stunt programming

stunt programming
(STUNT proh.gra.ming)
n.
Controversial, extravagant, or gimmicky television shows designed to boost a network's ratings.
— stunt program n.
Example Citations:
The sweeps system, which originated in radio, has been around for almost fifty years, and it shows. Every February, May, July, and November, Nielsen sends out 2.5 million paper "diaries" to randomly selected people in almost every TV market in the country and asks them to record, for a week, what programs they watch. The networks' local stations — the affiliates — and local advertisers then use the information from those diaries to negotiate ad rates for the months ahead. Each year, sweeps determine how more than twenty billion dollars in ad money gets spent. ...
What's wrong with them? To begin with, they force the networks to rely on "stunt" programming — to pack their schedules with outrageous specials, celebrity appearances, and expensive movies. The more juicy stuff the networks pack into sweeps months, the less they can afford to put on during the rest of the year.
— James Surowiecki, "The Way We Watch," The New Yorker, February 17, 2003
Network viewing in cable homes has dropped from 49 percent a year ago. Media experts claim a major reason behind the fall is a decision by the Big Four (ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox) to use fewer "stunt programs" to lure audiences during the November sweeps.
— Dusty Saunders, "Cable TV making connection," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), December 23, 2002
Earliest Citation:
Tonight, Fox premieres "Married . . . With Children" at 6 p.m. and "The Tracey Ullman Show" at 6:30. But, borrowing a programming strategy from cable operators, on its premiere night, Fox will show each comedy three times in one night, giving audiences opportunities to find it. More importantly, it makes it harder for the networks to create competitive "stunt" programming ploys to blunt Fox's debut.
— P. J. Bednarski, "Will quick new Fox jump over 3 top dogs?," Chicago Sun-Times, April 5, 1987
Related Words: Category:

New words. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Channel 4 programming — Channel 4, in common with the other main British stations broadcast on analogue, airs a highly comprehensive range of programming. It was established in 1982 with a specific intention of providing programming to groups of minority interests, not… …   Wikipedia

  • Teletoon (Canadian TV channel) — Infobox TV channel name = Teletoon logofile = Teletoon logo.svg logoalt = logosize = 150px launch = October 17, 1997 closed date = picture format = share = share as of = share source = network = owner = Teletoon Canada Inc. (Astral Media 50%… …   Wikipedia

  • appointment television — (uh.POYNT.munt TEL.uh.vizh.un) n. Television programming for which one sets aside time to watch, either live or on videotape. Example Citation: The Osbournes has become part of it. So has the tough cop drama, The Shield. And a growing number of… …   New words

  • dramality — (dram.AL.uh.tee) n. A television show or series that includes elements of both drama and reality programming. adj. Example Citation: As crack TV s popularity spreads, so does the dueling punditry over whether it s a brilliant new form of… …   New words

  • jump the shark — v. In a television show, to include an over the top scene or plot twist that is indicative either of an irreversible decline in the show s quality or of a desperate bid to stem the show s declining ratings. Also: JTS. jump the shark adj. jumping… …   New words

  • Yule Log (TV program) — The Yule Log is a television program which airs traditionally on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, originally on New York City television station WPIX but now on many other stations. A radio simulcast of the musical portion was broadcast on… …   Wikipedia

  • CNN effect — (SEE.en.en uh.fekt) n. The negative effect on the economy caused by people staying home to watch CNN or some other news source during a crisis such as a war. Example Citation: Analysts will pay close attention to any outlook from retailers about… …   New words

  • Television — actorvist adrenaline television appointment television backstory baked potato barking head begathon …   New words

  • adrenaline television — (uh.DREN.uh.lin TEL.uh.vizh.un) n. A live television broadcast of a dramatic event. Example Citation: For several gripping hours on Tuesday afternoon, the Colorado school siege provided cable news networks with adrenaline television students… …   New words

  • binge viewing — n. A period of excessive indulgence spent watching previously broadcast episodes of a TV show. binge viewer n. Example Citations: Binge viewing is transforming the way people watch television and changing the economics of the industry....Now,… …   New words

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”