As temperatures begin to cool, we’re ready for another round of television premieres. What used to be a tiered premiere schedule with broadcast followed by cable networks is now a year round high-quality television bonanza. Too busy these next few months while starting that new job? You can catch up on the fourth season of Homeland in the new year when you’ve settled in a bit more. Not ready to make the emotional commitment and focus that some of those heavily scripted dramas require? Perhaps you’d rather sit back and have a few laughs by going back and re-watching past episodes from South Parkbefore starting on a new crime series in the spring.
The Fall season is still an important opportunity for shows to get on people’s radar, but with the TV Everywhere concept taking off, there really is no such thing as too many choices on TV, or not enough time. As viewers have changed their behaviors in the past few decades or so, cable TV has changed along with them to accommodate the flexible and individual preferences they seek.
While some people still enjoy the unifying aspects that a cable show can bring, like the excuse for a get-together at a friend’s house to watch the new season of The Walking Dead on the big screen, also known as the most-watched show on cable television in history, there’s also something to say for the niche shows that attract smaller numbers but passionate audiences all the same. Big on country music, but not exactly a topic your fellow peers are interested in? You can DVR that new documentary on Johnny Cash to watch on your own time. Curious about tattoo artistry? There’s a show premiering this season on VH-1 following tattoo artists. Maybe not your cup of tea, but on cable TV, there is something out there to suit everyone’s interests, quirks, and curiosities.
Cable’s menu of programs is meant to be an inclusive platform of options which gives viewers the ability to carve out their own space for themselves. An individual’s personal style is reflected in many of the choices they make in their everyday lives—from the clothes they wear, the car they drive, the music they listen to, the news they read, and the list goes on. Cable also plays an important part in that reflection, as programming helps people project their individuality through storylines and subjects that suit their tastes while offering numerous options that allow exploration of new topics they’ve never delved into before.
Charles Collier, the president of AMC, recently said at the Television Critics Association media event this past summer, “Now many of these places [networks] are looking to reach some people—not all the people. That’s opened up a tremendous opportunity for women and other people that have been left out of the conversation.” Collier’s comment emphasizes that with cable’s myriad of TV options comes the opportunity for people of all tastes and preferences to congregate on the platform. While a huge menu results in fragmentation, the cable platform still offers that unifying place for people to find what they need or the choice to explore.