There might be only 3 networks soon, and other bad news

[deathshead2]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/42941

If I'm reading that right, then the channel is doomed. With the stations being sold another company might make a 4th network again. Or mynetwork tv, CW, FOX, ABC, or CBS will just fight over them for more ground.

Comcast will keep NBCs cable channels(USA,SyFy) since they all do much better. Sadly its Comcast which most likely means things will be changed, like G4 I'm betting its canceling the good shows. Hope the film studio will be ok.

When major deals like this go down good shows, and bad shows get canceled. Prey your fave show sticks around.

 

[bullets]

I don't like this one bit.

 

[deathshead2]

Well at least the Leno show will be gone.
I'd say any shows NBC has in production will be halted, and shut down. Or if possible moved to another network. Either sold to one of the big three, or moved to one of the cable channels. I'm hopeing Chuck will end of somewhere safe.

Oh and another thing, I'm betting all NBC shows on Hulu will be taken down. As comcast will want them for there own video site.

 

[Mace Dolex]

I don't even watch NBC except for Conan O'Brian so how does this affect the networks anyway?

 

[enterthemadness]

This is bad news. What will happen to the late night talk shows? Chuck? 30 Rock? You can't just shut down a network. This is unthinkable.


​

 

[Dark Helmet]

**** you Comcast. Don't mess with Chuck *****es

 

[KenK]

You people really think NBC as a network is just going to cease to exist? Gimme a break!

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

You people really think NBC as a network is just going to cease to exist? Gimme a break!

This.

 

[Matt]

YOu guys are entirely misreading this. Comcast is buying NBC-Universal. They are keeping the satelite networks like USA, Sci-Fi, etc and SELLING NBC. Now removing NBC from the airwaves, simply selling it to the highest bidder. A company will then buy it...we'll say Sony, just to throw a name out there, and then Sony will own NBC and take control of its operations and make its profits, etc. Do you really think a company will buy NBC just to yank it off the airwaves and dissolve it? Use your heads and if that doesn't work listen to KenK and Jamie.

Odds are the only real effect is a change in management and we will see the end of a few shows as a result. Sadly 30 Rock will probably be the biggest casualty suffered from this as Jeff Zucker (whose ass is gone the second NBC is sold) has been a huge supporter despite the lack of ratings. Hopefully its status as NBC's "Emmy show," will be enough to keep it on the air with okay ratings.

But aside from that the most we're going to see from this buy out is a couple of cancellations and maybe a few of NBCs cable channels such as Sleuth and Chiller going off the air waves.

I'd say the most interesting aspect of this is that MSNBC and NBC could be owned by different companies by the end of the year. Hopefully that ends Keith Olbermans' horrible stint on Sunday Night Football since NBC won't have to kiss his ass anymore.

 

[Franklin Richards]

It's like saying Marvel is going out of business because Disney is buying them.

 

[Dr. Evil]

If Comcast buys NBC Universal, then NBC becomes a "free agent" in a sense. That's all the article is implying. It's like in sports when a team absorbs multiple contracts via trade, and they choose to dump the biggest contract to anyone interested.

 

[Matt]

Great analogy.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

What will in all probability happen if the deal goes through. Zucker is fired (zero doubt on that one, folks), The Jay Leno Show is gone and stuff like The Office, Law & Order (both the flagship and SVU), etc. stay on the air as is.

As much as I love it, 30 Rock does horrible in the ratings and even its defenders (like me) can't deny that it's lacking this season so far. Being a multiple Emmy winner = dick. If people didn't start watching earlier with all of the big-name celebrity guests-stars (even though it was nothing more than a ratings gimmick that didn't work), nothing else will.

 

[C. Lee]

NBC will stay around under one different owner or another.

It's funny.....I remember when there were only 2 networks in my area (I lived in rural Kentucky in early 60's)....and before that I was in England with my parents (my father was in the Air Force) and they talk of the TV only being on in the evening there, no daytime programming.

What would kids today do if they had only 2 channels to choose from?t:

 

[Mace Dolex]

What would kids today do if they had only 2 channels to choose from?t:

Hard to imagine a whole slew of channels suddenly dissolving in this era of excess when I remember when I was living in Bakersfield as a kid we had the big 3 networks and maybe 4 or 5 local stations.

 

[Nivek]

Pfft... I grew up from 1989-1993 with no cable and only one local UHF station near my Mom's house. Maybe on a clear night you could get some Network stations from the city (with a crapload of static and crackling audio), but otherwise I had to visit friends & family to watch network TV.

 

[enterthemadness]

YOu guys are entirely misreading this. Comcast is buying NBC-Universal. They are keeping the satelite networks like USA, Sci-Fi, etc and SELLING NBC. Now removing NBC from the airwaves, simply selling it to the highest bidder. A company will then buy it...we'll say Sony, just to throw a name out there, and then Sony will own NBC and take control of its operations and make its profits, etc. Do you really think a company will buy NBC just to yank it off the airwaves and dissolve it? Use your heads and if that doesn't work listen to KenK and Jamie.

Odds are the only real effect is a change in management and we will see the end of a few shows as a result. Sadly 30 Rock will probably be the biggest casualty suffered from this as Jeff Zucker (whose ass is gone the second NBC is sold) has been a huge supporter despite the lack of ratings. Hopefully its status as NBC's "Emmy show," will be enough to keep it on the air with okay ratings.

But aside from that the most we're going to see from this buy out is a couple of cancellations and maybe a few of NBCs cable channels such as Sleuth and Chiller going off the air waves.

I'd say the most interesting aspect of this is that MSNBC and NBC could be owned by different companies by the end of the year. Hopefully that ends Keith Olbermans' horrible stint on Sunday Night Football since NBC won't have to kiss his ass anymore.

But who in their right mind would buy NBC? A fourth placed network? And if someone did buy NBC, could they actually change the name?

Who the hell gets Sleuth and Chiller? I know Chiller is a horror channel.

Heroes is gone by end of the year. I hope Chuck can get round 7.5-8.0 million viewers or it will be gone.

 

[Matt]

But who in their right mind would buy NBC? A fourth placed network? And if someone did buy NBC, could they actually change the name?

Who the hell gets Sleuth and Chiller? I know Chiller is a horror channel.

Heroes is gone by end of the year. I hope Chuck can get round 7.5-8.0 million viewers or it will be gone.

I dunno about that. The budget has been on the decrease and ratings have gone up this season, albeit marginally. If Chuck pulls in similiar numbers on the decreased budget, they may let the two shows keep tag teaming it (one in the fall, one in the winter/spring).

 

[Matt]

What will in all probability happen if the deal goes through. Zucker is fired (zero doubt on that one, folks), The Jay Leno Show is gone and stuff like The Office, Law & Order (both the flagship and SVU), etc. stay on the air as is.

As much as I love it, 30 Rock does horrible in the ratings and even its defenders (like me) can't deny that it's lacking this season so far. Being a multiple Emmy winner = dick. If people didn't start watching earlier with all of the big-name celebrity guests-stars (even though it was nothing more than a ratings gimmick that didn't work), nothing else will.

I think 30 Rock has one hope for season 5, and that is just sheer desperation on NBC's part. With an ownership change, and a likely regime change, they're not going to have much time to develop new shows. I don't think NBC will risk going into Fall 2010 with one remaining show on their Thursday night line up (because lets face it, if 30 Rock gets canceled, odds are Parks and Recreations and Community will be gone as well). I think NBC might keep 30 Rock teamed with The Office just for the fact that it is their prestige show and it already has some built in viewership. Though in all honesty, if I had to pick at this point, I may take Community over 30 Rock. My guess is one of these two shows will be around next season (along side The Office and 2 new ones). 30 Rock is great and all, but I see more potential in Community at this point.

 

[Dr. Evil]

But who in their right mind would buy NBC? A fourth placed network? And if someone did buy NBC, could they actually change the name?

Who the hell gets Sleuth and Chiller? I know Chiller is a horror channel.

Heroes is gone by end of the year. I hope Chuck can get round 7.5-8.0 million viewers or it will be gone.

Someone who wants to broadcast NFL football, Wimbledon, Major Championships in Golf and The Olympics. NBC might be the 4th place network, but NBC Sports will be the reason someone will buy NBC. The 2010 and 2012 Olympics are on NBC and the Sunday Night Football Package goes through 2013, and there are prospective owners who would kill (not literally of course) to have those two major sporting events broadcast on a network they own. Hell, FOX, ABC and CBS would be the first networks in line if NBC ever drops the Olympics.

Doesn't matter as long as Conan O'Brien isn't affected.

 

[C. Lee]

Who the hell gets Sleuth and Chiller? I know Chiller is a horror channel.

I get both those chanels. Chiller reruns horror movies and Tv shows....Sleuth reruns cop shows and movies. I like them because they don't use those annoying popups that take out half the screen promoting other shows and they leave the end credits intact (not smashed up thin to promote other shows). I was able to record all episodes of Jag and NCIS without all of that annoying crap off of them.

 

[Matt]

Someone who wants to broadcast NFL football, Wimbledon, Major Championships in Golf and The Olympics. NBC might be the 4th place network, but NBC Sports will be the reason someone will buy NBC. The 2010 and 2012 Olympics are on NBC and the Sunday Night Football Package goes through 2013, and there are prospective owners who would kill (not literally of course) to have those two major sporting events broadcast on a network they own. Hell, FOX, ABC and CBS would be the first networks in line if NBC ever drops the Olympics.

Doesn't matter as long as Conan O'Brien isn't affected.

Good point, in fact, the 2012 or 2013 Super Bowl will be on NBC. That alone is reason to buy.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

I think 30 Rock has one hope for season 5, and that is just sheer desperation on NBC's part. With an ownership change, and a likely regime change, they're not going to have much time to develop new shows. I don't think NBC will risk going into Fall 2010 with one remaining show on their Thursday night line up (because lets face it, if 30 Rock gets canceled, odds are Parks and Recreations and Community will be gone as well). I think NBC might keep 30 Rock teamed with The Office just for the fact that it is their prestige show and it already has some built in viewership. Though in all honesty, if I had to pick at this point, I may take Community over 30 Rock. My guess is one of these two shows will be around next season (along side The Office and 2 new ones). 30 Rock is great and all, but I see more potential in Community at this point.

Said this elsewhere yesterday. But if NBC reneges on their deal with Leno (which is for two years) and cancels it at the end of this season, that automatically results in five hours of open slots. Plus, Trauma (which was just nuked) and Heroes (if the rumors of its impending death are true) equals seven hours. Parenthood is still a question-mark too.

No way is a network going to commit that many hours worth of brand new programming. Thus shows that would have normally be gone like Community, Parks & Recreation and yes even Mercy will be spared and get another season. Hell, I think Chuck is all but assured to get renewed now even before its forthcoming third season starts. And as you remember, I've long been on the "This is it for Chuck!" bandwagon.

 

[Matt]

Said this elsewhere yesterday. But if NBC reneges on their deal with Leno (which is for two years) and cancels it at the end of this season, that automatically results in five hours of open slots. Plus, Trauma (which was just nuked) and Heroes (if the rumors of its impending death are true) equals seven hours. Parenthood is still a question-mark too.

No way is a network going to commit that many hours worth of brand new programming. Thus shows that would have normally be gone like Community, Parks & Recreation and yes even Mercy will be spared and get another season. Hell, I think Chuck is all but assured to get renewed now even before its forthcoming third season starts. And as you remember, I've long been on the "This is it for Chuck!" bandwagon.

If such is the case, does it not go to logic that 30 Rock is safe as well? After all, its numbers aren't much different from Community and Parks and Rec plus it pulls in Emmys for the network, when you factor in the amount of influence Lorne Michaels has at NBC, I'd say its fairly safe. Of course, NBC could just keep Leno around for another year, finish out the contract and give themselves a year to develop programming to fill those five hours.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

30 Rock would stay, yes.