TV Wasteland: The Writers' Strike Alters Viewing Habits Over the Long Term

I think it's a little early to be announcing the strike has changed viewing habits when most of the series that returned in May had their momentum seriously derailed by the strike. All the confusion surrounding the TV schedule makes it much more reasonable to examine viewing habits come the end of November sweeps once the TV season has (barring major issues arising from a potential SAG strike) had a chance to have a "normal" launch and run.

Of course, if the SAG negotiations disrupt the filming of shows set to premiere in the fall, now /that/ could really affect TV viewing habits.

But to answer your question, no, the strike didn't change my viewing habits. I just have my magic Tivo-like hard drive recorder record the stuff I want to watch and then watch it.

I moved to another state during the strike so I didn't bother getting cable in my new house for several months after moving in. During that time I bought a few shows on DVD I had never seen House & Babylon 5. I did eventually get cable, but only kept it for a month as I was no longer in the habit of making time for TV so I cancelled it.

The $40/month I saving goes into DVD's now. (Or nice dinners with my wife) I can wait for stuff to come out, I just watch different shows. And since my wife & I can watch The Office online (Our favorite show), I see no need to have cable. The strike freed up my time & money so I'm better for it. I've stopped watching a few shows (ones that I can't get on the internet), but I've picked up other shows on DVD so it really isn't a big deal.

No more will I aimlessly surf through the channels. If I wnat to watch it, I'll buy it. That means a show will have to be really good for me to shell out for it. (Goodbye Smallville)The networks would have to do something pretty incredible to bring me back to cable. I can't even imagine what that would be. So yep, the strike permanently changed my habits.

I'm not convinced that the internet is the real competition here. I do know people whose viewing habits have changed, and a lot of them have decided to just watch their favorite series on DVD as they come out. Ironically, it's fans of the heavily serialized shows (Lost, Galactica, 24, etc.) who are really doing this. I say "ironic" because one of the reasons that networks were attracted to these sorts of shows is because they considered them "water cooler" shows - programs which people felt they would have to watch during the original airing in order to keep up with conversations at work the next day. The problem is that viewers have discovered that getting the DVDs and watching an entire season of these complex programs over a much briefer period of time (and without commercial interruptions) is much easier to follow and more enjoyable.

One positive change is that Fox has announced that they will expand the amound of minutes of actual programming in a prime-time hour, from the current 42 minutes to 46-48 minutes. It still falls a bit short of the glory days of the 1960s when a full hour of commercial TV included 52 minutes of actual program, but it's a step in the right direction. I've heard writers complain that with today's relatively short running times, they can only concentrate on the plot, while scenes and dialogue which would actually develop the characters are the first ones to get cut.

Now if the networks would just stop those intrusive logos and other promotional garbage over the actual programming, that would be a real olive branch to the viewers.

I think it's interesting how the SAG contract negotiations aren't getting nearly as much press as the WGA contract negotiations. All the networks and studios seem relieved and excited to get their new seasons and films into production, but no one seems nervous about the actors' striking. Wouldn't that potentially cause more damage to the industry than the writers' strike? The writers generally don't have faces in the eyes of the general public, but the actors certainly do. I realize that the likes of George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, et al wouldn't strike for their own benefit, but the bit players who have guest appeared on shows like CSI, Law & Order, Lost, and Star Trek would be the ones who benefit more. If that strike does go into effect over the summer then viewers across the country would really change their viewing habits, far more than any after effects from the WGA strike.

You are right, but I doubt that SAG will end up striking. In all likelihood, the negotiations will probably go pretty smoothly compared with the WGA one. The studios will probably give SAG the same or at least very similar deal they made with the WGA.

On a tv note, why no review for the season finale of Supernatural?

Saw some of the first part to the un-necessary remake of The Andromeda Strain, and as I expected, it's overly busy, over-done, and just plain bad. How do they have the audacity to call this film by that title when Outbreak II would have been more appropriate? This is NOT The Andromeda Strain. The original kicks so much ass, that this one was dead before it entered the ring! Outbreak was OK, and somewhat entertaining thanks to Hoffman and Gooding, Jr., but not near as good as TAS!! So this "film" is just plain not needed. If you check my profile, you'll see why I am so adamant against this stupid remake anyway. Some films should NEVER be remade, retold, re-imagined, whatever. The Andromeda Strain is tops on that list. Oh well, they did it anyway, and as usual, it SUCKS!

Just wanted to add, you forgot to put down The Venture Bros. Season 3 premiere is on Sunday night!

Finally a reason to watch Adult Swim again!