It's getting hard keeping track of what's going on at NBC. The Peacock Network first announced that they weren't going to do an upfront presentation this year. Then came word that they would. And now comes word that they, well, aren't doing an upfront presentation, but they are doing is changing their programming from a "fall to spring" schedule to a "52 weeks, year round" schedule.
Um, haven't they pretty much been doing this for a while (along with every other network) with reality shows and game shows and miniseries and special shows during the summer months? What is so remarkable about this announcement?
The network says they are going to unveil their super duper special incredible programming schedule in April, which is a month before their upfront presentation. Which they aren't having, unless they decide to have one.
Your move, Mr. Zucker.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-20-2008 @ 3:48PM
CoryB said...
Maybe NBC will pull the same stunt as last year and announce their schedule before anyone else then completely shuffle everything around once they know the plans of everyone else.
Oh yeah, can't forget about their plan to not schedule scripted shows outside of the 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm block.
Good luck NBC, you sure have fallen far from your must see tv hayday...
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2-20-2008 @ 4:17PM
mike m said...
This isn't that bad an idea, and no, i don't think that's already what they do. Actually, this sounds slightly possibly like what Fox does, but more like what the Beeb does, releasing shows at different times throughout the year, and maximizing time.
So a show would air, say, from March to July, instead of always having to have premiers in September and finales in May. I, for one, see the reasoning behind it, as more and more people shift from tv to internet, it enables NBC to have fresh content year round, and not merely "fill in" with random mid-season replacements. It could also mean that they may go to smaller seasons, with more shows, and if a show is a failure, then it has its full run for those that want to catch it and actually like it, or they just post the remaining eps on HD or Internet, and start a new show in its place.
Idk, but I don't think it'll be like what they have now...At least I hope it will be the way I just described. That would make me happy. lol
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2-20-2008 @ 4:17PM
Scott said...
Exactly, Bob. There's nothing groundbreaking here. Except maybe NBC is saying that there's nothing special about scripted programming anymore, and they intend their network to look like a 3rd-rate cable outfit 52 weeks a year now. My guess is that the tiny part of their schedule that is still scripted shows will still be on the air in the September to May period. The rest of the time will look no different than the majority of their schedule does now--reality and game shows.
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2-20-2008 @ 7:28PM
mrkorb said...
This immediately makes me think of how anime is aired in Japan. Series are typically 13, 26, or 52 episodes long, and air once a week. When one series is over, another fills it's time slot, so there's no stretch from June to September where it's just a lot of reruns and crap series that nobody wants to watch. That sort of sounds like what NBC is going to do here.
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2-21-2008 @ 11:00AM
Michael said...
"...so there's no stretch from June to September where it's just a lot of crap series that nobody wants to watch."
Don't you mean January to December on all the crap that no one wants to watch??? All three networks are guilty of filling their schedules with more crap than quality as far as I'm concerned and as soon as a great show comes along, they always go and cancel it! Good-bye Journeyman, Cane and Jericho. Hello new "even-crappier-than-last-year'" crap!