Re: Is TV better than it used to be?
I've posted this before, but it's relevant here too. Years ago I read an Economist article that posited (not surprisingly, given the source) a market-driven theory. This theory was that the different business models of advertising-driven versus subscriber-driven TV have a lot to do with the increase in 'quality'.
Broadcast TV was in business to deliver audiences to advertisers. The bigger the better. So anything edgy or quirky or potentially polarising is a bad idea. Middle of the road light entertainment is optimal.
Cable stations, on the other hand, need to persuade subscribers to sign up and re-up. So they try to produce shows that have 'hooks', and create buzz about them - people will stay with you if there is one show they really love.
These are generalizations, of course. It doesn't mean broadcast TV never produced anything quirky, or that all original cable series are high-end. Just that those were the inevitable tendencies of each business model.
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