Internet streaming and DVD box sets have irreparably changed the way people consume television shows. Instead of waiting a week for the next episode of a show – especially shows like “Dexter” and “Breaking Bad” that specialize in tantalizing cliffhanger story arcs – many viewers prefer to watch their favorite series in marathon or “binge” formats.

MyRecordJournal.com of central Connecticut asked Time Magazine’s television critic James Poniewozik about this phenomenon. “This trend of people marathon-watching television is a change,” he said. “It’s a new thing people in the industry need to see that it’s happening and not fight it, but adapt to it,” says Poniewozik.

It may not be dire for networks to cater to this trend, as viewers still love anticipating and watching season premieres in real time. But ignoring this movement will most certainly mean networks are missing out on gaining another segment of viewers.

Fox has noticed this trend and prepared its programming accordingly. Fox will release a 10-episode season of the returning “Arrested Development” in full on Netflix, instead of airing the fourth season week-to-week.

MyRecordJournal.com reports:

“This is the way television is moving,” said Richard Hanley, associate professor of journalism and graduate journalism director at Quinnipiac University. “Many shows like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Mad Men’ are a throwback to 19th century novelistic works such as Charles Dickens’, where chapters were released into magazines. Some people would read each chapter per issue, but many people would wait until they had the opportunity to read a lot at once.”

Catering to binge viewing can benefit networks in a variety of ways. One of the most important: Viewers are much more interested in a season premiere if they are already invested in the series. For viewers who haven’t seen a specific show, streaming previous seasons or watching them in gross on DVD is a way to catch up on the series. And it’s a way for the networks to get more eyes on their prime-time programming, resulting in the potential for more advertising revenue.

Networks would be amiss to ignore viewing trends. The Internet has changed the way people consume news and has significantly altered the newspaper industry. Unless TV networks want to be the next victims of the convenience that the Web provides to consumers, they must start delivering their product in a way viewers actually want to pay for it.

If you are new to binge viewing, here’s a list of ten series that’s sure to get you started!

Time-shifted viewing. What?!

It sounds surreal and slightly Sci-fi to me, but it is just another buzzword that reflects the way we watch television in a TiVo DVR era.

The article I link to below explains it all in great detail. You see, ratings change when we can watch what we want…when we want.

We no longer have to choose between shows that air at the same time. We can now laugh at the notion of having to make choices. We hold all the cards, time is on our side, scheduled broadcast times mean nothing to us.

Maybe we have to tread lightly around the water cooler and demand spoiler alerts when our pesky coworkers or neighbors are gabbing about something we haven’t watched yet. But beyond that, our technology make us the bosses of the TV universe.

Life is good.

It is particularly good for the many shows mentioned in this article, as they lead the league in shows whose viewership has the highest percentage of time-shifted viewing. Popular shows that have become even more popular when time is no longer of the essence.

While speculation is dangerous in the constantly evolving and time-shifting world of TV, it occurs to me that the ability to watch anything at any time has to, in some small part, level the playing field. Two great shows in the same time slot or overlapping slots no longer have to be in direct competition.

We merely have to have a suggestion that something is worth watching and then give it a shot at our leisure. An inconvenient time slot, on a night when we are busy or engrossed in some other show, is an obstacle no more…

It makes the idea of waiting for a rerun seem rather archaic. And just maybe, thanks to time-shifting, good shows will have a better shot at capturing loyal viewership and decent ratings.

Until Next Time….

http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/07/31/tivo-s-20-most-time-shifted-tv-shows-of-2011-12-mad-men-fringe-more.html

Nominees for the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced this morning.

While the nominees obviously haven’t won anything yet, they certainly represent the best and brightest in the television industry today.

See the link below to find out which stars received the joyous call from their publicists this morning alerting them that they can now add to their credentials: Emmy Nominated Actor/Actress.

Maybe it’s all a little bit of a dog and pony show, but these performers and series all have some special something that is making them ‘darlings’ in the eyes of critics and viewers.

They are smart, daring, pushing boundaries and challenging our notions of what is funny, dramatic and qualifies as outstanding programming.

Sure there will always be somebody out there in La-La Land who is unhappy, feeling snubbed by the nominations, but there’s always next year, right?

What we do know is that with so many shows and channels, and with the television landscape continuing to evolve and grow increasingly competitive, just being nominated IS quite an honor.

How many times will you hear that sentiment on Emmy night? Plenty, but mostly because it is absolutely the truth.

Here are the main categories:

Emmy nominations for TV drama series

“Boardwalk Empire,” ”Breaking Bad,” ”Downton Abbey,” ”Game of Thrones,” ”Homeland” and “Mad Men.”

Emmy nominations for actress in a TV drama series

Glenn Close, “Damages”; Michelle Dockery, “Downton Abbey”; Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”; Kathy Bates, “Harry’s Law”; Claire Danes, “Homeland”; and Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men.”

Emmy nominations for actor in a TV drama series

Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire”; Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”; Michael C. Hall, “Dexter”; Hugh Bonneville, “Downton Abbey”; Damian Lewis, “Homeland”; and Jon Hamm, “Mad Men.”

Emmy nominations for TV comedy series

“The Big Bang Theory,” ”Curb Your Enthusiasm,” ”Girls,” ”Modern Family,” ”30 Rock” and “Veep.”

Emmy nominations for actress in a TV comedy series

Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath, “Girls”; Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn, “Mike & Molly”; Zooey Deschanel as Jess Day, “New Girl”; Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton, “Nurse Jackie”; Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, “Parks And Recreation”; Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, “30 Rock”; Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, “Veep”

Emmy nominations for actor in a TV comedy series

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, “The Big Bang Theory”; Larry David as Himself, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”; Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan, “House Of Lies”; Louis C.K. as Louie, “Louie”; Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, “30 Rock”; Jon Cryer as Alan Harper, “Two And A Half Men”



Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/List_of_Emmy_nominees.html?cmpid=138887484#ixzz215IfzTgf


Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

The people have spoken…and they love Mad Men.

Ratings are up and it is clear Don Draper has captured an audience. But, there is more to the story.

Through Mad Men, we are getting a look at how people have turned to Netflix and other ‘alternative’ distribution methods to ‘catch-up’ on a series and then jump back in when it returns in real-time to its original network. (See link to article below.)

Alternative is in quotes because Nexflix, Hulu, etc. are less and less alternative and more and more mainstream these days. Viewers view content in the ways that are most convenient and accessible for their needs. Where there’s a will to watch, there is a way!

As we all know, people are busy, but that doesn’t mean they are willing to miss out on the gem that their friends, neighbors and critics have found in Mad Men and the same phenomenon applies to any and all ‘hot’ shows. It’s never too late to catch up, get up to speed and tag-in… even if a series has been around for many seasons.

And, this trend or truth has many consequences for the creators and distributors of content—positive ones! More channels and more distribution methods drive the need for content; content that’s original and inspired! Clearly, with more ways to watch, the need for content will continue to increase.

Distribution channels evolve, too. Mad Men airs on AMC; which wasn’t exactly synonymous with Emmy-worthy original content in the past—but wow, has that changed with Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead! And, we all know that HBO and Showtime didn’t used to produce amazing original content and now they churn it out like child’s play.

So, if it can be done, this progress in original content development, Netflix and others will want to develop their own original programs, too. They won’t be alone. Alternative entertainment methods will continue to crop up and they will need content as well…

Have any ideas you’d like to share?

Speaking of Mad Men, New Show Studios own President Anthony Valkanas got to meet and greet and enjoy a photo op with Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner at the NATPE (National Association of Television Program Executives) Market & Conference in January in Miami. Certainly a pleasure to rub elbows with the creator of such a successful series.

Source:   http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/04/19/mad-men-and-don-draper-should-buy-netflix-a-drink/