[US] cable now better then network tv?

Richard Dower

Me thinks yes, and the ratings reflect same....for years we've had these quality shows coming from HBO and Showtime, but now other minor cable channels have really come into there own in the last year or two.

USA Network has several hit shows, with Starz having huge success with Spartacus and future programming looks very postive. TNT/AMC....lots of fine quality shows.

As we know cable affords more freedom, from the producer/writer perspective....you'd never see Spartacus on CBS for example. The main networks are really struggling at the moment with no "hit" in sight for them, several high profile shows last season bombed, and the Fall 2010-11 schedule looks no better.

So it does seem that cable is where it's at

Basq

In terms of quality vs quantity, cable has pretty much always been better than network TV with the likes of HBO, Showtime and AMC.

And in terms of quality, cable outshines network TV much more often than not nowadays.

It's not exactly a "new" development!

ixoy

Eh we all discovered that years ago Richard.

Basq

Anyways Richard..

.. aren't you the same person who wouldn't watch stuff like 'True Blood' and 'Breaking Bad' because they were too dark / gritty?

You're missing out big time buddy!

J-blk

For me the best part about cable is that they actually give their shows time to find their feet... The big networks cancel shows with 2-3 episodes very frequently or move them to a "death slot" after the same amount of episodes, axing them completely after a handful of additional episodes.

But in fairness, the lower expectations (ratings-wise) do help a lot of shows on cable as well - they would have long been canceled on the major networks with the numbers that make them "hits" on cable.

FreudianSlippers

I'm starting to really see a narrowing in the gap between cable and network for production value as well. It used to be that cable shows just didn't have the same budget and time put into their production so they all looked cheesy and had bad acting.
Not to mention that cable allows shows to continue on and get very good whereas networks yank shows off the air at almost the first sign of poor ratings - I always wonder why networks don't send shows that have potential to perform on cable (Terminator: SCC et al) to their sister cable networks?!

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Richard Dower wrote: »

Me thinks yes, and the ratings reflect same....for years we've had these quality shows coming from HBO and Showtime, but now other minor cable channels have really come into there own in the last year or two.

USA Network has several hit shows, with Starz having huge success with Spartacus and future programming looks very postive. TNT/AMC....lots of fine quality shows.

As we know cable affords more freedom, from the producer/writer perspective....you'd never see Spartacus on CBS for example. The main networks are really struggling at the moment with no "hit" in sight for them, several high profile shows last season bombed, and the Fall 2010-11 schedule looks no better.

So it does seem that cable is where it's at

I'm sorry, are you from the past?
:rolleyes:

amacachi

Holy **** my time machine works.

Cable TV hasn't just surpassed Network TV, it's better than film now too.

phasers

I still think Network TV produces better comedy.

I'll show myself out...

don ramo

ya id say the majoity of my favourtie shows are probably cable shows, like californication, spartacus, sopranos, the wire ETC,

cable does seem to allow more feeedom for the shows, and probably allow a little extra sprikle of reality to there shows, i have my favourite network shows also, probably my favourite show ever the west wing was a network show,

i do like a lot of network shows, but thats purly down to numbers, networks have more shows, but at the same time there full of reality **** which i absolutely hate,

cable just produces better shows,

network tv is in decline massively, and it shows in the ratings, with shows that used to get 20 million viewers now gettin quartered if not halfed, how long till they realise there turning people off there shows by constantly calcelling shows that people invest in,

personally as long as a show doesnt cost you money i dont see any reason not to keep it,

Onthe3rdDay

I think you have to seperate the cable into basic and premium (HBO, Showtime, Starz)

The Premium Cable servings have been a very high standard for a long time, but Basic cable seems to have caught up over the last 5 or so years.

Basic seems to have passed Network offering over the last few years, but the best HBO product was always better than Network.