The line-up of iconic figures and individuals who gained recognition through cable TV is extensive: Honey Boo Boo, Tony Soprano, Lizzie McGuire, Don Draper, Jon Stewart, Beavis and Butt-Head, Chip and Joanna Gaines, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Choose your personal favorites. It is unlikely that there will be many more added to the group.

Many cable and satellite networks no longer hold much power, due to the rapid evolution of entertainment consumption habits. A number of these networks have experienced a significant decline in viewership over the past ten years. They are now essentially inactive, relying on reruns and lacking motivation to create new content.

According to Doug Herzog, a former Viacom executive in charge of MTV, Comedy Central, and other channels, these networks that held significant importance to viewers and the generations that grew up with them, have been neglected.

As they diminish, the communities they aided in forming are also fading away.

There are some instances of achievement, particularly in lifestyle and news shows. Additionally, there are a plethora of options to choose from on Netflix, comparable to a restaurant menu.

However, it is undeniable that something has been lost. Stewart in successfully coming back to “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central this winter brings up the question: was it necessary for things to turn out this way?

During the 1980s, Cable TV gained popularity, disrupting the monopoly held by ABC, CBS, and NBC. This marked the initial division of media, as cable united individuals with similar interests, according to Eric Deggans, a critic for NPR’s television section.

According to Deggans, individuals who were previously overlooked due to mainstream culture now have a chance to express themselves and connect with others who share similar experiences. This was made possible through platforms like MTV, BET for Black people and fans of Black culture, Lifetime for middle-aged women, and HGTV and TLC for home renovation enthusiasts and old-school fans.

Nickelodeon and Disney assumed the role of default caretakers for young children. The introduction of CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC altered the course of political conversation in the country. ESPN captured the attention of sports enthusiasts. Channels like HBO and Showtime, as well as subsequent networks such as FX and AMC, provided more provocative content that traditional broadcasters avoided.

Networks were highly adaptable as well. When MTV realized that music videos were not generating much profit – viewers would switch channels if they didn’t like a certain song – the network began to heavily influence what was considered cool. Different generations had their own defining moments with shows such as “Punk’d,” “The Osbournes,” and “Total Request Live.”

MTV’s ratings have significantly declined, according to Nielsen data. In 2023, the average prime-time viewership was 256,000, a decrease from 807,000 viewers in 2014. Recently, MTV filled its evening time slot with repeats of “Ridiculousness” from 5 p.m. until 1:30 a.m.

The overall viewership of USA Network’s evening programs decreased by 69% during the same period. This was even before the news in January that popular show “WWE Raw” would be moving to Netflix.

AMC’s viewership took a drastic 73% decline without popular shows such as “The Walking Dead” and “Better Call Saul.” Similarly, the Disney Channel, known for launching the careers of young stars like Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff, and Selena Gomez, experienced a staggering 93% decrease in viewership, going from 1.96 million in 2014 to just 132,000 last year.

In 2014, TBS, TNT, History, Lifetime, FX, A&E, BET, E! Entertainment, SyFy, Comedy Central, VH1, and Discovery all experienced a decrease in viewership by at least 50%.

Unfortunately for many, the majority of their programming is composed of repetitive content, such as repeats of shows like “Seinfeld” and “The Office” on Comedy Central, or sitcoms like “The Big Bang Theory” and “Young Sheldon” on TBS. In addition, Tyler Perry’s movies dominate the schedule. Low-budget and unoriginal reality shows also take up air time, including “90 Day Fiancé,” “Prison Brides,” “Married at First Sight,” and “Contraband: Seized at the Border.”

This is not scheduled television, it is spontaneous. Phantoms.

The rise of Netflix has caused major companies in the entertainment industry to view it as the way forward. As a result, they have invested significant time, effort, and funds into these services, creating an ongoing competition that has yet to settle – it remains uncertain which streaming services will be successful and how many the market can sustain.

Could the decline of cable have been predicted? According to Herzog, that is the million-dollar question.

According to Michael Schneider, who is the television editor at Variety, the large corporations made a premature decision to move their assets away from cable networks, ultimately leaving those networks behind and struggling. As a result, they are now facing consequences for their actions.

In 2015, the Nielsen company reported that 87% of households in America had a subscription to cable or satellite television. However, by 2023, this number is expected to decrease to 47%. In 2019, including streaming services such as Hulu or YouTube TV, the percentage of homes with access to various channels was 62%, according to Nielsen.

If there are fewer cable subscribers, then there will logically be fewer viewers. However, this situation is like a chicken-and-egg scenario: Have the amount of subscribers decreased due to a perception that networks offer less, or is there less content offered because there are fewer viewers?

In January, a survey conducted by Adtaxi, a digital marketing company, demonstrated the rapid evolution of habits. It revealed that 73% of people now prefer streaming over cable or broadcast when they watch TV, compared to only 42% just a year ago.

A majority of the content being streamed consists of shows initially aired on television networks. This has resulted in a large profit for the creators of these shows, according to a prominent executive. However, it also means that viewers have become accustomed to a non-traditional viewing method, where they can watch their desired content at their own convenience, often in a binge-watching fashion. Additionally, this viewing experience is free from commercial interruptions, at least initially.

Do you recall the phrase “couch potatoes”? How about “channel surfers”? Well, now the “Netflix and chill” generation has become dominant.

That’s more than trading descriptive phrases. Reclining before a big screen with a remote control, searching for something to do, is an activity fading with the times, says John Landgraf, chairman of FX Content & Productions and a big-picture thinker of the media industry. It was Landgraf who coined the phrase “peak TV” to describe an overwhelming flood of television programming.

According to Landgraf, streaming has taken a more active approach. Instead of television, platforms like Tik-Tok, YouTube, and gaming are now keeping people entertained when they have some spare time. Landgraf believes they have found a way to engage people who are just looking for something to do. He has trust in FX’s parent company, Disney, to solve this issue.

This is a significant factor, considering that the industry relies on advertisers who pay to target both active and passive consumers.

While streaming offers viewers the convenience of making their own schedules, its algorithms are designed to push people into ever-smaller circles, suggesting programming similar to what they’ve already watched before, Landgraf said. It further lessens the opportunities for communal viewing experiences, or stumbling upon something that broadens your outlook.

the group leader shared that we have collectively lost something and he expressed his concern

Landgraf’s FX is one of the few companies maintaining a strong brand while also adapting to the streaming industry. The award-winning comedy “The Bear” is an FX production, but can only be viewed on Hulu. In contrast, “American Horror Story” airs on the traditional FX television network, while a few shows are available on both platforms.

HBO is also making the transition well, while Bravo programming is a strong draw for Peacock. Nickelodeon and MTV are among the brands having a harder time; S&P Global last week put their parent company, Paramount, on a negative credit watch, citing “the deterioration of the linear television ecosystem.”

Some networks are still broadcasting. Fox News Channel is currently the most popular cable network. Outlets focused on news were successful during the Trump presidency, but have declined in viewership lately. HGTV’s home renovation programming remains popular. The Hallmark Channel, which targets older women with wholesome stories, saw an average of 929,000 viewers during prime-time last year, an increase of 12 percent compared to ten years ago.

Even though audiences are leaving, abandoned networks remain in operation as they continue to generate profits for their creators. Cable and satellite providers pay licensing fees to include them in their lineup, which are ultimately paid for by customers. Advertisers also purchase airtime for commercials.

Once that alteration occurs, all wagers are null and void, and it is likely that the spirits will move forward.

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David Bauder reports on the media for The Associated Press. Keep up with him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dbauder.

Source: wral.com