Independent screenwriters who plan to make their living writing independent and perhaps studio funded films, might want to consider cable for their 9-5 gig. The results of this year’s summer shows are staggering, proving once again that cable is a force to be reckoned with.
Networks like USA, TNT and the new SyFy are quickly becoming household names like the big networks of ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. From the stats below we can see that viewers opted for for cable entertainment this summer instead of the more serious dramas aired or re-aired on the major networks.
What does that mean to a freelance writer? Cable is more daring in its shows and thus more daring in its selection of shows and the writers assigned to them. Breaking through the cable wall may be easier than scaling the wall of the old-boy network at the major alphabet channels. Thus, cable is a haven for screenwriters with film credits but no studio funded endeavors. So, if a freelance or spec writers needs a day job to make ends meet, why not venture into the land of cable?
The following information was taken from James Hibberd’s – The Live Feed
Most-watched summer ever; ‘Royal Pains’ tops list
Though you wouldn’t know it from following broadcast network ratings, summer TV viewing is at an all-time high.
According to a Turner research report, the average person watched a whopping 32.2 hours of TV per week this summer. In 2004, the average number of TV hours viewed during the summer was 29.8.
The gains were driven by cable TV programming, which continues to erode the traditional advantage of the Big Four networks.
Among new series on ad-supported cable, the most-watched programs were USA’s “Royal Pains” (averaging 7.2 million viewers), SyFy’s “Warehouse 13″ (4 million), TNT’s “Hawthorne” (3.9 million), TNT’s “Dark Blue” (3.4 million) and Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva” (3 million.)
Among returning shows, the most-watched were TNT’s “The Closer” (7.9 million), USA’s “Burn Notice” (7.7 million), USA’s “Monk” (5.6 million), USA’s “In Plain Sight” (5.1 million) and USA’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (4.6 million).
Turner research head Jack Wakshlag said cable networks programming more original content than ever combined with the digital transition helped boost the number.
“This is an unusual summer because what you have here is the full brunt of the digital transition,” he said.
Among major cable networks, some of the biggest ratings gainers in primetime include USA (+19%), Fox News (+37%), Food Network (+33%), TLC (+52%), BET (+34%), MSNBC (+16%), HLN (+18%) and E! (+18%). While some of the steepest declines were seen by Lifetime (-21%), Cartoon Network (-19%), Hallmark (-24%), Spike TV (-21%) and TVLand (-25%).
Here are several Top 10 lists listing the most popular cable networks and shows this summer:
Ad-Supported Cable’s Top 10 New Original Series among Viewers
1. Royal Pains (USA) 7,151,000
2. Warehouse 13 (SyFy) 3,967,000
3. HawthoRNe* (TNT) 3,893,000
4. Dark Blue (TNT) 3,398,000
5. Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime) 3,047,000
6. Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns (TBS) 2,911,000
7. Real Housewives of New Jersey (Bravo) 2,773,000
8. Cake Boss (TLC) 2,297,000
9. Make It or Break It (ABC Family) 2,229,000
10. Pawn Star$ (History Channel) 2,178,000
Ad-Supported Cable’s Top 10 Returning Original Series among Viewers
1. The Closer (TNT) 7,852,000
2. Burn Notice (USA) 7,677,000
3. Monk (USA) 5,556,000
4. In Plain Sight (USA) 5,109,000
5. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA) 4,591,000
6. Psych (USA) 4,467,000
8. Deadliest Catch (Discovery) 4,316,000
7. Army Wives (Lifetime) 4,280,000
9. Leverage (TNT) 4,125,000
10. The Next Food Network Star (Food Network) 3,692,000
Top 10 Ad-Supported Cable Networks among Viewers — Primetime
1. USA 3,571,000
2. TNT 2,435,000
3. Fox News 2,157,000
4. Nick at Nite 1,780,000
5. TBS 1,592,000
6. ESPN 1,410,000
7. ABC Family 1,400,000
8. Discovery 1,353,000
9. FX 1,318,000
10. HGTV 1,265,000
August 30th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Very interesting stuff Angelo. It seems all major networks offer these days is more reality TV which I am soooo tired of. But like the rest of “Corporate America” the bottom line is how can we spend the least amount and make the most so top executives can become millionaires and the little people get didley squat. So I hope all of the cable networks that offer actors the opportunity to act and writers the opportunity to write, far surpass them in ratings, prestige, and financial abundance!
July 10th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Army Wives gives us an idea of the life of the wive of the fighting soldier.:;: