Last minute changes. Don't ya just hate 'em?

[hobbyfan]

If a mod can mirror this over in the Cartoon Network forum, I'd appreciate it. Thanx in advance.

Anyway, I've noticed in recent days that there have been several cases of last minute scheduling changes. No rational reason, just plain irresponsibility by the network programmers.

And this has nothing to do with Fuse and the MTV family of nets making late changes in the wake of Michael Jackson's passing a few weeks ago. One of the infomercial channels, for example, supplies the cable providers with incorrect information on a routine basis. Today was one such example. Earlier this afternoon, they had listed in the cable guide "Elvis & Chuck", whatever that was supposed to be, but instead, it was a Time-Life Ultimate Oldies But Goodies Collection informercial, starring Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, who looks like he's packed on plenty of poundage since "Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour" signed off for good 25 years ago. Someone sign him up for Nutri-Systems ASAP!

Over at Cartoon Network, a 4-6 pm (ET) block that was supposed to consist of two eps each of Total Drama Action & Stoked was replaced at the last minute with a Tom & Jerry movie and a CGI Garfield film. I'm sure there are people commenting about that already.

MTV and its sister channels are notorious for such changes dating back to the early 90's. As viewers, we are, believe it or else, entitled to have some idea of why a program promised for such & such a time isn't airing. I don't care if it has anything to do with ratings. By making late changes, the viewers are getting swerved and dissed on a regular basis. Just be professional, man up and own up. That's all I ask.

[Mandouga]

Any network will tell you that "programming is subject to change". However, I completely understand what you're getting at. When a program is shown that is contrary to what a schedule tells us, it usally is supposed to happen only rarely. However, as far as TOON goes, it happens almost on a regular basis, plus it's been going on for years now.

In any event I agree. We as viewers are entitled to some explanation as to the frequency of these things. Hiding behind the "programming subject to change" disclaimer isn't cutting it any more.

[Mesousa]

Nickelodeon is another example. Except it happens all the darn time.

[Jacob]

As viewers, we are, believe it or else, entitled to have some idea of why a program promised for such & such a time isn't airing. I don't care if it has anything to do with ratings. By making late changes, the viewers are getting swerved and dissed on a regular basis. Just be professional, man up and own up. That's all I ask.

The networks aren't "promising" anything they're not promoting. They usually don't move around new episodes AFTER they have been promoting it at a certain time, but they can move reruns around as much as they want, because they're not promising anyone that they're going to air a rerun at a certain time.