Faced With Reruns on TV, Consumers Will Read More
Posted on November 15, 2007
A new poll shows strong support nationwide for the writers who are striking. The poll also asked people what they were going to do if the Writers' Strike goes on so long that all they have to watch is reruns. The results are heartening for book publishers: 42% of the respondents said they would read more, and 35% said they would spend more time on the Internet.
Almost 2 out of 3 Americans, or 63%, said they were more inclined to side with writers in their dispute with major studios, according to a survey by Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business Management that is scheduled to be released today. Writers went on strike last week amid disputes over pay when their work is distributed on the Internet and via cellphones and other new-media devices.Apparently the viewing public is fully aware that there are only six mega-conglomerates that control virtually everything we see on television: only 4% of 1,000 American adults polled side with the giant corporations over the writers. If the writers' strike doesn't end soon -- and all signs today point towards it dragging out for months -- your favorite tv shows are all going into reruns indefinitely.*****
Smith said the public support could wane if the strike disrupted consumers' TV viewing habits. Though several shows have stopped shooting, viewers won't notice much change until early next year, when reruns, sports and reality shows replace scripted programs. When asked about the prospect of reruns replacing new shows, 42% of the respondents said they would read more, and 35% said they would spend more time on the Internet.