Is the Internet Killing Television?

We've heard of the term 'cult show' when describing shows like Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and Veronica Mars. The fact is that both of these shows suffered because of Nielson ratings, but had an amazing following online. Fans are still eager, now that both shows are no longer on the air, to purchase or read anything closely related to either show. The watch movies or television shows just to get a glimpse of an actor they once adored on a show they still loved. Just this week I am watching Heroes in a nostalgic salute to Kristen Bell and her Veronica Mars character.

Once again, there is another show that I absolutely love, but may fall to the same fate as Ms. Mars. Gossip Girl may be following this trend of low television ratings, but high online support. The latest episode came in fifth place with 2.42 million households, and only retaining 53% of America's Top Model's strong lead-in. However, the 'Dare Devil' episode is currently the top downloaded show listed on iTunes. And during the premiere week, Nielson's Live Plus 7 ratings give the show an increase of more than 20% in its viewer-ship, meaning that many more people recorded the show with some type of DVR service who didn't watch it live. Gossip Girl was picked up for a full season based on this. What does this mean for advertising, and could this new way of counting ratings would have saved Veronica Mars?

For whatever reason (too busy, planned to watch another show, or unavailability of network in area) people are using other mediums as their way to watch their favorite shows. They may TiVo it until their schedule permits them to watch. They are watching it in snit bits supplied by other fans on video streaming sites like YouTube and Google Video. They are purchasing it from the iTunes Store. Or, they are downloading it illegally from torrent sites. The fact remains that there were more people online discussing Veronica Mars and such shows in discussion boards and LiveJournal blogs than were represented in the ratings, which made many fans confused about the fairness of the rating system.

The internet has been the blame for the decrease in record and movie ticket sales. With the piracy and the illegal sharing of music and movies, both the music and movie industry are taking special precautions, and somewhat extreme measures, to protect their investments. Suing the people sharing and distributing music and movies online is just one step they are taking. It was only a matter of time before the television industry was pulled into this. But, instead of tying to keep television shows off the internet, the networks are embracing it as another way to bring in viewers and also make advertising dollars.

Many television networks are just now realizing the power of the internet and what it is doing for television. Now you can watch episodes of your favorite show online with limited commercial interruptions. I now prefer to go this route than to bog down my DVR or to watch it live with many commercial interruptions. If other people are following this trend, what will that mean for advertisers and the television industry? I am guessing that it will probably go where none of us want it to go; reality shows 24/7.