Leno, Leno, Leno…
Some may think I am kicking a dead horse when it comes to this issue, but as I have said before I think people are going to be surprised…even here in Montgomery when ratings come out. Here’s the latest -
NBC swore that the value of Leno is that when the other networks go into repeats that Jay would be there to sweep in and provide new programming. Guess what…the ratings are in for the first part of this week and it isn’t happening. From Adage.com – “‘Leno’s’ failure to convert repeatedly resistant viewers may be a one-night phenomenon (Monday), of course. But if the pattern is repeated the next two nights (Tuesday and Wednesday), when CBS will once again run reruns, it may solidify the sense that it’s not just that viewers are choosing first-run, often first-rate dramas on other networks, but that many viewers have simply decided against watching Jay Leno in prime time.”
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=139991
Jay sucking wind at 9 p.m. (central) effects the news at stations across the country (but never at WSFA of course) but now it is being tied to Conan’s ratings falling further. Here’s the article from the New York Times on that subject. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/conan-2009-vs-jay-2008-a-dramatic-decline-in-tonight-audience/?src=twt&twt=nytmedia
Need more proof that NBC has a problem – pick any of these articles from around the country that specifically talk about ratings declines of NBC stations 10 p.m. (central) newscast.
Los Angeles – http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010475.html?categoryid=1238&cs=1
Chicago – http://www.suntimes.com/business/lazare/1841216,CST-FIN-lew23.article
Baltimore – http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-nbc-affils19-2009oct19,0,1421138.story
All this to say…wow, NBC has a problem. Why are the stations rolling over so far on this? Why aren’t they crying out for Jay to be moved to 7 p.m. or even back to 10:30 p.m.? Why isn’t Jeff Zuckers head being served chilled and on a pretty platter to the affiliates yet (not literally)? You can’t blame Jeff Gaspin for all this…maybe for the “color” campaign but not for the Leno Show debacle. Ben Silverman could definitely be blamed.
Ben Silverman left NBC in July in the nick of time to start another company after dragging NBC to new lows. Some of his methods included blowing off upfronts…the time that advertisers see what new shows are coming out and setting their advertising direction and replacing it with infronts which is some corny term he used to make up for being last place and not having set plans for the fall. Under Silverman the goal was never to get out of 4th place between the networks…it was to make a profit from fourth place. Nice lofty dreams. Under Silverman NBC has wasted away.
Zucker though should be blamed for bringing Silverman in. At the point he was hired he was running Reveille Productions…which should actually have been called revival or redo productions. The whole purpose was to import in to the USA shows from all over the globe that had succeeded and then redo them. This is basically counter to what normally happens…we produce the shows in the USA and all the other countries watch them, dub them, sub-title and sometimes redo them. Silverman’s main accomplishment was bringing us “The Office”, “Ugly Betty” and “The Biggest Loser”. These three have done well being redone for American audiences. His list of flops is longer – check out the wikipedia page here and get an idea. I’m not expecting miracles…shows flop…we all make a good and bad decisions. I’m just thinking that maybe I would have wanted to hire someone with a little more experience with actually being creative and solving problems rather hiring the guy that redo’s hit shows…and only has about 5 to 10% be successful.
NBC has a problem…it starts at the top and ends with Leno. Until changes are made they should get used to being the #4 network (which they seem ok with!). Affiliates including WSFA have got to rise up or make changes themself. WSFA with a FOX affiliation is a cash cow in Montgomery. More news opportunties = more sales opportunities. More sales = more profit. I have said that before and you guys slaughtered me…but it could really work.
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Finally! After almost a year and a half since Montgomery locals were turned up on Direct. Picture quality is great. ...
It’s not a bad show, not a bad break from all the police procedurals that seem the same. The problem is what Conan alluded to on Jay’s first day: “NBC’s Night of 1000 Monologues.” Same jokes (Jon & Kate, Airline Pilots, yawn), same guests plugging the same shows & movies. There’s little incentive to watch both Jay and Conan regularly. And Jimmy Fallon has made the Late Night franchise an afterthought. If NBC wanted to be smart and save a little face they’d cut Jay back to three nights a week and bring back a good drama or two. As long as it’s not about medics, nurses, cops, or a hospital. Think about this. NBC’s Tuesday lineup is Biggest Loser and Jay Leno. I mean, wow. Way to not even try. The UPN had more gusto.
This would be great since there’s hardly any chance for us to get a third news outlet. Even though WSFA has alot of news, I would love to see more! Their now Today In Alabama would likely change to Good Day Alabama and last 4 hours. Plus, an additional 30min. at Noon, 5, and 9. They could continue to brand “WSFA 12 News” or as “FOX 12 News”…either would be okay. This would draw WSFA even closer to WBRC
WCOV could brand as NBC 20…..We still need a third party news station.
And now…TAMPA’s WFLA -
http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2009/10/jay-leno-may-be-pulling-down-11-pm-ratings-for-wflach-8.html