I wish they would re-run The O.C. in a 2nd time period when it returns since they put it in a highly competitive timeslot.

If they were smart, they would move Joe Millionaire to Tuesday at 8 and move The O.C. to 8 Monday. The O.C. has an established audience. There is little opposition in the target demographic Mondays 8-9 and it would be the ideal lead-in for Skin.

Fortunately, I'm neither.

Let's see... I recorded the original broadcasts, re-watched the tapes, made the switch to TNT, watched every movie multiple times, watched the entire run three or four times on sci-fi, watched my season 1 and 2 DVDs twice already, etc. I even remember PTEN. Now I'm showing them to brand new viewers here at work once a week. If there's an episode from the entire run that I've seen fewer than 5 times (I've seen most episodes probably 10-15 times), I'll eat my DVDs. I've don't even mind watching the "good" episodes (to me even the worst of the lot achieve a "good" rating as a baseline and then get rated from "good" on up to "stellar" accordingly). And you're right, season 3 of Babylon 5 is probably the finest season of television to ever air.

So, I think I may be excused for not watching the discs and choosing a brand new show to watch instead (Angel and Buffy). Not that it hasn't been killing me to see the box just sitting there on the shelf, but it's a decision I'll have to live with (truth be told, I'd watch season 3 and then get back to Angel and Buffy but my wife has seen B5 even more than me and would rather see something new). If I'm wrong, the administrators are free to deal with me as they think is appropriate.

I hope I've made my case

I am paying for NBC On-Demand. I'm just sending my money to DirecTV. With my DirecTiVo I'm also receiving ABC On-Demand, CBS On-Demand, Fox On-Demand, Discovery On-Demand, and so on a couple more hundred times.

one of the few good ideas to arise was been on the WB, with Smallville Beginnings. More nets should take this lead. Once a show slowly builds up some nice buzz (on the net, etc), start over with season one on another night/time. Too many times I've invested in watching a show to have it canceled, so I dont' give that many new ones a chance. Then when the do survive, I either say 'forget it, it's too deep in" or jump on 2 seasons in. Alias would be a good one to do this with. I guess they see it as competition for the DVD market though...

Is this a shocker to anyone.Why would anyone want to watch basically the same re-hashed situation comedies and reality shows that copy each other?Network tv is secondary entertainment at best(sports is the only thing I watch on a reg. basis).The one question remains-If they know that no one watches then why would they not try and change programming.

Well I'm 33 and I'm sitting at my computer while playing NCAA 2004 at the same time. Network TV sucks.

it seems like i've been watching more network tv this year over last year, but I guess I'm in the minority.

My feelings exactly. It's funny when someone at work says "Have you seen that commercial...." because the answer for the last year is "no." I have to MAKE AN EFFORT now to watch a commercial because I instinctively forward any show I'm watching. In fact I can't seem to watch live TV anymore. I even record sporting events, and begin watching them a little more than 2/3 in, in order to finish up on time.

The only show I still watch on network TV is Angel. Everything else is crap. Too much Joe Millionaire/Skin/bachelor/survivor garbage. I think that stuff appeals more to women, who knows, but I find it really boring.

What I find interesting is that there is one broadcast network--the WB Network--that is actually doing quite well.

Do they have big Neilsen numbers? Of course not. But note that WB has done well with shows like Angel, Charmed, Smallville, Gilmore Girls, and a few others, shows that have very loyal audiences with extremely lucrative advertiser profiles.

Maybe because the WB Network is under less pressure to succeed as soon as possible for each show, the result is that the network is willing to give these shows time to build up storylines and find an audience. After all, most of the best episodes of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer was when the show was on the WB Network.

In my opinion, Bill Carter's article points out the real need for the Big Four networks to carefully nurture each new show so it has time to build up storylines and to find the show's audience. After all, one of the NBC's most acclaimed shows ever--Hill Street Blues--took nearly three seasons to finally become a highly successful show, something that the networks of today would NEVER do.

Its all those %$#@ home decoration shows my wife demands that I let her watch or else she will withhold certain privileges...

AARRGGHH!!!!!

MEJHarrison, Continue doing the Great Maker's work, spreading the word of Valen to coworkers and friends. My apologies for jumping the gun, but I'm a bit sensitive to aliens lately. At work, we just hired a "guy" who doesn't like Big Trouble in Little China, The A-Team, or nachos. Needless to say, I have some red dust stashed in my desk in case "he" gets too close.

On topic, I love what the WB has been doing. Yes, I'm tired of the same teen crap over and over, but they've shown great patience with their best shows. I love how they came out at the beginning of last season and gave Everwood full backing plus EasyView. They know quality and stick with it.

das

I'm 33 and I haven't wateched Regular or Cable TV in house since last year. I have watched it at work but that's it. I've been watching DVD's and having a blast on my Cable Internet.

I don't miss tv. Besides, the "Cute white kid" shows like Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Friends, and other Wonderbread shows never did anything for me.

I havent watched network TV for a long period of time for years now....long before i even owned a DVD player.

I'd catch "Futurama" and "The Simpsons" on sundays and maybe Law & Order if i got into the particular show...but most of the time i watch the "educational" channels (ya know...the 35,000 Discovery channels)

ditto. I realized just how spoiled I was when I sat down to watch CSI last night at 9:00. When I realized I was actually watching it live and couldn't FF through the commercials, I just watched South Park from Wednesday, then when that was over, back to CSI without commercials- I'm so spoiled....

-jason

You guys have brought it up, but I'm taking it a step further.

Don't you think what the Networks should be worried about isn't if people are watching or not, but that Tivo is getting so popular? This is where they make all their money, on advertising (DUH).

I recently (about 4 months ago) got Tivo. It took a while to convince my wife fhat the $12.95 was worth it, and she finally caved. I've heard from a lot of friends that it will "change your life" and i always just laughed at that. But, my god, they're right. Its so true. I never watch commercials anymore. A show is only 45 minutes long now. I start watching stuff 15 minutes after the start time. It's awesome.

Last night for example. I Tivo'd Survivor. I played with my daughter and then put her to bed at 8:30. I sat down and watched Survivor "Commercial Free" and then when that was done, watched ER. Ended at 10pm like it normally would had I been watching live, but I got extra time to do other things instead of watch commercials.

I think Tivo is going to turn into the major problems these networks have to worry about. It's not even main stream yet (in my opinion). Just wait till everyone sees the light.

My dad hardly watches TV at all, but he's getting Tivo just because he can't stand commercials.

Same here. I've found that I can watch a football game in less than an hour.

Out of curiosity, why are you guys hanging out in the TV Forum if you never watch tv?

I guess I pick up the slack for all of you then, as I watch about 20 hours of network tv a week. I think theres lots of good stuff out there.

Also don't forget the pull of the other 100 channels that I can watch. Since I have gotten digital cable my viewing habits have really changed. I watch a lot of Tech TV and the discovery mega channels, as well as some Speed TV, ESPN, and oddly enough some of the Fine Living network. I think as many of the cable stations begin to focus on a smaller group of people the big guys are going to lose out. I know when the NFL channel comes this November if they do it right some of my viewing will go there.

Similar discussion here

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=325587

I can't think of anything I really "watch" on the big networks. My favorite programs are....

Cowboy Bebop (Cartoon Network)
Iron Chef (Food Network)
Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (Spike TV)
Stripperella (Spike TV)
Howard Stern (E Network)
South Park (Comedy Central)
"Classic" Man Show (Comedy Central)

The rest of my programming is pretty much sports programming and those are also on cable outlets. Those are my "favorites" but you see my point.

It seems like the Networks ( by that I mean the big ones; CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox) really don't have alot going for them these days. Everything seems like a Friends clone or reality television. Which is part of the problem. Someone comes up with a good idea and they run it into the ground. I don't want to see ten sitcoms about someone and their gay friends or a supermodel, ex Navy SEAL, and a fat guy eating bugs on an island. And most of these programs are terrible.

Give me something different and GOOD and I'll gladly watch it. But untill then no thanks.

I remember reading an article a few years ago that said that networks were trying to get more young male viewers, but didn't know how. They only thing they knew we watched for certain was sports and "The Simpsons."

Some of us are watching much less network TV, because it is horrible. I still watch TV, lots of sports and cable shows. The only network shows I watch are Angel and the Simpsons.

Im curious what you think makes up 20 good hours of network TV...

Letterman?

I know this has already been said, but...I've watched many of the new shows this year. I just threw them in the TiVo and forgot about it. But I haven't continued watching any of them. They're all garbage, IMHO. The networks haven't given me a reason to watch. And the tried-and-true shows go downhill.

There's nothing original on the networks right now, and that's the reason I don't watch. I've turned to other shows that have my interest, and to my DVD collection.

Give me some compelling programming to watch, and I might come back.