A day that will live in infamy with millions of parents and children across the United States. Was there a terrorist attack? No. Was there a horrible accident that cost countless lives? No. Was there a totally preventable television tragedy that unfolded on a children’s network? Absolutely.
Nick Jr. , the channel that is on your digital cable, Dish Network, DirecTV dial decided to commit what can only be considered commercial suicide by gutting its prime time slot of kids programming in favor of adult themed stand up and reality programming geared towards mom’s all across our great land.
Yes, Nickmom was introduced to viewers at a crucial time for kids across the nation where time zones don’t seem to matter very much to the TV wizards at MTV Networks. Not only does Nick Jr. not have a West coast feed but it doesn’t even think about the kids who are wide awake and or are winding their day down in the Central/Mountain/Pacific time zones, let alone those who live in Hawaii or Alaska who get this visual gem thrown at them at 4 O’Clock in the afternoon.
But is this hardly shocking when you consider that this is the same network that decided it was not profitable enough to just air music videos, concerts, and invest in developing music talent while providing the latest songs and videos from artists of the past, present, and future? Yes, I am speaking of MTV, whose network controls the family that is under the Viacom umbrella has played a hand in this kiddie catastrophe.
Back to the reason it is not shocking when you look at the history of downright awful, insulting, indoctrinating, and offensive programming they have given to the viewing public for the last few decades.
You gotta give it to MTV, they had viewers hooked on the 24/7/365 format of music videos all day and all night. Think I am joking? I grew up with the network, that was their motto. Just hit YouTube and watch some of their old promos and advertising bumpers that the network aired all day long.
Suddenly, MTV decided that exploring music and keeping already developed artists relationships intact were just not worth the time when they could make much more money in the original programming business. Whether it was the introduction of the classic game show “Remote Control” or the introduction of reality television with “The Real World: New York“, MTV figured it was tapping into something that people would want more of and write off the general public after addicting them to the format of discovering new music or videos from their favorite artists in and directly to commercial radio, then making a connection with them and playing what was being aired in heavy rotation instead of the other way around.
Video indeed killed the radio star.
MTV figured they already had enough viewers reeled in for 8 or 9 years so why not put into action those plans that were laid out in boardrooms the previous year? Whether it was the progressive politics, the left-leaning “Rock The Vote“, a pro-homosexual agenda with countless specials on homosexual men and women and victimizing them and then glorifying them as discriminated individuals who were endless targets for the masses.
While the argument can be made that discrimination comes against all people of color, sexes, and different religions and beliefs…is a music video channel really the place for the indoctrination of how we and the youth they target should talk, think, look, and believe in society?
On any given day a gay or bi-sexual male can be seen struggling on a show such as “True Life” and then in almost orgy like scenes on any of their “Real World” or other reality shows. The network then devoted more funding to the agenda by starting the network “Logo“, an all gay channel with programming for the LGBT community.
In 2010, a study by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation found that of 207.5 hours of prime time programming on MTV, 42%, included content reflecting the lives of gay, bisexual and transgendered people. This was the highest in the industry and the highest percentage ever.
Agenda much?
There has not been a single bit of room for anyone to be their own individual on ANY MTV Networks channel. Whether it was “House of Style” telling you what was in and cool to wear, “Loveline” launching the career of the now famous TV doc Dr. Drew with his advice on sex and love with Adam Corrola, “Punk’d,” “The Ashlee Simpson Show,” “Beavis and Butthead,” ” Daria,” “Tila Tequila,” “Paris Hilton’s My New BFF,” “Jackass,” “Viva La Bam,” “Skins“, “The Osbournes,” “Newlyweds: Jessica and Nick,” “Wondershowzen,” “The Hills,” ” My Super Sweet 16,” “16 and Pregnant”, “Teen Mom,” and how can we leave off the ever influential juggernaut “Jersey Shore?”
Just scratching the surface here. Remember, this is the network that is raising your children on their various channels. The refreshing difference about Nick Jr. was for the longest time they had no other agenda other than learning at home and getting a jump on their education at an early age without all of the filth that the channel morphs into what becomes prime time with Nickmom.
They have pushed what can only be called a globalist socialized programming bug in the average teenager’s mind on how cool it is not to be an original American. Opinions don’t mean a thing to MTV Networks and sadly parents and the kids of the Nick Jr. generation of 2012 are about to learn what viewers of VH1 learned back in the late 1990s.
As their network of all music videos was then too transformed into one giant reality show filled with nobody’s or barely somebody’s love life or better yet lack there-of, a wonderful insight was created into being a wife of someone in organized crime ala “Mafia Wives” and who can forget “Flavor of Love” or “Rock of Love” as they gave us such wonderful spinoff’s as ” I Love New York” and “Daisy of Love?
All one has to do is hit your nearest Wikipedia and go down the history of Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, MTV 2 which oddly enough was at one time an all video channel to counter MTV‘s constant playing of reality and original programming, that came to a rapid close and change after the introduction of MTV Hits, MTV Jams, and VH1 Classic which were to all focus on videos 24/7/365.
Sounds familiar? Right?
It is suggested that one go view their channel guide and have a look at the programming on VH1 Classic these days. Old 80s and 90s comedy sitcoms, movies that have nothing to do with music, and videos layered in between documentaries of anything they see fit on.
Follow the money.
MTV Networks and Viacom in general just can’t help themselves. They look at the numbers and truly believe that if there is a certain amount of viewers for a channel then that gives them license to go change the entire identity of the channel because they have people tuning into their channel on a daily or regular basis anyway. To be blunt…they got the viewer hooked.
Parents would be wise to accept the facts as they stand with regards to Nick Jr. and that is they are unlikely to change at all unless a large scale boycott of advertisers, complaints to the FCC, and large scale viral campaigns are started to bring attention to what has happened to one of the very few outlets on television for young children.
Sure, the argument is made that kids should be in bed by a certain hour and that parents should maybe read to their kids and get them away from the boob tube. The argument holds merit and is considered with a great amount of thought. However, tell that to a child who is wide awake in California or in the different time zones, or is difficult to fall asleep, or is sick, or is home schooled, or just lives in a home where that is all they have for them to be occupied?
With a near 75% drop in ratings compared to October of 2011 Viacom saw no issues with the rapid decline in viewership actually doubling down on Nickmom saying “People will come around to it, it takes time for people to accept change.”
If you ever needed clarity on where this is all going just read those words.
Not only does MTV Networks throw salt in the wounds of a million kids but they announce at the same time that the stand up, reality, and original programming for adult mom’s will increase in 2013 as more programs are in production for the new year which will extend the block of Nickmom to over 6 hours.
How can the network honchos actually do something to make everyone happy? They can do something quite simple. They can move Nickmom to its parent channel Nickelodeon and run the block on that channel since it is geared towards and older tween and young adult crowd at night and has a West coast feed so the programming issues can be adjusted with the different time zones. There by returning Nick Jr. to full time 24/7/365 status.
The ball remains in the court of both the viewers as well as those at MTV Networks on where it goes from here. Either the network caves to boycotts and losses of viewers and sponsors and kill the concept or they simply relocate the programming to their main network.
From a concept that has gone from The N to Noggin to Nick Jr to now Nick Jr./Nickmom…anything can change. Just ask the old mascots Moose and Zee who suddenly vanished from the channel at the start of Spring this year. With zero explanation or response from the network, two incredibly popular icons of the channel were suddenly retired leaving kids speechless…again…just like parents are today…again… with Nickmom.
Only when the ratings and advertisers drop during the day, will they feel the parent’s pain and do what’s right.
But if history is to be our teacher…we know how this battle is likely to end.
