Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
01-13-10 | 02:09 AM
#451
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Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
This statement shows a severe lack of understanding on how ratings work (and how that turns into ad revenue for stations).
The network CANNOT stand behind a show that causes their top market news affiliates to lose money. Without the affiliates, there IS no network. And a few of the biggest were about to dump Leno which is very bad for business all around.
I'm a producer for a daytime talk show and the lead-in is very important to our daily numbers. We actively try to hold those viewers every day, and it has nothing to do with the quality of our show (we've done great shows with poor ratings and shitty shows with outstanding ratings). It's about enforcing habits for the majority of your viewers. If you can hold them from one show to the next, you have a good chance of keeping them. The fact is that if there just weren't any viewers watching Leno, there is little the affiliates can do to pull viewers across the dial.
That said, I'm enjoying this clusterfuck as I'd rather see anything in that slot than 5 nights of shitty "comedy" done on the cheap.
The network CANNOT stand behind a show that causes their top market news affiliates to lose money. Without the affiliates, there IS no network. And a few of the biggest were about to dump Leno which is very bad for business all around.
I'm a producer for a daytime talk show and the lead-in is very important to our daily numbers. We actively try to hold those viewers every day, and it has nothing to do with the quality of our show (we've done great shows with poor ratings and shitty shows with outstanding ratings). It's about enforcing habits for the majority of your viewers. If you can hold them from one show to the next, you have a good chance of keeping them. The fact is that if there just weren't any viewers watching Leno, there is little the affiliates can do to pull viewers across the dial.
That said, I'm enjoying this clusterfuck as I'd rather see anything in that slot than 5 nights of shitty "comedy" done on the cheap.
01-13-10 | 02:14 AM
#452
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Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
Wow...looks like all the other late night hosts have been holding back on the Leno-bashing for years and decided that now was the perfect time to unload.
I haven't watched any of the late night shows in a long, long time (I think the last time I watched more than a couple minutes of any of them was Kimmel's first few shows) but I may have to watch the next few days for the Leno-bashing, if nothing else. The Kimmel clips we particularly funny (and brutal).
I haven't watched any of the late night shows in a long, long time (I think the last time I watched more than a couple minutes of any of them was Kimmel's first few shows) but I may have to watch the next few days for the Leno-bashing, if nothing else. The Kimmel clips we particularly funny (and brutal).
01-13-10 | 02:20 AM
#453
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
01-13-10 | 02:23 AM
#455
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
True, but NBC would make a couple hundred million dollars a year off of the Jay Leno Show at 10pm, so to lose all of that money so that the affiliates ratings improve for a half hour news program seems a little ridiculous. Considering how poorly most of NBC's schedule does, that money would make a huge difference. I imagine what was going on behind all of this was lots of affiliates were probably going to drop Leno and once one affiliate does that many more will follow and NBC probably saw that as more of a problem.
2) Many of the affiliates were going to drop the Leno show as it was hurting their ratings
3) If the affiliates are suffering and go under, how are people going to watch NBC? As has already been stated, the affiliates are NBC.
01-13-10 | 02:49 AM
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Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
We're talking about 1 30 minute news program. Last season for the 10pm slot NBC was averaging something like a 2 in 18-49 demo, where Leno is averaging like a 1.4. That is not enough for all of those affiliates to go under.
There must a large number of affiliates not owned by NBC that were threatening to drop him, because business wise for NBC keeping Leno at 10pm was making them a ton of money. Here's an article from the beginning of the season about how if Leno averaged a 1.5 NBC would make $300 million.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/09/22...5-rating/28131
01-13-10 | 07:14 AM
#458
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
NBC owns 10 stations out of 200+ TV markets.
01-13-10 | 07:15 AM
#459
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
I don't think anything like that is guaranteed. It will be interesting to see how many people stop watching Jay after this.
01-13-10 | 08:52 AM
#460
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
This whole thing is such a mess. Letterman must be enjoying this the most out of anyone, though. It took 17 years but he is now totally vindicated.
01-13-10 | 09:16 AM
#461
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Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
That should be vindication enough, why he would want to see two careers and a network suffer 17 years later? Sounds just like he is a grumpy old crone. Not to mention Zucker wasn't in charge in 1992, wasn't it Brandon Tartikoff? Besides, maybe Dave would have tanked on the Tonight Show, yet he was successful with his own show on CBS. Maybe that was the best thing to ever happen to him!
I thought some of Dave's stuff on this whole thing the last few days were funny, but you can tell he deep down does not like Leno. Not that he should have to, but geeze, it's not like he hasn't been extremely successful.
Last edited by nightwing82; 01-13-10 at 09:20 AM.
01-13-10 | 09:34 AM
#462
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
It's not about "going under"...few affiliates ever flat-out close down. But you have to start making staff cuts, which affects the quality of the broadcast...which makes it so you CAN'T get out of last place no matter what you do. And that ripples throughout the market.
The bottom line is that NBC cannot make money at the expense of the affiliates. That's a short-term benefit to the network that won't last when the bottom drops out.
01-13-10 | 09:52 AM
#463
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
Long before the Leno change, my NBC affiliate completely gave up on a lot of local news stables.
For a time, they broadcast the morning show from Milwaukee, a completely different market (
). After complaints about that, they went to 2 hours of nothing but weather. 
They got rid of their sports team and again used the sports report from Milwaukee.
I stopped paying attention at that point.
For a time, they broadcast the morning show from Milwaukee, a completely different market (
). After complaints about that, they went to 2 hours of nothing but weather. They got rid of their sports team and again used the sports report from Milwaukee.
I stopped paying attention at that point.
01-13-10 | 10:17 AM
#466
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Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
True, but NBC would make a couple hundred million dollars a year off of the Jay Leno Show at 10pm, so to lose all of that money so that the affiliates ratings improve for a half hour news program seems a little ridiculous. Considering how poorly most of NBC's schedule does, that money would make a huge difference. I imagine what was going on behind all of this was lots of affiliates were probably going to drop Leno and once one affiliate does that many more will follow and NBC probably saw that as more of a problem.
I said all along that this wasn't about beating CSI or Grey's Anatomy in the ratings. Leno was going to live or die based on whether he could deliver an audience to the 11:00 local news. Well, now we know -- he can't, and so Leno dies.
01-13-10 | 10:24 AM
#467
Suspended
Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
Your comments contradict themselves. If NBC owns many of the affiliates then those affiliates would not be able to drop the show because NBC would just say no. I think there are more affiliates that aren't owned by NBC than are, which is why they are having to give in. Also whatever hit they are having in the ratings is not enough for the affiliates to go under.
We're talking about 1 30 minute news program. Last season for the 10pm slot NBC was averaging something like a 2 in 18-49 demo, where Leno is averaging like a 1.4. That is not enough for all of those affiliates to go under.
There must a large number of affiliates not owned by NBC that were threatening to drop him, because business wise for NBC keeping Leno at 10pm was making them a ton of money. Here's an article from the beginning of the season about how if Leno averaged a 1.5 NBC would make $300 million.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/09/22...5-rating/28131
We're talking about 1 30 minute news program. Last season for the 10pm slot NBC was averaging something like a 2 in 18-49 demo, where Leno is averaging like a 1.4. That is not enough for all of those affiliates to go under.
There must a large number of affiliates not owned by NBC that were threatening to drop him, because business wise for NBC keeping Leno at 10pm was making them a ton of money. Here's an article from the beginning of the season about how if Leno averaged a 1.5 NBC would make $300 million.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/09/22...5-rating/28131
Here is the list of NBC O&Os:
Chicago: WMAQ-TV (channel 5)
Fort Worth: KXAS-TV (channel 5)
Los Angeles: KNBC (channel 4)
Miami: WTVJ (channel 6)
New Britain, Connecticut: WVIT (channel 30)
New York City: WNBC (channel 4)
Philadelphia: WCAU-TV (channel 10)
San Diego: KNSD (channel 39)1
San Jose, California: KNTV (channel 11)
Washington, D.C.: WRC-TV (channel 4)
Fort Worth: KXAS-TV (channel 5)
Los Angeles: KNBC (channel 4)
Miami: WTVJ (channel 6)
New Britain, Connecticut: WVIT (channel 30)
New York City: WNBC (channel 4)
Philadelphia: WCAU-TV (channel 10)
San Diego: KNSD (channel 39)1
San Jose, California: KNTV (channel 11)
Washington, D.C.: WRC-TV (channel 4)
01-13-10 | 10:36 AM
#468
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
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01-13-10 | 11:21 AM
#469
Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
The Dave vs. Jay situation was 10 times bigger of a clusterfuck than this situation is now. Dave wanted the Tonight Show. Carson wanted Dave to have the Tonight Show. I believe both Dave and Conan respect the hell out of the Tonight Show and so these events are HUGE in both their lives. If I was Dave I'd bitch about NBC until my dying breath.
01-13-10 | 11:48 AM
#471
Moderator
Re: Report: NBC to Cancel LENO?
As anticipated, a spike in Conan's ratings last night.
http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/to...am-conan-12913
This fiasco could all be just a scheming publicity stunt. 
http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/to...am-conan-12913
'Tonight Show' Ratings Soar As Viewers Vote Team Conan
Conan O'Brien's shot heard 'round the world sent his "Tonight Show" numbers soaring as viewers seemed to vote for Team Conan with their remotes.
Tuesday's episode scored a 1.7/7 in adults 18-49 in Nielsen's 25 major markets with people meters. That's a dramatic gain of more than 40 percent from Monday, when Conan averaged a 1.2.
Conan's "Tonight," in what may well be one of its final broadcasts, crushed "Late Show with David Letterman" in the demo -- nearly doubling Dave's 0.9/4.
Final numbers won't be in til next week, and the averages will likely change. But this date suggest a massive boost for O'Brien.
By contrast, Tuesday's "The Jay Leno Show" was down about 10 percent from last Tuesday. A lower lead-in from an "American Idol" impacted "Biggest Loser" played a role-- but it's worth noting CBS's "The Good Wife" seemed to benefit from the gazillion "Idol" viewers looking for something to watch after the Fox show wrapped.
Conan O'Brien's shot heard 'round the world sent his "Tonight Show" numbers soaring as viewers seemed to vote for Team Conan with their remotes.
Tuesday's episode scored a 1.7/7 in adults 18-49 in Nielsen's 25 major markets with people meters. That's a dramatic gain of more than 40 percent from Monday, when Conan averaged a 1.2.
Conan's "Tonight," in what may well be one of its final broadcasts, crushed "Late Show with David Letterman" in the demo -- nearly doubling Dave's 0.9/4.
Final numbers won't be in til next week, and the averages will likely change. But this date suggest a massive boost for O'Brien.
By contrast, Tuesday's "The Jay Leno Show" was down about 10 percent from last Tuesday. A lower lead-in from an "American Idol" impacted "Biggest Loser" played a role-- but it's worth noting CBS's "The Good Wife" seemed to benefit from the gazillion "Idol" viewers looking for something to watch after the Fox show wrapped.
01-13-10 | 12:03 PM
#474
DVD Talk Gold Edition
