Moonves: The Boomer Is Where The Money Is

[CSI Files]

CBS courts the fifty-plus demographic.<p>At the McGraw-Hill Media Summit in New York City last Thursday, CBS president and CEO <font color=yellow>Leslie Moonves</font> said that the network is "in a very good position financially to do some things." This means they've got a few billion dollars to spend, and they are looking at possible acquisitions. While <A class="link" HREF="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a> is out of the question as a potential purchase (asking in the range of $15 billion), Moonves suggested that <A class="link" HREF="http://www.weather.com/">The Weather Channel</a> would be a good choice for the network. "We look at absolutely everything," he explained.<p>Moonves said that other networks favored an "upscale" 18-34 demographic over older viewers. "The only 18-34 upscale people I know are my children, and they come to me when they want to buy a car," he said. "It's a bullshit demographic." Instead, Moonves defended the older crowd. He said that the idea of older viewers being set in their ways regarding purchasing was "a great old wives' tale. We think the boomer is still where the money is and where we want to go."<p>Shows like <I>CSI: Crime Scene Investigation</I> do well with an older audience, and when it comes to the younger demographic, CBS can't compete with a show like <I>American Idol</I>. "While we're in repeats, <I>American Idol</I> continues to be a monster," Moonves said. "It's a phenomenon. If somebody would kill that show, I'd really appreciate it. But it's a national phenomenon, and it continues to do extremely well. It's tough to compete with it." So tough, in fact, this year FOX is expected to beat CBS not only in the 18-49 viewing demographic (as it has done the past three broadcast seasons) but in overall viewers as well, thanks to the impact the writers' strike had on scripted programming. "Yeah, we'll finish No. 2," he said.<p>The original articles are from <A class="link" HREF="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6540563.html?desc=topstory">Broadcasting & Cable</a> and the <A class="link" HREF="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ic999a42f152686749df750ceabe64d58">Hollywood Reporter</a>.<center></center>

 

[Faylinn]

"The only 18-34 upscale people I know are my children, and they come to me when they want to buy a car," he said. "It's a bullshit demographic."

BUT I AM IN DIS DEMOGRAPHIC!

Hey Les, wanna buy me a car?

 

[PerfectAnomaly]

CBS courts the fifty-plus demographic.<p>At the McGraw-Hill Media Summit in New York City last Thursday, CBS president and CEO <font color=yellow>Leslie Moonves</font> said that the network is "in a very good position financially to do some things." This means they've got a few billion dollars to spend, and they are looking at possible acquisitions. While <A class="link" HREF="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a> is out of the question as a potential purchase (asking in the range of $15 billion), Moonves suggested that <A class="link" HREF="http://www.weather.com/">The Weather Channel</a> would be a good choice for the network. "We look at absolutely everything," he explained.

It's always nice to see a network head who was lamenting about being financially strapped by the writers' outrageous demands crowing about how much money they have not even a month after the new contract was ratified.

<p>Moonves said that other networks favored an "upscale" 18-34 demographic over older viewers. "The only 18-34 upscale people I know are my children, and they come to me when they want to buy a car," he said. "It's a bullshit demographic." Instead, Moonves defended the older crowd. He said that the idea of older viewers being set in their ways regarding purchasing was "a great old wives' tale. We think the boomer is still where the money is and where we want to go."<p>Shows like <I>CSI: Crime Scene Investigation</I> do well with an older audience, and when it comes to the younger demographic, CBS can't compete with a show like <I>American Idol</I>.

That's funny. I'm 38 and the more I watch CSI: NY the more I feel they're going for an audience of high school and college kids. You're talking, Mr. Moonves, and all I'm hearing is "blah, blah, blah." As the saying goes, put your money where your mouth is and show me a program geared toward adults.

 

[Faylinn]

No kidding. I saw quotes elsewhere where he basically said that the writers would realize the strike hadn't been worth it, etc.

And CSI:NY isn't even aiming it toward high school kids, they're apparently aiming it toward elementary school kids they don't think are smart enough to grasp basic concepts.

Either that, or they read comments on YouTube and really think we're all just f*cking stupid. (YouTube makes me fear for the fate of humanity.)

 

[Finch]

"Yeah, we'll finish No. 2," he said.

You poor baby.

I'm in the 18-34 demographic and I'm not a drooling gawky teenybopper. I actually consider myself fairly mature. I don't get that they're aiming for the older crowd because lately all I'm seeing is "Oh I love you, Oh I HATE you, oh sleep with me. OMGAWD she said THAT?" *sigh* So far, from what I've noticed, once shows like American Idol come on the air, the networks stoop to their level by pulling in every recent 'popular' thing to come out in order to gain ratings, so I think it's bull that they say CBS aims for the older crowd. Not that the older crowd isn't in on what's going around but it seems like a constant reminder that they want the 'hip and young crowd' watching, even if they're saying something else.

Moonves suggested that The Weather Channel would be a good choice for the network.

LOL. I'm sorry but the Weather Channel? They do have people in the board rooms and not a bunch of monkeys on roller skates right?