Do TV networks even make sense anymore? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

retrofan05 · 09-13-2015, 01:50 PM

With Netflix and Hulu and so many network apps, it seems almost silly that broadcast TV still exists, with various shows airing at specific times. It's so much more convenient to simply click on an app and select the show and episode you want to watch. How much longer can broadcast TV really last?

LUNCH · 09-13-2015, 03:18 PM

Yeah it still makes sense to have TV channels,but not the way it's become,100's of channels and maybe 3 or 4 good ones. Personally I much prefer watching TV the old fashioned way,on a good TV channel with a real TV set,and I think many other people also do. That's not going out of style. I do not want to watch anything off of a computer or think of some application etc. just to watch television.The real problem of course is most TV channels and modern television are terrible.

tlc38tlc38 · 09-13-2015, 03:37 PM

^Agree 100% with LUNCH!

retrofan05 · 09-13-2015, 03:55 PM

In some ways, watching TV on apps is more old fashioned, because the shows are full and unedited and there are very limited commercials. Hulu is becoming one of my favorites. There are so many classic TV shows, many with the entire series available at the click of a button. With Apple TV, I am able to watch on my TV instead of the computer.

Rewinder · 09-13-2015, 05:33 PM

the problem with Hulu and Netflix you half to pay to watch your favorite tv shows but having a converter box to watch tv is free.

Regulus · 09-13-2015, 11:26 PM

"Appointment TV" is all but dead. Sporting Events is one of the exceptions, although I hear how fans will use DVRs to record an event, then an hour later they'll begin to watch the game, using the DVR's ability to skip commercials and "Intercept" the event in time to see who wins on "live" TV. As for me, I like the convenience of watching something on my own terms, with nobody butting in to ruin my viewing. I also like the fact that I have physical ownership of my collection, so I need not worry about getting a mnessage that due to some ownership /copyright issues a program has been taken off the "cloud" (even though when this happens a viewer who "purchased" that program gets a refund). No fees, no intrusions. It's TV the way I like it!

Mace Dolex · 09-13-2015, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rewinder

the problem with Hulu and Netflix you half to pay to watch your favorite tv shows but having a converter box to watch tv is free.

I was thinking of that reason too, it sort of defeats the purpose of watching whatever you want if you're still paying for it, might as well just stick with cable and DVD's.

JSP · 09-14-2015, 06:55 AM

I have to admit, ever since I got Buzzr over the airwaves here in Austin, I haven't watched Netflix very much. I'm considering dropping it. Old game shows are way more interesting to me.

Netflix just doesn't have enough classic Television on it anyway. Maybe Hulu is better in that regard.

I would be fine still watching Network TV if they put out enough stuff worth watching.

Also, I don't have cable and I don't miss it. If Network TV is dying, then cable is in some real trouble. Who wants to pay $50-plus per month for a bunch of channels they don't even want?

Yong Fang · 09-14-2015, 10:05 AM

I was reading a bit about the new offerings for the 2015-16 year, and it is sad. Except for the Muppets, there is nothing that appeals to me whatsoever. Most new stuff I like now comes from outside the Big Four networks and has been for several years.

It used to be up until 2000 or so that network TV pretty much had a big monopoly. There was cable, but it was small time next to the networks. Not anymore.

mets82 · 09-14-2015, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUNCH

Yeah it still makes sense to have TV channels,but not the way it's become,100's of channels and maybe 3 or 4 good ones. Personally I much prefer watching TV the old fashioned way,on a good TV channel with a real TV set,and I think many other people also do. That's not going out of style. I do not want to watch anything off of a computer or think of some application etc. just to watch television.The real problem of course is most TV channels and modern television are terrible.

I, too, like watching tv the old fashioned way. I must say that the way tv is presented now is awful. Off the clock programming, edited scenes, end credit crunch.

All you have to know is something I saw today. An episode of Family Matters had a 41 minute for it. Now if an episode is 21/22 mins. long, that means that literally HALF the time was devoted to commericals. The TV networks gave up. They'd rather succumb to Hulu and Netflix than actually listen to REAL PEOPLE!! Yeah, I'm angry about it.

bgva · 09-14-2015, 07:26 PM

I think it's like the newspaper...the networks will still exist, but in a more limited form. You're still going to have people like my 84-year-old grandmother who want to watch, say...Scandal, every Thursday at 9. For people like her, the networks won't go away for good.

However, with DVR, streaming and mobile viewing being the future, networks will have to find a way to adapt. I wouldn't mind seeing about 75% of the cable networks going bye bye.

That said, I love reading old TV listings, and I just recently found out that my local paper dropped its local guide about five or six years ago. I was kinda bummed to see that modern technology has kinda eliminated the need.

JSP · 09-15-2015, 06:58 AM

I dropped my Netflix because I actually watch live TV on the networks. I don't have cable and I'm so old school I actually have rabbit ears for my TV.

However I get about 20 channels over the air locally here in Austin, so there really isn't a need to get cable.

I might look into getting Hulu if they have a lot of retro shows, but I found Netflix just wasn't my style. I don't need to see "Wet Hot American Summer".

I'm 34 years old and I feel like a freak for rejecting Netflix and embracing old school network TV, but I guess that's just the kind of person I am.

MrCleveland · 09-15-2015, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

I was reading a bit about the new offerings for the 2015-16 year, and it is sad. Except for the Muppets, there is nothing that appeals to me whatsoever. Most new stuff I like now comes from outside the Big Four networks and has been for several years.

It used to be up until 2000 or so that network TV pretty much had a big monopoly. There was cable, but it was small time next to the networks. Not anymore.

This is true...

I haven't been interested in today's sitcoms since 2000. Today, TV is only in it for the money. Cable seemed to have went through the same scenario...when I was growing-up in the 90's, every station had an identity...MTV still played music (They say The Real World helped MTV, but I think Beavis and Butt-head did), ESPN had sports than SportsCenter, USA was unique because they played reruns of shows (I wish there's a broadcast station that's like that rather than just for one genre), The Family Channel was similar to USA (Though I can care less with the owners Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson), TBS had movies, cartoons, and sitcoms, VH1 played older videos, A&E had British Shows (or so I heard), Bravo was like A&E, AMC had classic films (they still do, but TCM shows more), The Weather Channel was...weather NOT things weather-related, Nickelodeon had balance then with Nicktoons and syndicated shows (I had a dream about Doug last night where he didn't make it to his graduation ceremony and shut the whole world around him and everyone in Bluffington misses Doug), The Disney Channel showed Disney-related shows...and a few TV specials and concerts, Comedy Central had MST3K and stand-up (this was the pre-South Park era), TNT showed older cartoons and films, The Learning Channel showed things we can learn about, Sci-Fi Channel was what it name meant, and Cartoon Network had a balance of first-run and older shows too....

Now with stations being cash-cows...this is how the stations are...

MTV, more like NMTV (No Music television), ESPN, more like ESPNews, USA...I wish they'd bring back older shows, Whatever Family Channel...as long as Robertson is alive, It's STILL "Family" Channel, TBS...shows comedies and films...that's it, VH1 sold-out, A&E should just be called E but there's another station called that, Bravo dumbed-down, AMC has less class, The Weather Channel plays more than weather, Nickelodeon is basically The Spongebob Network, The Disney Channel is more like The "Disney Channel" (TCM plays more Disney than this station), Comedy Central has South Park so they get a pass, TNT is now all drama, The Learning Channel should be TRC The Reality Channel, Sci-Fi is now SyFy and shows less Science Fiction, and Cartoon Network has imbalance. Why?

BECAUSE OF $$$$$

The cash-cows of the last 15 years was reality shows, Spongebob, Scooby-Doo, and The Simpsons! The Almighty Dollar sure brought hindrance to many good quality stations!

Patty Duke · 09-15-2015, 10:56 AM

You have to consider all the people that can't watch shows online. I wish we had unlimited but I'm told it'll never happen out here and there are lots of people like us. We either have to subscribe to Dish or Direct TV or watch DVD's. Those are the only options.

I have always said if we could get something like Me-TV or could watch online I'd pull the plug and never look back.

We only watch a couple of the channels we get and some of the so called family channels are of no interest to us because the shows are not in my humble opinion really family friendly. My mother has said numerous times that if Walt Disney knew how Disney has changed he'd roll over in his grave.

mets82 · 09-15-2015, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

I dropped my Netflix because I actually watch live TV on the networks. I don't have cable and I'm so old school I actually have rabbit ears for my TV.

However I get about 20 channels over the air locally here in Austin, so there really isn't a need to get cable.

I might look into getting Hulu if they have a lot of retro shows, but I found Netflix just wasn't my style. I don't need to see "Wet Hot American Summer".

I'm 34 years old and I feel like a freak for rejecting Netflix and embracing old school network TV, but I guess that's just the kind of person I am.

I'm the same way. I'm 33 and love old school network tv. I guess its because I'm so used to it, how can I change?

09-13-2015, 01:50 PM	#1
retrofan05 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,111	Do TV networks even make sense anymore? With Netflix and Hulu and so many network apps, it seems almost silly that broadcast TV still exists, with various shows airing at specific times. It's so much more convenient to simply click on an app and select the show and episode you want to watch. How much longer can broadcast TV really last?

09-13-2015, 03:18 PM	#2
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	Yeah it still makes sense to have TV channels,but not the way it's become,100's of channels and maybe 3 or 4 good ones. Personally I much prefer watching TV the old fashioned way,on a good TV channel with a real TV set,and I think many other people also do. That's not going out of style. I do not want to watch anything off of a computer or think of some application etc. just to watch television.The real problem of course is most TV channels and modern television are terrible.
	Last edited by LUNCH; 09-13-2015 at 03:35 PM.

09-13-2015, 03:37 PM	#3
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,259	^Agree 100% with LUNCH!
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

09-13-2015, 11:26 PM	#6
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	"Appointment TV" is all but dead. Sporting Events is one of the exceptions, although I hear how fans will use DVRs to record an event, then an hour later they'll begin to watch the game, using the DVR's ability to skip commercials and "Intercept" the event in time to see who wins on "live" TV. As for me, I like the convenience of watching something on my own terms, with nobody butting in to ruin my viewing. I also like the fact that I have physical ownership of my collection, so I need not worry about getting a mnessage that due to some ownership /copyright issues a program has been taken off the "cloud" (even though when this happens a viewer who "purchased" that program gets a refund). No fees, no intrusions. It's TV the way I like it!
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

09-15-2015, 10:56 AM	#14
Patty Duke Good night, John Boy Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 09, 2013 Location: The Land of Milk and Honey Posts: 788	You have to consider all the people that can't watch shows online. I wish we had unlimited but I'm told it'll never happen out here and there are lots of people like us. We either have to subscribe to Dish or Direct TV or watch DVD's. Those are the only options. I have always said if we could get something like Me-TV or could watch online I'd pull the plug and never look back. We only watch a couple of the channels we get and some of the so called family channels are of no interest to us because the shows are not in my humble opinion really family friendly. My mother has said numerous times that if Walt Disney knew how Disney has changed he'd roll over in his grave.
	__________________ Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

09-13-2015, 03:55 PM	#4
retrofan05 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,111	In some ways, watching TV on apps is more old fashioned, because the shows are full and unedited and there are very limited commercials. Hulu is becoming one of my favorites. There are so many classic TV shows, many with the entire series available at the click of a button. With Apple TV, I am able to watch on my TV instead of the computer.

09-13-2015, 05:33 PM	#5
Rewinder A former member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 180	the problem with Hulu and Netflix you half to pay to watch your favorite tv shows but having a converter box to watch tv is free.

09-14-2015, 06:55 AM	#8
JSP Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 19, 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,735	I have to admit, ever since I got Buzzr over the airwaves here in Austin, I haven't watched Netflix very much. I'm considering dropping it. Old game shows are way more interesting to me. Netflix just doesn't have enough classic Television on it anyway. Maybe Hulu is better in that regard. I would be fine still watching Network TV if they put out enough stuff worth watching. Also, I don't have cable and I don't miss it. If Network TV is dying, then cable is in some real trouble. Who wants to pay $50-plus per month for a bunch of channels they don't even want?

09-14-2015, 10:05 AM	#9
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	I was reading a bit about the new offerings for the 2015-16 year, and it is sad. Except for the Muppets, there is nothing that appeals to me whatsoever. Most new stuff I like now comes from outside the Big Four networks and has been for several years. It used to be up until 2000 or so that network TV pretty much had a big monopoly. There was cable, but it was small time next to the networks. Not anymore.

09-14-2015, 07:26 PM	#11
bgva Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 10, 2015 Location: VA Posts: 413	I think it's like the newspaper...the networks will still exist, but in a more limited form. You're still going to have people like my 84-year-old grandmother who want to watch, say...Scandal, every Thursday at 9. For people like her, the networks won't go away for good. However, with DVR, streaming and mobile viewing being the future, networks will have to find a way to adapt. I wouldn't mind seeing about 75% of the cable networks going bye bye. That said, I love reading old TV listings, and I just recently found out that my local paper dropped its local guide about five or six years ago. I was kinda bummed to see that modern technology has kinda eliminated the need.

09-15-2015, 06:58 AM	#12
JSP Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 19, 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,735	I dropped my Netflix because I actually watch live TV on the networks. I don't have cable and I'm so old school I actually have rabbit ears for my TV. However I get about 20 channels over the air locally here in Austin, so there really isn't a need to get cable. I might look into getting Hulu if they have a lot of retro shows, but I found Netflix just wasn't my style. I don't need to see "Wet Hot American Summer". I'm 34 years old and I feel like a freak for rejecting Netflix and embracing old school network TV, but I guess that's just the kind of person I am.