It’s still deadline hell for TV guides
You would think that sitting and watching TV for a job would be pretty cushy, right? Not necessarily.
- Published by David Knox
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You would think that sitting and watching TV for a job would be pretty cushy, right? Not necessarily.
I’m filing some TV reviews for Fairfax this week, as I’ve done on several occasions before, but things sure have changed lately.
Trying to get networks to commit to airdates is like breaking into Fort Knox, pardon the pun.
Normally I am reviewing for online and radio so I am used to a quick turnaround to tell you whether a show is any good or not. But in print media it’s another ball-game.
I have a deadline of today for reviews in the week of June 30.
One network still hasn’t sent me their schedule which starts in nine days time. They have one show available for me to review, and it isn’t one that is particularly grabbing me. I spent a good deal of time watching another show and writing a review only to learn it’s now out… sheesh.
Another network revealed some of the shows that were coming, so I could watch them, but was very reluctant to tell me the airdates before deadline. At least they caved in when they realised I was trying to do them a favour.
Another network was almost rock solid with dates and streaming video previews. They made life easy.
The public broadcasters were the most accommodating of all with all the dates and, aside from 1 or 2 shows awaiting late post-production, all the DVD previews I needed.
Publicists I spoke to understood my dilemma but you could sure hear their frustration.
The problem is some networks seem to think that supplying a date at the last minute is a solution, but there’s a lot to take into consideration: time to watch, time to review, sourcing photos, having to substitute another show because you suddenly have a hole that’s appeared… it’s a domino effect.
When you magnify these issues across all the print journos and all the nation’s newspapers and magazines, it isn’t hard to see how huge the problem becomes. No wonder our guides are so incorrect. The last time I wrote about that at length was back in 2011, but it seems little has changed.
It all stems back to networks not wanting their rivals to counter-programme against premium content, when there is so much advertising money at stake. We’ve seen that shows usually have one chance to launch properly. But it would appear networks are relying on last-minute promos to secure a launch when in reality audiences are turning to their own timeshifted scheduling.
It’s a terrible case of dog chasing tail our industry has arrived at.
The irony is reviewers are just trying to tell their audiences how good their shows are.
19 Responses
@Pertinax “The incentive of skipping ads will drive many people to timeshift, regardless of how the networks schedule. Commercial networks are interested in people who prefer to sit down and watch an evenings TV live (the majority according to Oztam and ACMA surveys).”
Therefore they should be doing everything they can to encourage people to watch TV live – but a show scheduled from 8.30-9.30 airing 8.50-10.10 or something is just not going to help. People would rather watch in their own time and save not just the ad time, but the half or hour or so lost by schedulers inabiliity to follow a schedule.
“At least they caved in when they realised I was trying to do them a favour.” – it’s only taken them 57 years to figure that out? It’s not as if TV reviews in the print media are a new invention.
Also, haven’t the US networks already released their schedules for the upcoming fall season? That’s months in advance. Yet our networks, mostly Seven and Nine, keep us guessing up to the last minute with endless “coming soon” promos and TV guides filled with “TBA”. It’s amateurish stuff, and then they wonder why viewers are not treating them with love anymore?
@ph, there’s an AFL match on next Thursday which is being shown at 7:30 in Melbourne, taking OUAT’s time slot. I assume the majority of the other states will have the Adam Sandler movie on.
@Cam Reed
Yes Once Upon A time is on tonight at 10.15 but next week its an Adam Sandler movie. It might just be off for the tennis so will have to wait and see.
That’s very funny Secret Squirrel.
@PH My PVR Guide has Once Upon A Time on at 10:15pm – Midnight tonight (Thursday), after Dynamo: Magician Impossible at 9:15pm, so hope it is still on (I have series record as it’s a T-Box so less chasing things around the channels but still frustrating).
The incentive of skipping ads will drive many people to timeshift, regardless of how the networks schedule. Commercial networks are interested in people who prefer to sit down and watch an evenings TV live (the majority according to Oztam and ACMA surveys). They rely on buzz not critical reviews (reviews of something like Beauty and the Beast are not going to help it).
Sometimes Networks will announce shows well in advance to stake out slots. Sometimes, as you say, they want to keep the opposition guessing. Then they run promos for months, to get the show into the audience’s mind, then spring the launch with about a week to go when they feel the stars are aligned.
This worked well with Arrow, whereas Ten announcing the Americans early and its week two bumping to 9:30pm behind and unknown current affairs show didn’t seem to the show any favours. Despite positive reviews for the pilot.
The ABC and SBS don’t play these games (and sometimes get caught out when their shows launch against a blockbuster). They put their schedules up online many weeks in advance. They benefit more from print reviews because they offer shows for more discerning viewers (that critics also love).
I see that the billion dollar publishing group Fairfax is outsourcing the risk of networks stuffing people around to its contractors.
It is good that you research and watch the shows, (many reviewers and even the ABC synopsis writers seem to only watch 5 or 10 minutes of many shows and make howling errors).
You can always find good reviews of US shows from The San Jose Mercury or NYT etc. online. Just stay away from the LA media with just serves up network spin in exchange for access to celebrities.
Surely the most frustrating part of your job David. I’d still be happy to have it. 😉
Yeah nik c, that’s the one. That’s the main reason I wanted to watch it, when I heard an Aussie was in it.
I don’t know why the reviewers tolerate it either, I remember reading a threat to publish an entire week of “TBA” in paper being issued a while ago. Until several people carry out that threat then there will not be any solution to this.
Either that or put the “deadline guys” in touch with the TV networks directly and instruct them to come back with a solution.
What is this “print media” of which you speak?
Interesting. Incredible that they mess you around with all the straightforward logistic parameters as though reviewing the actual dreck TV show is not painful enough. I dunno how you do it David. I cannot think that TV has ever been worse or that I’ve watched less of it. There is still some quality viewing about but it’s such a chore to find and is all too often drowned in ads or messed about in the lineup. I was a TV addict for decades, but just like @ph I am now watching DVDs, reading books or going out instead. And yet I’m addicted to TV Tonight! Go figure?
BTW I travel overseas a lot and TV in the US and Europe is equally unwatchable – even if the shows do start on time.
We don’t need guess which networks were more helpful than others.
One issue local networks have faced for the last few years is the fact that shows are so easy to get online (even if its not legal) so the longer they delay a show, or even give reviewers a clue when it will air the more likely people will find reviews online from not just the press but fans actually watching.
And the more they tease us with ‘Coming Soon’ this show is really good, the more likely we’ll want to check it out and not wait for the local airing.
@ carolemorrissey Was Red Widow the one 7 were heavily promoting a few weeks ago with Rhada (sp?) Mitchell playing a housewife or a criminal or something?
I wondered why the promos had stopped!
Wow, what a nightmare for you. And yeah, that sounds like my dream job being paid to watch TV. Look forward to the new shows starting soon. I hope ch 7 fast track Covert Affairs & Suits. They are due to start in the US in mid July. But I won’t hold my breath. Red Widow was one I was really looking forward to, but since it’s been cancelled won’t bother with it. Been burnt before getting hooked on shows which were cancelled then ended with a cliffhanger. Happened with Missing last year and Flashsforward and The Event a few years back. Glad I found this site now so I know in advance what shows were cancelled and not to bother with.
David… you do know the networks are using you (and other reviewers) don’t you?
If they won’t commit to an airdate, don’t do a review and lord up those who do give an airdate. Why should the reviewer take the rap for the networks recalcitrance.. easy peasy
Yet again I have to play the guessing game, just as you say. I know that Red Widow will probably take over from Revenge but its cancelled already. Yet again Once Upon A Time is gone, replace with a naff movie. Other countries start shows on time and release guides well in advance. Just has me reaching for DVDs or a book.
“The irony is reviewers are just trying to tell their audiences how good their shows are.”
Yes, 1 out of 10 good, or 8 out of 10 good. I’m not sure the problem truly lies with the networks in this instance, but with the dead-tree version of the media.
They could publish your (p)reviews to their websites David, at the push of a button. A ten-day deadline for a print review is simply archaic.
I don’t know why you’re bothering to keep their habits a secrets. Name and shame!
It’s not about counter programming, it’s a lack of confidence in their product. Put something in a timeslot and leave it there. They whine when people don’t watch their shows, but without a solid, locked in date, how are people meant to know what to watch? It’s staggering to see the difference between here and overseas. Anywhere else a network will tell you months in advance the dates for the release of a new show and they stick to it. They have confidence in their shows. Here it’s anything but that!