How ratings have trumped quality
With the emergence of Netflix and other streaming services, having cable in your household is becoming less and less necessary. Netflix gives the viewer an opportunity to watch a variety of movies, documentaries, and sitcoms—all you need is a good internet connection and nine dollars a month. Surely, services like Netflix will not overtake cable television and programming, right? I mean, it is evident cable offers something that Netflix can’t; access to live events, sports, daily news broadcasts, and up-to-date viewings of the newest episodes of your favourite TV show.
It’s been years since I’ve had cable television at my disposal, and, if anything, my appreciation for good quality television has increased as a result. Recently, NBC announced that they will be cancelling the show Hannibal after two successful seasons, but what determines the success of a show? Ratings. Hannibal has gained a large fan base, mainly due to its unique storytelling, stellar acting, and thrilling, psychologically driven plot. While Hannibal might not be every viewer’s cup of tea, the quality of the show is evident. However, NBC’s decision to cancel Hannibal signals a larger problem in television.
The problem of sacrificing quality for ratings is evident when looking at the kind of programming that has been adopted by the Discovery Channel and History Channel. With shows like Gold Rush, American Loggers, Ancient Aliens, and Pawn Stars, the once highly educational channels now provide viewers with dim-witted humour placed alongside eight to nine minutes of commercials. Don’t get me wrong, there are still programs that provide stimulating and intelligent information to the viewer, however, it seems reality TV programs such as Keeping up with the Kardashians and Jersey Shore are increasingly overshadowing them.
If cable television wants to remain relevant, something has to change. In between the seemingly endless commercials followed by five minutes of mindless reality television, streaming services such as Netflix are offering viewers a much more rewarding experience. I predict that cable television subscriptions will drastically decline once Netflix finds a way to integrate lives sports and news broadcasts. Until then, viewers will have to look past the bombardment of ads and reality TV of large cable companies and instead try to find the small doses of high-quality television that hasn’t been cancelled yet.