lieberman.
"Cable TV Networks Wrap 2014 Putting Best Spin
On Ominous Year – Update." Deadline:
Hollywood. 31 Dec. 2014.
Penske Business Media, LLC., 2015. Web.
21 Feb. 2015.
Hibberd, James. "'Game of Thrones' finale
ratings up from last year (but don't break record)."
Entertainment Weekly. 16 June 2014.
Entertainment Weekly Inc., 2015. Web.
22 Feb. 2015.
Kissell, Rick. "ESPN No. 1 in Cable
Ratings for 2014." Variety. 2
Jan. 2015. VarietyMedia, LLC.,
2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
Singer, Adam. “Mass Media Vs. Niche Media.” The Future Buzz. 20 Sep. 2009. Digital Marketing And Social Media PR., 2015.
Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
Sweney, Mark. “Walking Dead season five US
premiere sets rating record.” The Guardian. 14 Oct. 2014. Guardian News and
Media Limited., 2015. Web. 22 Feb.2015.
St. John, Allen. “The Most Watched Hour Ever:
What ‘The Walking Dead’ Season Finale
Will Break A Rating Record.” Forbes. 30
Mar. 2015. Forbe., 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
“Who Will ‘Turn’ Up for AMC’s New Series, and
Will it Be a View of Game of Thrones.” Civic Science. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
Vorel, Jim. “The 90 Best TV Shows of the
1990s.” Paste. 25 Aug. 2015. Paste Media Group., 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
Niche Media and Shows Response:
ReplyDeleteI think Nora raises some decent points throughout, but she doesn’t seem to back up her argument with enough factual evidence. A lot of what she wrote seemed opinionated and even incorrect at times. I agree with her point that niche television has been successful of late, and I will discuss why, but I disagree that serial dramas have surpassed sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family (as much as I hate to admit it).
I love serial dramas, especially some of the ones that Nora discusses (Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, even Sons of Anarchy), but the shows that get the highest television ratings are still usually procedural dramas or sitcoms. I will agree that serial shows have a more loyal fan base, but because they hit specific niches, most still have lower ratings than procedural dramas and sitcoms (aside from The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones, which should be looked at as outliers). Shows like NCIS, CSI, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, The Voice, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, and more continue to top the charts. The top primetime networks last year (ages 18-49 during Primetime) were ESPN, TBS, USA, FX, and TNT. (de Moraes & Lieberman) None of these channels are popular for serial dramas. ESPN is a sports network, TBS and FX are known for sitcoms and movies, and USA and TNT are known for procedural dramas and movies. AMC was number seven on the list, known for its serial dramas. (de Moraes & Lieberman) If you look at which Cable networks had an increase in ratings from 2013 to 2014, some were ESPN (up 2%), VH1 (up 6%), Investigation Discovery (up 9% to record highs), FXX (up 73%), WE tv (up 13%), Hallmark (up 8%) and OWN (up 7%). (Kissell) Unfortunately, none of these networks are known for serial programming either.
It’s true that serial niches have begun to break the surface, with FOX premiering shows like Sleepy Hollow, Gotham, and Empire over the course of the last year instead of procedural dramas, but they still have a long way to go. Nora mentions the 90’s, which were known for sitcoms like Seinfeld, The Simpsons (animated), Frazier, Friends, and more. They also had popular procedurals like ER, Homicide: Life on the Street, and N.Y.P.D. Blue. Then there were the popular serial dramas of the 90’s: Sex and the City, Stark Trek: The Next Generation, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. To be honest, the only difference I see in the 90’s is the lack of reality television. Reality TV has been a big part of the last decade, whether scripted or unscripted. There may have been more sitcoms in the 90’s, but they are still many that are popular today (even on cable programming with shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Louie).
Cable programming currently keeps most of its viewers with serial dramas, reality TV, procedural dramas, instructional/educational TV, and sitcoms. The top ten shows in terms total viewers (last year) were The Walking Dead, NFL M.N.F., Game of Thrones, Sons of Anarchy, Duck Dynasty, Rizzoli & Isles, NFL T.N.F., American Horror Story, The Last Ship, and Major Crimes. If you take away sports and premium Cable shows, there are three or four serial dramas and two or three procedural dramas (depending on where you put American Horror Story). There is also one reality show. (Kissell) Cable is supposed to have more popular serial dramas, and it barely has that. If you look at the top shows on basic networks like CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, and CW, there will be even less popular serial dramas.
In the end I think niche serial programming will eventually surpass procedurals and sitcoms, but years and years from now, not yet. This will be a very long process. Until then, the premium channels will continue to dominate the scene when it comes to serial dramas, and that’s fine with networks like HBO, Starz, and Showtime.
Continued:
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
1. de Moraes, Lisa and David Lieberman. “Cable TV Networks Wrap 2014 Putting Best Spin On Ominous Year – Update.” Deadline. 31 Dec. 2014. Web.
2. Kissell, Rick. “ESPN No. 1 in Cable Ratings for 2014.” Variety. 2 Jan. 2015. Web.
When Nora began comparing shows from the 90’s to now, it made me think about how large the audience was who could watch Full House or FRIENDS because those were family sitcoms, that someone from each demographic was interested in. As the years have passed, the shows have become not only more specific for a certain audience to watch, but also more exclusive. What I mean by that is, the followers for shows today are like a colt, especially on the shows that are meant to be binge watched. However, the shows that are available on platforms such as Netflix are actually causing a decline in ratings on cable networks. Today, a lot of shows on cable networks do not need to be followed too religiously because episodes do not always play in order. Like Nora mentioned, we like to follow story lines because we like getting attached to the show and its characters. This is why so many people enjoy watching shows on Netflix rather than TBS or Discovery channel. According to Lisa de Moraes and David Lieberman, ratings have fallen significantly on cable networks with the exceptions of sports and news. I am not surprised by this statement because sports and news will always be something that is enjoyed live. FRIENDS, however, do not need to be viewed only on TBS at 4pm during the week. If someone wants to know the background of a FRIENDS episode because TBS is airing a random one from any season, they can just watch the whole season in order on Netflix.
ReplyDeleteAnother important factor to consider is who is watching shows on their smartphones and tablets. Now, cable networks such as TBS have their own mobile apps because they know things such as media convergence and time shifting will affect their ratings. Nielsen is not taking into consideration that people are still viewing their favorite cable network shows on their other devices other than a television. (deadline.com)
Although most cable networks are seeing a decline in ratings in adults 18-49, primetime networks such as ESPN and VH1 have actually seen a bit of an increase. ESPN’s target audience is huge within this demographic and younger with 2.28 million viewers and has increased by 6% compared to last year.VH1 has gone up in ratings by 6% compared to last year. This increase is due to what kind of programming these networks provide. Although their audiences are so specific, the loyalty of viewership is there. (variety.com)
This leads me to my next point regarding an even more specific niche group, the WWE fans. The WWE has surpassed their one-million subscriber goal for the year, and they keep growing. “WWE said that 90% of its subscribers access the network at least once a week, with 99% doing so at least once per month.” Again, although this audience is extremely specific, the viewers are extremely loyal which is what keeps their ratings as high as they’ve been. (variety.com)
Although some cable networks are having a hard time increasing their ratings, by reaching specific and loyal audiences, they are able to gear their programming and advertisements towards the same people, which is what brings in the revenue.
works cited
de Moraes, Lisa and David Lieberman. "Cable TV Networks Wrap 2014 Putting Best Spin On Ominous Year – Update." Deadline. 31 Dec. 2014. Web.
Graser, Marc. "WWE Network Reaches 1 Million Subscriber Milestone." Variety. 27 Jan. 2015. Web.
Kissell, Rick. "ESPN No. 1 in Cable Ratings for 2014." Variety. 2 Jan. 2015. Web.
I can agree with Nora with the fact that television shows in the 90s, were not watched like it is today. In the 90s, you had to wait for the show to air during its scheduled time, and if you missed it, you either had to wait for it to be replayed, or you just wouldn’t see it. Nowadays, we live in a time where shows are available to us whenever we want. If we are not around an actual television when it airs, we can live stream it, record it, or watch it online the next day. According to de Moraes and Liberman, “consumers ‘continue to leverage their DVRs and pay TV services such as Start Over and video-on-demand at greater levels every year.’”
ReplyDeleteBack in the 90s, the shows that Nora mentioned such as Friends and Full House were shows that every one of all demographics could watch. Although it is true that no show will ever be as good as Friends, there are still many shows today that can be watched with the family such as Modern Family, The Goldberg’s, The Middle, Blackish, and basically any ABC family show. However, there are a lot more television shows today and they are very diverse, catering to specific demographics.
Each show has its own niche, depending on the types of viewers; even Oprah fans now have their own network. It seems that cable TV has a trend with crime shows such as the NCIS shows, and CSI, but according to Rick Kissel, ESPN came in at the number one spot for Cable TV. When it comes to Primetime TV, however, The Walking Dead has the highest ratings and the most viewers.
Niche media is definitely a strong contribution to advertisers. Like I mentioned before, back in the day, shows that aired on television were catered mostly to families as shows that everyone could watch. Today, we have channels that are dedicated to specific niche groups. Advertisers use this to their advantage because if they know that people are watching HGTV, they know it is probably older women so they can show commercials for home goods.
Works Cited
de Moraes, Lisa and David Lieberman. "Cable TV Networks Wrap 2014 Putting Best Spin On Ominous Year – Update." Deadline. 31 Dec. 2014. Web.
Kissell, Rick. "ESPN No. 1 in Cable Ratings for 2014." Variety. 2 Jan. 2015. Web.
Kirsten James
ReplyDeleteI found this topic very interesting because I think Nora raised a lot of good points within her post. I think it is true that sitcoms that the whole family can such as watch (like Modern Family) are not as popular as drama series such as Breaking Bad. I think it’s important to clarify the meaning of popularity. While Modern Family is a very popular television show, it is not something that people want to talk about with their family, friends, or coworkers after a riveting episode. It is not the type of show that people will tweet about, and make a trending topic or that will lead people to make Instagram memes about. It is not the type of show that people get typically excited over because like Nora mentioned, there is no strong plot. It is possible to have never seen an episode and still know what is going on mid season. Shows like Breaking Bad are the total opposite and gain its popularity because it ultimately keeps people coming back for more after every episode. These are the shows that keep people talking.
It is also important that I mention why I think shows such Big Bang Theory and Modern Family are also popular. You don’t necessarily have to have a commitment to these kinds of shows; they are always on and will always be easy to follow along with even if you missed an episode. Often, people will watch these if there is nothing else on television. Additionally, they are appropriate for the whole family and you can watch them at different hours of the day almost any day. While these seem like factors that would make these kinds of shows more popular, it’s not enough. It’s really the juicy story lines and plots that get people on the edge of their seats that make shows popular now. Nowadays, people want really crazy characters, and extreme plots because like Nora said, it’s an escape, whereas other shows are more realistic and can be considered by some, more boring. Social media also plays a large role. Shows like Scandal gain their popularity through tweets from actors and audiences, and shows like Modern Family do not have this kind of following. I feel like it’s obvious shows like Modern Family have higher ratings because they’re on the television all of the time, whereas other shows are once a week, and some only come on for one or two seasons a year. But this still doesn’t make them any less popular.
Finally, I can see shows such as Modern Family receiving fewer ratings once there is a steady system in place to track online television watching on applications like Netflix or Hulu because “22 of the top 40 cable networks were down more than 5% in adults 18-49 from last year” (Kissell). Dramas such as Breaking Bad are also more popular is because if people miss one episode, they are going to watch it somehow, probably on Netflix or Hulu. Other shows don’t bring that kind of dedication out of people. According to de Morales and Lieberman, online services are becoming increasingly more popular that “the tradition TV ecosystem.”
Works Cited
de Moraes, Lisa and David Lieberman. "Cable TV Networks Wrap 2014 Putting Best
Spin On Ominous Year – Update." Deadline. 31 Dec. 2014. Web.
Kissell, Rick. "ESPN No. 1 in Cable Ratings for 2014." Variety. 2 Jan. 2015. Web.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting to take a look at how the creating and design of television shows has changed over time. I completely agree that shows used to be more universal based and able to view with the family, without really paying attention. Now, shows are niche based, so they are for a more specific audience and should be watched in order. I do, however, think there is reason for this. There wasn’t always Netflix, Hulu, On Demand, or even the shows online before, so it made it very complicated for viewers to keep up with the show if they missed an episode or two, or even start a show on a different season than the first. The luxury of having these alternate viewing sources, has given us the ability to ‘catch up’ or ‘binge watch’ which is something completely new.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Full House and Friends are shows whose reruns are still being shown on television after a decade is proof that these shows were successful. They don’t have a strong storyline like Walking Dead, but they do interest the audience, otherwise they wouldn’t be on the air anymore. It is amazing that we have the ability to have this new concept of television where the stories are so incredibly strong and that more and more viewers are adding on as the seasons go on, but I also think that viewers still enjoy the easy viewing which shows like Full House, Friends, and even The Big Band Theory provide.
The ratings for these niche media shows such as Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead ratings have even shown to go down a little bit, but that is because many criticise how Nielsen is calculating the ratings. According to Cable TV Networks Wrap 2014 Putting Best Spin On Ominous Year, “Primetime Live+7 numbers for the core 18-49 audience are down 8% vs. last year. And the damage is being felt virtually everywhere, with few exceptions, mostly among news and sports channels” (Moraes and Lieberman). Ratings are important, they are most important to the Networks and advertisers. If the ratings are wrong, the show could get cancelled or companies won’t advertise. People are busy a lot, and the fact that they have the opportunity to watch their favorite shows in a time-shifted manor means they are going to take advantage of it. According to ESPN No. 1 in Cable Ratings for 2014, “ESPN was last year’s top dog in cable ratings” (Kissell). I think this is because it is live sporting events. People want to know how the game ends right then and there, and that means watching it while the game is live.
What type of people are viewing the show is only as important as how many people are viewing the show. If shows don’t have their numbers up, then there is no point in focusing on it. This is why rating and viewing numbers are so important, so we can see why and who is viewing. A few weeks ago someone spoke about how Nielsen has teamed up with Adobe to create more accurate information. I think this can be successful and really help get these numbers more accurate.
Works Cited
de Moraes, Lisa and David Lieberman. "Cable TV Networks Wrap 2014 Putting Best Spin On Ominous Year – Update." Deadline. 31 Dec. 2014. Web.
Kissell, Rick. "ESPN No. 1 in Cable Ratings for 2014." Variety. 2 Jan. 2015. Web.
In today's complicated media environment, it is very difficult to create a successful television program that is designed to target all audiences. From the 1950’s when television became a popular commodity in US family households, its seems the news and Presidential Addresses on TV were the only programs designed to attract audiences of all ages and genders. It is evident that there has never been a single recurring program which would have enough universal appeal across all demographics, income levels, regions of the country, and education. The reason being is because it is very difficult to satisfy every viewer’s preference. Consider for example a television network like USA. According to a class reading called Cable TV Networks Wrap 2014 Putting Best Spin On Ominous Year – Update, “USA boasted it hit its ninth consecutive year as No. 1 in primetime among ad-supported cable entertainment network in overall audience,” (Lieberman & Moraes). It also stated that ESPN was actually number one, but the problem was that it was a sports network (Lieberman & Moraes). Only people who are sports fans watch the network, failing to target all audiences. This is why media companies now design networks to concentrate programming for very distinct audience segments. These networks create niche programs to attract a target audience to satisfy their needs and wants for a show. Creating niche markets is a common everyday practice-especially in business. For instance, a company like Nike offers different products and services for all types of athletes. A tennis player is most likely not interested in buying football cleats, but a football player would. This is why Nike has particular athletic products for specific sports. The reason why USA is rated the number one cable entertainment network in overall audience is because of their use of multiple niche programming. Just like any good business organization, USA decided the best tactic to capture all audiences is to create shows targeting certain viewers. From looking at the network’s website, they have a copious amount of diverse shows. From crime shows CSI and Law and Order, to comedy shows like Sirens, to dramas like Suits and Royal Pains, USA is a very well-versed network by having multiple programs capturing the attention of different audiences (USA Newtwork).
ReplyDeleteA very interesting concept that became popular over the years is how these niche programs have created viewer engagement. Nowadays, it is very common for audiences to use social media as form of communication to talk about the program. I believe these social media platforms help create virtual communities for people to talk about their favorite programs. For example, live tweeting while the show is being aired has become a very popular practice. It allows fans of a particular show to talk about and connect with viewers all across the world about their opinions and reactions. A class article written by Ingrid Lunden talked about the rise of these social media sites. According to her, Twitter’s growth in active members grew 18%, and the growth of active users raised 26% (Lunden). An interesting statistic was how Snapchat is now the fastest growing app. The article stated the application grew over 50% in the last six months (Lunden). With the rise in popularity, it seems predictable “snapchating” shows live will become a common practice for viewers and will help contribute to their virtual community.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
ReplyDeletede Moraes, Lisa and David Lieberman. "Cable TV Networks Wrap 2014 Putting Best Spin On Ominous Year – Update." Deadline. 31 Dec. 2014. Web
Lunden, Ingrid. "Tumblr Overtakes Instagram As Fastest-Growing Social Platform, Snapchat Is The Fastest-Growing App." Tech Crunch. 25 Nov. 2014. Web
"Sows." USA Network. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. http://www.usanetwork.com/.
I think Nora brings up a solid point about niche television shows as compared to different genres of books. Most television shows that have stayed on the air for a while and gotten syndicated, like Big Bang Theory and Modern Family, want their target audience to be universal, diverse, and reach many cross-sections of today’s society. This strategy is designed to acquire as many viewers for a certain show as possible. In recent years, however, niche television shows like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead have become increasingly popular. They offer a break from the somewhat mundane and outdated style of TV sitcoms, and can be great entertainment in replacement of these universally designed shows. One article I found particularly interesting from this week’s readings was the one on the WWE Network. For myself, wrestling is not something I would seek out a monthly subscription to watch, but evidently over a million people feel otherwise. Just 11 months after the network was launched, they reached their millionth subscriber in January. Shows like the Big Bang Theory seem to be on the way out, somewhat forcefully, by niche programs.
ReplyDeleteSo how are people watching this niche programming and how will this trend adapt and change in the near future?
Another good point Nora mentioned was Nielsen’s ignorance of viewers who are time shifting and viewers who watch programming on a different platform like an iPad or iPhone. Nielsen had reported that ratings fell significantly for the first time ever, saying, “Primetime Live7 numbers for the core 18-49 audience are down 8% vs. last year.” Some critics say this is because of the decision to leave out every home that does not use broadband to access their cable television. Others, however, feel as if the drop in ratings is a direct effect of people switching to other forms of viewing. Either on the go or at the home, people are more often finding it easier to access their favorite programming from a computer, tablet, or smartphone than to catch the show at its regularly scheduled time. People love the ability to time shift and Nielsen’s evidence suggests that time shifting and streaming is becoming paramount to primetime television. This shift represents a major movement, as primetime TV has been a staple of American families for years.
Works Cited
De Moraes, Lisa and David Lieberman. “Cable TV Networks Wrap 2014 Putting Best Spin On Ominous Year – Update.” Deadline. 31 Dec. 2014. Web.
Graser, Marc. "WWE Network Reaches 1 Million Subscriber Milestone." Variety. 27 Jan. 2015. Web.
Nora raised a lot of good points about television shows being watched in the 90’s compared to now. I agree with a lot of her points because when I look back on some of the shows she brought up such as: Family Matters or Full House I think back to how my family watched those shows. There’s’ a 10 year age gap between my oldest sibling and youngest sibling and back then we would all watch Full House together including my parents. Times have changed drastically and it’s lucky if we all even eat dinner at the same time together now nonetheless watch TV together. But with today’s technological advances people can view shows when they want and pretty much on a platform they want. Whether it’s an Ipad, Iphone, DVR recording or online streaming website that you can sue your laptop or computer for, shows are much more accessible now than they were in the 90’s.
ReplyDeleteAnother part of this television viewing cultural change is the role that social media plays in viewing these shows. Live Tweeting is now a big thing where people who are watching the show tweet their opinions and engage in conversation over social media rather than in person like in the 90’s when every one would sit around the TV and talk face to face. Or even the next day at school people would discuss the shows and have topics of conversations. I think Nora brought up a good point about how shows are being created for viewers to gain a more meaningful experience and you can see that in ratings and views. It’s clear this is the new way to reach an audience, according to Kissel these are the top 4 TV series watched based on views. “1. The Walking Dead (AMC), 19.81, 2. NFL Monday Night Football (ESPN), 13.23, 3. Game of Thrones* (HBO), 8.98, 4. Sons of Anarchy (FX), 7.77.” As you can see the 3 out of the top 4 are series that include long intricate plots that last for numerous seasons. These types of shows engage an audience and make them feel like part of the show. Then eventually word spreads via mouth or social media and new bandwagoner’s hop on and start watching these shows to. Netflix and other streaming sites allow for people to re-watch full seasons and catch up on episodes. No one has to wait for a rerun or hear about it in school.
Niche media is the up and coming way for television to progress. “WWE said that 90% of its subscribers access the network at least once a week, with 99% doing so at least once per month” (Graser). I don’t know anyone anymore that watches the WWE but to get subscribers means that people are paying for their network and are loyal fans. Ultimately it doesn’t matter whose watching just as long as people are watching. I think niche media will surpass primetime channels relatively soon because of all the benefits that come along with it when it comes to time shifting, binge watching, and media convergence.
Graser, Marc. "WWE Network Reaches 1 Million Subscriber Milestone." Variety. 27 Jan. 2015. Web.
Kissell, Rick. "ESPN No. 1 in Cable Ratings for 2014." Variety. 2 Jan. 2015. Web.
Colten Lucas
ReplyDeleteAlthough there are many reasons why universal based shows should collect higher audience ratings, niche media based shows can attract more intense attention from viewers because viewers connect with these shows on deeper levels. Television programs such as Game of Thrones, Walking Dead and Breaking Bad ultimately seem to have a more valuable consumer interaction strategy that results in a dedicated viewing audience. These shows create and nurture a loyal fan base that universal shows do not render.
Fans of niche genre programming attend conventions, buy books, and use social media to discuss their favorite programming. People come together to form a community that supports and promotes the programming. This causes them to have a closer relationship with other fans and a special relationship with the show itself. Those involved in the creation and production of niche programming often recognize their dedicated fan bases and reciprocate with a special connection to viewers. For example when I went to Comic Con 2013, the casts of all three shows, Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad appeared for the fans of the show. This in-person interaction is just one way that makes the show more involved with its viewers. These shows also use social media to reach their audiences, with advertisements, and podcasts and articles to engage and entertain their fans.
In contrast, universal shows pretty much exist for the audience without a specific way of connecting to the audience. Fans do not watch as part of a special community. The show does not attempt to reach viewers in unique ways. With these shows, it’s often hit or miss -- if people do not like the shows, then they will not watch them; if people do like the shows, then they will watch them. There is no pre-commitment to these types of shows. With a niche show, specific audiences are targeted, like for Walking Dead, people who want to see zombie survival life. For universal based shows, particular audiences are not targeted, and viewing is left more to luck.
Other types of niche media are meant to attract people who are fans of a particular subject, like a sport or music. For example, the WWE is a network designed for fans of wresting and relies heavily on its audience. WWE fans have created a community with other wrestling fans that interact with each other and are involved with both the network and the show: “It’s a significant milestone for a company that is betting big on going directly to its fan base with its PPVs and vast library of shows – something a number of other content owners are now doing, including the NFL, CBS and HBO” (Grazer). As social media continues to expand, niche programming will likely become more and more popular because there are increasing opportunities for fans to interact with each other and with networks and shows.
Works Cited
Graser, Marc. "WWE Network Reaches 1 Million Subscriber Milestone." Variety.
27 Jan. 2015. Web.
Lunden, Ingrid. "Tumblr Overtakes Instagram As Fastest-Growing Social Platform,
Snapchat Is The Fastest-Growing App." Tech Crunch. 25 Nov. 2014. Web.