Television Embracing Audience Choice

Imagine a world where we weren't subjected to derivative game shows (Show Me the Money? Identity?), bad made-for-TV movies about natural or man-made disasters (anyone remember 10.5?), or tired, poorly paced sit coms (too many to mention). A world where TV executives were able to weed out the awful shows before wasting our valuable viewing time. A world where the Ugly Betty's of the world move to the top of the que.

PBS is trying to bring us that world in January, when it will premiere three science series pilots on New Years Day via streaming video on pbs.org. Stations will run the shows a few days later and viewers will be asked to vote on which should be developed into a full 10 week series.

I know the sceptics will say "yeah, people say they want this kind of choice, but who is really going to do this?" The answer is -- the kinds of people that will actually watch the show. Sure, it probably won't be millions of people. But it may be that critical 1% whose commitment to PBS will be reinforced (or even forged) by this interactive experience. And then they'll tell two people and so on and so on...

Essentially, PBS is building brand loyalty before their offerings even hit the airwaves. And they're doing it without all the expense of a traditional advertising campaign. As an added bonus, their efforts to engage the viewers early and often may well generate increased good will -- along with contrbutions.

Check out PBS' Science Page for more information.