WELCOME TO THE SQUARES!

"The Squares" are the daily schedules that television programmers build in planning a network's future, while keeping an eye on what the competition is doing.

Now, you're probably going to say why does that matter in today's "Peak TV" world with hundreds of shows available at your fingertips?  While it's true that there is more competition than ever, it is still important to make viewers aware of how to find shows.  If scheduling weren't important, there would be more broadcast network shows premiering on Fridays and Saturdays.  But, over the decades, viewers have become conditioned not to look for new shows there.  We are also seeing a drop in 10:00 PM shows, often because of competition and time-shifting shows from earlier in the evening.  Some people don't get around to watching their 8:00 and 9:00 shows until that hour.

Even Netflix and its streaming counterparts get the word out when their shows are premiering.  How about all those billboards and bus ads?  While it's not always important for viewers to show up for episode one, and shows sometimes still build, look at it like the opening weekend for a movie.  The early reception a program gets can be key to its survival.  Waiting to stream the first season later if it survives may mean there won't be a second season.   There needs to be a reason for the show to continue.  Sometimes, network executives see a spark and believe in a show because they have read future scripts.  Sometimes, they've seen unaired episodes and now there is a downhill trajectory.  Sharpen the axe.  Critical reception and who owns the show can also play a part.

It is harder than ever to gain loyal viewers for new shows.  We've all had favorite shows cancelled quickly.  Similarly, it can be daunting for returning shows to keep afloat.

I hope this will be a fun time-travel back to great television of the past.   The first deep-dive will be on the 1979 FALL SEASON.  It was a year where, in a three-network universe, veteran networks were losing ground.   The hot, youth-oriented ABC was "Still the One" as you will see from this legendary image promotion campaign.   Big stars and hit shows lead the upstart network to take some chances, but those scheduling moves endangered the future of even Top 5 series.  

I promise to get to the 21st century soon after. 

Stay tuned.