| When a television writer or producer is thinking up a | | | | after-life, but instead of having limited after-life. These |
| new show, they are rightly concentrating on the | | | | are those shows that are set in contemporary times, |
| potential to grab a decent size of audience the first | | | | especially where the culture of the day is represented. |
| time it is shown. If you are undecided whether a new | | | | Pop music shows fit this category as do fashion |
| television show idea will bring in the returns who need - | | | | shows. Dramas, such as soap |
| or even pay for itself - the deciding | | | | operas have limited repeat appeal when the |
| factor may be its after-life.Some television shows | | | | characters are of the moment. These shows often |
| have no after-life at all. These fall into three categories: | | | | look out of context if they are repeated in their |
| (i) poor quality, (ii) black and white and (iii) topical.I'll take | | | | entirety, say 15 years later. Some of these shows can |
| these categories one by one:Poor QualityIf a television | | | | make us cringe as they expose the fashions that |
| show is not up to standard then it is unlikely to get its | | | | were so cool at the time. Another group of shows |
| first showing let alone any future airings. The poor | | | | that come into the limited shelf life category are |
| quality may be due to a poor script or poor production | | | | futuristic shows. These may be dramas or |
| or may be a more technical problem such as inferior | | | | documentaries that attempt to forecast what life will |
| sound quality. There are many old tv shows from way | | | | be like in the future. The problem is that they are |
| back in the 50's, 60's and even some in the 70's that | | | | usually made with contemporary values and attitudes |
| were recorded for television but where the sound | | | | and can only use contemporary culture as their |
| quality was deemed to be of insufficient broadcast | | | | backdrop. No matter what future date one of these |
| quality. However, we may now see some of these | | | | shows is set in, you can usually pin down their |
| shows aired after all, as modern techniques of | | | | production date to within a few years. As real time |
| improving sound quality are applied. Perhaps it is time | | | | catches up with them, their predictions are exposed |
| to dust off some of those old tapes and films. I | | | | with either hopelessly ambitious and unrealistic |
| supposed that if the acting, scripting or general | | | | technology or gadgets that look hideous compared to |
| production values were extremely poor then this in | | | | the real thing that had been invented a few years |
| itself may turn out to have some perverted merit as, | | | | after the show had been produced. There are notable |
| sometimes, very badly made television from long ago | | | | exceptions such as Star Trek which has achieved a |
| can be quite funny to watch. Sad for those that made | | | | phenomenal after-life and is increasingly respected as |
| it, unless they are the living rights owners, in which case | | | | many of its ideas about technology are seen as |
| they could cry all the way to the bank!Black and | | | | feasible and achievable.And finally there are shows |
| WhiteThere are some in their younger years who | | | | that have the longest and most valuable after-life. In |
| don't even know what the term black and white | | | | this group can be included historical dramas and |
| means. Nowadays, film and video shot in black and | | | | documentaries, and wild life documentaries. History |
| white is sometimes used to bring some styling to a | | | | never changes (in theory) nor does wildlife. In fact, |
| sequence. In times gone by, all tv was in black and | | | | wildlife documentaries may win out above all others |
| white. The trouble is that modern audiences are not | | | | when it comes to after-life value. This is because |
| used to it and it can seriously detract from the | | | | wildlife is increasingly under threat and there is less of it |
| pleasure of watching a tv show. Black and white | | | | as time goes on. This fact will make the wildlife |
| shows can be digitally colored but this is an expensive | | | | documentaries of today very valuable in 100 years, if |
| business if it is done right. Watch this space, though, as | | | | current trends continue.My arguments above are |
| digital colorization of old tv shows becomes easier to | | | | based on today's tastes in television shows. I have |
| do, some old relics will come out of the woodwork and | | | | made the point that old tv shows have varying |
| be aired over the coming years.TopicalWhereas | | | | degrees of success in today's schedules. This |
| (technical) quality problems and black and white will not | | | | however is only one way of looking at it. If we free old |
| be a problem for tv shows that are made nowadays, | | | | tv shows from the shackles of having to fit alongside |
| topicality still virtually prohibits a tv show from ever | | | | their modern counterparts and |
| being seen again, save for a once only repeat perhaps | | | | instead treat them as curios or antiques, then why |
| a few hours or days after the original airing. Whether it | | | | shouldn't we re-run a futuristic drama, made in 1962 |
| is a comedy show based around topical events, a | | | | and based in 2006? No matter how bad the |
| documentary or a chat show, unless the subjects | | | | predictions were, wouldn't it be fun to see what they |
| being covered are still relevant many years later, these | | | | had in mind back in those days? And wouldn't it be a |
| types of show will have no meaning to most viewers | | | | unique and refreshing experience to see a pop music |
| apart from those interested in the history of events. | | | | show from, say, 1958, complete with commercials of |
| There will be exceptions such as shows that are | | | | the day? And why not have a few old black and |
| simply too good not to be seen again, but even the | | | | white comedy shows from the 60's, some of which |
| best made documentaries - some of which may be | | | | were classics.There will be increasing demand for old |
| landmarks in current affairs - will not be seen again, no | | | | tv shows over the next few years, not as cheap fillers |
| matter how good they are. Program makers should | | | | for modern schedules, but as part of a new genre: the |
| take into account the full potential of a tv show, | | | | antique television show. Perhaps there is life after the |
| including worth in years to come, and unfortunately | | | | after-life after all.Vernon Stent is the content writer for |
| topical shows will have one or two day after-life.Some | | | | bygonetv.com, which is all about old tv shows of the |
| shows do not fall into the category of having zero | | | | 40's, 50's and 60's. |