The original Big Three networks could once again control Sat. morning

W

wonnder1

New member
I'm going to start with this link, which might give you an idea of what this discussion is about:

http://www.syfyportal.com/news425342.html

As you know, Fox has decided to pull the plug on its Saturday morning programming after its falling out with 4KidsTV, replacing it with informercials. For the time being, the CW will carry 4KidsTV, but that network as a whole is on the verge of shutting down. You definitely cannot count on MyNetworkTV to alleviate the impending situation of what's going on with Saturday morning programming, because not everyone gets MyNetworkTV on broadcast television. Networks that broadcast on Saturday morning cannot survive without a strong enough performance in prime time. I'm sorry if some of you don't want to hear that, but it's true. At the same time, not everyone has cable television, DVD players or VCRs, so no matter the situation, kids aren't to stop watching TV on Saturday morning. Let's look at the scenarios:

-Fox will drop its 4KidsTV block in favor of informercials.

-CW could be gone from the airwaves, next year.

-CBS and ABC continue to program on Saturday morning with its respective Kewlopolis(CBS) and ABC Kids blocks, while NBC runs its Qubo block.

Think about this, with Fox pulling out and the CW possibly gone, next year, CBS and NBC may have to make changes for its respective Saturday morning blocks, next year, namely expanding their programming blocks to 4 hours from 3 to fill the impending gap(ABC Kids' programming block is already 4 hours long). Does this make any kind of sense? Does anyone understand what I'm getting at, here? The possibliity of the original Big Three networks, once again, taking control of Saturday morning programming is now more real than it was before. Think about it, don't assume anything, do some online research- it just might become clear to you.
 
It's not going to happen. ABC will never be anything more than a dumping ground for Disney Channel repeats, meaning they'll never have Saturday Exclusive programming that can't be seen on Disney/Toon Disney.

I have a feeling if Kewlopolis were to leave CBS, they'd do the same thing Fox is and just turn the time back over to the affiliates or fill it with news/infomercials. The same can be said for NBC and Qubo. Anything you see on the big three currently can be seen literally anytime on cable during the week or On Demand, or simply be watched online.

The time of original programming on Saturday Mornings is a thing of the past, with numerous 24/7 kids channels, internet, Ipods, game systems, and various other things, the networks aren't going to waste time pouring money into shows kids won't sit down to watch when they just download it/wait for it to air during the week on cable/watch it on DVD.
 
I read the link and it offers nothing about the big three thinking about revitalizing Saturday Mornings. I don't want to be 'glass half empty' kind of guy, but Saturday Mornings like they used to be are on life support right now, and will most likely be dead altogether within the next five years on the off cable networks.
 
It's the cable kids networks like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network (who get the highest ratings on Saturday mornings with kids) that will control, not one of the big three.
 
Nickelodeon, yes. Cartoon Network...not so much. Their ratings are pretty equivalent with ABC Kids and the 4Kids blocks, except for Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
 
You missed the point, again! It says the CW could be gone, next year. Fox is pulling out of Saturday morning programming and the CW might be gone. I've also stated that you shouldn't count on MyNetworkTV relieving the situation, because not everyone gets it on broadcast television. Now, who does that leave? Think about it!
 
Well, to be fair, NBC has more influence on Qubo than CBS has on KEWLopolis...

But yeah, unless CW4Kids becomes INCREDIBLY popular at some point down the road, there's no reason for the big three to lift their fingers at creating new homegrown shows. As much as it's been a part of television for, you know, 40 years, the executives just don't see the point anymore.

4Kids is all that keeps this tradition from dying out permanently.
 
Think about this, 4KidsTV might become popular, but should the CW shut down, next year, as it's in jeopardy of doing just that, where will 4KidsTV go? You can't count on MyNetworkTV to help out in this situation, since not everyone receives it.
 
Who cares? This is like saying that you're the last in line for the electric chair, therefore, you're on top because that only leaves you in the end. That's no accomplishment, you just happened to be lucky in getting to the electric chair last.
 
To nitpick you, it's CW4Kids, not 4KidsTV. 4KidsTV is ending next month on Fox. But yeah, if CW shuts down, non-E/I Saturday morning shows are finished....

Come to think of it, that would just leave CN as the only channel that will still premiere non-educational shows on Saturday mornings (but that's only due to not having anywhere else to put Pokemon and Bakugan)...
 
I said his statement was ironic, I didn't say I agreed with it. I was surprised that he was stating a network would survive past 2010, when he's been saying [as] and CN will go under in a few years. :shrug:
 
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