Network Television Is Dead, It Says on CBS

By Jon Lafayette
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

A lot of people talk about the death of network television. It was a bit of a surprise to read about it on CBS. 

Following Thursday night’s episode of The Big Bang Theory, ironically one of TV’s most-watched shows, one of producer Chuck Lorre’s now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t vanity cards appeared with an epitaph.

:Here’s what the card said

R.I.P.

Network Television

1948-2015

CBS recently announced that it was bringing back the series Star Trek, but not for the CBS network, for a streaming video on demand system called CBS All Access. In lieu of flowers, CBS has requested that mourners send them six bucks a month.

Another funny thing. I caught this because I was watching Life in Pieces on a DVR, the digital device accused of sucking the life out of the TV business.

Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.