Thirty years ago, cable was best known for airing movies just out of theaters. Twenty years ago, cable became the domain of the 24-hour news network. Ten years ago, cable was the home for syndicated television dramas (Law & Order, anyone?). Five years ago, cable had the market cornered on reality programming. But now, cable may just be the future of quality television programming.
Over the past few years, non-broadcast television programming has come to dominate both cultural conversation and award shows. In 2013, 15 of the top 20 Emmy Awards (Best Actor, Best Writing, etc) went to cable programming instead of broadcast television. The term “binge-watching” entered the cultural lexicon in the past year, mostly due to shows like Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, and True Detective all being available for streaming. More and more, viewers are turning to non-broadcast television for intelligent, engaging programming.
Why is this happening now? Broadcast television has had a decades-long monopoly on quality programming. When cable networks started offering their own programs, they realized that they needed to go beyond the scope possible for network television. Part of that involved attracting talent that had, so far, stayed away from the silver screen. (Look at True Detective or House of Cards for perfect examples of movie stars playing the leads on television series.) Another part is the sheer quality of the content that is now found on cable shows that have created a cinematic experience in television format. These shows focus on transformative storytelling in which the characters undergo significant changes over the course of the season and show. Unlike, say, Law & Order, the characters change noticeably as the show continues, adapting to new situations and undergoing major character development. Finally, there’s the fact that cable does not face the same censorship limitations that broadcast television does. That’s why Game of Thrones can feature prostitutes, beheadings, and torture, while Firefly had to translate all its curse words into Mandarin Chinese.
So the question is, will network television follow suit? There are some indications that it may; The Good Wife and Scandal have both been lauded for their storylines and character development. Meanwhile, networks are pushing for looser regulations on “mature” content – though who knows whether they’ll succeed. Regardless of whether networks can feature the same levels of nudity and violence as their cable counterparts, they must figure out how to adapt. There has been a sea change in the industry, and if network television wants to continue competing, they’ll have to develop their own edge.
Image Credit: Charlie Oliver
