CA
As for slick clock starts, it is heavily driven by the massively distributed affiliate nature of US networks. If you aren't going to start at the top of the hour you have to tell a LOT of stations your actual on-air time. They're not all on talkback listening.
As for prompt time-keeping - US TV is driven massively by advertising. If a show goes over by 30", that's 30" less commercial income. That's money lost. That's not acceptable apart from in the most severe of circumstances. It isn't a single network that would lose money - it's LOTS of different affiliates that are owned by lots of different companies.
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Some shows do overrun slightly though especially the big ones, ABC does it with Modern family and they used to run Dancing with the Stars and Greys Anatomy to 10.01pm in order to boost the next show. Fox does it with American Idol and NBC does the same with The Voice.
What I've noticed over the years is that every programme starts bang on the top of the hour, eg 8pm. Their programmes never run late...
As for slick clock starts, it is heavily driven by the massively distributed affiliate nature of US networks. If you aren't going to start at the top of the hour you have to tell a LOT of stations your actual on-air time. They're not all on talkback listening.
As for prompt time-keeping - US TV is driven massively by advertising. If a show goes over by 30", that's 30" less commercial income. That's money lost. That's not acceptable apart from in the most severe of circumstances. It isn't a single network that would lose money - it's LOTS of different affiliates that are owned by lots of different companies.
.
Some shows do overrun slightly though especially the big ones, ABC does it with Modern family and they used to run Dancing with the Stars and Greys Anatomy to 10.01pm in order to boost the next show. Fox does it with American Idol and NBC does the same with The Voice.
BL
I think we have to be slightly cautious here. Not all the tv stations are locally owned. The major national broadcasting networks are allowed to own and operate a small number of stations themselves, a very limited number - perhaps in the order of less than half a dozen each. These stations are completely owned and controlled by the big networks and naturally the big networks chose to set up such stations in the most lucrative and influential areas. Hence why there are stations like WNBC, KNBC and WCBS etc in New York and Los Angeles for example. But the number is very limited.
Edit. According to wiki NBC owns 10 stations directly and ABC owns 8, same with FOX etc. Some interesting history on wiki on the broadcasters if anyone is interested.
Edit. According to wiki NBC owns 10 stations directly and ABC owns 8, same with FOX etc. Some interesting history on wiki on the broadcasters if anyone is interested.
Last edited by bluecortina on 28 September 2013 12:27am - 2 times in total
TM
And as Inspector Sands said, the networks aren't like networks like in Australia or Europe, its like the affiliates have more control (not in an old-ITV way, except if its a cable channel) I've previously lived out there for a couple of years, so I'll try and explain more if I have time.
It's funny you mention Australia. I was just thinking about how Australian TV compares to US or UK TV.
In my opinion its sort of a mix between the two. Our networks have affiliates just like in the States (especially in regional areas), which can change their network once their contract is up. For example, earlier this year it was speculated that Network Ten's regional affiliate Southern Cross Ten would sign an affiliation deal with Channel Nine, thus dumping Ten programming and forcing Nine's affiliate WIN Television to take Ten's content. This was leading into the potential that Nine and Southern Cross would merge when the legislation allowed. This didn't eventuate, but is still a reminder that unlike the UK, things aren't set in stone when it comes to which channel displays what.
In terms of branding, it really depends on what network.
Public broadcaster ABC1, for example, tends to take a much more British approach to branding, with VOs on menus (we call them signposts). They also air idents before the start of every show.
Commercial broadcasters, on the other hand, have become much more American in recent years. They used to have idents between every program, and sometimes even breakbumpers (still do during movies), but they've been dumped. Today, our commercial networks use 'accelerated flow' between programs (much like US networks). This includes squishing the credits of one program and displaying a promo for next week's episode above it. After that, the network does a quick classification slide with the rating of the program, and then moves straight on (sometimes these are combined with idents). There are some idents, however these are usually found during daytime TV.
Networks also run their schedules intentionally late. For example, Nine might say that The Big Bang Theory starts at 8pm, but in reality it will be more like 8:10 or even 8:15. This is a deliberate measure to prevent viewers from switching over to a rival network. All three commercial networks do this every single night, and from what I've read here that seems to fit more with British broadcasting than American (where scheduling is rigid).
So yeah, a sort of mix between UK and US tv.
And as Inspector Sands said, the networks aren't like networks like in Australia or Europe, its like the affiliates have more control (not in an old-ITV way, except if its a cable channel) I've previously lived out there for a couple of years, so I'll try and explain more if I have time.
In my opinion its sort of a mix between the two. Our networks have affiliates just like in the States (especially in regional areas), which can change their network once their contract is up. For example, earlier this year it was speculated that Network Ten's regional affiliate Southern Cross Ten would sign an affiliation deal with Channel Nine, thus dumping Ten programming and forcing Nine's affiliate WIN Television to take Ten's content. This was leading into the potential that Nine and Southern Cross would merge when the legislation allowed. This didn't eventuate, but is still a reminder that unlike the UK, things aren't set in stone when it comes to which channel displays what.
In terms of branding, it really depends on what network.
Public broadcaster ABC1, for example, tends to take a much more British approach to branding, with VOs on menus (we call them signposts). They also air idents before the start of every show.
Commercial broadcasters, on the other hand, have become much more American in recent years. They used to have idents between every program, and sometimes even breakbumpers (still do during movies), but they've been dumped. Today, our commercial networks use 'accelerated flow' between programs (much like US networks). This includes squishing the credits of one program and displaying a promo for next week's episode above it. After that, the network does a quick classification slide with the rating of the program, and then moves straight on (sometimes these are combined with idents). There are some idents, however these are usually found during daytime TV.
Networks also run their schedules intentionally late. For example, Nine might say that The Big Bang Theory starts at 8pm, but in reality it will be more like 8:10 or even 8:15. This is a deliberate measure to prevent viewers from switching over to a rival network. All three commercial networks do this every single night, and from what I've read here that seems to fit more with British broadcasting than American (where scheduling is rigid).
So yeah, a sort of mix between UK and US tv.
BR
Isn't it also the case that one network may own a local station but that is actually affilicated to another network.
I think we have to be slightly cautious here. Not all the tv stations are locally owned. The major national broadcasting networks are allowed to own and operate a small number of stations themselves, a very limited number - perhaps in the order of less than half a dozen each. These stations are completely owned and controlled by the big networks and naturally the big networks chose to set up such stations in the most lucrative and influential areas. Hence why there are stations like WNBC, KNBC and WCBS etc in New York and Los Angeles for example. But the number is very limited.
Edit. According to wiki NBC owns 10 stations directly and ABC owns 8, same with FOX etc. Some interesting history on wiki on the broadcasters if anyone is interested.
Edit. According to wiki NBC owns 10 stations directly and ABC owns 8, same with FOX etc. Some interesting history on wiki on the broadcasters if anyone is interested.
Isn't it also the case that one network may own a local station but that is actually affilicated to another network.
IS
And of course even the ones that aren't O&O aren't necessarily locally owned either
I think we have to be slightly cautious here. Not all the tv stations are locally owned. The major national broadcasting networks are allowed to own and operate a small number of stations themselves, a very limited number
And of course even the ones that aren't O&O aren't necessarily locally owned either
RE
ABC and CBS run public service adverts, I have not seen the FOX network feed in sometime to tell you what they do.
This is what happens when an NBC affiliate fails to opt out of the network for adverts in time or too early.
ABC/CBS is just a black screen.
ABC/CBS is just a black screen.
ABC and CBS run public service adverts, I have not seen the FOX network feed in sometime to tell you what they do.
NG
Some shows do overrun slightly though especially the big ones, ABC does it with Modern family and they used to run Dancing with the Stars and Greys Anatomy to 10.01pm in order to boost the next show. Fox does it with American Idol and NBC does the same with The Voice.
Those aren't overruns - those are programmes scheduled to run longer - big difference.
An overrun is unscheduled.
noggin
Founding member
Some shows do overrun slightly though especially the big ones, ABC does it with Modern family and they used to run Dancing with the Stars and Greys Anatomy to 10.01pm in order to boost the next show. Fox does it with American Idol and NBC does the same with The Voice.
Those aren't overruns - those are programmes scheduled to run longer - big difference.
An overrun is unscheduled.
NG
Exactly - many aren't. There are large numbers of stations owned by corporations other than the networks.
Scripps have a large number of ABC affiliates, Sinclair Group own 33 Fox affiliates , 27 ABC affiliates, 25 CBS affiliates and 14 NBC affiliates. Those are just the first two groups I pulled off the top of my head.
People shouldn't for a minute think that because there are local stations operating seemingly independently of the network and producing local news, that they are locally owned.
The major national broadcasting networks are allowed to own and operate a small number of stations themselves, a very limited number - perhaps in the order of less than half a dozen each. These stations are completely owned and controlled by the big networks and naturally the big networks chose to set up such stations in the most lucrative and influential areas. Hence why there are stations like WNBC, KNBC and WCBS etc in New York and Los Angeles for example. But the number is very limited.
Edit. According to wiki NBC owns 10 stations directly and ABC owns 8, same with FOX etc. Some interesting history on wiki on the broadcasters if anyone is interested.
Yep - those are the O&Os (Owned and Operated) I mentioned earlier in the thread.
noggin
Founding member
I think we have to be slightly cautious here. Not all the tv stations are locally owned.
Exactly - many aren't. There are large numbers of stations owned by corporations other than the networks.
Scripps have a large number of ABC affiliates, Sinclair Group own 33 Fox affiliates , 27 ABC affiliates, 25 CBS affiliates and 14 NBC affiliates. Those are just the first two groups I pulled off the top of my head.
People shouldn't for a minute think that because there are local stations operating seemingly independently of the network and producing local news, that they are locally owned.
Quote:
The major national broadcasting networks are allowed to own and operate a small number of stations themselves, a very limited number - perhaps in the order of less than half a dozen each. These stations are completely owned and controlled by the big networks and naturally the big networks chose to set up such stations in the most lucrative and influential areas. Hence why there are stations like WNBC, KNBC and WCBS etc in New York and Los Angeles for example. But the number is very limited.
Edit. According to wiki NBC owns 10 stations directly and ABC owns 8, same with FOX etc. Some interesting history on wiki on the broadcasters if anyone is interested.
Yep - those are the O&Os (Owned and Operated) I mentioned earlier in the thread.