NBC's ad troubles: The network may have changed programming chiefs but it's still stuck with just five shows for the fall, fewer than the other majors (and one of them is a remake of the "Bionic Woman"). Two years ago, NBC took a $1 billion hit in the upfronts after a plunge in the ratings. Last year, the network cut ad rates and sold more inventory. During the recent upfront presentation to advertisers, the network tried to peddle the idea of quality, not quantity, but no one is biting. The question is what new programming honcho Ben Silverman can do to Band-Aid the lousy fall lineup. NY Post

Isn't it refreshing that a neutral source is commenting about just how bad the NBC fall schedule is?

Quality? Hmmm....the Singing Bee? The Baby Borrowers? The Bionic Woman? (Up) Chuck? I'm wondering which of the fall shows represents quality. Can someone please point that out?

Yeah, they got nothing there. No quality what so ever. They got themselves a bunch of crap. A huge stinking pile of it! It looks as though that's not just MY opinion either.

Thus the new-found nickname Nothing But Crap.

Geez, NBC stands for all kinds of stuff. None of it good either. It's quite nice to see we're not the only one's who think NBC blows.

i like the new nickname!
i wonder which shows they think are quality, too. hopefully not any of the reality or gameshows, then they'll be in even more trouble then they already are.

quality HA thats a good one

Yeah. Their kind of quality would leave viewers screaming "I deserve better!" But we're not watching NBC any more, so that doesn't matter.

I for one will enjoy sitting back, watching other networks, and then following the Nielsen Ratings, reading about NBC's decline. Would it be really bad if we started mailing postcards that said "I told you so...should have renewed Crossing Jordan" just after the start of the fall season...

Perhaps we could print postcards with a cast shot of CJ and say The Singing Bee...Canceled...The Baby Borrowers...Canceled...My Name is Earl...ratings dwindling...Now don't you wish you had saved Crossing Jordan?

Something like that. Once the ratings start to go lower. They had to have lost at least a million viewers.

Crossing Boston, you are funny, you know that? i love the idea of sending them postcards when their ratings decline even more.

Thanks. I get funny when I'm bitter. Hmm...lately I'm funny all the time.

I do think we should continue to mail postcards to them. Let them know that we're part of the reason they're ratings are going even lower. Oh, yeah...we're also contributing to the lack of advertising dollars, too, because we've written to their sponsors.

I feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. It's like we're walking back into the store with all the bags and holding them up to the arrogant shopkeeper and saying "big mistake".

I also think we should let them know what shows we're enjoying...that aren't on their network.

Dear Mr. Zucker (or Metcalf or Silverman): I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy NCIS, CSI, CSI: NY, and CSI Miami. CBS is such a wonderful network, and I applaud them for their responsiveness to their fans! Not only do they consistently put out quality programming, when they cancel programming, the president of their entertainment division personally addressed the fans. Thank you for providing me the freedom to click over to a network that cares.

Sound good? Short and sweet. I could probably shorten it a bit so that it fits on a postcard when handwritten.

i like the the lines "i applaud them for their responsiveness to the fans." and "the freedom to click over to a network that actually cares."

Thanks. In some of my messages, I've written respectful messages pointing out some of NBC's flaws, and I have included statements saying that quality programming is only a click away, and we all have remotes.

NBC should remember that television is for the viewers, not for the executives. If they never lose sight of that, then their profits will follow. But if they make television about what the network executives want to bring the viewers, the viewers will fail to appear...