Some have considered the move by NBC (GE) to bring back movies to their Sunday night schedule quite a surprise. For the most part the networks have thought it was a worthless proposition. NBC will be airing them on three of the Sunday nights during the May sweeps.
The head or programming at NBC, Vince Manze is behind the move, and the three movies being offered will be "Shrek," "Along Came Polly" and "National Treasure."
"Sunday seemed like the best place -- the place where we used to do events and miniseries," Manze said. "It seemed like a great thing to do and it accomplishes two things: building events and serving as counterprogramming to what the others are doing."
Manze added that he doesn't have any high expectations for ratings, but is looking to the new season by trying things now to see how they'll work.
For the last five years the movie night on Sundays had eroded and networks changed over to programming with series as ratings for movies decreased.
I think this is a good move by Manze. Not necessarily because it will work, but because the network has absolutely nothing to lose. They aren't going to do anything in the sweeps. There's just not anything they have that would make a difference next month.
Why not throw a few things out and see what happens? Who knows if the public appetite for Sunday movies could be rekindled, or they catch a break and do a little more damage than they thought during May.
They have to look long-term now, short-term for the network is lost. A whole new foundation has to be laid. Why not start with something different here? It's as good as place as any.
My question is how long GE's CEO, Jeff Immelt will allow the network to linger so far behind the others. GE usually won't put up with that for too long.
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