The Major TV Land Announcement? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Pavan · 09-02-2008, 01:12 AM

This could be the major TV Land announcement that people have been telling me that TV Land announced on their message boards that will happen soon. We'll have more on it when the press release comes out, so don't make any judgments until they announce, but it seems 50% of their programming will be originals soon:

From WSJ:

Viacom Inc.'s TV Land cable network is set to announce a new programming strategy this week -- scaling back its traditional emphasis on nostalgia in pursuit of younger viewers.

The new programming plan, which the network plans to present to advertisers this week, will more than triple the number of hours of original programming on TV Land's prime-time schedule. By the end of 2009, TV Land -- which has for years served baby boomers a diet heavy with shows from their youth -- wants to fill half its prime-time lineup with original programming, up from about 15% today and 4% in 2007.

Aimed primarily at people in their mid-40s -- the younger end of the boomer spectrum, which spans those born from 1946 through 1964 -- the new slate includes reality shows like "The Cougar," in which a fortysomething woman picks among younger bachelors, and series pilots like "First Love/Second Chance," which reunites long-lost lovers. The channel's also importing reruns of more recent shows, like the '90s-era "Friends." And it is exploring creating its own sitcom.

Viacom's investment in the new programming comes as TV Land has put in a robust performance in a challenging advertising climate. Viacom posted disappointing U.S. ad-revenue growth of only 1% in the second quarter. But TV Land's ad revenue grew faster than that of younger-skewing Viacom channels like MTV, in part, the company says, because TV Land has benefited from viewers shifting to cable networks from broadcast TV.

When it started in 1996, TV Land found quick success as a 24-hour network dedicated entirely to TV throwbacks like "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "M*A*S*H." But in recent years, old reruns have become old hat. The entirety of "The Andy Griffith Show" is available on DVD; "The A-Team" streams free on hulu.com. And classic-TV viewers have been getting older, pushing the median age of TV Land watchers in prime-time above 55 in 2007, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's relatively high even for a network targeting baby boomers.

The new strategy, approved by Viacom brass in a series of long-range planning meetings earlier this summer, is intended to help the channel expand its audience, lower its viewers' median age by increasing the number of shows that attract people in their mid-40s, and pursue new advertisers that will pay higher prices for original fare.

"Putting more original television on a channel dedicated to classic television is a risk in some ways," says Doug Herzog, president of MTV Networks Entertainment Group, which includes TV Land. "But the idea is to bring new people into the tent."

With the new series, Jeff Lucas, who oversees TV Land's ad sales, says he's targeting companies like videogame publishers, fast-food restaurants and movie studios, which are a contrast to some of the low-cost advertisers TV Land has attracted in the past. In recent years, those have included companies that sell mobility scooters often used by senior citizens. In 2007, MTV, which airs more original content and targets a younger audience than TV Land, had 24-hour average ad rates per viewer more than four times TV Land's, according to estimates in a report from SNL Kagan last month.

TV Land had gross advertising revenue of about $213 million in 2007, according to Derek Baine, a senior analyst at SNL Kagan. Viacom's media networks had a total of nearly $4.7 billion in ad revenue in 2007.

Slowing ad growth at channels with younger audiences didn't affect the decision to invest in TV Land, says Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman. "The move to TV Land is not because we think one [demographic] is going down. It's an opportunity to do more," he says. The expansion of original programming is part of a broader Viacom strategy to invest in smaller brands that have "a lot of room to grow," he adds.

"We go through economic cycles -- you get slowdowns and accelerations. This is more long-range thinking," Mr. Dauman says.

TV Land's president, Larry W. Jones, has pushed to add more original series for a few years. Adding original hours has already helped lower the channel's primetime median age slightly in 2008, according to Nielsen. One big focus of the new original shows will be dating and romance. ("Your libido doesn't leave you after 35," says Mr. Herzog of MTV Networks' entertainment group.)

Though most boomers still fit in the audience of 25- to 54-year-olds that TV Land sells to advertisers, the network now plans to avoid the moniker altogether. "Boomers don't like to be called 'boomers,'" says Mr. Herzog.

Schmoopie · 09-02-2008, 02:04 AM

I can see where the older TV series wouldn't be as popular, but that was the whole idea behind this station! What makes them think that people in their 40's want to watch "original" programming? I don't. I'd rather watch the classics!

Andrea

DigitalBean05 · 09-02-2008, 09:03 AM

My parents fit this age range, and they complain and roll their eyes at every original program that TV Land produces. They'd much rather watch "Bonanza" or "Andy Griffith."

I find the current programming ridiculous myself. None of their original programming is appealing. They should stick with the classics.

dakert · 09-02-2008, 09:25 AM

Dont young people today like the old 50s-70s shows?
When I was a youth in the 1970s I loved re-runs of Monkees, Beaver, Father knows best, bewitched, Flinstones, Lost In Space etc...

Pavan · 09-02-2008, 10:17 AM

I would not be surprised if the following is announced this week:

a.) TV Land name change
b.) Original series announcements
c.) Newer off-network series announcements
d.) Moving most classics to TVLand.com
e.) Announcement of a TV Land Classic onDemand/digital channel

We shall see what stirs up.

storrs19 · 09-02-2008, 11:18 AM

What a pathetic joke of a channel. I was just watching some "My Three Sons" episodes taped from TVLand when it was a good channel and some of them still have the commercials telling of the other classic shows being aired on the channel. This channel has just gone kaput like so many others I won't even bother to name as we all know them.

No wonder I wear out a dvd player every six months (and I buy good ones too). I guess I will keep buying my dvd sets (legit and grey area ones) and keep making my own programming on a daily basis. Oh well, I guess I will get off my soapbox now and continue on my way. Thanks for the update Pav and as always keep us informed.

storrs19 · 09-02-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakert

Dont young people today like the old 50s-70s shows?
When I was a youth in the 1970s I loved re-runs of Monkees, Beaver, Father knows best, bewitched, Flinstones, Lost In Space etc...

I will be 37 in a few weeks so I am not sure which demographic I fit in but I really only watch television shows made before 1990 and really like the old black and white ones the best. They are what I watched growing up and still like. I guess I am just not the "norm" that most programmers are trying to appeal to though.

JulieSomoski · 09-02-2008, 12:48 PM

Pavan, I know you told us not to make judgments quite yet, but I can't stand this. TV Land is a little, tiny, pathetic network that does nothing to fit what its viewers want. They are so out of touch with their viewers, and they don't get it - their real hard-core, loyal from the start fans DO NOT WANT original programming! I don't see what's so hard to understand about that. And even worse, their original programming ideas (as mentioned in the article) are nothing but cheap dating shows - like we really need more of those. Don't we already have enough of them on MTV and VH1? What's the point?

So what exactly does this mean? Does it mean that the classics will be gone by the end of the year? Will this network be nothing but repeats of their old reality shows? I can just see the schedule filled with old repeats of Family Foreman and I Pity the Fool

I think this means the near end for shows like The Jeffersons and All in the Family. I bet Andy Griffith, MASH, and Beverly Hillbillies will be the only 3 classic shows to remain on the network. Everything else we can pretty much say goodbye too.

Pavan · 09-02-2008, 12:55 PM

They still will have classics, but not as much as now. They want to fill primetime (8-11p) with 50% of original series, up from the 15% now. Right now it is just Wednesdays at 10...expect maybe at the least a weeknight hour each of originals in the future. More newer series will also join, like the likes of Scrubs and Friends. The classic stuff I'm guessing will be in the morning and afternoons with newer reruns in the early evenings and late nights, and mostly originals in primetime with a mix of reruns (classic and newer). A full picture should be known soon.

JulieSomoski · 09-02-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

They still will have classics, but not as much as now. They want to fill primetime (8-11p) with 50% of original series, up from the 15% now. Right now it is just Wednesdays at 10...expect maybe at the least a weeknight hour each of originals in the future. More newer series will also join, like the likes of Scrubs and Friends. The classic stuff I'm guessing will be in the morning and afternoons with newer reruns in the early evenings and late nights, and mostly originals in primetime with a mix of reruns (classic and newer). A full picture should be known soon.

Still, don't they realize that we don't want reality programming? I wouldn't be surprised to see 8pm-10pm every night of the week reality shows. I think the more successful classics like TAGS and MASH will take over the daytime hours, where shows like The Jeffersons and Good Times, which already air on a limited basis, will be only shown online.

Pavan · 09-02-2008, 01:20 PM

Julie, the original series do better than the reruns in ratings in primetime and lower their median age. They'll still have reruns, but primetime will have less and less in the near future. Not all of their original series are "reality." They have some good ones like TV Land Top 10, Myths & Legends and TV Land Confidential.

JulieSomoski · 09-02-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

Julie, the original series do better than the reruns in ratings in primetime and lower their median age. They'll still have reruns, but primetime will have less and less in the near future. Not all of their original series are "reality." They have some good ones like TV Land Top 10, Myths & Legends and TV Land Confidential.

If they could keep it to the 3 you listed, that wouldn't be bad, because those are the best ones they've had to date. But if they continue to produce new reality series like the ones you said (a bunch of old woman dating younger men???), then their primetime lineup is going to go to trash very soon. And I don't understand why they want to lower their median age so much. Andy Griffith and MASH have always done well for them in primetime, so why push them out now? I'm in their category if baby boomers, and I'd much rather watch the classics.

If they even took one look at their message boards, they would realize that people want to see the classic shows. They say they're trying to reach out to their viewers, but they have no idea what their viewers want.

Pavan · 09-02-2008, 01:42 PM

There have been some good reality series too though, like My First Time (TV stars relive their first gigs), Living in TV Land (following the life of a TV star) and Back to the Grind (classic TV actors do their classic TV job in real life). I even kind of liked Chasing Farrah and I Pity the Fool. They will probably still focus on TV stars, too, but since shows like High School Reunion and other reality boomer shows did well, TV Land is trying them.

The lower the median age, the better ad revenue. It is all about money. 10 years ago or even 5 years ago, Andy Griffith would have been fine in primetime, but now shows like that have viewers that are over 60 in age. TV Land is probably looking for 50 or under now...maybe 45.

JulieSomoski · 09-02-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

There have been some good reality series too though, like My First Time (TV stars relive their first gigs), Living in TV Land (following the life of a TV star) and Back to the Grind (classic TV actors do their classic TV job in real life). I even kind of liked Chasing Farrah and I Pity the Fool. They will probably still focus on TV stars, too, but since shows like High School Reunion and other reality boomer shows did well, TV Land is trying them.

The lower the median age, the better ad revenue. It is all about money. 10 years ago or even 5 years ago, Andy Griffith would have been fine in primetime, but now shows like that have viewers that are over 60 in age. TV Land is probably looking for 50 or under now...maybe 45.

I know money is what's important, but TV Land started out as an all-classic channel, and now seem to be trying to be an all-reality channel. It's disappointing for the fans that watched it since 1996.

Do you really think a name-change will be announced? I think if they want to move ahead with more reality in primetime and such, they should change their name, just to let viewers know they're not the same network they were 10 years ago. It would be the last straw for me and this network, but I think it's in store.

Pavan · 09-02-2008, 02:05 PM

Julie, it doesn't say an all-reality channel, though. It says 50% of PRIMETIME will be originals. I wouldn't be surprised if they changed their name, like I mentioned before. However to me the TV Land name would still work, the name "TV Land" doesn't mention anything classic TV in its name, so it is universal. Now if the name of the channel was "Classic TV," then they would have to change their name. All TV channels change their focus at some point, I guess, to grab ratings & more ad revenue and TV Land's ratings have been not too good for their reruns for a while now.

09-02-2008, 01:12 AM	#1
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	The Major TV Land Announcement? This could be the major TV Land announcement that people have been telling me that TV Land announced on their message boards that will happen soon. We'll have more on it when the press release comes out, so don't make any judgments until they announce, but it seems 50% of their programming will be originals soon: From WSJ: Viacom Inc.'s TV Land cable network is set to announce a new programming strategy this week -- scaling back its traditional emphasis on nostalgia in pursuit of younger viewers. The new programming plan, which the network plans to present to advertisers this week, will more than triple the number of hours of original programming on TV Land's prime-time schedule. By the end of 2009, TV Land -- which has for years served baby boomers a diet heavy with shows from their youth -- wants to fill half its prime-time lineup with original programming, up from about 15% today and 4% in 2007. Aimed primarily at people in their mid-40s -- the younger end of the boomer spectrum, which spans those born from 1946 through 1964 -- the new slate includes reality shows like "The Cougar," in which a fortysomething woman picks among younger bachelors, and series pilots like "First Love/Second Chance," which reunites long-lost lovers. The channel's also importing reruns of more recent shows, like the '90s-era "Friends." And it is exploring creating its own sitcom. Viacom's investment in the new programming comes as TV Land has put in a robust performance in a challenging advertising climate. Viacom posted disappointing U.S. ad-revenue growth of only 1% in the second quarter. But TV Land's ad revenue grew faster than that of younger-skewing Viacom channels like MTV, in part, the company says, because TV Land has benefited from viewers shifting to cable networks from broadcast TV. When it started in 1996, TV Land found quick success as a 24-hour network dedicated entirely to TV throwbacks like "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "MAS*H." But in recent years, old reruns have become old hat. The entirety of "The Andy Griffith Show" is available on DVD; "The A-Team" streams free on hulu.com. And classic-TV viewers have been getting older, pushing the median age of TV Land watchers in prime-time above 55 in 2007, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's relatively high even for a network targeting baby boomers. The new strategy, approved by Viacom brass in a series of long-range planning meetings earlier this summer, is intended to help the channel expand its audience, lower its viewers' median age by increasing the number of shows that attract people in their mid-40s, and pursue new advertisers that will pay higher prices for original fare. "Putting more original television on a channel dedicated to classic television is a risk in some ways," says Doug Herzog, president of MTV Networks Entertainment Group, which includes TV Land. "But the idea is to bring new people into the tent." With the new series, Jeff Lucas, who oversees TV Land's ad sales, says he's targeting companies like videogame publishers, fast-food restaurants and movie studios, which are a contrast to some of the low-cost advertisers TV Land has attracted in the past. In recent years, those have included companies that sell mobility scooters often used by senior citizens. In 2007, MTV, which airs more original content and targets a younger audience than TV Land, had 24-hour average ad rates per viewer more than four times TV Land's, according to estimates in a report from SNL Kagan last month. TV Land had gross advertising revenue of about $213 million in 2007, according to Derek Baine, a senior analyst at SNL Kagan. Viacom's media networks had a total of nearly $4.7 billion in ad revenue in 2007. Slowing ad growth at channels with younger audiences didn't affect the decision to invest in TV Land, says Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman. "The move to TV Land is not because we think one [demographic] is going down. It's an opportunity to do more," he says. The expansion of original programming is part of a broader Viacom strategy to invest in smaller brands that have "a lot of room to grow," he adds. "We go through economic cycles -- you get slowdowns and accelerations. This is more long-range thinking," Mr. Dauman says. TV Land's president, Larry W. Jones, has pushed to add more original series for a few years. Adding original hours has already helped lower the channel's primetime median age slightly in 2008, according to Nielsen. One big focus of the new original shows will be dating and romance. ("Your libido doesn't leave you after 35," says Mr. Herzog of MTV Networks' entertainment group.) Though most boomers still fit in the audience of 25- to 54-year-olds that TV Land sells to advertisers, the network now plans to avoid the moniker altogether. "Boomers don't like to be called 'boomers,'" says Mr. Herzog.
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09-02-2008, 02:04 AM	#2
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I can see where the older TV series wouldn't be as popular, but that was the whole idea behind this station! What makes them think that people in their 40's want to watch "original" programming? I don't. I'd rather watch the classics! Andrea
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09-02-2008, 09:03 AM	#3
DigitalBean05 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 16, 2008 Posts: 5	My parents fit this age range, and they complain and roll their eyes at every original program that TV Land produces. They'd much rather watch "Bonanza" or "Andy Griffith." I find the current programming ridiculous myself. None of their original programming is appealing. They should stick with the classics.
	Last edited by DigitalBean05; 09-02-2008 at 09:30 AM.

09-02-2008, 11:18 AM	#6
storrs19 B&W TV Lover Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 07, 2003 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 742	What a pathetic joke of a channel. I was just watching some "My Three Sons" episodes taped from TVLand when it was a good channel and some of them still have the commercials telling of the other classic shows being aired on the channel. This channel has just gone kaput like so many others I won't even bother to name as we all know them. No wonder I wear out a dvd player every six months (and I buy good ones too). I guess I will keep buying my dvd sets (legit and grey area ones) and keep making my own programming on a daily basis. Oh well, I guess I will get off my soapbox now and continue on my way. Thanks for the update Pav and as always keep us informed.
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09-02-2008, 12:48 PM	#8
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	Pavan, I know you told us not to make judgments quite yet, but I can't stand this. TV Land is a little, tiny, pathetic network that does nothing to fit what its viewers want. They are so out of touch with their viewers, and they don't get it - their real hard-core, loyal from the start fans DO NOT WANT original programming! I don't see what's so hard to understand about that. And even worse, their original programming ideas (as mentioned in the article) are nothing but cheap dating shows - like we really need more of those. Don't we already have enough of them on MTV and VH1? What's the point? So what exactly does this mean? Does it mean that the classics will be gone by the end of the year? Will this network be nothing but repeats of their old reality shows? I can just see the schedule filled with old repeats of Family Foreman and I Pity the Fool I think this means the near end for shows like The Jeffersons and All in the Family. I bet Andy Griffith, MASH, and Beverly Hillbillies will be the only 3 classic shows to remain on the network. Everything else we can pretty much say goodbye too.
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09-02-2008, 09:25 AM	#4
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	Dont young people today like the old 50s-70s shows? When I was a youth in the 1970s I loved re-runs of Monkees, Beaver, Father knows best, bewitched, Flinstones, Lost In Space etc...

09-02-2008, 10:17 AM	#5
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	I would not be surprised if the following is announced this week: a.) TV Land name change b.) Original series announcements c.) Newer off-network series announcements d.) Moving most classics to TVLand.com e.) Announcement of a TV Land Classic onDemand/digital channel We shall see what stirs up.

09-02-2008, 12:55 PM	#9
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	They still will have classics, but not as much as now. They want to fill primetime (8-11p) with 50% of original series, up from the 15% now. Right now it is just Wednesdays at 10...expect maybe at the least a weeknight hour each of originals in the future. More newer series will also join, like the likes of Scrubs and Friends. The classic stuff I'm guessing will be in the morning and afternoons with newer reruns in the early evenings and late nights, and mostly originals in primetime with a mix of reruns (classic and newer). A full picture should be known soon.

09-02-2008, 01:20 PM	#11
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	Julie, the original series do better than the reruns in ratings in primetime and lower their median age. They'll still have reruns, but primetime will have less and less in the near future. Not all of their original series are "reality." They have some good ones like TV Land Top 10, Myths & Legends and TV Land Confidential.

09-02-2008, 01:42 PM	#13
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	There have been some good reality series too though, like My First Time (TV stars relive their first gigs), Living in TV Land (following the life of a TV star) and Back to the Grind (classic TV actors do their classic TV job in real life). I even kind of liked Chasing Farrah and I Pity the Fool. They will probably still focus on TV stars, too, but since shows like High School Reunion and other reality boomer shows did well, TV Land is trying them. The lower the median age, the better ad revenue. It is all about money. 10 years ago or even 5 years ago, Andy Griffith would have been fine in primetime, but now shows like that have viewers that are over 60 in age. TV Land is probably looking for 50 or under now...maybe 45.

09-02-2008, 02:05 PM	#15
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	Julie, it doesn't say an all-reality channel, though. It says 50% of PRIMETIME will be originals. I wouldn't be surprised if they changed their name, like I mentioned before. However to me the TV Land name would still work, the name "TV Land" doesn't mention anything classic TV in its name, so it is universal. Now if the name of the channel was "Classic TV," then they would have to change their name. All TV channels change their focus at some point, I guess, to grab ratings & more ad revenue and TV Land's ratings have been not too good for their reruns for a while now.