Ha I actually thought of you when I wrote that because I remember you saying something about binge watching (Hemlock specifically I think.)

I admit, the most I can "marathon" an hour show--unless I'm stuck sick in bed or something--is about three episodes at most. It just isn't ideal for me really (though I have gone on some binges--but with current shows I keep up with, etc, it's easy to stay caught up with those and let the ones I have 6+ episodes just sit there as I can always watch them.)So I get that other people prefer binge watching. Still, if PP honestly claims that people were falling behind with all the episodes--this certainly won't help.

I agree with this. PP claims are coming from where that viewers were falling behind? PP should be listening to the fans..

People get behind when there isn't a set schedule to watch or a community to make it an event to view at a particular time. While I enjoy binge viewing I find it frustrating to find people to discuss the shows with obviously. If PP wants more people to watch they need to do a better job to increase interest.

I agree with the "pick something and stay with it" crowd. I know PP had their issues with the production and couldn't stay on a 4-5 day a week schedule but at this point, they need to pick something and stick with it before people get too confused and stop watching totally. Even though, I thought the plan was to return to a 4-5 day a week schedule at some point.

Like others have said, whether PP wants to admit it or not, these are daytime style serials. The storylines and the casts are designed under the fact that the shows are going to have a lot of episodes. The fact that episodes come out daily is a big draw for many people and I also think that the current weekly releases and the low number of episodes released each week has killed momentmum. You can see it on the boards (not just this one, but others). PP needs to realize that these are not primetime style serials a la Scandal, and never will be unless you drop half the cast and change the way stories are told.

Plus, isn't PP trying to get a TV syndication deal. I don't know how this is appealing to TV networks.

I am with you here. All My Children and One Life to Live are Soaps and more a daily viewing.

How I watch now is I alternate AMC/OLTL each day, and then skip a day (I do not watch the More show -- what a waste of time!). If they were to go 20 episode seasons, this would not change for me. I do it this way so at least I have something to watch each day.

But, I would rather AMC/OLTL to return to the traditional soap schedule --- new episodes 5 days a week (or at least 3-4). Get rid of the More show as an episode, it can be a bonus show, but it is too much of a timewaster to be considered an "episode". Start a huge advertising campaign to rebuild momentmum. Keep advertising the shows letting people know they exist. Hopefully, this will rebuild the momentmum that was lost in the first few weeks.

Also, the binge viewing will always be there. That comes with the territory of your show being made available to watch online anytime.

I agree. At least they are getting some feedback before just announcing a change. I think I would like this, but if they'd just suddenly said they were changing something again, I probably would have an emotional knee jerk reaction.

And to be fair, I think a lot of the changes they've made where on Friday we learn that the schedule will be changed next week make it seem like they don't know what they're doing. Just fumbling around and trying new things to see what works. That's fine to an extent, but you can expect to lose people every time you do something like that. Hopefully you gain more, but it's a risk. Every decision they've made thus far was not really a positive for most of the traditional soap viewers. Shorter episodes (which was the case from the beginning) isn't what we were used to and was a difficult adjustment to make. Then four days a week was cut to two. That was another adjustment. Now this?

I keep hearing that we just have to go along with it because that's what has to be done. But the truth is, not everyone feels like they're responsible for keeping the shows on the air. They're watching because they want to and they're entertained. If that changes, they will stop.

I think I'm 2 episodes behind on AMC and 4 on OLTL..not sure with all the changes...it is really frustrating and I've lost interest to be honest....They should just go with the 20 episode season and release the damn thing on DVD instead of putting it out on Hulu...or leave it on Hulu and release a dvd at the end of the run on Hulu. The whole Oprah thing is a bust..no one is watching of course that could be because they have already been watched on Hulu and some dont know about it being on the O Network or most have just moved on.

I agree with this. PP claims are coming from where that viewers were falling behind? PP should be listening to the fans..

Which is why the survey is a good idea. This way they're getting legitimate feedback on a specific issue instead of trying to sort through stupidity on FB/Twitter.

The whole Oprah thing is a bust..no one is watching of course that could be because they have already been watched on Hulu and some dont know about it being on the O Network or most have just moved on.

It's been one week and the numbers aren't all that different from whatever was there before. I honestly don't know what people were expecting.

Edited July 24, 201312 yr by marceline

Add me to the "just pick something and stick with it" list.

Neither of this options really do much for me. When I binge watch something, I want it to be a full season that gives me some resolution at the end even if there's a cliffhanger. That's why the Netflix shows work for me. I went through OITNB and House of Cards each in a weekend. Each of those shows have full story arcs that play out during the "season" with a tease at the end that sets up the next season. That's not what soaps are supposed to be.

Exactly. One of the pleasures of soap operas that IS different from the heavily serialized (and, yes, "soapy") primetime shows that Netflix is basing their schedule on is that soap operas are open ended. I suppose there could be an argument made that this is outdated in and of itself, but it's something I love--and doing this seems to complete miss that aspect to me. I agree with the large media perception that perhaps one reason daytime soaps are dying (but IMHO not one of the top reasons) is because many of the pleasures of soap operas have been picked up for primetime shows--but even with shows like Knots Landing which are more open ended ea season than, say, the Buffy model, there still is more of a sense of each season being its own chunk.

Maybe AMC and OLTL could work in this model--but it creates a bit of a different animal and the shows, IMHO would have to be adjusted as such (and I'd miss the more traditional soap structure--even when we only get 2 episodes a week.)

I think the survey is PP based but I'm guessing they went with a Hulu survey for two reasons: 1.) the data is more valid and reliable because it can't be robovoted and 2.) this filters out the "What's a Hula?" and "Put it back on TV!!!" crowd. They're sampling real current and potential customers.

So the longtime fans that PP said they wanted to protect and keep are not in the future mindsets of PP? Which means PP lacks honesty and trust in fans?? AMC is already a shell of its former self with a skeleton cast.

People get behind when there isn't a set schedule to watch or a community to make it an event to view at a particular time. While I enjoy binge viewing I find it frustrating to find people to discuss the shows with obviously. If PP wants more people to watch they need to do a better job to increase interest.

Agreed. For a while they seemed to be wanting to feed off of some of this--you know get social media talking about what was coming up next week, which new character might show up, what people thought of that. They sorta have dropped that focus (though I don't think they should have) but if they go this way it will be completely dead--you can't tweet "Tell us what you think of the reveal in episode 18 of these next 20!!"

AMC is already a shell of its former self

You are literally the only one who thinks this.

So the longtime fans that PP said they wanted to protect and keep are not in the future mindsets of PP? Which means PP lacks honesty and trust in fans?? AMC is already a shell of its former self with a skeleton cast.

What are you talking about???

You are literally the only one who thinks this.

Clearly you haven't been to the Facebook page recently.

Agreed. For a while they seemed to be wanting to feed off of some of this--you know get social media talking about what was coming up next week, which new character might show up, what people thought of that. They sorta have dropped that focus (though I don't think they should have) but if they go this way it will be completely dead--you can't tweet "Tell us what you think of the reveal in episode 18 of these next 20!!"

Good point. There's no real social media component for the Netflix shows. People may tweet that they're watching but they can't discuss what happens on screen.

So the longtime fans that PP said they wanted to protect and keep are not in the future mindsets of PP? Which means PP lacks honesty and trust in fans?? AMC is already a shell of its former self with a skeleton cast.

The longtime fans aren't enough. They weren't enough for the network and they aren't enough now. These shows have to attract new viewers in order to be sustainable.

Edited July 24, 201312 yr by marceline

AMC is already a shell of its former self with a skeleton cast.

That was a given from the start. I think everyone knew it wasnt going to be what it once was on TV.

So the longtime fans that PP said they wanted to protect and keep are not in the future mindsets of PP? Which means PP lacks honesty and trust in fans?? AMC is already a shell of its former self with a skeleton cast.

PP hates longtime fans. Clearly. That's why they dug up Billy Clyde Tuggle and searched the earth to locate Michael Nader and centered their A story around Angie & Jesse.

Have they been straightforward with everything? No- we all can surmise that the reduction had more to do with production issues than binge watching. But is any company 100% direct? Was ABC? I really think its more about finances and bottom lines than deliberate deception and distrust of longtime fans.

I do hope they are somewhat forthcoming if/when they make this change- talk about trying to sustain the shows, talk about it being a new medium etc. I think people will prefer that to a look we're making this easier for you narrative again.

Edited July 24, 201312 yr by greens_dupres

That was a given from the start. I think everyone knew it wasnt going to be what it once was on TV.

I supposein terms of number of characters, actors who couldn't or didn't come back, etc--sure, but I think a lot of fans (myself included) thing material wise it's stronger than it was for much of the past decade (that may sound like a back handed complement But...)

People seem to forget that unlike the OLTL cast, AMC's cast was totally scattered and many had prior commitments when the reboot was announced