Here's an article about sitcoms that i didn't really get the point of. I mean, i guess the point is that the old style is still more popular, and you can't break with tradition. which is sort of in line with the entry i wrote about roseanne.
but here's the thing. i think that things are changing, and i don't really see the point of writing an article that isn't going to take any further of an attempt at theorizing about the state of modern television. judging a television show merely by its ratings is a thing of the past. the writer's strike last year was an indication that they see where the wind is blowing, that money isn't just coming from initial airings and syndication. tv shows are taking on a life of their own, and i think that is (or should be) putting an added emphasis on quality, and allowing true interest in a show to gain ground against what is merely on the network during prime time.
the three big factors that have changed tv shows' situation are dvd sales, the internet, and dvr/tivo. the major difference with these new factors is that they can be acquired on demand. this is great because it allows the viewer to watch exactly what they would like, and does not waste viewership on people who are not interested in watching. as media has become increasingly interactive, standard television, particularly broadcast television, grows increasingly out of touch. cable television is still more relevant i would say, because it is directed more toward niche audiences, and probably serves as a sort of branding that helps people to find shows they are interested in watching, ie a new comedy central show or a new TLC show.
but the point is, younger generations want to watch what they want, when they want. and that is most often not when it is aired. i, for instance, am an incredibly loyal tv show watcher; when i am into a show, i do not miss a single episode. but i almost never watch the show when it airs. either i dvr it, or i watch it on hulu or one of the illegal sites, or i'll just rent/buy the dvd of the entire show and watch it at once. and almost everyone my age seems to do this.
i think audience loyalty is very important; it gets people to purchase dvds of a tv show and to sit through boring and painful advertising without switching channels. more people might be watching two and a half men, but i doubt they are getting any of the extra income that flows into trendy shows like 30 rock and arrested development. i don't understand why people aren't thinking creatively about the new opportunities opening up, and i hope that someday these extra factors will be optimized. because it will help the networks/production companies if the true value of the shows are realized, and it will certainly encourage the production of higher quality shows. i know there's a way that everyone can win, and i hope it will happen soon.