If TV loses, we all lose

We all know about the Janet Jackson costume "malfunction" during last year's Superbowl and the outcry which followed from politicians. But did you know that the government wants more regulation of Hollywood?

The relationship between the TV industry and the government is complex and tenuous. By law, the government regulates TV insofar as the government leases broadcast frequencies and TV networks are charged with broadcasting programs designed to serve the public interest. Consequently, issues of decency, production, and corporate regulation are important. Additionally, these concerns must be balanced with First Amendment freedom of speech and freedom of expression concerns.

At the heart of most recent debates is whether the government should and can regulate what's on TV.

What has been happening (in the last 10 years in particular) is the exponential growth of TV viewer options with the spread of satellite and cable (S&C) broadcasting. The major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, UPN, WB) are losing viewers to S&C.

Lower viewership on any given station means less revenue generated from advertisers who look for shows with high numbers of viewers. Consequently, as TV networks experience reductions in revenue, they also may cut back on spending.

These cutbacks can mean cutting network staff, budgets for productions, or both. As networks spend less on developing and producing new TV shows, the quality of television will drop fast. And let's face it, the quality is pretty low already.

Budget reduction trends are occuring across every network--broadcast, satellite, and cable alike; TV will become increasingly based on cheap-to-produce "reality" or unscripted programming. This includes shows like Big Brother, Extreme Makeover, game shows, and others. In short, TV will start to all look the same. One reality show after another.

In short, creativity is dying in television and will soon be dead.

A friend of mine who heads the scheduling department at a major cable network told me that there will never be another hit show on TV like The Cosby Show ever again. The Cosby Show finale earned a 50 Nielsen share (meaning--among all TV viewers that night--50% watched The Cosby Show). Now, the broadcast networks are thrilled to get a 35 share, collectively. In other words, broadcast TV audiences are small.

If TV is getting worse and more homogeneous, what's the answer to this dark path?

Ironically, the answer is for TV-viewing families to watch MORE TV.

But not just any TV, quality TV. And not just any TV viewing family, Nielsen Families.

If you aren't a Nielsen Family, watch any trash TV show you want (I personally endorse the uber-trash reality "dating" show CHEATERS).

But if you are a Nielsen Family, the future of TV is in your hands. We're running out of time, and the responsibility on your shoulders to watch quality TV. By supporting quality programming, we show networks and advertisers that we care about original, scripted television.