certainly some TV / movies were already in the can and ready for distribution before the strike, so shows and movies have been coming out.... but damn if it doesn't seem like so many streaming services are now riddled with "unscripted" shows (aka reality tv). low key, i think they rebranded that genre from "reality" -> "unscripted" because everybody knows it is mesmerizing garbage and clicks away without engaging. god, that shit sucks. i remember the last writers' strike led to an explosion of reality tv too.
damn if it doesn't seem like so many streaming services are now riddled with "unscripted" shows (aka reality tv).
Is there even a market for this shit anymore? I can't imagine HBO boosting their subscription numbers by abandoning the next season of Gambo for some low-rent cooking show.
i don't believe there is a market as much as there are people who just watch whatever the fuck gets their attention. it's my understanding that reality tv is extremely cheap to produce, so it's filler. also, it's not HBO anymore... it's MAX. and Warner Bros. merged with Discovery, so now there are lots of reality shows on what used to be HBO's streamer. my assumption is that "prestige TV" will be like the chocolate chips in the content turds coming at us. people come for the expensive chocolate chips, but eat the cheap turd because they're bored.
people who just watch whatever the fuck gets their attention
Sure. And I'll admit I'm speaking from personal experience, but when I'm flipping through what's on a Streaming platform, I simply won't click on anything that looks unscripted. I assume its going to be boring and cringey so I just don't watch it. I've got a handful of shows I'm excited about. I've got some old anime I'll fall back on if that's not around. But if Netflix or HBO just stops churning out the good slop... Why would I continue to subscribe?
If I'm not currently a subscriber, I certainly have no incentive to buy in now.
You aren't driving demand for your product by pitching "Nailed It!" for $20/mo.
people come for the expensive chocolate chips, but eat the cheap turd because they're bored.
I buy into that. But now we're talking about serving up exclusively turds for... months? Maybe the next year or two?
100% it's a shit plan and any HBO exec worth a fuck knows it's a shit plan. but it is their only move short of admitting writers deserve a better share. so they will pretend it's a completely viable business plan while the strike is on, because admitting reality TV is inferior is to admit their adversary is correct.
For my money, livestreaming. If you get more people scratching the unscripted itch with streaming to a live chat they'd be less concerned with reality tv and the legacy media will lose evermore prestige
certainly some TV / movies were already in the can and ready for distribution before the strike, so shows and movies have been coming out.... but damn if it doesn't seem like so many streaming services are now riddled with "unscripted" shows (aka reality tv). low key, i think they rebranded that genre from "reality" -> "unscripted" because everybody knows it is mesmerizing garbage and clicks away without engaging. god, that shit sucks. i remember the last writers' strike led to an explosion of reality tv too.
Is there even a market for this shit anymore? I can't imagine HBO boosting their subscription numbers by abandoning the next season of Gambo for some low-rent cooking show.
i don't believe there is a market as much as there are people who just watch whatever the fuck gets their attention. it's my understanding that reality tv is extremely cheap to produce, so it's filler. also, it's not HBO anymore... it's MAX. and Warner Bros. merged with Discovery, so now there are lots of reality shows on what used to be HBO's streamer. my assumption is that "prestige TV" will be like the chocolate chips in the content turds coming at us. people come for the expensive chocolate chips, but eat the cheap turd because they're bored.
https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2023/04/hbo-max-rebrand-max-reality-tv-shows/
Sure. And I'll admit I'm speaking from personal experience, but when I'm flipping through what's on a Streaming platform, I simply won't click on anything that looks unscripted. I assume its going to be boring and cringey so I just don't watch it. I've got a handful of shows I'm excited about. I've got some old anime I'll fall back on if that's not around. But if Netflix or HBO just stops churning out the good slop... Why would I continue to subscribe?
If I'm not currently a subscriber, I certainly have no incentive to buy in now.
You aren't driving demand for your product by pitching "Nailed It!" for $20/mo.
I buy into that. But now we're talking about serving up exclusively turds for... months? Maybe the next year or two?
100% it's a shit plan and any HBO exec worth a fuck knows it's a shit plan. but it is their only move short of admitting writers deserve a better share. so they will pretend it's a completely viable business plan while the strike is on, because admitting reality TV is inferior is to admit their adversary is correct.
imo, it's all a strategem.
How do we discourage people from agreeing to be part of reality tv shows?
For my money, livestreaming. If you get more people scratching the unscripted itch with streaming to a live chat they'd be less concerned with reality tv and the legacy media will lose evermore prestige
As long as the livestreamers don't fall into corruption while worshipping the SEO.