ABC Family: Significant Identity Crisis

[General Grizz]

Those of you who have read James B. Stewart's DisneyWar know that, after Disney bought Fox Family, the network had a significant identity crisis. Those brought in to give the network an image brought up ideas of a women's network - or an alternate ABC, "XYZ."

But today, after ABC Family has been given an established identity, the networking is becoming less and less in tune with the image Disney has seemingly given the network.

For example, Austin Powers is on the lineup this month, as are "hott" dance movies. And I don't know what typical American family would want to watch "Wildfire" at 8 PM, a show which follows "an 18-year-old who is released from a juvenile detention center and sent to work on ranch." While the lessons learned by the protagonist teen may be important, the situations do not fit in the traditional idea of a primetime "family" show.

On a better note, shows like "Full House" and "Whose Line is it Anyway?" are entertaining to the family audience, but these only create the contrast against the newer programming and movies.

Your thoughts?

 

[DanStat]

It works...

I think ABC Family plays its part in airing reruns of classic ABC shows that many people - even some on this board - literally crave. Every network has its ups and downs. I like ABC Family. Some of it's original programming is good. I'm looking forward to the Venus/Serena show.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I love "Whose Line," but I don't really see how you can call it family entertainment, General. It's pretty risque and "adult".

If a story about a young juvenile delinquent isn't in keeping with the family mold, I'm not sure how the avalanche of s*x jokes during "Whose Line" is.

 

[imagineer boy]

The only things I like to watch on the Fox Family channel are the old ABC re-run shows like Boy Meets World, and America's Funniest Home Videos. Other than that, the rest of the channel is crap. Definately not family material.

 

[General Grizz]

I love "Whose Line," but I don't really see how you can call it family entertainment, General. It's pretty risque and "adult".

If a story about a young juvenile delinquent isn't in keeping with the family mold, I'm not sure how the avalanche of s*x jokes during "Whose Line" is.

Looks like you've seen more episodes than me. At least it's later at night. Perhaps only certain episodes should be shown. . . that is, if it were to truly be "the family channel."

 

[DDuckFan130]

I have to agree that Whose Line can be pretty risque in some aspects. I don't watch Wildfire, but the previews had me thinking about the "family" aspect.

As far as I'm concerned, however, I love the channel. They play great shows like Whose Line, Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, and Boy Meets World. They've also been playing great movies lately, such as Ever After and the Breakfast Club. My little sister and I enjoy this channel, as do my parents.

This is one of the only channels I watch lately, besides TVLand and Nick at Nite. MTV lost me a long time ago so I watch these other channels instead.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Changing it to ABC Family from Fox family was the easy way out. I don't think that the name mimics the entertainment or really ever has. Its a pretty bad network that needs a lot of work.

 

[lebeau]

Changing it to ABC Family from Fox family was the easy way out. I don't think that the name mimics the entertainment or really ever has. Its a pretty bad network that needs a lot of work.

Disneywar really provides a detailed account of the trainwreck that was the Fox Family purchase. It's fascinating reading.

To give a short summary, Eisner wanted to buy a cable network to "repurpose" ABC shows. He bought Fox Family at top dollar prices for that reason. AFTER the deal was done, he realized that the network had contracts with several cable providers that required the channel to remain a Family channel. So, if they changed the format of the channel, they would breach the contract and these cable providers would drop them like a hot potato or at least renegotiate for a lower price.

To make matters worse, Eisner also did not realize that he did not have the right to repurpose most of the shows ABC was airing. The creators of those shows had syndication rights that would be diminished by his plans to rerun the shows on a cable network. So, after paying billions of dollars to buy a network he could reprogram to recycle ABC shows, he could neither reprogram nor recycle and was left with an undesirable cable channel.

Also part of his plan was to leverage ESPN to get cable companies to pay more for ABC Family. What happened instead is cable companies demanded a discount on ESPN to carry ABC Family. The book covers plenty more on the failed attempts to recreate the network. Time and time again they were restricted by contracts Eisner should have been aware of before her plunked down Disney's (and the shareholders') billions of dollars.

 

[Borf7]

The fact of the matter is that this is another problem between going for profit or making quality TV channel. This channel should strictly show family programming but for whatever reason they feel more adult content will draw a bigger audience. This is probably figured through all sorts of marketing ploys. This channel should play on family shows. If for some reason that isn't working, they have 2 options...either change the channel completely to something different or find a way to sell it better. I think that is Disney's major problem as of late across the board. The products they have that are good, aren't being position correctly in the mind of the consumer. I know this may be a little off topic but I think it ties in. In a recent article I read, G movies bring in more money than R rated movies. What is that saying? It means a quality movie (or in this thread, TV SHOW) will bring in more crowds and money than selling ______ all the time.

 

[KevinPage]

Your thoughts?

Who gives a bleeping rats patoot.

 

[General Grizz]

Who gives a bleeping rats patoot.

Oh, go stick to your Wiggles and JoJo.

 

[DisneyRoxMySox]

ABC Family does need a lot of work.

But in defense shows that are risque like Whose Line? and Wildifre are on at later times.

 

[Figment1986]

I remember when it was Family channel.. then Fox bought it.. I wonder did they know what they were getting into???

Then ABC bought it without knowing what was going on.... They should ahev just started a new channel... then leverage ESPN with that one... hey Viacom did it with Nick toons and nick...

 

[Tigggrl]

I personally like Wildfire, and look forward to new episodes. I also like the "made for" Movies, and think that it is a great alternative to other prime time shows.

 

[surfsupdon]

ABC Family afternoons are classic at college. Believe it or not, many many college students have Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, and Boy Meets World on in the afternoon. Even if the shows aren't watched for the entire time, they are on the TV when doing homework, tlaking on the phone, or hanging out. And, you do overhear kids tlaking about it in class, like make a comment, "Yeah we got out early, I can see the second Full House." Then everyone laughs and mostly admit they watch too.

I still think if they did a vintage TGIF on ABC, the ol line up would get higher ratings than the current effort of unfamily style shows that are crude, unfunny, and very perverse. Advertise the idea, and have it a vote in for fan's favorite episodes, and have an old school TGIF including a host family taking us in and out of commercial breaks with a common theme.

Maybe I was just rambling, who knows...

 

[Cynderella]

I think ABC Family has been geared towards older teens lately. I always thought that it was for younger kids but some of the shows they have on lately don't seem very "kid" friendly to me. I personally LOVE Who's Line and I watch it every night. But it's on at 10 so most kids should be in bed by then. But some of the movies they play don't seem very family to me. For instance I saw the Breakfast Club a couple of times and while I absolutly love that movie and can pretty much quote the whole thing, it's not a movie I'd watch w/ my parents. If it's ABC FAMILY I think it should have more Full House, Boy Meets World, Step by Step, Family Matters, the old TGIF line up would be much better.