What if the local affiliates ditched the networks?

[AutoTranz]

Could we possibly see ALL local TV stations? All local programming, local news, talk, sports, entertainment, etc? ALL local ad revenue?

With NBC forcing its affil's to pay up for lackluster programming, could we see locals start a movement?

[Nanook of the North]

FYI: There are independent stations in just about every market.

[east coast producer]

I think what's more interesting is networks dumping affiliates. Apparently CBS' Les Moonves is already thinking about it.

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid={BCF393AD-080B-419F-9245-C6A014BE7653}&siteid=yhoof2

Chief Executive Les Moonves said Wednesday that ad rates are about flat with prices charged during this year's spring "upfront," and have declined compared to last year at this time. Ad volume is down as well. Commenting on "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno's move to primetime in 2010, Moonves said "it may very well be a good move for NBC," but would not be a smart decision for CBS, which frequently wins the 10 p.m. time slot with its dramas. "I will bet anybody who wants to bet that 'CSI Miami' Monday nights at 10:00 will beat Jay by a lot," Moonves quipped. The executive also said that in 10 years, CBS may no longer have traditional affiliated TV stations, but could offer its feed straight to cable and satellite operators. For now, however, the network has contracts with local stations that are binding for several years.

[TVMattNYC]

Could we possibly see ALL local TV stations? All local programming, local news, talk, sports, entertainment, etc? ALL local ad revenue?

With NBC forcing its affil's to pay up for lackluster programming, could we see locals start a movement?

Not even the New York market has the kind of ad revenue that would support even the most mediocre local programming.

[ewink]

Not even the New York market has the kind of ad revenue that would support even the most mediocre local programming.
It would if the programming was 'Girls Gone Wild'. Of course you could only air it from 22:00 - 06:00...

The rest of the day could be people being hurt and killed from LiveLeak. For some reason people enjoy watching that...

[WOS]

I think it's very likely that networks will dump their local affiliates in a few years, and local stations will look more like local access. The good news is that they'll probably be producing MORE local news content. The bad news is the folks will be paid even lower than now. I can't wait for the Green Acres reruns.

[TAFKA wacowx]

Not even the New York market has the kind of ad revenue that would support even the most mediocre local programming.

Although NYC did indeed, for many years, have both WOR and WPIX (I don't know what the Fox affil was, perhaps that was an indy too?) which had absolutely no network affiliation and were essentially full-fledged stations with newscasts and the like. It's a tough go without some quality programming to 'feed the beast' but not impossible. IF networks are dropped, it will hasten the thinning out of local options in my opinion because this is a horrible time with all the other choices out there, to essentially 'go it alone'.

[sean-1966]

Up here in Canada I can't think of any independent stations. Every one that tries goes belly up.

[anchormanNEPA]

KUSI in San Diego seems to be doing pretty good as an independent. The independent station in my market (mid 50s) looks like college tv.

[anti-spam]

It worked out great for KRON.

[Buck T. Trend]

Who knows what the TV biz will look like in 10 years? AutoTranz's guess is as good as any.

And why couldn't stations survive independent of a network? With network ratings tanking, it wouldn't surprise me if series producers started shopping their product around to individual stations much as they do with shows like "Wheel of Fortune," "Oprah," et al. Stations would compete to get the best programming, and crappy content that just serves to fill network prime time would get weeded out. "CSI," "American Idol," and "L&O: SVU" all on the same station? It could happen.

I think NBC ushered this new era with the upcoming Jay Leno prime time strip. The old ways of thinking aren't going to work in this new era, and the people who figure this out first will be the only ones to survive.

[SE Director]

WJXT has done fairly well as an independent since dumping the CBS network, while the "new" affiliate station looks and acts like an indy, only with the CBS logo attached. It's a lot easier if your good and have a solid rep in the community. Your viewers are likely to stay, at least until Survivor comes on.:doh: