Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Monday, July 10th, 2023
How to promote your TV network's show in the middle of a strike.
Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, July 10th, 2023.
HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR SHOW IN THE MIDDLE OF A STRIKE
PR work for a linear network and/or a streamer is challenging even in the best of circumstances. But how do you promote a show when the writers are on strike and refuse to do any publicity for their show? And what happens if the actors also got out on strike on Wednesday (and let's face, that now seems more likely than not). New shows are still going to premiere, weekly episodes will continue to drop. At least for now. But the promotional options are suddenly feeling very limited.
So what should do? Go back to the basics and keep providing what help you can to journalists who still need to crank out non-strike related coverage.
For instance, provide at least some minimum level of information about your shows. Especially ones produced globally, most of which don't fall under the WGA auspices.
Here's one example. On Wednesday, Netflix is releasing the original film Mr. Car & The Knights Templar. It's produced in Poland and based on the trailer I've seen, it looks as if it could be fun. It's certainly the type of project I like to highlight.
But I have no clue about the quality of the film, because Netflix isn't providing the slightest bit of info about the movie to the press. There's not even a mention on the Netflix press web site and even Netflix's own house marketing web site Tudum only points to the blurb you'll see in the image at the top of this newsletter.
I understand resources need to be stretched everywhere. But how freaking hard is to upload some promotional material, including a few photos? Or...here's a crazy thought...provide a screener. Or even a contact on the press site that a curious critic might use to ask for a screener.
This is not an isolated issue with Netflix and global productions. I would estimate a good 50% or more of the streamer's upcoming releases that were produced globally have little or no information available for the U.S. press. Which feels like PR malpractice, given that we are entering a period where there will be progressively fewer new projects to discuss.
While this complaint is specific to Netflix, it applies to every streamer and linear network. Don't have anyone available to directly promote your shows? Then at least make it a little easier for critics to write about them.
And even when there is no strike going on, some of the hardest streamers to get relevant information from are the AVODs. While it's fine to know which eight new FAST channels are being added this month, you know what my readers (and your viewers) want to know? What is coming and going with On Demand. And if a show or movie is leaving, "soon" is not a helpful qualifier. I know this is the type of data that AVODs are accustomed to sharing. But it's what viewers want to know. And shouldn't that be what matters most?
SPEAKING OF PUBLICISTS
I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert on this subject. But I was under the impression that the WGA had originally asked writers not to promote their shows in any network-arranged interviews. But that interviews they arranged independently were fine. Then I saw a lot of pushback online that argued while writers could talk about their shows on social media, they shouldn't be actively promoting their shows at all.
Which is why I find it perplexing that I've received two different pitches today asking if I would be interested in speaking with showrunners about their shows. The pitches come from outside firms which presumably are directly representing the writers. But one of the firms (who was pitching an interview with the showrunner of a Netflix series) also does a lot of work for various linear networks and streamers. So I think it's fair to say they are a PR arms merchant?
But my question is...do these interviews fall under the spirit of the WGA strike guidelines?
TWEET OF THE DAY
A TCM WATCH APP UPDATE
You might recall that I wrote a piece a few days ago highlighting that the TCM Watch App hadn't been updated with new movies since June 30th and at the time, a company spokesperson attributed the problem to an "engineering" problem that prevented new movies from being updated in the app. The spokesperson promised the problem would be fixed "shortly," but even if you have a loose definition of the word, it's fair to say that given it's now July 10th, we have moved into "not shortly" territory.
I received this reader email earlier today and it provides a pretty solid look at the frustration level of TCM fans:
TCM has still not “fixed” the “technical problem”. I am suspicious that we are being lied to, and that it is going to be allowed to wither away, only to be replaced by a “new and reimagined” app that will ONLY cost viewers and ADDITIONAL $XXX each month. Hate to be so distrustful, but this guy Zaslav is a hatchet man first and foremost, no matter the smooth talk.
THE DAILY BEAST MUST HAVE A DIFFERENT DEFINITION OF 'SPILLED' THAN I DO
FOX ANNOUNCES ITS FALL ANIMATION PREMIERE SCHEDULE
Thanks to the long production lead times on animation, Fox will have a full schedule of new animated shows to premiere this fall.
The new Dan Harmon series Krapopolis will premiere with a special two-episode "preview event" on Sunday, September 24th, immediately following the FOX NFL doubleheader.
The familiar "Fox Animation Domination" block premieres Sunday, Oct. 1st, with all-new seasons of The Simpsons (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), Krapopolis (time-period premiere 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), Bob’s Burgers (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and Family Guy (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT).
ODDS AND SODS
* Get TV is adding episodes of Quncy, M.E. beginning Monday, July 17th.
* Season two of the Max Original comedy series Rap Sh!t debuts with two episodes on Thursday, August 10th.
* The HBO Original two-part documentary Golden Boy premieres on Monday, July 24th.
WHAT'S NEW FOR TUESDAY:
* Betrayal: The Perfect Husband (Hulu)
* Caught In The Act: Unfaithful Season Premiere (MTV)
* Chopped All-American Showdown Premiere (Food)
* Everything But The House (Lifetime)
* How I Met Your Father Season Finale (Hulu)
* Iconic America: Our Symbols And Stories With David Rubinstein (PBS)
* Myth Of The Zodiac Killer (Peacock)
* Nineteen To Twenty (Netflix)
* Outdaughtered Season Premiere (TLC)
* Philosopher Of The Sea (Viaplay)
Click Here to see the list of all of the upcoming premiere dates for the next few months.
SEE YOU TUESDAY!
If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.