spy_penguin007
New member
The End of Broadcast Kids' TV - Part 3 is up now. Discuss!
Blog Talkback: Toons of the 2000s: The End of Broadcast Kids' TV - Part 1
- Thread starter Atheistfools
- Start date
Very thorough article...
I had such a (much briefer) article written that I repost from time to time on the "why is Saturday mornings/broadcast TV cartoons dead" threads that pop up from time to time, slightly updated as needed:
>>
I've posted this before, but here's my reasons why Saturday mornings are dead:
1. Technology. Between the Internet, cable, DVDs, computer and video games, mp3 players, cell phones, etc., there's a *lot* more distractions now for kids than in the past. Additionally, VCRs, Tivos/DVRs, DVDs, and the networks' websites posting their shows online shortly after they air all mean not having to get up at a specific time (Saturday mornings) anymore.
2. The rise of cable TV programming in the 90's as a major broadcast TV competitor. No need to wait until Saturdays to watch first-run cartoons---there's whole *networks* devoted to them now (well, sort of, judging from Cartoon Network's live-action programming of late).
3. The increased emphasis in the 80s and 90's on news programming (which is a local station's most profitable source of income) and first-run syndicated daytime adult programming (talk shows, "Judge ", infomercials, etc.) virtually eliminating non-E/I-required kids' programming. Of course, even if stations *want* to run cartoons, they might not be able to, because of...
4. The various media mergers of the 90's (ABC and Disney, CBS and Viacom (for a period), Time-Warner merging with Ted Turner, etc.) leading to homogenization of programming on broadcast and cable TV (with now just several enormous conglomerates owning most media outlets, broadcast and cable, in the US---and no, that's not a good thing...) and the practice of "vertical integration". Hence, only Disney-made shows on ABC; special exclusive one-studio or one-programmer deals like Qubo, CW4Kids, etc.; and no older shows being syndicated because, say, Time-Warner only wants "Looney Tunes" to air on CN/Boomerang/other networks they own, and if they decide they can't be bothered to air them on any of their own networks (despite the high number of networks they might own), the show gets to collect dust on a shelf (as what *did* happen to Bugs and the gang for the past several years, until recently).
Accompanying all of this is the death of the independent television station in the US; historically, these stations were a big source of kids' programming in the past. However, the recent rise of the WB/UPN (now the CW), Pax/"i"/ION, Spanish-language networks like Telemundo and Univision, home shopping channels, etc. has killed off independents in most cities.
Those are IMO the main four reasons for Saturday mornings becoming dead; factors like the rise of anime/4Kids, the E/I requirement, etc. are merely after-the-fact aspects----by the time the three-hour requirement, the "Poke-onslaught" on the WB, etc. came to the fore in the late 90's, Saturday mornings were already pretty much dead...
Now, I shall save this to a file, and use again for future reference the next time someone asks this question...
I had such a (much briefer) article written that I repost from time to time on the "why is Saturday mornings/broadcast TV cartoons dead" threads that pop up from time to time, slightly updated as needed:
>>
I've posted this before, but here's my reasons why Saturday mornings are dead:
1. Technology. Between the Internet, cable, DVDs, computer and video games, mp3 players, cell phones, etc., there's a *lot* more distractions now for kids than in the past. Additionally, VCRs, Tivos/DVRs, DVDs, and the networks' websites posting their shows online shortly after they air all mean not having to get up at a specific time (Saturday mornings) anymore.
2. The rise of cable TV programming in the 90's as a major broadcast TV competitor. No need to wait until Saturdays to watch first-run cartoons---there's whole *networks* devoted to them now (well, sort of, judging from Cartoon Network's live-action programming of late).
3. The increased emphasis in the 80s and 90's on news programming (which is a local station's most profitable source of income) and first-run syndicated daytime adult programming (talk shows, "Judge ", infomercials, etc.) virtually eliminating non-E/I-required kids' programming. Of course, even if stations *want* to run cartoons, they might not be able to, because of...
4. The various media mergers of the 90's (ABC and Disney, CBS and Viacom (for a period), Time-Warner merging with Ted Turner, etc.) leading to homogenization of programming on broadcast and cable TV (with now just several enormous conglomerates owning most media outlets, broadcast and cable, in the US---and no, that's not a good thing...) and the practice of "vertical integration". Hence, only Disney-made shows on ABC; special exclusive one-studio or one-programmer deals like Qubo, CW4Kids, etc.; and no older shows being syndicated because, say, Time-Warner only wants "Looney Tunes" to air on CN/Boomerang/other networks they own, and if they decide they can't be bothered to air them on any of their own networks (despite the high number of networks they might own), the show gets to collect dust on a shelf (as what *did* happen to Bugs and the gang for the past several years, until recently).
Accompanying all of this is the death of the independent television station in the US; historically, these stations were a big source of kids' programming in the past. However, the recent rise of the WB/UPN (now the CW), Pax/"i"/ION, Spanish-language networks like Telemundo and Univision, home shopping channels, etc. has killed off independents in most cities.
Those are IMO the main four reasons for Saturday mornings becoming dead; factors like the rise of anime/4Kids, the E/I requirement, etc. are merely after-the-fact aspects----by the time the three-hour requirement, the "Poke-onslaught" on the WB, etc. came to the fore in the late 90's, Saturday mornings were already pretty much dead...
Now, I shall save this to a file, and use again for future reference the next time someone asks this question...
I think it's sad that the tradition of Saturday morning/weekday afternoon cartoons is slowly being phased out. I grew up watching One Saturday Morning, and didn't think it was leading up to the death of Saturday morning. The thing about 500 channels is that (at least on basic cable) some of the channels air only the same five or six shows.
I never understood how the FCC was allowed to regulate the content on television. I thought they were supposed to check and see if our electronics are working properly, and THAT'S ALL they should do. People who don't like the content should change the channel; that's why there's remotes (and off buttons). Add that to just six companies controlling a huge chunk of our media and competiton and creativity gets crushed, as others have said. Thank goodness for the Internet; I just hope they don't get their hands on it and start "regulating" that.
I never understood how the FCC was allowed to regulate the content on television. I thought they were supposed to check and see if our electronics are working properly, and THAT'S ALL they should do. People who don't like the content should change the channel; that's why there's remotes (and off buttons). Add that to just six companies controlling a huge chunk of our media and competiton and creativity gets crushed, as others have said. Thank goodness for the Internet; I just hope they don't get their hands on it and start "regulating" that.
torrance M
New member
I agree with all three parts of the articles. I was actually surprised at how much the lack of kids' advertisers was a factor, and my dubious suspicions were confirmed about how many affiliates didn't want animated programming they couldn't control (beats the most common 'fan' excuse, at least in 4Kids' case for example, in that many affiliates thought 4Kids programming was of poor quality and not worth airing).
If anything, this pretty much confirms that anyone hoping for a revival of broadcast kids' TV is out of luck. 4Kids' block on the CW notwithstanding, the era's over, folks.
If anything, this pretty much confirms that anyone hoping for a revival of broadcast kids' TV is out of luck. 4Kids' block on the CW notwithstanding, the era's over, folks.
Pope Gopher 999
New member
That is till the government modifies the regulations. If you think about it, it makes more sense to have children's programming throughout the day. They're the ones who are home. And the parent whose home with them is probably busy doing things around the house. So, if they removed that advertising cap, I'm sure affilates would welcome the return of a kids block. Notice how the article mentions nothing of affilates complaining in the `80s. Why? Cause they had nothing to complain about. The cash was rolling in.
One possible bright spot in the gloom is that animation is less restricted by Standards & Practices than it once was. Could you honestly see "Wolverine and the X-Men" cutting it with S&P even 4-5 years ago? And 5 years ago was light years beyond the 80s and 90s. Remember all the hoops 90s Spider Man had to jump through with it's fight scenes? Or how they couldn't use words like "blood" and "kill"?
ticked off
New member
The only part of the article I disagree with is how NBC and CBS are "footnotes" in Saturday Morning TV.
Sure, NBC's and CBS's Saturday Morning programming blocks are filled with E/I shows, but many of those shows that air in those blocks are brand new to US audiences. NBC's Qubo has "My Friend Rabbit", "Shelldon", and "Willa's Wild Life", while Cookie Jar TV has "Busytown Mysteries" and "Noonbory and the Super 7".
NBC and CBS are taking the right direction with Saturday Morning E/I programming. I watched some of these shows, and despite being E/I, both "My Friend Rabbit" and "Busytown Mysteries" are very entertaining and have great stories and voice acting. This proves not all E/I shows suck.
Sure, NBC's and CBS's Saturday Morning programming blocks are filled with E/I shows, but many of those shows that air in those blocks are brand new to US audiences. NBC's Qubo has "My Friend Rabbit", "Shelldon", and "Willa's Wild Life", while Cookie Jar TV has "Busytown Mysteries" and "Noonbory and the Super 7".
NBC and CBS are taking the right direction with Saturday Morning E/I programming. I watched some of these shows, and despite being E/I, both "My Friend Rabbit" and "Busytown Mysteries" are very entertaining and have great stories and voice acting. This proves not all E/I shows suck.