With more and more DVDs of TV shows being released (Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, etc.) do you think that this may hurt syndication? If everyone who is a fan of the show already have every episode on DVD, then what motivation would they have to watch it in syndication. I love watching old Simpsons right now, but as I accumulate more and more of the DVDs, I can see myself just popping one of those in instead of watching a commercial interrupted version.
A lot of people don't spring for the DVDs, especially the $80 range ones, so syndication isn't going to suffer. If nothing else, continued syndication may hurt DVD sales, since most people figure (probably quite rightly so) that The Simpsons will still be airing repeats twenty years from now, so why lay down the money?
Even if I have an episode of The Simpsons (or, especially this fall, Malcolm) on DVD, if it's the best thing on the telly at the moment I'll watch it on cable. Easier than popping in the disc. I see the DVD's more as archival, having the episode there on demand just in case; a supplement to the cable airings.
It may end up hurting syndication, but not for a long time. If you look at what is being released on DVD, it's still only a handful of shows. Add to that the fact that DVD players are not as prevalent in the home as TV sets are.
Syndication is still one of, if not THE most lucrative aspects of the television industry. It'll take a lot more than a few DVD box sets to cut into that market.
(edited by SchippeWreck on 28.5.03 1237)
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While I think older shows can peacefully co-exist, I'm surprised by the number of current shows that are releasing DVD sets so quickly (24, Alias, The Shield, to name a few).
24 is perfect for DVD, but maybe not for syndication, given the gimmick.
But shows like Alias are the surprising ones. Maybe the nets figure that DVD sales + lower syndication > just syndication "at old figures." Plus, as the cable universe expands, rights fees will probably go down, as everyone's ratings shrink.
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Originally posted by odessasteps While I think older shows can peacefully co-exist, I'm surprised by the number of current shows that are releasing DVD sets so quickly (24, Alias, The Shield, to name a few).
24 is perfect for DVD, but maybe not for syndication, given the gimmick.
But shows like Alias are the surprising ones. Maybe the nets figure that DVD sales + lower syndication > just syndication "at old figures." Plus, as the cable universe expands, rights fees will probably go down, as everyone's ratings shrink.
To be fair though, can YOU see The Shield airing at 4 PM on your local FOX Station? :)
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I think it's safe to say syndication was on failing legs LONG before DVDs came along. At least the golden age of it when you had channels made up almost entirely of syndicated programs (with time out for Jesus, naturally)
I think stations like TV Land and a few of the other basic cable channels buying up all the more enticing packages, plus the twice-a-day sitcom packages, and the networks allowing certain shows to be rerun over the weekends did more to hurt syndication than anything DVDs have wrought.
(edited by Enojado Viento on 28.5.03 2029)
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I think syndication and DVD's target slightly different audiences. Syndication is good for people who like a show, and don't mind watching it if they see it is on, (and may feel that at that time, nothing better is on, regardless of how many times they've seen the episodes). DVD's are better for people who want to watch either one specific episode, or watch the entire season in order without interruption (which can be hard in syndication -- Buffy is on FX twice nightly. Not only can that be demanding of a fan who wants to catch missed episodes, but they've also omitted eps while airing seasons.) I own the Buffy DVD's because I like to watch the season in continuity, and I know I'll want to go back and watch specific eps (or scenes) again. I still enjoy catching eps in syndication because while they may not be eps I'd choose to watch out of the box, they are still just as entertaining. (so while syndication and DVD's target two different audiences, those audiences can overlap, as in my case).
My favorite part about Simpson's syndication is seeing how fast I can figure out what episode it is... Simpsons and Seinfeld are the two syndicated shows I watch regularly
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What's with all the TV boxed sets lately, I'm begining to feel like I live across the pond there in europe.
In the past few months, we've gotten Law & Order, Alias, Futurama, Barretta, The Shield, Frasier, CSI, 24, MASH... what's a person who finds the need to BUY all of these gonna do?
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I have four shows I've purchased DVD sets of myself. The rest of the shows? The occasional catching of an episode in syndication is enough. I suspect that's true for most people. So in that line of thinking, there's a market for both. I find it hard to see that balance disappearing.
Nonetheless, producers of programming are careful about it. It is said that the long wait for Seinfeld to come to DVD is because it is still a heavy ratings hitter in syndication.
Originally posted by Net Hack SlasherMy favorite part about Simpson's syndication is seeing how fast I can figure out what episode it is... Simpsons and Seinfeld are the two syndicated shows I watch regularly
My favorite part about "Simpsons" syndication is seeing whether or not I can figure out what they've cut out of the episode. There's stuff from the early years I STILL remember...
I don't know whether or not I should admit that...
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