Agree or Disagree: Blocks are Dead

A

Agata

New member
I've seen a lot of threads expressing dissatisfaction with certain programming blocks lately or hoping that one particular block will come back in some form. I have to say, it's irrelevant. Blocks have been made irrelevant by new technology such as the DVR, video on demand and Internet streaming sites like Hulu. A few nostalgic cartoon fans may want to sit in front of them and watch all the bumps, but they're a very small minority and they don't matter to networks and advertisers.

Most people just watch the one or two shows they like from the block or DVR the show or even watch it online. Even kids don't watch blocks any more, their parents DVR their shows for them and put them on whenever they want to watch them. The era of timeshifting is here and it's killed programming blocks dead, so it's just something we have to get used to.

But that's just my opinion, what do you think?
 
I'm inclined to agree. Blocks had a purpose in the past, when shows shared similar themes, approaches or audiences and the cornerstone of that block could be used to support the lesser shows that would otherwise struggle in ratings.

But in the current environment, that cornerstone show gets all the love from the network and sponsors while the rest either ride it out through DVD sales or streams. Basically, the audiences have made sitting through a line-up a waste of time and the change in approach shows that.
 
I have to agree and its evident as there are very few blocks I can think of. New technology may have killed the block, but it still has purpose. To organize programming, which is something a lot channels have trouble doing lately for some reason. That's why I miss blocks.
 
That's what I miss as well. Although DVR, reruns, and online sites may have lowered the popularity of blocks--as well as good programming in general. Blocks not only organized programs, it kept the viewers interested even through the commercials, if time and effort were put into it. I can list a lot of blocks in the past that glued my eyes to the tv even though I may have not liked a show or two in its block. But as of today, I know that the Saturday primetime block of Nickelodeon is still watched by my little sisters, along with the Sunday primetime block of Disney Channel.
 
I have to agree on this one. There are only a few blocks I know of that are still around. Off the top of my head I could point out Playhouse Disney (Disney Jr.) but not much else.
 
Blocks have kind of become irrelevant in today's day and age, I enjoy programming blocks and I miss some of the real good ones but as a whole I would agree that the idea of cartoon blocks is dead. 4Kids has what is really the only true Saturday morning cartoon block around worth watching, all those other E/I blocks aren't even worth mentioning and with the death of programming blocks such as Toonami, Saturday Crushzone, Har Har ThArsdays and You are Here it seems like blocks are just withering away into the land of the forgotton.
 
Eh, things go in cycles; right now just isn't a time for programming blocks. Currently networks like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon are seeking a more unified look and feel with their networks, and so they aren't interested in pouring extra money and effort into separate animations and bumpers for specialized sets of program blocks. Blocks may come back into vogue somewhere down the line, but right now just isn't a block time.

It doesn't matter to me; I've always felt that blocks were irrelevant overall. Blocks and wraparounds are a nice treat, but they're nothing more than the roses on the cake. It's the shows themselves that matter. If the shows are good, then I'll watch them, I don't need them to be bundled in a fancy block.
 
Do the "Mondays" on CN count as a block? And what about whatever they call it when they air all the action shows on one day. But yea, i agree, they're slowly vanishing. And, does Nick Jr. still come one? I miss Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, gooood times man, i tell ya.
 
Usually a block of programs consists of a special look and feel to it, things such as exclusive bumpers or a welcome and farewell to the beginning and end of the collection help to make a block a true "block". Though some would consider CN's Monday and Friday nights to be "blocks" because of the fact that it's a collection of their biggest comedies aired all on a single night and a collection of their biggest action shows aired all on one night, usually in premiers.
 
I'm not sure if I would say that blocks are dead. I'm leading towards the idea that Manga4life brought up that blocks have become irrelevant in this day and age due to the advancement in technology. When I was in elementary school and middle school, the only way I could watch my favorite shows, like Pokemon, was through weekday and Saturday morning blocks. Today, kids have a lot more options to watch cartoons, like DVDs, having the parents DVR the program, video On Demand, legal online streaming sites, etc. There' are some blocks still out there, like the CW4Kids and Playhouse Disney, although the former is getting its own channel similar to Nick Jr., but I just don't think that they're as significant/relevant due to the different options kids have in watching shows.

Even though I have some nice memories of watching blocks like Kids' WB and a bit too Toonami, blocks were never that important to me. As long as I could see the shows I wanted to see, it didn't matter if they were in a block or not.
 
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