Rugrats pre-empting by CBS station angers viewer

[Auggie Doggie]

This is what the blurb from Rugrats Online says:

Public Service, or Big Ratings, At The Expense Of Others?

On 12/1/2001, the Santa Experience and Chanukah episodes of Rugrats were broadcasted to a wider audience on CBS. However, viewers of KHOU ch.11 in Houston, Texas, only saw bits and pieces of the specials. Reason? That Saturday was an election day to see who would be the next mayor of Houston, and on that night, KHOU pre-empted portions of the specials for special election news. Normally, I would say, "Rugrats are Rugrats. There are alot of things that are more important, such as the election. The specials will be seen over and over again on Nick." But in this case, KHOU's coverage of the Houston mayoral election was riduculous. They block the first 15 minutes of each special for election returns and related news, then join Rugrats in progress, then break into programming again to give the same news for another 15 minutes, then rejoin Rugrats, etc.

The person who sent me this news, a mother of a Rugrats fan, was furious. She promised her child that he would watch the specials on CBS -- show would even tape them. But her child got angry after noticing that the specials are pre-empted for the election. And she got furious because of what KHOU is doing. Yes, she could've taped them off of Nick instead. Yes, she could've bought or rented the videos. But she wanted to watch and tape the specials off of CBS instead, but KHOU wouldn't let her. She and her child were "customers" of KHOU, which is a "business". And this "business" has let down at least 2 of their "customers". For their special Rugrats needs, they chose to do business with KHOU, instead of Nick or the local video store. Would she do business again with KHOU? Who knows. But, as the old adage goes, "The Customer Is Always Right".

If this was a federal of state election, when we elect a lot of people into office, of if there were special issues involved, then of course, it would gain more weight in importance than Rugrats. Even if several mayors or commisssioners are up for grabs in the Houston market, then those too, would be important. But this is an election for one mayor, in one city -- that's all. The mayoral race in Houston doesn't have much weight in suburbs such as Pasadena, Humble, Baytown, Alvin or League City; or in outlying places like Galveston, Bay City or Conroe. In my opinion, what KHOU should've done was just run a ticker on the screen, showing the results, then break into programming when a winner is declared and he or she is ready to speak.

That would've been the best way and please everyone, but no, KHOU thinks that what's good for Houston is good for most of southeastern Texas. They rather get their ratings from the future mayor of Houston, rather than some stinky babies celebrating the holiday. KHOU would like something to show in future promos for their evening newscasts, saying that they're tops in election coverage.

KHOU, like most TV stations in the US, care more about ratings and money, rather than the people that keep them in business in the first place -- the viewers. And I feel that on that night, it was not the mayoral race that was more important, but rather Christmas and Chanukah with the Rugrats.
-Written by Steve Mindykowski, Webmaster of The Unofficial Rugrats Online

[Naraht]

What a load of...well, this is a PG board, so I'll hold my tongue.

As someone who works in TV, I gotta say, ppl want election returns, and they want them NOW.

Houston is one of the 5 largest (I think it might even be #3) cities in America...and it's mayor is a big deal. Rehashed movies of the week, that had been aired on other networks are not nearly as important. Should they have had that many cut-ins? I don't know, as I wasn't in Houston at the time. I do know that in order to stay ahead of the game, you have to give the viewers what they want...and it aint Rugrats.


However, I do realize that ppl sometimes would rather see the shows rather than the news..I recomend 1st, calling the station, and asking if there will be a refeed. If not, write a letter, stating that you had wanted to see that show, and were disapointed by the news coverage. Affiliates can get refeeds of Network broadcasts (though it's VERY expensive) and who knows, maybe you'll get one. (It won't get as good a timeslot, but hey - that's what VCRs are for)

[Supernovametalstar]

Last I heard the largest cities ranking went like this:

1. New York
2. Los Angeles
3. Chicago
4. Houston
5. ????(can't remember all of a sudden)

Mayor elections are not a huge deal in Chicago because most people already know that Richard Daley will win no matter who his opponents are. A shame actually. But I don't think network programming has ever been disrupted for an election. Usually time is set aside during commerical breaks and during a news broadcast for that.

[Naraht]

Originally posted by Supernovametalstar
Last I heard the largest cities ranking went like this:

1. New York
2. Los Angeles
3. Chicago
4. Houston
5. ????(can't remember all of a sudden)

Mayor elections are not a huge deal in Chicago because most people already know that Richard Daley will win no matter who his opponents are. A shame actually. But I don't think network programming has ever been disrupted for an election. Usually time is set aside during commerical breaks and during a news broadcast for that.

Well, TV Wise, Dallas is bigger than Houston...

Size wise, Houston's bigger...

[Ricochet]

Why waste your time on Rugrats anyway?

[Thad Komorowski]

Oh big deal, a whole story on this? God, and ALL of those Rugrats videos are available EVERYWHERE! Blockbusters, Media Plays, Rite Aids, even Family Dollar!





-Thad

[ccffan01]

Thats the biggest BS I ever heard, what a tradgedy!

[Auggie Doggie]

Originally posted by Yours Truly
That would've been the best way and please everyone, but no, KHOU thinks that what's good for Houston is good for most of southeastern Texas. They rather get their ratings from the future mayor of Houston, rather than some stinky babies celebrating the holiday.

Don't you see? KHOU is a CBS station that covers all off Southeastern Texas, like WNBC gives Southeastern New York (Westchester, Long Island) the Peacock Network. Why do you think all of SE Texas would want to care about one mayor of one big city that some don't even live in?

[Naraht]

Originally posted by Auggie Doggie


Don't you see? KHOU is a CBS station that covers all off Southeastern Texas, like WNBC gives Southeastern New York (Westchester, Long Island) the Peacock Network. Why do you think all of SE Texas would want to care about one mayor of one big city that some don't even live in?

Because...Houston is REALLY FRICKIN HUGE!

I'm sorry..RRs is dum. You don't like it, write the station..politely.

Seriously, they'll toss profanity laden letters really quick.

[nightwing_38116]

In Memphis, (pop. one million plus people) we have SEVERE thunderstorms and tornadoes sometimes. When that happens the local weather guys go on alert and monitor things, give safety tips, and warnings. This means interrupting things like game shows and soap operas. One day one of the weatherman got p'oed and told people to stop emailing and calling the station about them having interrupted the Young and the Restless. Basically, he told them to get a life and shut up. Several people died in storms that day. People need to keep things in perspective. It's not like it was a live event that they interrupted.

[Hollywood53]

If the lady didn't have cable, then that would seem more acceptable. I'm sure Futurama fans feel the same way about Football cancelling and delaying the episodes.

[RANT]

Well, it wouldn't be the first time a news broadcast ticked people off. The WTC coverage in NY was ridiculous, I'm sure some Sailor Moon fans in NY were a bit mad, since WB11 was the only WB station to have coverage on for like 5 straight days, even when nothing was going on.

WWF Fans missed a Smackdown because of news and UPN 9 didn't make it up, luckily for me I get UPN 59 Connecticut, so I was able to watch it.

Plus those President Bush speeches that were aired on UPN 9 weeks later were dumb, since the fox station aired the same news feed.

And as for wasting your money(some people would rather tape something then buy an overpriced tape) on something because of a networks stupidity, I can understand sometimes why people would be mad.

If KWB would have aired Unmasked and some people knew about it, I'm sure some people would have called, wrote their WB affiliates to make up the broadcast.

I understand how important WTC was, but does it mean that it has to air on ALL the stations 24/7 for 3-4 days straight

Of course in today's TV world things are not always repeated, so if you don't see them first run, you're screwed, like Meowth's Party music video(English and Japanese), the Short Pokemon Johto intro, Mobile Suit Gundam (so far), WWF Wrestling, return of the Red, White and Blue ropes (in which EVERY UPN station seemed to air except UPN 9)etc.

[/RANT]

There, just had to get that off my chest