Worries for diginets

I've posted about how Buzzr seems to be switching to an online approach instead of the linear TV channel.

There are good programming reasons for such a move. After all, the sub-niche for old game shows is not huge, and an online approach enables better targeting. GSN is already a top thirty cable net, so another game show TV channel of any kind, much less an oldies outlet, will always face an uphill climb.

But there are also harsh economic realities looming behind this online emphasis. Buzzr and all oldies diginets recently got a reminder of the dangers when Decades TV lost many of its key stations. The replacement is another diginet called Start TV with shows that are, no surprise, much newer than the lineup on Decades.

Decades still seems to be in operation, but it's hard to tell if the diginet will survive at all. This message on the network's web site sounds almost forlorn...

As of Monday, Sep. 3, the Decades network has a number of different affiliates in cities across the U.S. We regret that in some cities, Decades is temporarily unavailable. Please check back to this page frequently for information on new channels for Decades this fall. If you are a broadcaster or a cable company and would like to carry Decades, please contact us.

Decades is sort of a low-rent Antenna TV, though its lineup of old shows is at least respectable. The diginet runs well-known titles like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show. The network also occasionally ran some old B&W game shows that were out of copyright, like You Bet Your Life, Truth or Consequences and Beat the Clock.

The fate of Decades (an ominous phrase) is a wake-up call for all diginets, especially those heavy on old shows, that the TV ax can fall at any time if stations decide to look for fresher product. So Buzzr's new emphasis on online operations makes a lot of sense.