And in the “why is this news?” category….

This just in, via CNN: big long piece about why TV viewership is way down.

I’m not sure why this is news. And I can only think that it’s too hard for the networks to say “the programming isn’t all that good. OK, and we should at least have a new episode every week for each show that we put on…”

About the time I started muttering about the foolishness of plot lines on shows that I had previously looked forward to, and muttering more loudly about the ads that touted “all new episode this week!” – my attention was diverted by World of Warcraft. I made a clean break from watching TV (or in my case listening to it while doing other things) and found all my entertainment on my computer screen.

Let’s review:

  • Self-directed activity that changes moment to moment and provides challenge along the way.
  • Interaction with real people although with the game interface inbetween us.
  • Hours and hours of entertainment that doesn’t rely on someone else to choose for me.
  • If I’m bored – pretty much my own fault.

I think I was looking for entertainment in TV – sometimes mindless, sometimes funny (funny, not abusive) sometimes sad (sad and touching, not grim and relentlessly scary).  Maybe some relationships that I could relate to (not the “gee, I’m so screwed up that I can’t decide between the equally screwed up hunk or the fellow who seems gee-whiz nice who really likes me a lot, guess I’ll sleep with both sort of thing)….  Oh and for weekly shows?  How about a new show every week?  duh.
If the high ups in the networks are worried maybe they should be.  Not rocket science people.

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