Don't Tread on Jericho — or its fans
-
- March
- 8
Dear CBS,
I heard from a little bird that another fan movement was afoot to, once again, save Jericho, because it’s not clear at all that it might get a third season, based on relatively low Nielsen ratings.
So I figured I’d stick my two cents in. Don’t worry; I’ve been assured there’s no plan to send snakes (real or fake) to CBS hq. But don’t be surprised if you get more than a few letters and postcards with the following, 100 percent American, image:
Schumi’s post starts out:
Don’t trend on my love of Jericho. Don’t forget I’m here and I’m tuning in.Count me…. and count on me!!!!!!!!!!!
Count on me to watch on tv sure.
But…..
Count on me more:
to watch online
to watch onDemand, and
to download your show from iTunes or Amazon
because that is where I’m watching my TV, like millions of others.I’m a TV independent and I’m damn proud of it.
What she’s saying, simply (and eloquently, read her entire letter to CBS), is: People don’t watch television the same way anymore. We just don’t. And there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.
In fact, if you insist on measuring television viewership in the same way you always have, you’ll accelerate changes in viewing habits, because there will be less and less on regular broadcast television that interests many.
I can only speak for myself, so I will.
Other than the Oscars and some professional sporting events, I don’t remember the last time I watched anything at the actual time it started.
Sure, I have a few shows that are appointment viewing, including Jericho. But that appointment time is fungible. I have a DVR. I start watching Lost no earlier than 15 minutes into the episode, so I can watch it commercial-free. I did that with 24 last season, too.
The Wire has no commercials, but getting the kids to bed and straightening up and switching the laundry and donig whatever else I need to get done at the end of the day on a Sunday means I don’t often sit down at 9 p.m. to watch it. But it’s there, on my DVR, waiting for me.
Many other shows, I don’t watch anywhere close to their air dates.
Dirty Sexy Money helped get me through the holiday television break. The writer’s strike this year made the usually new-episode-light holiday season a vast wasteland when it came to original programming. No fear; I hadn’t seen a single episode yet of DSM, but the entire season to date was on the DVR. I watched every single minute of every single one and I’m a huge fan now.
I’ll go back even further: My husband and I had never watched the early seasons of Alias. My husband caught an episode, was interested and rented the first two or three seasons from the library. We were caught up in a week or two (granted, our youngest was still in the potted plant stage, so we had more time for such frivolity then). Ditto Gilmore Girls.
Look, CBS (and take note, ABC, NBC, Fox and everyone else): I don’t watch television the way you measure it. And based on at least one person’s experience with the Nielsen company, even if I were offered the opportunity to be a Nielsen family, I doubt I’d take it.
But I don’t mind product placement, so long as it makes sense and doesn’t sound like an advertisement. Take the bottles of Mountain Dew we saw in the soda cooler next to Dale in the third episode of Jericho (”Jennings and Rall”) this season.
It was a soda cooler, not a bookshelf. I noticed the soda, noticed it was Mountain Dew. That’s what advertisers are looking for, after all.
In the first season of Kyle XY, Sour Patch Kids was a major sponsor and bought product placement. Except for one awkward sentence of dialogue at the beginning of the second season, it wasn’t obnoxious or out of place.
For how many seasons did Jack Bauer drive only Ford cars on 24? So? That didn’t make it unrealistic to viewers.
If advertisers dislike DVRs or online streaming of episodes and don’t want those viewings to count in the ratings, tell them they’re out of step with reality. Tell them to get creative.
Now, I’m not saying to turn episodes of television into one long advertisement. But the old model of opening scene, commercial, few more scenes, commercial, repeat, rinse is just that. Old.
Heck, I’m practically 40; practically an old fogey already. I don’t even watch shows online much; I’m pretty technologically savvy, but compared to some of the young’uns I see, I might as well be using an electric typewriter and cassette tape recorder. This is the future and fighting it is only going to mean you’re going to have to catch up later.
Leading the way can be scary. You make mistakes, have missteps, sometimes get lost. But if you’re leading, you still get to the destination first.
When you follow, you always are trying to catch up. No matter what you do, you’re always behind. Is that where you want to be?
Didn’t think so.
This entry was posted
on Saturday, March 8th, 2008 at 4:09 pm by Amy Vernon.
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Great article! Thanks Amy!!
CBS needs to wake up and smell the coffee!
Thank you for this post, Amy (and for highlighting Schumi's awesome and passionate letter). I am also an avid DVR user, and my roommate and I regularly watch shows on our own time, as well as waiting for what we call FF-time for shows like Lost and 24. Shows like that benefit from NOT having an age of commercials breaking them up.
As far as Nielsen's, I recall our family being a Diary family for a stint back when I was around 13 or 14. Mom and Dad had no interest in filling our the meticulous diarys, and since they knew I liked such things (don't ask), they let me fill out the Diary's for all three of our televisions. Let me tell you, they reflected exactly what I wanted them to, not necessarily what was actually being watched. One of the many reasons I have always been suspicious of those numbers.
Guess it's time to get out the paper and pen! (and stamps too!!)
Excellent piece Amy! A lot of good thoughts expressed as to the reality of how the public manages their viewing habits, and those new viewing habits definitely do not fit the mold that Neilsen was founded upon.
Amy
I agree 100%!! AND I am SO glad to hear I will not be expected to handle snakes in a few weeks!!
I started time shifting when my son was a baby. We had a vcr then, but anything we watched live got recorded since we didn't know when we were going to miss half of it. Now I have a dvr and do the same thing, though for different reasons. I haven't felt required to sit in front of the tv at the appointed time for some 16 years.
I do with Jericho, but I also record and watch it over and over and download with Itunes. And I watch the online streams. If I couldn't see it live I'd watch as soon as I could. If it was on demand I'd be sure to watch it at the same time online friends in the east do so I could join in on the watching party.
If you ask me who the sponsors were from the live broadcast I'd remember sprint since I have a sprint phone, but not most of them. But if I watch a preview on line, or an episode, I'll remember. I'm not drowned with commercials to the point I mute the sound and talk through them.
We stood for new media and new options and nothing has changed. Except instead of peanuts a very appropriate flag this time. Lots of new Rangers to add to the letter count too. Please join us and make a statement for choice and a voice for everyone.
This is a terrific article, Amy. Your experience is very like most other people today. Our lives are busy, and we have learned to take advantage of the technology that is available to us. Nielsens are just not working anymore. New media, new game. Best to learn the new game, CBS. Don't tread on Jericho!
Charlene in Mississippi
please check out the other efforts of rangers that been on the boards for a long time…..GEN patton has started many campaigns and its only now that we have getting new people on the boards since the new season started so please check out this move also. thanks
http://jerichoboard.cbs.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=cbsmbjericho&tid=21946
thanks again
xrammyx
I am so glad to see this post, every word rings true for so many of us. I dont dvr, but catch most right here on line! I also watch live, but with children, work, home life is more important at times that sitting down to watch live tv, I love that I have a choice!
Great post Amy!
Right on, Amy! You nailed it!!
Thanks for your 2 cents Amy. Jericho fans have turned the tide once by bringing the show back for a second season. Now were fighting to make online viewers count! We're the ones that watch episodes multiple times, interact on the message boards,spread the word and purchase season series on DVD. We are avid, dedicated consumers flying under the CBS radar.
AMEN, Amy!! Time to get our butts in gear, Rangers!!
And a big THANK YOU to Schumi, the General, and EVERYONE who will participate in DON'T TREAD ON ME.
I LOVE how CBS just dropped that saying right in our laps.
Will they ever learn????? heehee
Amy, amen to your article! I am so tired and have been for a long time of the networks trying to "make" us watch live tv. Most of the viewing public lead quite busy lifestyles now and just don't have the ability to watch tv live. That is what makes owning a dvr or tivo or vcr so incredibly awesome. I can watch anything I want including or excluding the commercials at my convenience, not theirs. Do they want viewers to watch their shows or not? That is the question, not whether or not they watch live….think about that CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX!
100% on the mark. We are a society of multi taskers and we have found ways to make entertainment work for our lives. It is the 21st century, Networks wake up! A big thank you to Jericho writers for handing us our season 2 rally cry.
Thank you for this great article!
I hardly watch any TV anymore because life is too busy…
With the convenience of the new media, I am watching episodes of the very few shows that I like either online or I purchase them from Amazon/iTunes…
Jericho is a prime example of a show where most viewerws use the new media! It's a top quality show that deserves to be renewed and I sincerely hope that CBS will reconsider, be an Industry leader rather than later on a follower, and continue the Jericho story for a season 3!
Amy,
Thanks for the article. I total agree. TV viewing is changing. Hopefully CBS will realize that as well. I'm 40 and much of my TV viewing is on-line.
Great article Amy, hopefully CBS and the other networks will listen to Schumi's words. Thanks for helping to keep the plight of Jericho in the news : )
Great Job Amy!! You are exactly right! The networks need to take notice and make some serious changes to assure that all viewers are counted!! The fans are back at it, as there has been an email/snail mail movement going since season 2 began airing (kudus to Gen.Patton for all of his hard work)! Shelby is back sending her "Queen Bailey demands a season three" note cards after very episode!! The recent post of "Don't tread on me" as well as the downloadable stationary, post cards and avatars are on the move! Letters to CBS are being posted on the boards!! CBS should know by now that Jericho fans want and deserve to be counted!! We are ready for season three of Jericho!! Thanks for your article!
CBS says that they are trying to attract the younger viewer; hence shows like KidNation and Big Brother. In terms of Neilsen ratings, their method does not seem to be working for them. I would guess that is because the younger viewer can't be found sitting in front of the toob "on demand." Rather they watch TV "at demand." Their demand; on their terms.
Change is not imminent; it is NOW! RIGHT NOW! One of the networks has to take the lead; take the plunge; be the first! Blaze the trail!
CBS – Don't wait to "see" and be a follower. Don't let it happen TO you. MAKE it happen. NOW. Throw the Neilsens unREALITY numbers out. Draw up the REAL numbers – include DVR, TiVo, Internet, DVDs, iTunes – include ALL viewers regardless of age. The 21st Century is here; be the first to bring TV (albeit kicking and screaming) into this Century.
CBS Cares; but does CBS DARE?
Not likely.