Me TV ad with Ben Matlock and Dr. Sloan "watching" their shows

[maxhifi]

Originally Posted by Jeffhs

Television programming in the 21st century has gone downhill, in a big way; however, that's why retro TV subchannels like MeTV, l.

I couldn't disagree more strongly with this statement, I think TV has never been better... Between HBO, Netflix and AMC, we're now getting 60 hour long commercial free movies, with full blown high dollar set design and excellent acting, fully embracing the improved presentation of large screens and better sound with Hollywood movie quality filming. TV has really had to step up its game to survive, and it's done so well. Its the big 3 networks which have gone down the tubes, but hey, everything has its day.

[Jeffhs]

Originally Posted by maxhifi

Its the big 3 networks which have gone down the tubes . . .

That's what I meant. Programming on ABC, CBS and NBC was much better years ago than it is today, and there was no need for content ratings the likes of TV-G, TV-PG, etc. in TV's early years as are shown on American programs nowadays. Television technology, however, has improved by leaps and bounds, to the point where today's TV is, from a technological standpoint, much better than it was before DTV and high definition.

PBS, and the British TV channels on some cable systems (the latter are also available as standalone streaming channels on Roku and possibly other streaming video players), are about the only networks that don't carry garbage programming. Of course, if you want to see older (and in my opinion better) programs, your only recourse is either to watch them on DVD or on the retro DTV channels. The reason most programming on the broadcast networks is such trash is because that is what draws ratings.

We do not live in the world of Leave It to Beaver anymore, and the TV networks know it. Times have changed since the 1950s, and so has American TV, like it or not. If you don't like what you see, you always have the option of changing the channel, turning off the set entirely, or watching alternate programming on DTV subchannels, DVDs, or PBS. But do not expect the broadcast networks to improve their programming any time soon. Television reflects the views and morals of society, and as I said earlier, today's TV shows are the garbage they are simply because that is what today's TV viewers, by and large, want to watch.