My super secret fake insiders and ninjas are telling me that this season of CHUCK is amazingcakes! That this could be the bestest yetest! They expect the fans will go frakin' bananamuffins if the show is canceled after such a kickarse season!
So what can fans do to prevent that from happening???
How can we SAVE CHUCK yet again?!
Truth is, there isn't much we can do. Sure, we can keep being who we are, trying to get new viewers and talking about CHUCK online and in the really realzies world, and putting on events and whatever else. But the reality is that these things only give the appearance of dedication/strength, and do little to affect the ratings necessary to bring the show back for more episodes/seasons. But there may be a solution.
In season 3, for the first few episodes, NBC/WB did not put the show online. They held it back. And what happened? The Nielsen ratings INCREASED over the previous season. Then, they put it online and what happened? The Nielsen ratings DECREASED. And within a few episodes, the ratings were in a free-fall.
Now, there is always the possibility that CHUCK lost viewers because of the Shaw/Sarah romance arc, or because Hannah left, or because the quality of the show declined, but another contributing factor could very well be that as time went on people decided to watch it online instead. This has been shown to work at CBS, where they do not provide online viewing for their highest rated shows. This model has increased ratings for some shows, season to season, at CBS.
I know that many fans rely on CHUCK being available for both online viewing via Hulu.com and NBC.com, but also for pay-per-view via iTunes, XBOX Live, Playstation Network, Amazon.com and such services. These fans would not be happy having to either watch the show live or DVR it. To those fans I ask this: do you want more CHUCK or do you want to get new episodes the following day and potentially lose the show after 13 episodes?
Will this strategy guarantee that the show will continue on past this season? Nope. But chances are that repeating the exact same strategy that resulted in a loss of viewers last season will result in another loss of viewers and cancellation this season.
What say you, CHUCK fans?
UPDATE: Funnily enough, Televisionary posted this article about the same subject today.
I think it's a sad example of how the studios have yet to figure out modern (as in hey it's 2010) tech. But your logic may be sound unfortunately until the idiots sort out that people consume entertainment in different ways these days and figure out how to charge us reasonably for it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you magnus. Chuck is the only show I watch live hoping that it will help
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for CHUCK, Nielsen will begin to officially count alternate viewing methods in 2011. Just weeks after the 13th episode of this season.
ReplyDeleteIs there a limit to how long a post can be on here? I've twice tried to post a rather long post, and it doesn't work? It was basically a huge long rant, but basically, I agree with Anonymous. The entire Nielsen system is extremely outdated, and not having a show like Chuck online in this day in age is stupid.
ReplyDeleteNo limit that I know of... but here is what I ALWAYS do when posting to any thread/forum/blog. Before I hit submit, I highlight the entire text, copy, and then hit post comment. That way, if for whatever reason it doesn't work, I can try again without having to retype.
ReplyDeleteThen, if necessary, I can split the posting up if there is a limit or problem. However, I have seen some book sized responses in here so...
Why don't they wait 8 days like SyFy does with Eureka? I don't mind not having Chuck on-line for a while because I can watch it live. I don't have cable, so I have to wait for Eureka.
ReplyDelete-Mel (swismiself)
I always watch live. I also DVR it so my son and I can watch it later in the week. I preview it on Monday for things that might not be good for him to see. (few and far between, I might add, good solid family entertainment)
ReplyDeleteI do watch online at Hulu when I have a slow work day or over a lunch hour, but it's after the fact.
I think it would be a good idea to hold episodes back a week or two to increase the ratings. Several other shows do this and it's not that big of deal, to me anyhow. (White Collar comes to mind)
I also understand how frustrating it is that Nielsen can't wrap their head's around how to count emerging technology. It's not like this is new, like last year new. GRRRRR!!
Wow this is the most intelligent blog I have seen you post. I agree with you but, I think it should be delayed to Saturday online, only until Nielsen starts counting online views. NBC is only running re-runs on Sat, that way for people like me that can not watch it just once and rely on NBC.com will have something to watch. At this point I am in favor of anything that will keep Chuck going.
ReplyDeleteI don't have broadcasted TV in my house (shocker, I know), so I don't catch any shows live. I do, however, go and watch Chuck live at a friend's. The issue is that I love to watch an episode over and over again.
ReplyDeleteAll my blogs are brilliant.
ReplyDeleteDelaying the episodes a week or two is a working model. So, NBC/WB could do that. In fact, I would not be surprised if they did do that. However, I would rather they not put CHUCK on at all, or at least until after the season is over. My idea is unlikely for several reasons that I won't bother you all with, but even delaying every episode by two weeks would benefit the ratings.
I agree with Magnus I think they should wait until end of the season to post the full season of chuck. I think we have a better chance that way with the rating. Just wondering do the rating just count in the USA or does it also count else where like Canada or the UK?
ReplyDeleteI agree witchu, Magnus. But then again, when do I not?
ReplyDeleteDiane says...
ReplyDeleteI think they should take the delayed approach of holding it off at least 8 days.
While not a huge amount of money, the show does earn a tiny bit from the advertisements that appear in the online versions. So, I don't prefer the "wait until the end of the season" approach.
I'm not sure they (NBC) will do it, though. NBC.com and Hulu are seperate divisions with their own P&L's to worry about.
In answer to Greg's question, ALL countries have ratings system. Canada's is done by Nielsen. The UK has another company that does it.
The ratings in other countries matter to the countries that paid WB a license fee to air the show. Like NBC, they too judge whether they are going to buy the show for another season or put it in a better/worse timeslot based on their ratings. So, the foreign ratings count to WB's and Chuck's bottom line ultimately.
Good foreign ratings just can't save the show if it isn't doing well on NBC because NBC pays the most for the show.
There was only one show I can remember that was renewed in other countries, but not in the U.S. It was a CBS show called Due South. It's subsequent non-CBS seasons showed up here as syndication.
If I could, I'd watch it live.. but I can't (because I'm in Brazil), so I kind have to watch it online..
ReplyDeleteThere are some Monday's I have to work evenings or get out after Chuck starts. That's when I go to the internet to see what I missed. I need a good Laugh after work.
ReplyDeleteAs a true fan I watch it live and then I like to watch it again the next day I have watch Honeymooners a million times all they have to do is produce 13 episodes like Honeymooners
ReplyDeleteI agree.
ReplyDeleteI live in Okinawa, so I can't watch it live. But I buy EVERY single episode on iTunes rather than stream it illegally- so at least I am contributing the only way I can.
ReplyDeleteAh interesting ... well it makes me think of the fact that the other show I watch religiously these days, Dexter, drove me INSANE last season because I wanted to see it SO bad, but it was not online. Of course with Showtime being a pay channel, they don't show it online at all (though you can find it on some sites that show it illegally in not-so-great quality). But I wanted to see it SO bad that we finally ended up breaking down and ordering Showtime JUST so we could see Dexter season 4.
ReplyDeleteThat is an even more extreme case because we are now not only watching live but shelling out bucks for Showtime, in order to do it.
So based on that experience, your suggestion about not putting Chuck online could really work.
Your post sounds like a effort backwards (or is it backwards effort??) I started watching Chuck by renting discs while season 3 was airing. After realizing it was very entertaining, and finished watching s1 and s2, I was able to catch up in s3 by watching the first 4 episodes online. If this option had not been available, most likely I would not have continued to tune in to watch Chuck because of that gap. Delaying the episodes sounds much better. The web posts can bring in new viewers.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet all this getting new viewers in stuff hasn't increased the ratings. Drastic measures are necessary.
ReplyDeleteI understand that this is a solution to a problem caused by Nielsen's lack of data from other viewing sources. I'm just not sure that the statement about Chuck's first few episodes being held back online effected numbers. I would think heavy promotion, a double episode straight after the sport on a Sunday and then an episode the day after would have a greater reason for the initial number jump. Anyway I believe 'special' different day premieres are not counted in the season averages as the advertisers are interested in the numbers for the normal viewing time. Personally I'd rather see Nielsen adjust the statistical model by accepting more data from different sources in conjuction with the ad load out online and on demand more closely reflecting the content of the live broadcast (maybe not quite so many ads, but that won't happen). With people err subscribing seeing less to no adverts.
ReplyDeleteThe competition also had heavy promotion. It is not like CHUCK was the only show getting that treatment. Plus, why would NBC promotion increase ratings for several weeks? Did people abandon their favorite shows for CHUCK? I am sure there are several reasons for the shift in ratings, but we should promote ALL potential solutions to the problem. That includes not putting the show up for online viewing.
ReplyDeleteOr, as others have suggested, delay it. Though, I would delay it by two weeks, not one. But like I have said, I don't think the network will do that... mostly because they get free money for about two months from online ad revenue.
I think chuck should stick to it's strengths and just advertise the hotest people on chuck making out and I mean hot, steamy, illegal in 52 states making out sessions between chuck and sarah and awesome and Ellie and Morgan and Alex and Carina and Hannah and Anna, etc (luck Morgan). The best ads that drew in viewers was Salami and Colonel. Sex sells man, it really does. If they did that I promise the ratings would just hit the roof.
ReplyDeleteBased on what my ninjas tell me, there will be more than enough of that kind of stuff to advertise this season... so, they should go for it big time. Nothing but hot sexy sexy in the promos.
ReplyDelete" Sexy like a meow meow " ......
ReplyDeleteLove that quote !
I agree about holding the episodes back a week or so from sites that allow " free viewing " like Hulu , and NBC.com . But not for people paying for it at itunes . Just doesn't seem fair to people who want to legally pay for an episode . Just my opinion . But what ever way this goes , something needs to be done . I would hate to see this be the BEST season yet and get cancelled after the initial 13 .
Jules
The one thing that I am looking forward to is that now that the writers know what works and what does not work they can make a finished article that is feels and is genuine. The one thing I will say about season 3 (it was my favourite) the one thing that I did not like was that they did a couple of things that were contrived like the name reveal or the mask episode or even the whole shaw/sarah romance and it felt so fake and the actors did not portray that they bought it. The reason honeymooners is my favourite episode is it is like all the actors read the script and it had everything they wanted and they all smiled (yvonne had her chuck and sarah and the kinda mr and mrs smith deal, zac and josh got the bromance back on track and casey was just back to his one line grunting best) and you can tell by their performances they felt comfortable and it was very genuine and their best performance. I hope in season 4 that is what they do, stick to material that has everything in it and I think they are, Zac and Josh are getting what they want to be a spy team, Yvonne is getting her chuck and sarah and her fashion week travelling and Adam being a familly man is getting to show a better side of casey. So all looks good and I think it will be an awesome season.
ReplyDeleteI'm still not certain that I like this idea. I certainly see the advantages that it would give, but it also puts a strain on a very formidable niche of viewers who watch Chuck. As I stated earlier, there is no broadcast TV in my house. Just the way it is. I go to a friends house to watch the Chuck episode live. But one view is hardly sufficient. I enjoy watching the episode the next morning before work. Puts me in a good mood.
ReplyDeleteNot putting the episodes online makes a very faulty assumption that every house has DVR setup. I have a tube tv with a Super Nintendo hooked up to it and that's it.
I could maybe handle a one week delay, but honestly even that is too long. I need a solid three or four views of an episode before I move on to the next one.
But nobody cares what the guy without TV thinks.
So, at the end of the day, you would rather see CHUCK your way now, than see CHUCK at all for more episodes or seasons?
ReplyDeleteHi Magnus,
ReplyDeleteWhat about Illegal streaming and torrent downloads, people can view all new episodes of any show 5 minutes after it's aired on illegal sites. So what does that do to the equation? I can see people going to these sites if they cannot view it legally through hulu.
People who illegally download will do it anyway. You can't manage that equation.
ReplyDeleteDiane says...
ReplyDeleteI don't think the people who illegally download shows have enough volume to impact the ratings in the U.S.
Look at the ranking of top 10 video sites in the U.S. No torrent sites on it. (Hulu is #2, after YouTube)
http://en-us.nielsen.com/content/nielsen/en_us/insights/rankings/internet.html
Sure, people CAN illegally download. But, the real question is how many people do?
Also, people who don't already download illegally are unlikely to start now. There seems to be a technical and/or moral barrier for those who have not been doing it up to this point.
ReplyDelete