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TiVo killed the rerun

Great news from the LA Times regarding sweeping changes in the way networks are phasing out reruns. TV execs have often claimed that TiVo had the potential to drastically alter their universe (which is automatically seen as a bad thing) and this looks like the first real change, aside from increased product placements to combat fast-fowarding through ads. Apparently, a sizable number of PVR owners are impacting their bottom line as their recorders automatically pass over old episodes. Aside from TiVos, they're also finding big drops in audience numbers during the summer rerun season, as viewers either flock to cable shows or the internet or just turn it off.

Without reruns, networks are trying out new shows in the same slot, or repeating the previous week's episode in a new slot in case you missed it (long a staple of cable TV). Smaller networks like the WB and Fox are promising to change the schedules to new shows this Summer instead of waiting until the Fall season. There's also the lucrative DVD market that is saturated with pretty much every show ever made, and reruns would cut into that business.

It's not all TiVo's fault by any stretch, but things are definitely changing in TV land.

by Matt Haughey May 21, 2004 in News

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