1 of 1- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline 
The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
When I was a kid, TV in the summer was filled with reruns of shows that aired in the fall. But at least they were pretty good shows, and with no DVRs or VCRs in those days, it was a chance to catch up on something you missed.
That was then. Now, it appears broadcast TV has simply given up on the summer months. When the final installments of new shows ended in May, as recently as last year you could still find actual first run sitcoms or dramas to watch. There weren't many of them and they weren't always great, but at least they were there.
This year, I've barely recorded a single show off the traditional nets in months. The entire summer schedule is like a nudist camp - lots on display but nothing on. There are the usual repeats, but the rest is endless - and cheap - reality crap or game shows. In other words, filler that's cheap to produce while they wait for the new season in September (or October or even later now.)
None of this is surprising, and many have given up on the OTA TV networks altogether, tuning to streaming instead. But the traditional outlets are not doing themselves any favour by doing this. The more you encourage tune-out, the less they're likely to come back in the fall. Old habits die hard - but if you don't offer viewers any reason to tune in, they will eventually die.
While they still attract a lot of eyeballs, old style TV continues to wane. And those in charge are not helping to keep it going. Which makes me wonder if - since they all own their own streaming services - they really want to.
- Radiowiz
- Member
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
More gameshows please, and I DO mean actual game shows, not reality TV.
I enjoyed watching the floor. That ended. Now, for the summer I am enjoying shows like Lego masters (that is a game show right?) and Quiz with balls.
The cage seems to be original. I like watching that.
Hollywood squares seems to be in reruns now. I hope there will be new ones in the fall.
I'm looking forward to the fall season.
The Canadian version of the Price is Right is going to be great to watch.
- mace
- Member
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
Has anyone ever done this? There is a series that isn't appointment viewing. You are aware of it and may have watched an episode, maybe two. One night, there isn't anything on that interests you very much so you decide check out the series you have only seen once. What happens? The network is airing the one episode you have already seen.
- andysradio
- Member
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
To make matters worse, this year, there is no Olympics, Euro Cup or World Cup. Tour de France use to be on SN but now that has moved to streaming.
- Shorty Wave
- Member
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
Well I guess we’ll all have to find a couple of good books to read this summer then, there always seems to be a slew of new titles this time of year!
- Easily Amused
- Member
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
Shorty Wave wrote:
Well I guess we’ll all have to find a couple of good books to read this summer then, there always seems to be a slew of new titles this time of year!
With books as with movies and television, there are some reruns that are infinitely better than the new stuff they're churning out.
Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath' falls into that category for me. A book that I can pick up, open to any page, and become immersed in the story.
- mace
- Member
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
With so much drek on the broadcast networks, the folks that run AntennaTV, METV and CoziTV must be smiling. I never tire of The Rifleman, Have Gun Will Travel, Bonanza and the 30 minute episodes of Gunsmoke.
- Binson Echorec
- Member
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
There is a series that isn't appointment viewing.
"What's that?"
- Almost everyone under 40
- newsguy1
- Member
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
If you have Roku, you know the Roku channel itself has lots of.vintage TV shows and movies.
Right now there are free movies like Waterworld, Gosford Park and Atomic Blonde.
There are TV shows like McMillan and Wife, Have Gun Will Travel and obscure old ones like M Squad which introduce Lee Marvin.
Anyway a ton of amazing free stuff (with the Roku subscription of course).
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
If you have Roku, you know the Roku channel itself has lots of.vintage TV shows and movies.
Right now there are free movies like Waterworld, Gosford Park and Atomic Blonde.
There are TV shows like McMillan and Wife, Have Gun Will Travel and obscure old ones like M Squad which introduce Lee Marvin.
Anyway a ton of amazing free stuff (with the Roku subscription of course).
You don't need a subscription to watch much of their stuff - just a VPN set to the U.S. The Roku Channel website has tons of free shows and movies and you don't even need to sign up to watch any of it. Check it out here.
- •
Thread Starter- The Weed
- Member
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
And Hoopla Digital and Kanopy that are free with your Library Card.
- mic'em
- Member
Offline
Re: The Worst Summer For Broadcast TV Ever
A new season of The Amazing Race Canada premiered last night. It is being repeated on one of the TSN's this evening if you missed it. I have been watching Revival on the CTV SCI FI channel. Duster was another cool show that just ended last week.