So the question will be: will advertisers adjust their sites to an older demographic, or continue to chase the smaller, younger audience?
>From Thomas Cott (You've Cott Mail newsletter): For years, [TV] executives essentially stopped caring about television viewers once they had reached 50 years old. You don't hear that much anymore. The median age for viewers at ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC is now 51. The broadcasters' audience has aged at twice the rate of the general population during the past two decades, according to a new report. It's a quiet trend with a real impact on the way they do business. The risk in having a rapidly aging audience is the networks becoming less relevant to advertisers, the backbone of their business. Increasingly, that's a way of thinking that itself is getting old. A generation ago, the networks were more quick to cast off shows in favor of something newer and hipper, but are more reluctant now to get rid of something that's showing success. Most new shows fail, so the financial risk is too great if it isn't really necessary. "Dancing With the Stars," with a median audience age of 60, is the most popular series on ABC's schedule. The median age of the "American Idol" audience has jumped from 36 to 44 over the past seven seasons. A young audience has always been the holy grail for networks, but that's changing, said Alan Wurtzel, research chief at NBC. Not only are more older viewers available, advertisers are starting to recognize that they spend money and are receptive to their messages. "Don't discount people who are in their 50s and 60s. They buy iPads," Wurtzel said. "They're online. The reality is these are the people who have the money." FULL ARTICLE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100816/ap_en_tv/us_tv_older_networks Ron Casalotti Wayne, NJ -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
