Shraggler said:
There is also a lot of terrible, dull, boring, unimaginative and unoriginal programming on TV. The fact that the History Channel and Syfy (<- another terrible marketing decision that somehow got no one fired) both have an extensive list of "reality" shows is indicative of the level of intellect going into creating material and the level of intellect of majority viewers. Shit, Syfy even has WWE or WCW or whatever the fuck the fake wrestling base is called. SYFY HAS WRESTLING. WHAT?! There are so many reality shows out there that it's as if the network executives collectively decided to phone it in and cash out. The fact that they've been actually successful at this shows us just how dumb and base the majority of viewers are.
The way things are going with TV right now have a lot to do with overreaction.
TV executives might be reading all of these trendy articles on social media, the Web 2.0, and the vast amount of choice and commercial skipping ability that the average consumer has and it's making them nervous. Because of this fear, they're taking what they view to be more in the way of "sure things" and conservative investments. Shows that prove to be both popular, according to their flawed (over analyzed) market data, but require little actual investment.
The reason that serious science fiction programs have hard time catching on is due to the networks doing little to really cultivate an audience. In the 90's, they had some success but messed it up with their increasingly risky marketing and investment strategies. It's like why AOL Time Warner was filing for bankruptcy at the start of the new millennium.
Now that the Television industry starts to look uncertain, with much of what was considered a given even a decade ago now disappearing, it's no surprise that we're seeing a flood of reality shows and copycats.
While I have many qualms with the way education and pedagogy have traditionally been carried out in this country, I still think that there are a wide variety of peoples out there who appreciate good TV. If I can see a 10 year old get into Game of Thrones, then there's no reason to assume that "the masses" (a term that I refuse to give much credence) wouldn't appreciate good TV. Hell, even the ICP likes Bradbury. (Think about it, Something WICKED this way comes? Dark Carnival? It's really obvious) Provided it was being promoted right, and that they actually had access or knowledge of it's existence.
But yea on to wrestling
It's no coincidence that professional wrestling has been a major part of television history.
From Gorgeous George inspiring Muhammad Ali on the DuMont Network
to Rikidozan drawing whole Japanese towns to gather around the shop window TV display
to All Star Wrestling introducing Britain to Johnny Saint
to Stu Hart giving Canada something else to watch on Saturday
to Telecatch showing the modernizing Brazil the magic of TV
to the Legend of El Santo in Mexico
Pro wrestling is entertaining, hasn't usually required much of an investment on the behalf of the networks, and becomes a major part of the modern culture. In my approximation, pro wrestling may be cheaper programming, but it's not on the level of reality TV. It's an art form, and a sport that requires years of training and dedication to perfect. It draws fans all over the world, and for reasons related to it's overall artistry, rather than cheap schadenfreude like reality TV.
Now, that's not to say that it isn't a mismatch with SyFy.
However, WWE Smackdown on SyFy is less the result of marketing blandness, and more the result of corporate hegemony.
Smackdown used to hosted on UPN (Formerly PAX, Paramount owned), with RAW being hosted on USA (NBC Universal.) In 2006, UPN and the WB merged into the CW, where Smackdown stayed for a few years. Eventually they jumped ship to the new MyNetwork TV (Fox owned), due to them making a better offer. This set up had always paid off, as it gave them both a cable flagship (RAW) and a terrestrial flag ship (Smackdown). In 2009, MyNetwork TV announced that it was phasing out of all original programming. With the writing on the wall, the WWE sought help from NBC to find a new home for the show. Since they had experimented with wrestling on SyFy before, by putting their C show, ECW (and then NXT), on at 10 PM, Smackdown seemed like a decent pick. So yeah, that's why SyFy has wrestling. Titan Sports just has a really close relationship with NBC.
Eventually a better relationship will come along, and Smackdown will move yet again.
But when it leaves, how will TV have changed? In a world where I can DVR my shows, does it matter when they come on or where? What's going to happen to the traditional network structure, when DVR is as widely adopted as cable and when on demand services are standard.
More so, where will it all go once the internet becomes a viable market for exclusive big budget shows?
I don't know...
But at least I won't have to watch commercials.
