I agree broadcast TV is getting short shrift in all these previews. Deborah Yeo in the Star had a similar column. All but one of her picks were streaming shows. 

I have nothing against Netflix, Disney+ et al. But the so-called free TV networks still have some very good programs that attract millions of people. There's a bit of a snob appeal going on here and it's a real shame some great shows are being all but ignored.  

The best streaming shows are SO much better than anything on broadcast. It’s where virtually all the big name actors are. That’s not snobbery, just reality.

I agree with NCIS:Origins. My favourite show of the past two years. My second choice would be The Penguin, and third, being a tow truck operator for many years, Highway through Hell. 

RadioActive wrote:

Worth noting that they're also applying this standard to cable TV shows as well, which means if this was the standard a few years ago, acclaimed programs like The Wire or Breaking Bad would never have won so many awards. Seems if they're not on a streaming service, they're not worth mentioning. I just don't think that's true.

Those cable TV shows occurred in the brief interlude between broadcast and streaming. There are no cable TV shows now.

 

RadioAaron wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

My problem is that, in some cases, free TV is getting short shrift just because it's free TV. 

It's getting the shaft because it's 90%+ garbage. 

Well, that's a matter of taste and such a sweeping statement shows incredible bias. There are network shows I really like - The Law & Orders come to mind among others - and many I would never watch. But I frequently read the previews for streaming series that are outlined on various sites and think, "Glad I'm not paying for that - I'd never watch it." 

I will agree the cheap reality shows on the networks used as filler are, indeed, garbage. But some of the dramas and to a lesser extent, a few comedies, are far from that designation. Just because you have to pay for something doesn't instantly make it better. And that's where the snob angle comes in. You're certainly welcome to pay for and watch whatever you want, amid bills that will never stop increasing. That doesn't mean there aren't some shows worth watching on so-called free TV. 

Well, that's your opinion. Does not make it true. There's no doubt there are a lot of good shows on streaming services. But there are lot of bad ones, too.

Just like on free TV, with the exception that there aren't as many of them due to their three-hour a night schedule. 

I would not want either of them to go away. 

In the meantime, watch what you want and I'll watch my favourite shows. As it is, I can barely keep up with all the stuff on my DVR. I honestly don't think I could handle any more. 

I'm honestly not sure why this is such a big deal. 

RadioAaron wrote:

It's your loss.

You're resisting TV streaming and audio podcasts for no good reason.

You're a prime target for both.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

I feel no loss. And I'm not resisting. There are great shows on both. I just don't have as much time to watch TV as I used to, so a subscription would be a waste of money. Why pay for stuff I don't have time to see? It would be like going to a movie theatre, buying a ticket and then not going in. Why bother? 

If and when the day comes I can sit down and actually watch more than an hour or so a day (and sometimes even a week) I will almost certainly subscribe. That day is not here yet.