Critics suggest that TV is better than ever before…
“These are, people like to say, the golden days of television, which really means we are seeing a renaissance of serialized, long-form drama: “House of Cards,” “True Detective,” “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” and on and on.”
(Chicago Tribune, 2014)
“Television Is Better Now Than Ever Before” (Complex Magazine 2013)
“TV’s first Golden Age played out decades ago on old-fashioned console sets topped by rabbit ears. In the view of many critics, television’s second Golden Age is NOW.” (CBS News 2013)
Are today’s TV shows really that good?
As an avid TV watcher, I can’t help but agree with the critics quoted above, but can their claims be substantiated?
Recently, I was tasked with creating a mini TED-talk to present at the orientation for the new fellowship program that I am a part of this year: Challenge Detroit. I decided to conduct some research to see if the Golden age of TV (specifically TV dramas) is truly upon us. Below is a breakdown of what I found.
Qualitative assertions of the distinguishing traits of the ‘Golden Age’ TV dramas:
- “A renaissance of serialized, long-form dramas [with] several plot strings moving at once.” (Chicago Tribune)
- “Increasingly complex characters” , noticeably evolving throughout the course of the series and often oscillating between hero and antihero. (Complex Magazine)
- Golden shows get better and better (ratings) as the show progresses.
But can we quantitatively prove this ‘Golden Age’ of TV dramas? If so, when did it start?
Based on unprecedented TV rating trends, the short answer is yes! IMDB (International Movie Database) viewer rating trends concretely represents the key distinction between the Golden Age dramas and excellent dramas that preceded them.
**Critically acclaimed serialized dramas began to debut in the early 200os- for the sake of this research, I analyzed post 2000 Emmy nominated TV dramas.
Top Pre-Golden Age Dramas Distinction:
Average viewer ratings consistently decline from the first episode to the last episode of the series. (The Sopranos, The West Wing, Lost)
Top Golden Age Dramas Distinction:
Average viewer ratings consistently increase from the first episode to the last episode of the series. (Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones)
**The first Emmy nominated show from 1999-2014 (with at least 4 seasons) to qualify, as a Golden Age Drama was Madmen in 2008.
Top Pre-Golden Age, critically acclaimed Dramas:
Average IMDB viewer ratings consistently decline from the first episode to the last episode of the series.
Top Golden Age (2008-present) Dramas
Average IMDB viewer ratings consistently increase from the first episode to the last episode of the series
Which other Emmy nominated shows are ‘Golden’-just keep getting better?
Additional, current ‘Golden Age’ shows with viewer ratings consistently increasing:
- True Detective, Scandal, The Good Wife, Louie, Orange is the New Black, The Daily Show, House of Cards, The Colbert Report, Real Time with Bill Maher
- Current shows that don’t make the ‘Golden Age’ cut (declining viewer ratings over time):
Big Bang Theory, True Blood, Greys Anatomy, Dexter
Reasons why the ‘Golden Age’ is likely here to stay!
- Demand has changed 2014 Neilson ratings show that viewers 18-49 increasingly want more scripted series, and less reality shows
- Digital platforms like Netflix, HBO GO, Apple TV, Amazon etc. make it easier for viewers to watch (often binge watch) and re-watch their favorite shows without missing an episode/crucial components of the complex plot twists in Golden Age Dramas. They also make it easier for great shows to exponentially grow a fan base.
- Some examples of record breaking Golden Age Drama viewership trends: Breaking Bad approx. 700% viewer increase (from season 1 to season 4) Game of Thrones approx. 500% viewer increase (from season 1 to season 4)
***None of the Emmy nominated pre-Golden Age Dramas ever saw positive rate of change in viewership greater than 400% in their first 4 seasons- and beyond.
Golden TV is more original, and more affordable than feature films
Production cost of Golden Age Dramas:
Game of Thrones: 6 million per episode
Breaking Bad: 3 million per episode
Mad Men: 3 million per episode
Production Cost of feature films:
Average Hollywood Blockbuster 50-60 million per movie
TV vs. Movie DVD sales:
DVD sales for movies (about $20 a pop) are on the decline
DVD sales for Golden Age TV series (about $100) are on the rise
Profit Margins:
Hollywood Powerhouses (Viacom, Disney, Time Warner, 21st Century Fox, NBC Universal) now make 60% of their profits on cable TV
What does all this mean?!?
Now, more than ever, is a great time to be a couch potato!
