Quality programming has become so easy to find that desperate networks are turning to gimmicks in order to get viewers to tune in live, Fool contributor Tim Beyers says in the following video.
Consider 21st Century Fox (FOXA), which moved the pilot for sci-fi cop show Almost Human from Nov. 4 to Nov. 17 and then added a second episode a day later. Doubling down like that was bound to draw in curious browsers, Tim says.
Now we know the strategy worked. Sunday's pilot drew 9.18 million viewers, according to Nielsen. Episode two added 6.76 million more in a tough matchup with CBS' How I Met Your Mother and ABC's Dancing With the Stars. Presuming the numbers hold, Fox could end up vying for the No. 2 spot in Monday night's broadcast-ratings battle.
For broadcast TV viewers, this back-to-back episode stunt is as close as they'll get to the "batch viewing" experience that's become common on Netflix. Did it make a difference? Do you plan to keep tuning into Almost Human? Please watch the video to get Tim's full take and then leave a comment to let us know where you stand.
