CBS had a problem last season - it's the only broadcast network which saw more viewers from last year, but it still had less advertising revenue than its previous year because of a "depressed market." One of the changes it is affecting then is moving The Mentalist, described by critics as broadcast TV's only real new hit this season, from Tuesday to Thursday nights at 10pm. The reason for the move, as expected, is strategic, because Thursdays are important for networks as they seek income from advertisers such as film studios looking ahead to the weekend. CBS adds that it sees Jay Leno's new comedy, set for a 10pm airing every night, on NBC as an opportunity to win the hour.
"No matter how well he does, there's going to be more (audience) share available at 10 o'clock for people who put on great dramas," CBS Corp. chief executive Leslie Moonves said, "and that's what we do."
Already reeling in the largest audience of any rookie series this season, a lead-in courtesy of
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, the most watched drama, might do even more wonders for the show. This, despite the harsh decline in viewership since William Petersen left and Laurence Fishburne took over.
As it turned out, Simon Baker isn't the only crime fighter making a move, as Patricia Arquette of paranormal drama
Medium will move from NBC to CBS.
Medium lands on Friday's lineup, between
Ghost Whisperer and
Numb3rs. The network also canceled
Without a Trace, The Unit, and
Eleventh Hour. There are also two new shows:
Accidentally on Purpose with Jenna Elfman and
NCIS spin-off
NCIS: Los Angeles, which was successfully introduced via a backdoor pilot late this current season.
- Glenn Diaz, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: CBS
(Image courtesy of CBS)