NBC returning TV shows to regular start/end times

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NBC returning TV shows to regular start/end times

After a couple years of NBC tweaking start and end show times to push their advertising dollars (and tweak PVR owners in the process), it seems they're abandoning the practice of starting early and ending late.

This fall line-up preview of NBC's shows shows a clear return to shows ending on the hour and half-hour, exactly. This is good news for those missing network shows due to 1-minute conflicts.

by Matt Haughey August 3, 2005 in News

Comments

I think you're putting a LOT of weight on the fact that none of the start times listed in this press release look like 9:59. Wait until they actually have to release the info to TMS and the like before celebrating. (And even then...)

Posted by: DonBoy at Aug 3, 2005 5:38:11 PM

Actually, at a recent press event a NBC exec stated plainly that they'd no longer shift start/end times, but I read it a couple days ago and couldn't find the exact artcle.

Posted by: Matt Haughey at Aug 3, 2005 8:32:08 PM

Heh, I wasn't even aware that this was an issue, then again I can't recall the last time I watched an NBC show.

Heck, except for a couple shows (pretty much Simpsons & Family Guy) I almost never watch anything on any of the "broadcast" channels.

I wonder why networks event think this is a good idea, I'm much more likely to jus stop watching ashow if the beginning or end is cut off because of an incorrect start/end time than I am to have it recorded 1 minute early or stop 1 minute late.

Posted by: Robert Aitchison at Aug 4, 2005 7:53:55 AM

Discovery is now doing this, their shows tend to run 1 minute longer. I always end up missing the last minute of Mythbusters as TiVo changes the channel to record another show at 10:00 PM

Posted by: riffola at Aug 4, 2005 10:21:59 AM

I actually abandonded a couple NBC shows when they started doing this. I had season passes and didn't even know it was going on until I tried to set up a recording for another show that started on the hour and got the conflict warning. It irked me enough to ditch the NBC recordings, based solely on principal. Just another example of the disconnect between "owning" the content being overriding pleasing the customer. Bad, bad marketing decision - maybe they've learned their lesson...

Posted by: cory at Aug 4, 2005 11:16:43 AM

As someone noted above, I wouldn't put much faith in the press release. And actually, when I questioned someone at NBC about it in a conference call, they were a bit vague on how strictly they were holding to the start times.

What will probably keep NBC from doing it as much as in the past is that they have fewer shows that are strong enough to make the staggered start/end time approach work effectively.

Posted by: Rick Ellis at Aug 4, 2005 1:20:07 PM

It's not that they aren't starting and ending where they are supposed to... if you look at the program guide, it clearly indicates that the show will start at :59/:01/:02, etc. It's just that because your recording goes until :01 you won't be able to record a show on another channel that starts at the top of the hour.

I have a dual-tuner DVR, so I've only been screwed out of a recording once, but it did piss me off.

(http://blog.thajack.com)

Posted by: Jack Doyle at Aug 4, 2005 1:24:05 PM

Now to stop MTV from doing same thing!!

Posted by: Paul at Aug 4, 2005 4:15:28 PM

First, we have to make MTV (and VH1) start airing the actual programs that their TiVo listings show. Then they can tackle the timing issue (which is annoying to those of us that enjoy the "next week on..." previews).

Posted by: Max at Aug 4, 2005 5:43:55 PM

Where the heck is SCRUBS in this tentative schedule?!

Posted by: e3mw at Aug 4, 2005 10:58:07 PM

Scrubs is a mid-season replacement, if I recall correctly, so it will come out around January 2006.

Posted by: Mike at Aug 5, 2005 3:50:15 AM

Here's the story w/ the comment from NBC's prez

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/ae/tv/3279995

Posted by: chris at Aug 5, 2005 7:10:59 AM

i agree with all of you that are saying to ditch the shows completely. but back in the day when i had a (gasp) VCR i was so paranoid that i would miss the first few minutes or the last few minutes that i always deliberately scheduled the thing to record from 5 of and end at 5 after! that was before there was a such thing as the tv listings that show up on the tv screen! times sure have changed.

Posted by: steve at Aug 17, 2005 3:44:07 PM

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Posted by: venu at Aug 19, 2005 8:23:52 AM

The Simone storyline on Passions HAS GOT TO GO!!! I've been watching the show since day one and was sickened yesterday when she got into bed with another woman and started kissing!!! NBC needs to do something about that!!

Posted by: Nancy at Sep 7, 2005 5:29:19 PM

please get a technical advisor on the bible, i was a chaplin for the industry and worked at NBC, you dont need to rewrite the bible. thank you
Pastor Marc Uebelhardt

Posted by: rev marc uebelhardt at Sep 13, 2005 12:23:55 AM

while setting up a season pass for only new episodes of ER on KNBCDT a conflict showed up due to ER starting at 9:59 on Sept. 22.

Posted by: billyecho at Sep 14, 2005 4:49:18 PM

Does anyone know if Fear Factor is returning for 2005-2006? We really like that show....

Posted by: Jan Thurmond at Oct 7, 2005 11:55:03 AM

Let's not forget this was mainly done for ratings purposes.

Todd Lokken

Posted by: Todd Lokken at Dec 20, 2005 8:33:18 AM

It seems most of the NBC shows are now ending five to six minutes before the hour. I find this very convenient as it gives me an opportunity, during other channels' end of show ads, to watch the beginning of the NBC show. I can then determine if it's a repeat and still have time to find another show before the start.

Posted by: Chasw at Feb 1, 2006 8:32:22 PM

Please let me know if "Starting Over" will return to NBC after the Winter Olympics. It is a favorite of mine, and I would appreciate knowing if it will return to its regular schedule.Another program is listed in its time slot in my local paper. Please let me know if it will run at any time on what station.

Posted by: Jennye Taylor at Feb 12, 2006 6:57:33 PM

when will starting over return? i love that show and you just take it off and put something really stupid on like the court shows. how about letting us know when it will be back on and on what station and the times.

Posted by: nancy at Feb 16, 2006 5:24:23 AM

PLEEEEEEEEEASE PUT STARTING OVER BACK ON NBC, HOW CAN ANYONE JUST TAKE IT OFF WITHOUT ANY NOTICE?? IT'S A GREAT SHOW AAND I'M ALREADY MISSING EPISODES. PLEASE LET US KNOW.

Posted by: Miriiam at Feb 24, 2006 3:48:04 PM

Starting over needs to be put back on the air. I just don't understand why you would remove a tv show that has received the ratings and a daytime award? This show touches people lives! We need more shows like this one especially in these days and times. It teaches how to better your self. I would think you would want to promote that?

Posted by: Erica at Jun 20, 2006 6:34:24 PM

I am truly devastated that STARTING OVER was cancelled...it was my favorite tv show! I think it could have had a wider audience if it would have been scheduled in the late afternoon rather than the morning. Because of the time slot, I could only watch on vacations or holidays. I loved it just as much when it was produced from the Chicago location, where it started. Maybe
production could be moved to a less expensive location like in Florida or North Carolina. (I had read somewhere that the reason for the cancellation was that it was too expensive to produce.) Come on NBC, let's get creative, PLEASE bring back STARTING OVER!

Posted by: Ginger at Sep 21, 2006 9:57:13 AM

Oh please come back. I don't watch much tv and if this show doesn't come back, I won't watch NBC ever again. What were they thinking? One of the most watched day time reality show and they take it off. Please let us know the real reason you are taking it off.... Can't be the ratings. So what whas it?

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NBC returning TV shows to regular start/end times

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