Why are RTE plugging 'The Mentalist' quite heavily?

pburns

They put award-winning stuff like 'Mad Men' on it the wee hours & keep it a secret but put this as yet unproven (but definetely not crap) series on in a good slot and put a decent push behind it.

Just don't see the logic...

elshambo

pburns wrote: »

They put award-winning stuff like 'Mad Men' on it the wee hours & keep it a secret but put this as yet unproven (but definetely not crap) series on in a good slot and put a decent push behind it.

Just don't see the logic...

Because its been designed to score heavy on the ratings without taking much effort to watch (you know , enjoyable fluff)

Thats probably why they bought it
so might as well give it the push

Mr E

I think Mad Men is more of a niche show. I know I couldn't get into it.
The Mentalist has a broader appeal.

elshambo

Mr E wrote: »

I think Mad Men is more of a niche show. I know I couldn't get into it.
The Mentalist has a broader appeal.

I couldnt be bothered trying to get into it

Ive a feeling regular tv is going to get increasingly bland over the years as people who would usually watch the "niche show" stop watching telly
or at least get more into watching Sky box recorded, or website catchup's, Iplayers etc????

?

Syferus

pburns wrote: »

They put award-winning stuff like 'Mad Men' on it the wee hours & keep it a secret but put this as yet unproven (but definetely not crap) series on in a good slot and put a decent push behind it.

Just don't see the logic...

As someone above said, it's less weighty.

RTÉ is scattershot to be sure, though. It promoted Prison Break while quitely relegating 24 to a pointless late in both actual time and in length between the US and Irish showings even though both shows are broadly appealing shows. Their choices are just what they think works best, which alot of the time isn't what works best.

Can I interest you in a PVR?

Syferus

elshambo wrote: »

I couldnt be bothered trying to get into it

Ive a feeling regular tv is going to get increasingly bland over the years as people who would usually watch the "niche show" stop watching telly
or at least get more into watching Sky box recorded, or website catchup's, Iplayers etc????

?

Television has been generally regarded to be in the midst of a golden generation for quite a few years now.

If you (in the pural sense!) like TV and don't have Sky or stream shows, you're seeing 10% of the most broadly appealing shows and then disregarding the rest because you haven't bothered to check them out.

Full_Circle

I'd say they are plugging it cause its doing incredibly well in the States and they figure it'll do much the same over here.
And like most have said already, its a very lightweight show and will likely appeal to a very wide audience.
For my money, its one of the more enjoyable new shows that kicked off this season!

mknotaro

pbruns - if we knew the answer to your question, it might seem like RTE have an idea why they do anything.

Sometimes RTE treats its audience like they respect them, and other times, like they think the audience are complete morons.

The Mentalist seems to me to be a genre show in the vein of CSIs and the Law and Orders. A whodunit. The first episode was really no far advanced then a plot of a Murder She Wrote episode.

His ability to read people wasn't really explained. Exactly how he did it. For example, the dead body that, in the first ep, he knew was gay. Up to that point, I understood he was reading physical signs from people. Byt they never said how he knew something from a dead body.

Anyway back to your question - the type of show it is would then make it seem like it'd play in the Rte 2 audience a bit more.

Is it sponsored? That could be another reason why they're plugging it so heavily. I think it is... a remember some green car whizzing around?

HungarianHippo

I heard the Seoige's were axed so that they could seamlessly make the transition to The Mentalist. Lorraine Keane is going to direct a feature length episode of The Wire. True Dat.

Mac 79

does any one know when it's repeated its' clashing on sky+. why do rte always have odd times

Elmo

ER is finishing up and RTÉ ONE needs a replacement show. I think Mad Men would actually do quite well at 9:30 on a Sunday Night.

Television has been generally regarded to be in the midst of a golden generation for quite a few years now.

I don't think it has, I think American TV gold was from around 1988 to 2002 for Network TV with the likes of LA Law, Hill Street Blues (earlier but important), NYPD Blue, Homicide: Life On The Streets, The Practice, ER, The X-Files, 24 (first season for originality). Even many of the sitcoms can be included Friends, Spin City, Scrubs.

The current crop of HBO and Showtime programmes have start to give cable a golden age starting in 1999 up to now with Sex in the City, Oz (Earlier but Important), The Wire, Dexter, Damages, The Closer, Mad Men etc etc.

elshambo

Mac 79 wrote: »

does any one know when it's repeated its' clashing on sky+. why do rte always have odd times

you might find it on the http://www.rte.ie/player/

K4t

pburns wrote: »

They put award-winning stuff like 'Mad Men' on it the wee hours & keep it a secret but put this as yet unproven (but definetely not crap) series on in a good slot and put a decent push behind it.

Just don't see the logic...

Casual viewers - tut :rolleyes:

They buy a show like Mad Men so TV3 can't. RTE never had any intention of showing it at a prime time slot. They just wanted to prevent TV3 from doing so.

I love Mad Men and watch it mostly on BBC when it's on early enough.

Elmo

K4t wrote: »

They buy a show like Mad Men so TV3 can't. RTE never had any intention of showing it at a prime time slot. They just wanted to prevent TV3 from doing so.

I love Mad Men and watch it mostly on BBC when it's on early enough.

TV3 would not buy Mad Men look at what they did with The Wire when the bought Channel 6. However in saying that In Treatment was a strange buy for them, but I only think they bought it because of Gaberial Byrne. You will note that BBC put it on BBC FOUR a channel that most don't watch. While I like it as a channel many might call it BBC Snore. I think it is put out just as late on BBC ONE as RTÉ ONE.

MisterAnarchy

Syferus wrote: »

Television has been generally regarded to be in the midst of a golden generation for quite a few years now.

Thats highly untrue.
Most of the programming these days is cluttered with reality tv junk,celebrity wannabee/talent shows,fly on the wall shows,diy/makeover and cringeworthy talk shows.
90% of tv shows are garbage .
Any decent shows are being made by the cable networks in the US as they arent ratings dependant.

giftgrub

They probably had to pay and arm and a leg for The Mentalist, which is an unfortunate name on this side of the Atlantic.

As an aside I'd love to know much these kind of shows actuially cost broadcasters, i know they have big trade fares where buyers from broadcasters go to look at the new stuff

Do they pay per episode, per season?

Elmo

giftgrub wrote: »

They probably had to pay and arm and a leg for The Mentalist, which is an unfortunate name on this side of the Atlantic.

As an aside I'd love to know much these kind of shows actuially cost broadcasters, i know they have big trade fares where buyers from broadcasters go to look at the new stuff

Do they pay per episode, per season?

RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 all buy in packages of programming. If they wanted The Mentalist they often have to buy about 5 duds within that package. The Mentalist and perhaps another 2 shows where possible they factors they took when buy the package of programme.

But no Irish channel buys per episode or per season rather per package. Unlike Sky, BBC, C4 etc who buy on a per programme basis. Sky pays about 1,000,000 per episode of Lost and 24, Irish channels spend between 500 - 2000 per episode.

mercuroman

Elmo wrote: »

ER is finishing up and RTÉ ONE needs a replacement show. I think Mad Men would actually do quite well at 9:30 on a Sunday Night.

I don't know what RTE are doing with ER - they've had it on its Sunday night slot for years now but they put it up against Lost for its last season - very strange.

Mad Men is utterly fantastic and I kinda prefer that no one knows about it - its too good for Joe Public so I'm happy that RTE don't have a clue what they have on their hands!!!:D

Elmo

mercuroman wrote: »

I don't know what RTE are doing with ER - they've had it on its Sunday night slot for years now but they put it up against Lost for its last season - very strange.

Mad Men is utterly fantastic and I kinda prefer that no one knows about it - its too good for Joe Public so I'm happy that RTE don't have a clue what they have on their hands!!!:D

They avoided putting Lost up against ER for that reason but with Sky One getting one day before RTÉ choose to put it on a Sunday night. I don't see why they don't broadcast it on a Saturday and repeat it on a Monday.

I think RTÉ should show their good shows in prime time and the era that Mad Man is set in would suit most of RTÉ One's older viewers. I said Mad Men could gaurentee 400,000 viewers for them if not more.

Syferus

Elmo wrote: »

They avoided putting Lost up against ER for that reason but with Sky One getting one day before RTÉ choose to put it on a Sunday night. I don't see why they don't broadcast it on a Saturday and repeat it on a Monday.

I think RTÉ should show their good shows in prime time and the era that Mad Man is set in would suit most of RTÉ One's older viewers. I said Mad Men could gaurentee 400,000 viewers for them if not more.

In a world where PVRs, cable, downloadable episodes, streaming and utter fragementation of audiences didn't exist, it might be possible for a national network to show something that doesn't have mass appeal in one of its weeknight primetime slots.

A simple question: who of those calling for this would actually watch it on RTE, months after it first airs elsewhere?
The vocal ones on these sorts of appeals are almost always people who have watched the show already.

Today, it's CSI: Salt Lake City or bust.

Elmo

Syferus wrote: »

In a world where PVRs, cable, downloadable episodes, streaming and utter fragementation of audiences didn't exist, it might be possible for a national network to show something that doesn't have mass appeal in one of its weeknight primetime slots.

A simple question: who of those calling for this would actually watch it on RTE, months after it first airs elsewhere?
The vocal ones on these sorts of appeals are almost always people who have watched the show already.

If give an expectable time slot I wouldn't bother downloading, I don't often. I still watch TV on TV.

You seem to think everyone has Broadband, PVRs, VCRs and other recording devices. You would be wrong.

Syferus

Elmo wrote: »

If give an expectable time slot I wouldn't bother downloading, I don't often. I still watch TV on TV.

You seem to think everyone has Broadband, PVRs, VCRs and other recording devices. You would be wrong.

Saying alot do doesn't mean everyone has them.

Mad Men has a day and a time, even on RTE. The question was simple, and rethorical - most who want RTE to do something like this won't even watch it. The catchment is far higher on a more broadly appealing show like CSI, or even potentially a 'Mentalist'.

The fact is something like Mad Men doesn't have broad appeal, and the very audience it does cater to is in a large way swallowed up in some way or the other by what you listed.

Elmo

Syferus wrote: »

Mad Men has a day and a time, even on RTE. The question was simple, and rethorical - most who want RTE to do something like this won't even watch it. The catchment is far higher on a more broadly appealing show like CSI, or even potentially a 'Mentalist'.

The fact is something like Mad Men doesn't have broad appeal, and the very audience it does cater to is in a large way swallowed up in some way or the other by what you listed.

I haven't seen Mad Men fully, why because it is on to late and I amn't to pushed about it as a show. Even if it airs in Prime time on BBC4, I just forget about it there.

What I am saying is that Mad Men is something that many people from the 1960's maybe interested in seeing for nostalgic reasons. No offense to those of us who where teenagers or young adults in the 1960 but I some how don't see them being in the group that you are talking about, they certainly won't be downloading the episodes whatever about recording them. Sunday Night is perfect for Mad Men at 9:30pm. I don't see why it should be hidden from the public on Late Night RTÉ One and Prime Time BBC Four.

Just to make some of us feel superior to the general plebs?

I am currently catching up on 24 on RTÉ Two, I couldn't be assed downloading the show.

Syferus

Elmo wrote: »

I haven't seen Mad Men fully, why because it is on to late and I amn't to pushed about it as a show. Even if it airs in Prime time on BBC4, I just forget about it there.

What I am saying is that Mad Men is something that many people from the 1960's maybe interested in seeing for nostalgic reasons. No offense to those of us who where teenagers or young adults in the 1960 but I some how don't see them being in the group that you are talking about, they certainly won't be downloading the episodes whatever about recording them. Sunday Night is perfect for Mad Men at 9:30pm. I don't see why it should be hidden from the public on Late Night RTÉ One and Prime Time BBC Four.

Just to make some of us feel superior to the general plebs?

I am currently catching up on 24 on RTÉ Two, I couldn't be assed downloading the show.

And those people generally didn't work in the high-rises in Madison Avenue in the 1960's. The nostalgia angle is very weak, because the 1960's Irish people remember is in general the complete opposite of what Mad Men is. For it's (undobtably brilliant) protrayal of high earners in the golden age of advertisement, most Irish people witnessed a nation and a generation ravaged by migration and poverty.


Which again brings me to my overiding point about Mad Men, and shows like it. They're made on cable - in Mad Men's case, a premium cable channel - so by their nature they tend to be less broadly appealing and more niche, the sorts of things that get great buzz on an online forum, but rarely come close to huge numbers when they're in syndication in other countries.

There's a very good reason why RTE doesn't show Mad Men in primetime, and that's it.

Elmo

Syferus wrote: »

And those people generally didn't work in the high-rises in Madison Avenue in the 1960's. The nostalgia angle is very weak, because the 1960's Irish people remember is in general the complete opposite of what Mad Men is. For it's (undobtably brilliant) protrayal of high earners in the golden age of advertisement, most Irish people witnessed a nation and a generation ravaged by migration and poverty.


Which again brings me to my overiding point about Mad Men, and shows like it. They're made on cable - in Mad Men's case, a premium cable channel - so by their nature they tend to be less broadly appealing and more niche, the sorts of things that get great buzz on an online forum, but rarely come close to huge numbers when they're in syndication in other countries.

There's a very good reason why RTE doesn't show Mad Men in primetime, and that's it.

Yeah I totally for got about the mini-cletic tirger that Ireland had during the 1960s. (we had a boom period back then).

Clothes, Fashions, Themes, World Politics, Radio, Television, News etc all bring about nostalgia. Payton Place was a huge success, standard Soap Opera fair, like most Soap Operas it focused on the rich.

I asked my Mam to watch it last night to see what she thought, She said she would watch it only she was too tired but she like what she saw.

I would agree with you that it is notbe widely appealing and hence RTÉ has a reason not to show it at 9:30 on a Sunday night however since RTÉ have never broadcast it at that time neither you or they know how their audience might react to it, if they put it on at 9:30 and it flopped then I would think it only proper that they reschedule it. But they didn't even try. This is typical of how RTÉ give a reason for showing a show at late hours without giving a real reason.

Basically it comes down to RTÉ (and many others) treating their audience as fools. And others feeling superior.

Advertising = Pop Culture. We all see the work of a Mad Ad.

lostexpectation

Elmo wrote: »

RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 all buy in packages of programming. If they wanted The Mentalist they often have to buy about 5 duds within that package. The Mentalist and perhaps another 2 shows where possible they factors they took when buy the package of programme.

But no Irish channel buys per episode or per season rather per package. Unlike Sky, BBC, C4 etc who buy on a per programme basis. Sky pays about 1,000,000 per episode of Lost and 24, Irish channels spend between 500 - 2000 per episode.

im sorry what duds are you talking of entourage mad men, these kinds of duds?

Elmo

lostexpectation wrote: »

im sorry what duds are you talking of entourage mad men, these kinds of duds?

No those are the good parts of the packages that they buy.

I am talking about The Big Bang Theory, Murder She Wrote, B rate Movies, The Rules of Attraction, Reaper, even Smallville etc etc. I know I like some of them but as you say RTÉ bought these shows with good ones like Entourage, Mad Men etc etc.

But then I am arguing that they show Mad Men and Entourage during prime time.

bwenie

its crazy i'v never heard of Mad Men that you guys are talking about and I'v only got the boring old four irish stations!!! whats it about??

I enjoyed the mentalist the other night, had to laugh when he was about to get shot but was saved by throwing a few sticks at him! :P

Elmo

bwenie wrote: »

its crazy i'v never heard of Mad Men that you guys are talking about and I'v only got the boring old four irish stations!!! whats it about??

I enjoyed the mentalist the other night, had to laugh when he was about to get shot but was saved by throwing a few sticks at him! :P

Mad Men is based in 1960s Madison Avenue offices of the Advertising Industry in New York City. I personelly fell it tends to be a bit to obivous with the Racism and sexism that was apart of life in the 1960. But it is worth the look. It is broadcast on RTÉ ONE at around 11:30pm or Midnight each Monday Night on RTÉ One. You should take a look.

http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/

lostexpectation

Elmo wrote: »

No those are the good parts of the packages that they buy.

I am talking about The Big Bang Theory, Murder She Wrote, B rate Movies, The Rules of Attraction, Reaper, even Smallville etc etc. I know I like some of them but as you say RTÉ bought these shows with good ones like Entourage, Mad Men etc etc.

But then I am arguing that they show Mad Men and Entourage during prime time.

the big bang theory isn't dud nor is reaper, smallville, not a dud, rules of attraction does okay doesn't it

Elmo

lostexpectation wrote: »

the big bang theory isn't dud nor is reaper, smallville, not a dud, rules of attraction does okay doesn't it

The Big Bang Theory is a Dud as is Rules of Attraction, I will exclude Reaper and Smallville but only because I like them.

The Big Bang Theory is a typical Chuck Lorrie Comedy not funny, uninteresting and with over the top stereotypes.

Rules of Attraction is another typical sitcom, none of which coming from the US have been that good of recent years.

In relation to Mad Men, Entourage all of the above mentioned shows are duds. They aren't even all that popular duds like CSI:Miami etc. which currently fill up the RTÉ schedules.

qwertplaywert

Elmo wrote: »

Rules of Attraction is another typical sitcom, none of which coming from the US have been that good of recent years.

How I met Your Mother wants a word with you.

Elmo

qwertplaywert wrote: »

How I met Your Mother wants a word with you.

What the typical US sitcom that uses a gimmick to get an audience?

lostexpectation

Elmo wrote: »

The Big Bang Theory is a Dud as is Rules of Attraction, I will exclude Reaper and Smallville but only because I like them.

The Big Bang Theory is a typical Chuck Lorrie Comedy not funny, uninteresting and with over the top stereotypes.

which as been getting decent ratings,and good reviews.

Rules of Attraction is another typical sitcom, none of which coming from the US have been that good of recent years.

which has been getting ok ratings, never really watched meself.

they are not duds.

and it still doesn't explain rte crazy scheduling

jor el

Elmo wrote: »

The Big Bang Theory is a Dud as is Rules of Attraction, I will exclude Reaper and Smallville but only because I like them.

The Big Bang Theory is a typical Chuck Lorrie Comedy not funny, uninteresting and with over the top stereotypes.

Rules of Attraction is another typical sitcom, none of which coming from the US have been that good of recent years.

In relation to Mad Men, Entourage all of the above mentioned shows are duds. They aren't even all that popular duds like CSI:Miami etc. which currently fill up the RTÉ schedules.

Dud is probably the wrong word (though I agree in the case of Big Bang, it's crap). They are only dud in the sense that RTÉ probably wouldn't buy them if they weren't forced too, not in the sense that they're being canceled. Even Reaper, which I liked at the beginning, seemed to get very repetitive, and I never got into Smallville, just does nothing for me.

I've watched the first half of Mad Men season 1, but haven't finished it yet. To be honest, I'm not sure if I'm all that bothered.

RTÉ's crazy scheduling has been going on for years, they've been killing 24 (a highly rated show) since about the third season, by putting it on at all hours. Reality TV, and ridiculous soaps, get all the primetime slots, everything else gets pushed aside.

Elmo

I wasn't trying to explaining why RTÉ schedule so badly, I was only explaining how they buy in programming from the US.

Top Programming with some duds that the distributor would not be able to sell other wise e.g. Sue Thomas FB Eye.

Bondvillain

Elmo wrote: »

e.g. Sue Thomas FB Eye.

I watched half an episode of that one night and thoroughly enjoyed it,

Having missed the credits, and considering it was a story about a plucky little Deaf FBI agent with the heart of gold and her daily encounters with (amongst others..) the grizzled FBI boss with gruff exterior but a heart of gold; his patriotic staff with hearts of gold; her wacky partner with a heart of gold; her faithful guide dog with the heart of gold, and the filthy, murdering Ay-rab terrorists with hearts of cold, black, evil anthracite, I thought that it was a razor-sharp satire on sh*t American television.

Second episode proved It wasn't. It was deadly serious.

America terrifies me sometimes.

lostexpectation

Elmo wrote: »

I wasn't trying to explaining why RTÉ schedule so badly, I was only explaining how they buy in programming from the US.

Top Programming with some duds that the distributor would not be able to sell other wise.

but they are not duds, we were comparing all these shows to The Mentalist, it doesn't matter how they do it, we don't need another tv broadcasting nerd, saying 'but you see what you don't know is....'

its ridiculous.

Elmo

lostexpectation wrote: »

but they are not duds, we were comparing all this shows to The Mentalist, it doesn't matter how they do it, we don't need another tv broadcasting nerd, saying 'but you see what you don't know is....'

its ridiculous.

There is plenty of **** that RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 buy in from the US this is a fact, they get these shows within packages for the top american shows. Sometimes these shows aren't duds but still only last a year (Freeks and Geeks and Dead Like Me), others such as JAG, NCIS run for years and years and are still duds weather you or I enjoy them. I used to like JAG in particular the first series and then it went stupid, this stupidity carried through to NCIS.

As I said one of the biggest duds RTÉ ever bought was "Sue Thomas FB Eye" seriously bad, they had to buy the show because it was packaged with CSI or LOST or Grey's Anatomy (which I consider duds but get the viewers)

I am just letting you know how they buy in programming some one asked and I answered, forgive me for having an opinion based on fact.

I have being giving out about the crazy scheduling of RTÉ for the last 5 years. It is highly annoying, but their is some American TV which should be put into the backs of the schedule. Mad Men isn't one of them, The Big Bang Theory is one of them. (I just find the big bang theory insulting to most intelligent people not just "broadcasting nerds" they may as well show Saved By The Bell. )

fixes glasse, blows nose & snorts

lostexpectation

Elmo wrote: »

I am just letting you know how they buy in programming some one asked and I answered, forgive me for having an opinion based on fact.

elmo says its a fact that the mentalist is not a dud.

Brimmy

Elmo wrote: »

TV3 would not buy Mad Men look at what they did with The Wire when the bought Channel 6. However in saying that In Treatment was a strange buy for them, but I only think they bought it because of Gaberial Byrne. You will note that BBC put it on BBC FOUR a channel that most don't watch. While I like it as a channel many might call it BBC Snore. I think it is put out just as late on BBC ONE as RTÉ ONE.

BBC are utterly fantastic. They put the lowbro, lowest common denominator stuff on BBC1, the slightly unmainstream artistic stuff on BBC2 and spread out the gold between BBC3 and BBC4. They put on shows that you would never see on any of the "main" stations (Greek) as well as showing advanced American episodes (ala Heroes).

You have to remember it's funded by the tax payer and the vast majority of the tax payer don't have access to these stations yet. So the homegrown and domestic programmes that would appeal to these people, as going by a generalization, most of them would have more simple tastes/not much interest in TV otherwise they would have the likes of Sky and access to these programmes already.

I think over the next few years you'll see more and more foreign bought products on the BBC3/4.

Elmo wrote: »

No those are the good parts of the packages that they buy.

I am talking about The Big Bang Theory, Murder She Wrote, B rate Movies, The Rules of Attraction, Reaper, even Smallville etc etc. I know I like some of them but as you say RTÉ bought these shows with good ones like Entourage, Mad Men etc etc.

But then I am arguing that they show Mad Men and Entourage during prime time.

You mean Smallville which still does decent ratings in the US and is going into it's TENTH season and the Big Bang Theory which does fantastic ratings for what is an incredibly cheap production for a television series? Reaper isn't a dud really either, it's ratings are ok but just not enough to warrant a 3rd pick up. Hopefully it gets it though because it's second series has been quite fun.

You're excluding something being a dud just because you like it? I'm sorry that you alone make up the entire viewership of that show..

Freaks and Geeks wasn't a dud? It did HORRIBLE in the ratings. I loved it but it was definitely a dud (silly Americans).

Personally I really like The Big Bang Theory. It's not great but it's certainly not bad. It's got some good physics jokes which are (for the most part) usually correct and the comic jokes appeal to my tastes. I don't find it insulting in anyway, much like I wouldn't find a show like Chuck insulting which is, in my opinion, much more nerdier.

Now what I want to know is why neither station shows Chuck :mad:

Syferus

jor el wrote: »

I never got into Smallville, just does nothing for me.

I hope I'm not the only one who had a chuckle over that line.
Calm down!! I'm only saying it's ironic!

Syferus

Also, the liberal use of 'dud' in this thread, with almost each poster using it in a different sense is very confusing.

Elmo

lostexpectation wrote: »

elmo says its a fact that the mentalist is not a dud.

No I did not say this.

Dud = Show that will not do well regardless of quality. e.g. Freeks and Geeks (quality), Sue Thomas FB Eye (tripe).
Non-dud = Show what will do well regardless of quality. e.g. Grey's Anatomy (Tripe), ER (quality).

I was stating that programming is sold in packages and within in those packages their will be a number of duds sold with the more critically/publicly well received shows. Packages are sold based on the big shows with in those packages e.g. Lost etc.

You're excluding something being a dud just because you like it? I'm sorry that you alone make up the entire viewership of that show..

No I stated Smallville and Reaper are duds even though I enjoy them. Both of which air on the CW which is not a very popular station in the US, it is 6th behind Univision.

mknotaro

[FONT=&quot]The Mentalist - I'm going to be the conspiracy theorist here and say there must be something going on in RTE about the show.

The highlights of this week's RTE Guide and next week's RTE Guide for Thursday have the show in exactly the same spot with exactly the same picture - but the wording changed.

Plus the show is sponsored by Mazda, so maybe RTE went to Mazda and said this is a hit show and it'll get loads of ratings and now they have to make it come true.

I see 24 has been moved to a less dead zone slot at just after eleven this week [Yes, I've been reading the RTE Guide!] I'm like to know if 24 is a 'part of the package' show or the main buy-in.

I'm with many people on this - I think RTE and its scheduling is completely off and unorganised. On Thursday early evening, RTE TWO is like a teen channel 90210 and Ugly Betty. But on Tuesday early evening it's a nature zone. Even if they're getting Smallville and other teen content in packages, surely they could programme that type of stuff on RTE TWO consistently through the week? So Smallville is in the same slot as 90210 but on a Mon/Tues, etc.

I'm also going to add that I like The Big Bang Theory. I ain't a fan of other Chuck Lorre productions (Two and a Half Men), but TBBT gets very nerdy with some of its jokes - stuff that the nerds would actually know. Unlike The IT Crowd which does about one nerd joke a series, so I don't believe that Moss and Roy are actually geeks/nerds. [/FONT]

Elmo

As I said at the begin RTÉ are looking for a replacement for ER.

24 is only being moved to a less of a dead zone because of the bank holiday weekend, RTE News on Two won't air. :mad:

7 - 9 on RTE Two is supposed to be nature/documentary interrupted by sport. The schedule is totally off with 90210 and Ugly Betty.

Syferus

Elmo wrote: »

No I stated Smallville and Reaper are duds even though I enjoy them. Both of which air on the CW which is not a very popular station in the US, it is 6th behind Univision.

I think it's unfair to label shows like that - the fact is, shows like Smallville and Supernatural don't do 24 or CSI-esque ratings, but they are more than profitable enough in terms of fan attachment, ratings, critical reception and appeal to the 18-34 bracket to say that they're far from 'duds'.

Cable channels, too, surrvive on even less ratings. Admittedly that market is slightly different, but if a show wasn't popular enough in significant ways there' very little chance it'd last for eight seasons, as is the case with Smalllville.

The fact is there's no ultimate league table - The CW goes in with different expectations than FOX or NBC does, they never expected Smallville to be some sort of 20 million an episode beast. Each station has a different measure of sucess, so to label a show a 'dud' without taking that into account is plaintively wrong.

jor el

Syferus wrote: »

I hope I'm not the only one who had a chuckle over that line.
Calm down!! I'm only saying it's ironic!

Ooh, the ironing! Well spotted.

Elmo

Syferus wrote: »

I think it's unfair to label shows like that - the fact is, shows like Smallville and Supernatural don't do 24 or CSI-esque ratings, but they are more than profitable enough in terms of fan attachment, ratings, critical reception and appeal to the 18-34 bracket to say that they're far from 'duds'.

Cable channels, too, surrvive on even less ratings. Admittedly that market is slightly different, but if a show wasn't popular enough in significant ways there' very little chance it'd last for eight seasons, as is the case with Smalllville.

The fact is there's no ultimate league table - The CW goes in with different expectations than FOX or NBC does, they never expected Smallville to be some sort of 20 million an episode beast. Each station has a different measure of sucess, so to label a show a 'dud' without taking that into account is plaintively wrong.

RTÉ TWO happens to be in a similar position however it also has the more mainstream Desparate Housewives and Prison Break which each attrack that 18 - 35 age group just as much as Smallville and Reaper only both of those shows may not attract great numbers of the over 35s which DH and PB will. Smallville would never achieve 500,000 viewers.

You also have to remember I am talking about the full package of shows the examples I gave are only examples their could be even worst shows that RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 never air with in the packages.

TV3 bought a package based on Bonic Woman !!!!! big mistake.

lostexpectation

Elmo wrote: »

No I did not say this.

Dud = Show that will not do well regardless of quality. e.g. Freeks and Geeks (quality), Sue Thomas FB Eye (tripe).
Non-dud = Show what will do well regardless of quality. e.g. Grey's Anatomy (Tripe), ER (quality).

I was stating that programming is sold in packages and within in those packages their will be a number of duds sold with the more critically/publicly well received shows. Packages are sold based on the big shows with in those packages e.g. Lost etc.

a dud is something of poor quality, why are you being so dismissive of good shows in order to justify rte's poor scheduling

Elmo

lostexpectation wrote: »

a dud is something of poor quality, why are you being so dismissive of good shows in order to justify rte's poor scheduling

FFS I amn't, some on the thread asked how are shows bought by RTÉ, TV3 and TG4. I gave an answer.

Some of the shows mentioned are duds weather you or I like them or not (I have said I like some of those shows but I know that very few agree with me). US programming is not as good as it used to be even the so called feature programmes of a package (IMO they are also duds (currently)). I think any one who has read my post over the last number of years will know that I have complained quite often about the bad scheduling of RTÉ TWO for some of the quality programmes that they buy in, The Practice, 24, Boston Legal, Medium, Mad Men, Six Feet Under, Boston Public etc all of which are award winning shows.

But the fact remains that RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 all buy in shows based on packages with 3 or 4 shows as the highlights of those packages with distributors telling them they must buy in the "not so good shows" (or shows which are not suitable for their schedules) with the better ones.

Dud perhaps was the wrong word to use but it was used purely as an answer to the question of "Do RTÉ buy in single serials or are they bought as part of a large package of shows?".

There is no excuse for the scheduling that RTÉ insist with.

IMO I can't see RTÉ wanting to buy The Big Bang Theory but they got it as part of a package.