David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place. Prediction: The CW is toast
One wonders just how long Viacom and Warner Bros. are going to continue to throw away good money after bad on The CW, the network that you can’t really say emerged from the ashes of The WB and UPN, because, really, it never actually emerged. It just kind of sits there.
Critics liked its new scripted shows this season or at least begrudgingly admitted that “Gossip Girl” had a legitimate shot at success. But “Gossip Girl” never managed more than around 2.5 million viewers, and that’s a far cry from success. Even the genial, almost universally acclaimed “Reaper” couldn’t find an audience. The CW is down 50% from last season in the 18-49 demographic and 21% in its 18-34 target demo. Its Sunday-night lineup recently failed to break a million viewers, and got a 0 rating, a first for a “broadcast” network.
And now a new report catalogues the network’s woes, noting that The CW will lose another $50 million this year, and with bottom-basement programming like “Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants,” “CW Now” and whatever new Pussycat Girls atrocity they have in place, it’s astonishing to think that they even spent $50 million in order to lose it.
Oh, and World Wrestling Entertainment just announced it’s severing ties with the network, which means it’s out two hours of some of its highest-rated programming. Due to the particulars of their financial arrangement, The CW didn’t have to pay for “Smackdown!”, so any programming they replace it with will only further contribute to their money pit.
So, let’s recap, shall we? Only one really successful show, “America’s Next Top Model,” that could really give a boost to one of Viacom’s many cable networks. A smattering of OK shows that no one’s watching, and some more lousy shows that look like they were produced by Philippine day laborers. And nothing that looks remotely encouraging for the net on the horizon.
Add all this up, and I’m guessing they’ll pull the plug on this network by season’s end. If the powers that be (i.e., Les Moonves) is hedging on such a decision, I invite him just to hand me $50 and I’ll personally flush it down the toilet for him (well, maybe I’ll pocket a little of it beforehand). The only reason for continuing to try to rescue it? Because you’ll never see another broadcast network launch again in your life. But then, The CW’s sorry story underscores precisely why that’s true.
Comments
This is what happens when a network angers a huge portion of it's fan base by cancelling many of it's well liked shows.
Posted by: Mark | February 10, 2008 11:34 AM
Well said Mark. They have treated the fans of their shows like they are expendable and have millions more around the corner.
Posted by: Rachel | February 11, 2008 6:15 AM
The Cw has pretty much been on a steady down fall since they cancelled Veronica Mars. Then They cancel Gilmore Girls. They just get rid of these shows that while they may nopt bring in the best ratings but they do bring them ratings. Shows like Veronica Mars had a very strong and supportive fan base that once CW canceled the show pretty much stopped watching anything on the CW. Then with them either canceling or the WWE taking away Smackdown they are losing a show that brings in some of there biggest ratings. Now if The CW cancels a show like Smallville or One Tree Hill I think the next work will be dead shortly after that.
Posted by: Robert | February 14, 2008 10:08 AM
I'm not surprised by this. I only watch one show, Supernatural, on the CW. None of the other shows, that air on the CW, interest me. The CW has done a horrible job of advertising Supernatural, which has a very avid, fan base. Despite its time slot on Thursday and the lack of advertising, the show still does well. I think the CW has done a poor job of picking shows, which people actually want to watch and shows, which people can enjoy, get slotted against some really tough competition.
Posted by: Karen | February 21, 2008 10:50 PM
"A smattering of OK shows that no one’s watching, and some more lousy shows that look like they were produced by Philippine day laborers. And nothing that looks remotely encouraging for the net on the horizon"
-- That is OFFENDING! Philippine Day Laborers?
Does the author of the article wanna be the next Teri Hutcher (making a comment about the Filipinos)?
Posted by: HHH | February 23, 2008 11:46 AM