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More on the Hulu Plus move

To recap: After much speculation, reports surfaced this week that Hulu will begin beta-testing Hulu Plus, a $9.95 monthly subscription at the end of next month. Some critics think the move is too late, others just in time. Some suggest $10 is too expensive, others too cheap. In a way, they are all correct.

Innovations, er, "Innovations" from broadcast networks -- FOX

Curious to what this all means? Read my introduction to this multi-post series.

My goodness, epic apologies are in order. I remember (barely) when I started this project and hoped to run through the past five years of development for the four major broadcast networks in less than a week. Well, here we are nearly a month later and I'm still only halfway through. This is what happens when you're a graduating senior working two jobs and trying to organize plans for fall. Stupid life.

Anyway, let's get back to it with FOX.

Like CBS, we tend to think FOX has had a good run since 2005. Did I find that to be the case?

Hulu attempts to monetize -- My reaction

The time has finally come.

This week, Hulu brass announced their intentions to start charging for certain bundles of content.

In which I worry about 'Glee'

I think Glee is in trouble.

Not to offend all you Gleeks out there, because I consider myself a major fan of the series, but something is just...off about the first two episodes back. I cannot put my finger on it. Is it the long lay-off between the first 13 episodes and the back nine? Is it the overwhelming sense that the series has been overhyped during that period? Not really, because I expected that.

NBC Universal profit sinks

NBC Universal released its profit information for the first quarter, and as to be expected, it is not good.

Will NBC ever be able to right the ship?

TBS is with Coco

“In three months I’ve gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I’m headed to basic cable. My plan is working perfectly.” -- Conan O'Brien after announcing that he had signed with TBS and plans to air a late-night series for them in the fall.

Yeah, I'm just as surprised as you are.

What's the future of serialization on broadcast TV?

I've talked a lot about serialization here on the blog, and it's just as popular elsewhere (check out a nice post from Myles McNutt on Justified), partially because it's the end of two major serial powerhouses in Lost and 24 and also because I think people just love talking about it. So why not continue that discussion?

Today: what to expect from serialization on the broadcast networks.

Catching up on DVD -- What changes?

One of the best TV critics around, Myles McNutt, has a poll up on his web site right now that will help him choose what series to catch up on via DVD here in the coming months.

Obviously, DVD has done wonders for television viewers. We can wait until a entire season -- or series -- ends before watching. And of course, that also allows us to avoid both the long wait between episodes and commercials. Even more benefits certainly exist.

But what happens to our enjoyment of the season, series or even individual episodes when we catch up later on DVD?

Broadcast network innovation series update

Yeah, I know.

For those of you that do care, I have fallen behind on my broadcast network innovation posts. They're coming this weekend. Sometimes, being a college student sucks when you just want to blog about television.

DirecTV to save 'Damages?'

Rumors abound that Sony, producers of Damages, is looking to DirecTV for help in paying for a fourth season.

Not to be a contrarian here, but is this really necessary?

Thank you, Shawn -- Celebrating the performance of one of wrestling's greatest

I'll say it, I love professional wrestling. Have ever since I was six years old way back in 1994 when I randomly started watching on a semi-regular basis. Through the Monday Night Wars, the WCW buyout and the current "PG" era of the WWE, there's one individual that kept me coming back every week -- even during his four year absence as I sat around hoping he'd pop up -- Shawn Michaels. The Heartbreak Kid. The Showstopper. Mr. Wrestlemania.

Tonight on RAW, HBK said his tearful goodbyes and I was choked up right along with him. Not just because he's a charming character or fantastic in-ring performer, but because he is, without a doubt, one of the best pure performers I have ever seen, no matter the media or showcase.

Innovations, er, "Innovations" from broadcast networks -- CBS

Curious to what this all means? Read my introduction to this multi-post series.

We tend to think that CBS has had the best run of success in the last handful of years, but after my research did my mind get blown?

Innovations, er, "Innovations" from broadcast networks -- ABC

Curious as to what this all means? Read my introduction to this multi-post series.

Of all the networks I researched for this project, I think ABC's results surprised me the most.

And that's not a good thing.

Innovations, er, "Innovations" from broadcast networks -- An introduction

Though I have been using it for more, this blog was primarily constituted for a course about the changes in what we refer to as "television." Along with this blog, I am also working on a presentation/paper about the content and format innovations from "traditional" (read: broadcast) networks in this dynamic time.

Over the past few weeks, I've been doing some fairly in-depth research into not only what series the four majors -- ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC -- have aired, but also what "kind" of series. Thanks to The Futon Critic's fantastic DevWatch and ShowWatch archives, I was able to go back five years to the 2005-2006 television season and determine every single series the broadcast networks have aired. From there, I researched each series to determine both the format and the "type" of characters the series (if scripted) showcased. After hours upon hours of scrolling, reading and entering into a five-tabbed, color-coded Excel sheet, I am both surprised and not surprised at what I found. Thus, I thought it would be nice to share some of my findings in this space with anyone who wants to read them.

But first, let me clarify a few of the statements or choices I mentioned above as a way to introduce the posts I'll be writing in the next week or so about each network, because I know you're asking the following questions. I'll ask them for you.

Fandom and serial TV -- Letting go, holding on

A lot of ink has been spilled about the future of serial television, but even if I do not think that it is "going away" or "dying," I've recently been thinking about how troubling it is to be a fan of these types of series.

As a fan of serial television, there are usually two things that happen to me. And there are two series on the air right now that embody them perfectly: FlashForward and 24.

Broadcast networks and miniseries -- Will it ever happen again?

Well, I guess that headline is partially dumb and misleading, because obviously the major broadcast networks will air a miniseries at least one more time in the future. I think.

But what I meant by that headline is can the broadcast networks actually air a quality miniseries?

Should NBC pause the ticking clock on '24?'

Last week, rumblings were that 24 would finish out its eight-year run this May on FOX. Now, Ausiello is reporting that 20th Century Fox (the studio) is pitching the series to NBC, who obviously need space-fillers on its schedule.

One question for NBC: why?

Watching TV on the Internet -- Only on the Internet

As someone who watches a lot of television on my laptop, I have spent time wondering if I really needed to cable television. Those moments of reflection usually come when my damn Comcast bill arrives in the mail each month.

This week, the New York Times profiled some folks who have more willpower than I and thus risen up against their cable providers.

Hulu and monetization: A prospective pay model

Despite what we all want, we are eventually going to have to pay to use Hulu.

NBC reboot has begun: Where to now?

Tonight -- well, I guess this week since Leno's Tonight Show started yesterday -- is the makeshift reboot of NBC's schedule, as it's newest hope for ratings success, positive critical response and good buzz, Parenthood debuts at 10 PM.

In the last year, NBC's undergone a slew of changes that more or less led to nothing. So where do we stand with the Peacock network?

Jay's back! Who's pumped?!

Tonight is the premiere/re-start of Jay Leno's Tonight Show! I'll wait a few moments while you contain your happiness.

Okay.

So, will you be watching?

Reminder: Other work

I just wanted to take a few words to remind anyone who looks at this blog that I do other TV-related work for the Indiana Daily Student. You can find the links to my podcast on the top of the right sidebar, and then further down you'll notice links to my recaps of various programming and other writing.

Thanks!

Twitter and TV viewing: Pay attention to me!

In the last week, a couple of stories have been written about the growing use of Twitter during live television events and the interactive culture created by it.

So obviously, people have taken to Twitter to talking about, which allowed me to find the articles.

Just end it already! Genre television and end dates

As we've all seen over the past month, the end of Lost has sparked a slew of different conversations about the future of television, formats, serialization, etc. One move that Lost proponents always cite as the turning point in the series was the agreement to end it all back in 2007. 

And now, that idea gets thrown around for nearly every series with any extended mythology. But should it?

Streaming video news part three: iTunes episodes for 99 cents?

There have been a few interesting developments in streaming video this week, all of which should have long-term implications for the television industry. I'm hoping to write about all three over the next day or so. Click here to see my thoughts on Hulu to the iPad and HBO's GO. 


Though this news item isn't quite "streaming video" specifically, it's still important to discuss. Rumors are swirling that CBS might start selling episodes of its television series on iTunes for only 99 cents. 

Streaming video news part two: HBO GO goes live, frustrates consumers

 There have been a few interesting developments in streaming video this week, all of which should have long-term implications for the television industry. I'm hoping to write about all three over the next day or so. Click here to see my thoughts on Hulu to the iPad.

You know how it sucks that it takes HBO programming forever to hit iTunes, DVD sheleves and Netflix? The cable giant has debuted a new online streaming service that might make that frustration go away.

Might.

Streaming video news part one: Hulu to the iPad?

There have been a few interesting developments in streaming video this week, all of which should have long-term implications for the television industry. I'm hoping to write about all three over the next day or so.

First up: Rumors are swirling that Hulu could come to the iPad. But will we have to pay?

The dead-end "dead" serial discussion: It's not happening

I've talked a lot about serialized television lately, and it seems like a lot of TV critics and scholars have the same thing on their mind with Lost coming to an end.

In the past few weeks, a slew of articles and columns have hit the web about the topic, with some writing the serials eulogy.

Simply put: Those people are wrong.

'Chuck' versus the Ridiculous Fan Reaction

FACT: NBC series Chuck has a ridiculously active fanbase.

For anyone who doesn't know, the fans -- which included critics like Alan Sepinwall and Mo Ryan -- of the series helped organize a slew of "Save Chuck" campaigns last spring, including pilgrimages to Subway, a sponsor of the show, and a number of social media-related outputs. For more info on the efforts of Chuck fans see here, here and here.

FACT: The fans feel as if they had a big part in the series coming back for a third season this year on NBC and thus have some "ownership" over it.

FACT: The Chuck fans are using this "ownership" to overreact to the most recent episode, "Chuck versus the Mask."

'M*A*S*H' knocked-off: Is that good for advertising?

Not to call out Professor Anderson, but recently in class, he noted that nothing would ever top the ratings of the M*A*S*H series finale, which reached 105.97 million viewers in 1983.

And why wouldn't he say that? Nothing has come that close ever since, and with the slew of cable, pay-cable, OnDemand, online and other channels, the audience is fragmented beyond belief.

Well, never count out the appeal of a city coming back from disaster and Peyton Manning.

'Lost' burnout and the frustrations of serialization

I hate to keep writing about Lost, but over the past few weeks, its return has been the best story that is being covered from all angles.

Last time I discussed the end of Lost meaning the end of well-respected serialization on broadcast network television. Today, let's look at another reason why serialization, especially heavy serialization, might not work so well for audiences in the future.

Celebrating 'Lost' as a game-changer in television

Last week, I discussed why I personally thought we'd never see another television series like Lost.

Well, the Lost creative brass kind of feels the same way that I do.

'Lost' signifies the end of an era

Today, the publication that I edit WEEKEND ran a Lost-centric issue, most of which I penned. You can check out everything here, but I wanted to re-post the piece I thought was most important to a discussion about television formats and genres moving forward. Here it is.

With Lost at the beginning of the end, emotions are high for us fans who have spent too many hours watching, debating online and staring at paused DVR images in hopes of finding hidden clues. But even for non-fanatics, this should be a sad time because there is no way that we will ever see a television phenomenon quite like Lost ever again. And here’s why.

Will the iPad change TV?

Image courtesy of Apple

Wednesday, every media outlet, web site, newspaper or blogger had something to say about Apple's latest "world changing" creation, the iPad.

And while the discussion of whether or not the iPad is actually that revolutionary is for another day, I thought I'd shape the story to fit into the realm of television.

So, in response to the question I posed in the headline: No, put simply.

More spin-offs coming to a TV set near you

This semester, I am hoping to research how television content will change in the 21st century and so most of my posts on this blog will discusses issues relating to genre, narrative, etc.

Two recent announcements give us an indication of one way programming content will move, at least on the major broadcast networks: spin-offs.

Quick plugs

I'll be using this blog for my C411 entries, but for anyone who reads this and wants to get more television analysis from me, check out my other blog, WEEKEND Watchers, where myself and my staff recap all of television's best.

And if that's not enough, I also edit and produce the WEEKEND Watchers Official Podcast, which just crossed the 40 episode mark. You can subscribe to that on iTunes.