Why It Seems Like There's Less to Watch
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
by Terry Mitchell
http://commenterry.blogs.com
Although we have many more TV channels now than the three or four we used to have, it seems like there's less to watch now that there was back then. And I don't think it's just my imagination.
Before the days of cable and satellite TV, there was enough air time only for the best shows, actors, writers, producers, etc. Only the top-of-the-line stuff made it to the air. The emphasis had to be on quality, not quantity. So, while we didn't have very many choices, most of them were pretty darn good.
Now contrast that to what we have today. We have hours and hours of airtime that has to be filled with something. The emphasis has now switched to quantity. Therefore, standards have necessarily had to be lowered. It seems that just about anybody and everybody has his or her own reality show or talk show. More expensive – and more skillfully-produced – dramas and comedies are now the exception and not the rule. This Article has been viewed 196 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)"The emphasis had to be on quality, not quantity."*** That's right Terry. And the same can be said about many things - like sports and music. More teams and more "recording artist," doesn't make for better athletic competition or songwriting."Therefore, we get tons of different shows with lots of different faces – that are pretty much the same. "*** Exactly! I'm a channel surfer because very few shows are quality enough for me to wait patiently when they break for commercials. The audacity of television producers to give us crap for viewing and then bombarding us with advertising at every opportunity to boot. Yeah, like I'm going to sit there and wait through 5 minutes of commercials to view 4 minutes of a low class show, which will be followed by 5 more minutes of commercials, and so on - with many of the commercials being the same ones we just saw during the last break.Not for me! If they can't give me better viewing with fewer ads, then I'm more apt to shut and keep the telly off.Kenny, thanks for you input. I'm a channel surfer for the same reason you are. Actually, I'm now spending a lot less time in front of the teevee and a lot more time on the Internet.
OK I have a question then why are you still watching it? We haven't had TV since 1985.... we went to the neighbors to watch the Gulf War. We occasionally see some TV when traveling and most of it is a travesty. We miss some of the animal National Geographic things. BUT we now have time to talk to each other, read and sometimes read to each other - go for drives after dinner and see the newborn baby calves, deer and elk..... AND no bill for cable each month. A thought provoking piece you have written Terry.Good question, Marijo! I guess watch mostly out of habit. However, like I told Kenny, I'm now spending a lot less time in front of the teevee and a lot more time on the Internet.Because I'm not a religious zealot, nor do I care to watch calf's being born!! I'd rather watch grass grow. I don't watch much T.V. anyway, but when I do I'd take television over those two banal things you mentioned any day.Besides, there are shows I do like. Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, Comedy Central, American Justice, etc. I said. "I'm a channel surfer because very FEW shows are quality enough for me to wait patiently for when they break for commercials." I didn't say ALL shows. However, I have to pay for ALL shows even though I watch a few.I once called Comcast and asked why I had to pay for shows I can't or will never watch, ie; Foreign channels, Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, and the like. I told the woman it would be like walking into Shaw's, handing them a one hundred dollar bill, and letting them pick my food for me. "Why would I pay for food I don't like or wouldn't eat, just as I wonder why I have to pay for channels I never asked for or choose to watch?"However, at $7.59 a month for basic, it's a better deal than becoming an out-of-touch nerd!
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