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Related: About this forumHow ad industry's youth obsession is wrecking the TV business
How ad industry's youth obsession is wrecking the TV businessBy Scott Collins
October 24, 2013, 5:20 p.m.
"Why does the TV business hate people over 50?" That's one of the most common questions I get asked by viewers.
This is not an idle query. The TV industry, like much of corporate America, chases youth. That pursuit has a major impact on programming. It helps explain why a low-rated show such as NBC's "Community" can keep going (and going, and going ...) while older-skewing shows are usually toast. Even if they have more total viewers.
So now you know why "Harry's Law," the legal drama with sexagenarian Kathy Bates, is no longer on the air. NBC executives said as much when they canceled the show.
Most TV networks are chasing viewers in the "demo," or the demographic ages 18 to 49 as measured by Nielsen. But how and why did that happen? And is that even rational?
MORE at http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-how-ad-industrys-youth-obsession-wrecking-the-tv-business-20131024,0,2122275.story#axzz2ijR5lXHj
Little Star
(17,055 posts)I never understood why we can't have both, something for the youth and something for the rest of us.
Boom Sound 416
(4,185 posts)It's all about disposable income spending
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Frankly, the vast majority of network TV these days -- and I'm speaking mostly of the comedies here -- seems aimed at an audience with all the comedic sophistication of a convention of 5 year old nose pickers. I'm not engaged by a steady diet of vulgarity and sexism. I've turned to cable for my TV viewing now.
Boom Sound 416
(4,185 posts)I'll embarrasses that "two and a half men" dominated tv ratings for years, but I do understand it.
The thing about condies and sitcoms in particular is they have to get laughs from both the 18 year old and the 49 year old and a lot of them. So different jokes are meant for those groups. Shows like Seinfeld, mash and others are just plain good writing and everyone is laughing at all of them.
I'm a cable fan. Other than a few of the new comedies with no laugh track, networks don't get my views.