I think its going to be continually tougher on the big networks as more cable channels do really interesting television. The big networks have a choice to make: Do we try to be all things to all people and get the shows that will deliver 20 million viewers a week? Are we the McDonald's of television? Or are we going to try to be more specific?
I don't pay attention to target audiences and therefore I often hear that I am a ratings killer, somebody who fundamentally doesn't care whether one person is watching or an entire soccer stadium.
Television provokes strong opinions, and sometimes we try a bit too hard to appeal to everyone.
I think USA has a great handle on programming and content. They know their viewers and they know what works... Character driven programming!
What TV is extremely good at - and realize that this is 'all it does' - is discerning what large numbers of people think they want, and supplying it.
In TV, in general, the more you try and please everybody, the less people you please.
TV's 'real' agenda is to be 'liked,' because if you like what you're seeing, you'll stay tuned. TV is completely unabashed about this; it's its sole raison.
The beauty of cable is you could program for 18-year-old twins and get a hit show on cable.
