Ion
CW
NBC

OK, MAYBE not NBC, but....I say way less than 2 years for Ion, MAYBE another season after this for The CW and who knows at NBC, maybe they will make it but at the rate things are going there, I am wondering.

Ion is dead, IMO. Bankruptcy isn't good. They want to make it look better by saying "Bankruptcy protection and organizing debt", but many companies that do this ultimately wind up folding. Circuit City, anyone? They have spent tons on shows like NCIS, Ghost Whisperer, movies, etc....way more than they probably have coming in. Their time has been coming.

CW is relying on shows that are going to wear out on them soon (Smallville, OTH, Supernatural) and they have really had no breakout hits. I bet '10-'11 will be their last season, maybe before then.

NBC is just a mess. The ratings are bad, programming isn't that great, scheduling is awful. Their news division is pretty good, but primetime isn't getting anywhere. I don't know what to say, or what they would do, other than things don't look good for them. They are headed for trouble.

Any thoughts?

I think NBC will stick around. Other major networks have had their down time and they eventually rebound. I know they're having trouble right now but I think they'll be ok

As for ION and The CW, they are in trouble and I wouldn't be surprised if they do end up disbanding

I expect the CW and Ion will both be gone in 2-3 years. I think NBC however will survive.

NBC also has their late-night shows, Today, etc so it WOULD be a disaster if they went away, so I guess I will agree that they will probably hold out, but I guess they could always change their focus to something like MyNetwork TV is doing and air reruns and movies some nights, and keep original programming some nights.

Speaking of MNTV, a lot think they'll eventually go the way of the others but I don't think so. News Corp. wants to make it work and they have low overhead and aren't doing that badly.

If ION and/or CW folds, would that strenthen MNTV? Or would we see a big return of the independent station relying on a lot of library programming, first run produced or even more court/reality shows?

I can't see NBC going under, but the other networks; yes. NBC is so huge and prominent, plus don't they have some shows that are really doing well, like 30 Rock?

If ION and/or CW folds, would that strenthen MNTV? Or would we see a big return of the independent station relying on a lot of library programming, first run produced or even more court/reality shows?

Ion owns a lot of their stations, so they would likely be auctioned or something....since most are low-power or don't have good city coverage, MAYBE some to independents, but likely Religious and Spanish broadcasters would buy those.

My CW has most of the big guns....Raymond, Frasier, Family Guy, George Lopez, Sex and the City, King of Queens, 70s Show, Wayans Bros, Roseanne, Cosby Show....so they would have no problem whatsoever filling the void CW would leave. Not sure about the others. My CW runs some court shows in the afternoon, but not a lot.

I can't see NBC going under, but the other networks; yes. NBC is so huge and prominent, plus don't they have some shows that are really doing well, like 30 Rock?
I think that's more of a critic's darling than a ratings one, but it and some of their other stuff gets a lot of press. So do some of the CW shows, but maybe that's not enough.

The major networks always have their ups and downs. NBC is not doing so good right now, but I remember, at one time CBS was in the same boat.

And when CBS was in that boat NBC was on top. So it all is really cyclical when it comes to the major networks.

I wouldn't be surprised a bit if Ion and/or CW end up folding in the not so distant future. Hopefully that means more independent stations crop up (with better programming)!!

I wouldn't be surprised a bit if Ion and/or CW end up folding in the not so distant future. Hopefully that means more independent stations crop up (with better programming)!!
I would love to see more independent stations. I think we would see a larger variety of shows and possibly even see some shows return to the airwaves we haven't seen in years!!

I would love to see more independent stations. I think we would see a larger variety of shows and possibly even see some shows return to the airwaves we haven't seen in years!!
We can only hope!!

I think ION will be gone in a couple of years.

Actually I wish Ion would stop their national feeds and just provide their programming to affiliates. I don't get it on my satellite, but if you get the national feed on DirecTV/Dish/Comcast, etc you're actually paying for all of those infomercials and shows that can be seen elsewhere :rolleyes:

I think ION and The CW will be gone within 2 years, but NBC as a whole isn't going anywhere. They are still largely successful outside of primetime(such as their news division), they just recently bought The Weather Channel, not to mention they have MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, USA and other cable networks which are all solid networks. I think NBC will become more of a cable model if they don't improve in primetime soon but they won't go completely away.

Ion
CW
NBC

OK, MAYBE not NBC, but....I say way less than 2 years for Ion, MAYBE another season after this for The CW and who knows at NBC, maybe they will make it but at the rate things are going there, I am wondering.

Ion is dead, IMO. Bankruptcy isn't good. They want to make it look better by saying "Bankruptcy protection and organizing debt", but many companies that do this ultimately wind up folding. Circuit City, anyone? They have spent tons on shows like NCIS, Ghost Whisperer, movies, etc....way more than they probably have coming in. Their time has been coming.

CW is relying on shows that are going to wear out on them soon (Smallville, OTH, Supernatural) and they have really had no breakout hits. I bet '10-'11 will be their last season, maybe before then.

NBC is just a mess. The ratings are bad, programming isn't that great, scheduling is awful. Their news division is pretty good, but primetime isn't getting anywhere. I don't know what to say, or what they would do, other than things don't look good for them. They are headed for trouble.

Any thoughts?


ION was down 3 years ago and I think NBC will start to go down a little since the Tonight Show has a new host.