TVSquad

HBO doesn't have to worry about ratings, per se.

So it can create buzz when they know they have such a high quality show. Kind of like when the movie studios release a film in limited release, then go wide.

I didn't watch The Wire last season but am looking forward to this final season. You're absolutely right that this is one of the finest shows ever at HBO. It takes a certain level of intelligence and sophistication to get into it, because the show doesn't appeal to the lowest common denominator like most of the drivel out there.

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Considering that HBO doesn't have commercials at all (other than their in-house promotions), Nielsens may not be as relevant to their ongoing success. Yes, the numbers can indicate roughly how many people are watching, but they can fall back on subscriber revenue as well.

Plus, I assume they're getting numbers from the VOD viewership, which can be combined with the Nielsens for the initial airing and any repeats to get a better picture of the actual audience size. But since they're not ad-supported, there's a far greater degree of freedom to do whatever they want as long as people keep subscribing (and buying the DVDs!).

Not that they would've even had a chance on other networks, but shows like The Wire or Curb Your Enthusiasm or The Sopranos are perfect examples of why we need premium networks. Such high-quality series, regardless of audience size, are as important (and maybe more so) as decent programming with huge numbers (kind of like with movie releases). Considering that it wasn't getting awesome ratings, I was pleasantly surprised when AMC (not a premium network) renewed Mad Men for another season. Maybe there's hope for television still. That's something I'm thankful for.

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This is good news, but like last season, I'll probably just watch it on Sunday nights at it's normal time. Sunday night has a sort of ritual to it that almost always includes HBO, and it feels weird without seeing that staticy HBO logo. Besides, I can't get HBO HD on demand.

I guess I would watch it on demand earlier if I can't make it for the Sunday night viewing, but even then, I would probably wait for the repeat on HD Tuesday night.

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what could they care about ratings for a show thats over and never had great ratings to begin with? its an experiment and this show is hbos best/only chance to win a few awards considering their current crop of shows (excluding specials/movies etc.)

i dont have hbo but i might have to go over to my friends place and watch it on demand. last year they entire season was put online (torrents) well ahead of it airing on hbo and i couldn't resist. the wire is meant to be watched in a 12-hour single sitting.

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Actually, deadwood did really well for an HBO show, it was canceled because it was so expensive to produce and hbo hadn't been receiving the bulk of the dvd sales revenue for previous seasons thanks to a poor deal with the production company.

The Wire, on the other hand, is likely going to be the gift that keeps on giving for the network, since the show will certainly go down in history as one of, if not the best show ever made, and people will continue to buy the dvd sets long after it goes off the air.

If hbo had wanted to cancel the wire, they would have done it at the end of the third season, when the story had come to a logical close. But David Simon pitched them the fourth and a little bit of the fifth season, and they loved it so much they renewed it for the fourth year. With such stellar reviews for that year, plus an ending that led directly into the next season, it was inevitable that the wire would be renewed almost immediately, and it was less than halfway into the fourth season.

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Does anyone know if they're going to show Season 4 on HBO leading up to it? I know the DVDs come out next week.

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To elaborate on what Jason said, HBO considers On Demand viewers the same as actual viewers. As well they should. The only reason networks don't do the same is because they have to justify their numbers to advertisers. Since the only numbers HBO has to justify to its stockholders are subscription rates, the ratings are used completely internally to analyze which programs appear to have the most support.

In that respect, it seems that it would only make sense to count On Demand viewings as part of the overall ratings. After all, if someone watches something on television, then watches it twice On Demand, that show is definitely one that keeps them subscribing!

Alex... As far as Season 4 goes, HBO's schedule is viewable on their site, but I know for a fact that it will be On Demand in December, just like they've been doing with all the previous seasons.

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HBO just needs subscribers. If everyone subscribes, then they don't need to worry about whether anyone actually watches the show or not. They musty have decided that having the show on in whatever time slot doesn't significantly impact other shows on around it enough to create enough buzz to bring in new subscribers. I'll occasionally leave the TV on a regular channel after what I wanted to watch was over, but I never really do that on HBO.

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Any Wire news is good news. The fact that this show exists in a TV world dominated by American Idol and the Hills is a wonder. I cannot wait.

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"the wire is meant to be watched in a 12-hour single sitting."

That is true. A week's wait for another hour is too much! The show really works better when you watch the episodes quickly (like an episode a day). I wonder if they would give out screeners this time around...I doubt it, after last year's fiasco.

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THE WIRE season 4 comes out on DVD next Tuesday. I don't think this format hurts the show, it is the same format used last year. What hurts the show is when the entire season is leaked (i.e. last year) online prior to broadcast. This is the only show that is truly worth the $60 price tag HBO gives its DVDs.

It's all in the game, yo.

Dan

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Does this mean for us HBO-deprived citizens there'll be torrents way before the show actually airs? I can only hope. Not that I'd do that.. no, I mean I'm signing up for HBO now...

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HBO goes by subscribers more then ratings. With DVR and OnDemand it's a new age of television. When rumors where HBO wasn't going to bring back The Wire. HBO got flooded with emails and letters from diehard The Wire fans. Blogs and fan sites where also getting flooded. That's what brought back The Wire. A writer on tv.com wrote that sometimes that's what network or cable channels do to see actually how popular the show is. Plus, season dvd sales are great. They where 3rd in sales for HBO, behind The Sopranos and Curb last winter when I bought Season 2 and 3.
I'm ecstatic about the new and final season so if Time Warner wants to show me it a week earlier I'll take it!
The tv critics are saying it's the best season and that's from some that already called it last season the best show ever!

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I can only echo what anyone who has taken the time to watch the Wire knows. This HBO series is art, not just television entertainment. I believe that these five seasons of The Wire, when taken as "a body of work" will be considered worthy of academic study and appreciation. As with any classic work in any medium, it usually take years before the masses realize how good it actually was. Dvd sales, rentals, Torrent rips, word of mouth and internet chatter will eventually spread the "gospel" according to Bunk,McNulty, Omar and Bubbles to the rest of the world. In the meantime lets savour this final season and be thankful that David Simon's Magnum Opus was able to be made in the first place.

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