Operation Home Base: A New Military TV Series

Operation Home Base: A New Military TV Series
By
Stephen Mitchell

Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to writer Theresa Chaze about her new military series, Operation Home Base, and her other upcoming projects.

Stephen: I’ve read your proposal, pilot and the first season. You have been describing Operation Home Base as the newest military series, yet most of the stories are civilian based.

Theresa: First and foremost, OHB is about people. Although, I decided focus on military personnel, vets and their dependants, civilians also faces the same issues. I know the military and I care. I never really had the discipline to enlist myself, but I have a great deal of respect for those who do put their lives on their line. Like so many people, I never really considered what the families go through when their loved ones are deployed. Those who have loved ones who serve pull double duty with one foot in both military and civilian worlds.

Stephen: What inspired you to create OHB?

Theresa: A very good friend of mine used to volunteer for the Red Cross. The stories I heard planted the idea. But passing messages wasn’t active enough to create an hour drama. After doing research, I found several organizations who were helping military families, including one called Operation Homefront.



Stephen: From where do your your story lines come?

Theresa: From the back pages of newspapers. Unless a vet or military personnel does something really naughty, their stories don’t make the front page. I will also be using history. WWII, Korea, and Vietnam--they all have stories that need to be told. Some of them won’t be so nice to hear. But the healing has to start somewhere. So many vets came back and just buried what happened. But no matter how deeply they dug or how much denial they dumped on top of it, those experiences don’t just disappear or heal themselves.

Stephen: Can you give a few more examples from the first season?

Theresa: A Marines therapy dog was killed by two people just for the hell of it. His story will not only raise awareness about therapy dogs, but it is also the basis of a fund raiser on the show that I would really like to see blend into real life.

Someone in the had intercepted letters sent to military personnel, serving over seas, and wrote “Returned to sender. Deceased.“ Can you imagine what it felt like for the friends and family members to get their letters back? The Post Office traced the letters back to one of their hubs. Toward the end of the first season, this real life event will become Michael’s obsession.

Stephen: How does OHB compare with other dramas?

Theresa: I looked to the most successful dramas as my models: MASH, Medical Center, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, The CSIs. I took the best pieces of all of them, added in real life and mixed well.

Stephen: I'm surprised to hear you list Little House and The Waltons.

Theresa: Both shows were about family. That is the foundation OHB is build on. Not only the families of vets and military personnel, but the brother and sisterhood of the military. The Marines say Semper Fi, but the concept applies to all the branches as well as to service in general. The Army vs. Navy game might have them fighting on the playing field, but when push comes to shove there is only one team--The United States.

Stephen: Which is your favorite character?

Theresa: I love them all, but I have a special fondness for Walter. He is going to be a lot like JR; the viewers will love to hate him. The thing about Walter is that he is all about family and country. Everything he does is motivated by those two things. It is the blind spot that others will use against him. He is the apex of the conspiracy or so it will seem, but even Walter doesn’t know who he is actually working for. But that is further down the road than I would like to talk about.

Stephen: I’ve noticed that most of your cast choices are older. Why?

Theresa: The characters and actors have to be older to have the experience to truly understand. Until you lived a little life, there is no way you can bring that kind of wisdom to the table. It would be very easy to bring beef cake and bikini’s to the table; that is what most shows are doing these days. But OHB is swimming in the deep end of the pool. The characters have issues. They are damaged on many levels, but in spite of all their pain, they still are willing to help others heal even if they can’t help themselves.

My site address is www.theresachaze.com. It’s the best starting point to learn about me and Operation Home Base.

Writer Seeking Agent With Contacts in Film and Television

Theresa (Chaze) Pachesny
4366 North Curry Drive
Traverse City MI 49684


I am looking for an agent to represent my work in both the television and film venues. Although my primary genre is fantasy, I intertwine romance, suspense, and humor to create well rounded and multi-dimensional projects. My characters are well developed and flawed enough to be unique, yet realistic. Currently I have two screenplays available. In addition, I have written script for Days of Our Lives, treatment for a prime time TV show and three novels with a fourth on the way.

Screen plays
Winning the 2006 International Gloria Film Festival and placing in the Greenlight Project, Never Can Say Good-bye is a paranormal romance that connects the present with the logging industry of the 1900. To help a friend, Elizabeth agrees to teach a writing course at a small college. She expects to find a sleepy town with a long history, but instead she finds herself dealing a violently jealous wife and the past mistakes she is only beginning to remember. Arriving in town, she finds it uncomfortably familiar. As the controlling President of the college, Judy Olson, shows her around, Elizabeth begins to realize that she has made a mistake and begins looking for excuses to leave. After meeting the famous historian, Michael Scott and his irrational wife, Shane, Elizabeth finds the past becoming more real than the present as the death of a small boy decades earlier reignites an old treachery, which could destroy the entire town. When love leads to vengeance, it is best to say good-bye.

Eye of Ra is an occult horror film that is based on Egyptian mythology. When Isis stole power from Ra, she initiated a guardian who not only had the strength to be the focal point for this great power, but who also had the ability to protect its secrets from those who would abuse them. Jealous of her grandmother and daughters’ spiritual gifts, Sandra takes her youngest daughter, Rikki and disappears. Seeking power, she searches the world for the Eye of Ra; when she finds it, it is Rikki not her that the Guardian chooses. Enraged, Sandra makes a pact with the Dark Ones; if they help her destroy her own daughter, she will use the Eye in their name. Sandra attacks in the middle of the initiation ceremony. The Priestess is killed before it can be completed. Barely escaping with her life, Rikki returns to the small town of her birth. Her physical wounds have healed, but the guilt and self-doubt keeps her from seeing the truth of her life. Sandra follows Rikki to finish what she started, bringing the evil of the Dark Ones with her, and a small northern Michigan town learns the black secret that had been buried among them for generations.

Novels
Awakening the Dragon -- Book One of the Dragon Clan Trilogy--Rachael moves to Coyote Springs to find a home and open her bookstore. Instead, she becomes the catalyst in exposing a murder and the target of a violent cult. She is forced to awaken her dragon spirit prematurely to save herself and all the ones she loves. Will she be able to control the power of the dragon as it rises giving her the power to save all she loves or will the flames from within destroy her?

Dragon Domain -- Book Two of the Dragon Clan Trilogy--Cheyenne and Celeste came to Coyote Springs to save a child; instead, Cheyenne found a home. With the help of their new friend, Jane, they created a spiritual sanctuary. But when Celeste stopped running, her past caught up with her. Dominic arrived with promises of love and passion. Instead of love, he reawakened Celeste’s dark side, turning her against those she loved the most. With the aid of the dragons, Cheyenne was barely able to ward off their first attack. With each soul they bound to them, Celeste and Dominic’s greed and hatred grew until they would not settle for less than totally destroying Cheyenne and all she loves. How do you protect yourself from someone who knows how to steal your soul?

Nict For Ure Selfe (Not for Ourselves)--A paranormal suspense novelette that ties the present with the past as karma awakens an old blood feud. Alyssa attends a local Pagan festival, only to become the target of the local deputy's bigotry and hatred. Unable to understand why she was singled out, she performs a ritual asking Bridget for her help. Instead of gaining wisdom, her spirit is transported back to a time before the Celtic Goddesses and Gods gave way to the Christos and when clan traditions could mean life or death. It will be paired with the novelette, Sisters of Avalon when it is completed.

Days of Our Lives
I had been a fan of Days of Our Lives for three decades: when the writing became unbearable, I started writing alternative storylines for the show and posting them on the NBC boards. What started as a protest, turned into a long term project as fans told me that they liked what they were reading better than what they were seeing on the screen. Not only was I able to remain true to the characters and the show’s history, but I also ended each posting with a cliffhanger.

The link to the thread on the NBC board and later my blog has been shared with people around the world. Not only did they encourage me to keep the ghost story going until the end, but they also gave me the courage to apply for the head writing gig. I was able to find the unlisted phone numbers to on executive producers home and the private office number to the other. Unfortunately, I used an outdated format so they didn’t take me seriously. In addition to the ghost story, I wrote to other partial storylines to prove that I could write other plots besides than paranormal. All three storylines are listed on my site at www.theresachaze.com.

Current projects
Operation Home Base is a nationwide non profit organization with local chapters that gives support to military families, veterans, wounded warriors, and active duty military personnel by working with existing programs and organizations. This project has been submitted to Donald Bellisario for consideration as a spin off to NCIS.

Avalon Sisterhood--Alyssa astral travels to the past to a small island off the coast Britannia to a time when she and her sister priestesses made an agreement with the Earth Mother. Their souls were scattered on the wind; they were to learn the needs and wants from all the cultures of the world, so that when Prophecy is fulfilled, they would be ready to support the transition into the new era. An agreement was made with a small group of Templar Knights. In exchange for safe haven on their Sisterhood’s isle, they would make a soul oath to protect the sisters throughout their karmic travels as well as keep safe their treasures and heritage. As the time of the Prophecy draws near, the sisters awaken only to find the heirs to the knights have claimed the Avalon Sisterhood’s power and wealth as their own. One sister has already been murdered. The rest have become targets as they race to claim what is theirs in time for the cosmic transition.

Graduating from Michigan State University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Video Production with a minor in Theatre, I have worked as a writer, director, producer and all around tech. Recently, I started my own digital production service for authors, publishers and public relations firms. I write, produce, and distribute book videos, which are also called book trailers.

GE Stock Prices: Jeffrey Immelt and Stock Holders

Today your stock lost value as did your corporation. Part of it is due to the general financial challenge that the country is working through; however, how much can be contributed to bad policy decisions? You have many good products and services available, yet your stock’s value continues to decline. Part of your issues is that not all of your divisions are working up to their full potential. NBC, under Jeffrey Zucker’s leadership, has declined as it has failed to take into account the changing viewing demographics as well as the deterioration in quality of the programming, thereby decreasing its profitability.

NBC used to be the front running not only in news, but programming that was unique and popular. It was know for the highest quality. Yet that has changed. The shows of the past have with stood the test of time. Decades later, they are still being aired in reruns on other networks and on independent stations. Their popularity was based in the quality of the show and the diversity of their appeal. However, the NBC network is no longer a synonym for quality programming. Instead, it has become known for cheap shows that appeal to the lowest common denominator and those under 20.

During the late 1950’s through the 1960’s, teens and tweens were the most important demographic; they were ones who were the motivating force in bringing television into the homes of most families. However, over the decades that has radically changed, but the marketing model of networks has not been adjusted to account to take into account the shift in median age.

According to the CDC report published in 2005, the average American life expectancy is 78 as compared to 69 in 1955. As of May 15, 2001, the US Census Bureau reported that the new median age of the US population is 35.3, bringing it to an all time high. While the 18-34 age group declined 4%, the 35-64 year old age group rose 28 %. However, the most dramatic increase was in the 45-54 age group, which increased by 49 %.




July, 2000 36.6
July, 2001 36.8
July, 2002 37.1
July, 2003 37.2
July, 2004 37.4
July, 2005 37.6
July, 2007 37.7
July, 2008 37.9


Born from 1946-1964, the baby boomer generation was the first TV generation. Most don’t remember a time when there wasn’t at least one television in the home. They also remember only having two or three stations to choose from. Television was that generation’s new toy, just blackberries and cell phones are the current generation‘s.

Age group Hour per month
Viewing TV
2-11 106:37
12-17 103:48
18-24 118:28
25-34 142:29
35-44 147:21
45-54 173:00
55-64 190:40
65+ 207:29

According to Nielsen, no longer are teens and tween the primary television demographic; the 12-34 age group have been replaced by the 35 and over as the dominate viewing classification. Yet, NBC under Jeffrey Zucker’s leadership continues to program for a declining demographic, while ignoring a market base that is not only expanding in numbers, but also in financial stability. Baby boomers have started reaching retirement age, giving them more time for viewing as well as more stable incomes. Yet instead of scheduling programs that appeal the older age group, NBC promotes shows based on cost and youth appeal.


Nielsen ratings, Feb. 12-18

Rank Show title Network Viewers in millions
1.
American Idol (Tues) Fox 31.2
2.
American Idol (Wed) Fox 28.9
3.
House Fox 26.0
4.
Grey's Anatomy ABC 25.8
5.
CSI CBS 22.7
6.
CSI: Miami CBS 19.9
7.
Desperate Housewives ABC 18.5
8.
Survivor: Fiji CBS 16.1
8.
Deal or No Deal NBC 16.1
10.
Two and a Half Men CBS 15.5
11.
NCIS CBS 15.4
12.
Criminal Minds CBS 15.2
13.
Shark CBS 15.1
14.
CSI: NY CBS 14.8
15.
Heroes NBC 14.7
16.
Extreme Makeover:
Home Edition ABC 14.2
17.
24 Fox 13.7
17.
Ugly Betty ABC 13.7
19.
Rules of Engagement CBS 13.4
20.
N/A Fox 13.1



Choosing to fill its schedule with cheap reality shows, remakes of older shows, and youth based programming, while relegating the professionally produced programs to mid-season replacements, NBC continues to find itself in the bottom of the ratings. In addition, shows with loyal fan bases, such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live and Days of our Lives have been revamp to appeal the to younger demographic, while slashing their production budgets. The ratings prove that the current management is out of touch with the needs and desires of the viewers. Dumbed down programming and reality shows may appeal sponsors who sell to teens and tweens such as CDs, DVDs and video games, but quality programs that are professional produced appeal to those who control household budgets. Zucker doesn’t seem to realize that no matter how inexpensive a show costs, it is a waste of air time if no one is watching.

The bottom line is that viewers attract sponsors. Zucker’s programming has driving viewers to other networks, taking with them the sponsors and the profits they represent. Profits increase the value of stocks and bring in larger dividends. The stock holders need to ask themselves if they like the 6.5% devaluation of GE stock and the cut in its annual dividend? If the answer is no, wouldn’t it be a good time to rethink management personal?

Days of Our Lives

Here's the deal. I am cleaning up and formatting the script that I have already posted into the correct format. I will be using it as resume material to get a writing gig on one of the other soaps. Although much of it will be familiar who have been keeping up, there have been a reshuffling of the scenes as well as some tweaking. Originally, I put little effort into the scrip, especially in the beginning. This better reflects me as a professional writer. However, since the program I am using doesn't have a spell check, there may still be some typos. If you see any, please let me know in the comments section. Thanks.


Episode on:
http://www.theresachaze.com/files/DOOLepione.pdf

Episode two: http://www.theresachaze.com/files/dayseptwo.pdf

Previously posted:


This is what I previously posted on the NBC Days boards not all of the posting are in the current proper format

http://geocities.com/tirgana/daysofourlives.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/Days10-16.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/days10-26-08.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/days10-31-08.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/days11-2-08.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/days11-15-08.pdf

http://geocities.com/tirgana/Days12-2-08.pdf

http://geocities.com/tirgana/Days12-8-08.pdf

http://geocities.com/tirgana/day12-14-08.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/days12-30-08.pdf


http://www.geocities.com/easternguardian/days1-20-09


If you like what you are reading and would like me to take over as head writer, please contact the following:

Corday Productions Fax number
818)840-4968
Production phone number: 818-295-2820

Sony Pictures owns the rights to Days
Michael Lynton
Chairman & CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Amy Pascal
Co-Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment
12102 West Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232-3195
Phone: (310) 244-4000
Fax: (310) 244-2626
another phone line: 310-244-5722
NBC

NBCUNI.COM FEEDBACK
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
The GE Building at Rockefeller Plaza is NBC's corporate headquarters\
Phone: 212-664-4444. Fax: 212-664-4085

GE information
Jeffrey Immelt, CEO
General Electric Company
3135 Easton Turnpike
Fairfield, CT 06828
(203) 373-2211

Days of Our Lives

Here's the deal. I am cleaning up and formatting the script that I have already posted into the correct format. I will be using it as resume material to get a writing gig on one of the other soaps. Although much of it will be familiar who have been keeping up, there have been a reshuffling of the scenes as well as some tweaking. Originally, I put little effort into the scrip, especially in the beginning. This better reflects me as a professional writer. However, since the program I am using doesn't have a spell check, there may still be some typos. If you see any, please let me know in the comments section. Thanks.

it's at http://elfmagic.blogspot.com/

Soap Opera Fans: Speak out to Save the Genre by Boycotting NBC

Soap Opera Fans: Speak out to Save the Genre by Boycotting NBC
By
Theresa Chaze


Like so many industries, television is financially top heavy with over paid executives, who suck up the profits while giving little or nothing back. The banking industry is a prime example of how those create nothing take the lion share of the profits, while those who do produce are asked to make financial sacrifices. Instead of taking across the board pay cuts, the television executives have decided to cut the quality and the diversity of their programming. By choosing amateur based “reality” shows over, those produced by talented and creative professionals, they under cut the unions, while disregarding the viewers.

In television, this can be best seen in the rapid movement toward the cheaper talk and reality shows. Using their declining revenue as an excuse, the networks are cutting production values of shows produced by professional casts and crews until such time as they are more financially secure. It is the equivalent of Taco Bell taking tacos off their menu until they sell enough burritos to make it cost effective to sell tacos again. Replacing quality product with cheaper doesn’t increase customer-viewer satisfaction; it forces them to seek other venues of satisfaction. As in all industries, the customer is always right or they become someone else’s customer.

Soap operas have been the hardest hit, not because they have lost popularity, but simply the modern family needs two incomes to survive. Originally targeting the stay at home mothers, the soaps focused on advertisers that appealed the needs of women, hence the name soap opera. However, one would only have to look at the highly profitable industries attached to soaps to learn just how loyal the fan bases are. The conventions, interview requests, and the multitude of websites are only a small example of industries, which have spun off the genre. Fans spend millions of dollars each year supporting hotels, conventions centers, and other fan events just to meet the soap opera stars.

As more women joined the work force, the popularity of soaps seemed decline. However it is the out dated ratings system failed to compensate for modern technology. Only those who watch the show live are counted by Nielsen Media Research. The system disregards any viewer who records and watches a show later. Instead of adjusting the viewer measuring system, the executives are using it as an excuse to cut the salaries of popular actors and creative technical people. They claim poverty while doing the equivalent of Merrill Lynch spending a million dollars to redecorate an office and giving out bonuses early. Instead of finding more efficient methods of accumulating viewer data, they are choosing to use it as an excuse to cancel soaps.

What started at Days of Our Lives has already begun to spread to the other soaps. The bad writing, the firing of major stars, while replacing them with talent-less younger actors, and the cutting production values is what is costing the shows viewers not the lack of interest. Loyal viewers are turning the channel not because they don’t love their show, but because they don’t recognize it any more.

It is time for soap fan to send a clear message to the networks. As in the movie, Network--it is time to stand up and say--”We are as mad as hell and we aren’t going to take it anymore!” The across the board boycotting of NBC for it’s systematic canceling the daytime soaps on it’s network will not only sent a clear message to them, but the other networks who might contemplating the same course of action. The only way to get their attention is to make them bleed in the wallet. Sending letters, emails and making phone calls no longer makes a difference; hit them at their bottom line and you start speaking their language. The power to control is seen on the television comes from the viewers' remotes, not the executives' office. It is time to for the fans to take their power back and demand that the soap opera genre be saved.

Days of Our Lives Fans Speak Out

An Opportunity for Days of Our Lives Fans to Speak Out
With the firing of Days most popular actors and the decay in the storylines, I want to give the fans of Days an opportunity to speak out. What would you like to say to Ken Corday or Dena Higley? What would you like to tell Dee and Drake? Call in and send a message to them or anyone involved with the show. Join me on my radio show 2pm Eastern at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theresachaze Monday December 29.

If you would like to participate in the chat room, you will have to set up a free account.

Looking for an agent or someone connected to Daytime TV

I am looking for an agent to represent my scripts and to help me get a writing gig. In addition, I have three novels that I would like to sell the rights too or be contracted to write the script. Nearly all my work is set in Michigan, which gives them an added selling point in today's financial climate. The State of Michigan is giving film makers incentives to film within the state.


Winning the 2006 International Gloria Film Festival, Never Can Say Good-bye is a paranormal romance that connects the present with the logging industry of the 1900. To help a friend, Elizabeth agrees to teach a writing course at a small college. She expects to find a sleepy town with a long history, but instead she finds herself dealing with violently jealous wife and the past mistakes she is only beginning to remember. Arriving in town, she finds it uncomfortably familiar. As the controlling President of the college, Judy Olson, shows her around, Elizabeth begins to realize that she has made a mistake and begins looking for excuses to leave. After meeting the famous historian, Michael Scott and his irrational wife, Shane, Elizabeth finds the past becoming more real than the present as the death of a small boy decades earlier reignites an old treachery, which could destroy the entire town. When love leads to vengeance, it is best to say good-bye.

Eye of Ra is an occult horror film that is based on Egyptian mythology. When Isis stole power from Ra, she initiated a guardian who not only had the strength to be the focal point for this great power, but who also had the ability to protect its secrets from those who would abuse them. Jealous of her grandmother and daughters’ spiritual gifts, Sandra takes her youngest daughter, Rikki and disappears. Seeking power, she searches the world for the Eye of Ra; when she finds it, it is Rikki not her that the Guardian chooses. Enraged, Sandra makes a pact with the Dark Ones; if they help her destroy her own daughter, she will use the Eye in their name. Sandra attacks in the middle of the initiation ceremony. The Priestess is killed before it can be completed. Barely escaping with her life, Rikki returns to the small town of her birth. Her physical wounds have heals, but the guilt and self-doubt keeps her from seeing the truth of her life. Sandra follows Rikki to finish what she started, bringing the evil of the Dark Ones with her, and a small northern Michigan town learns the black secret that had been buried among them for generations.

Awakening the Dragon -- Book One of the Dragon Clan Trilogy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fy7KEOE3AQ) -- is a story of magic, suspense and karmic justice combined in a tale of horror. Rachael moves to Coyote Springs to find a home and open her bookstore. Instead, she becomes the catalyst in exposing a murder and the target of a violent cult. She is forced to awaken her dragon spirit prematurely to save herself and all she loves. Will she be able to control the power of the dragon as it rises giving her the power to save all she loves or will the flames from within destroy her?


In Dragon Domain -- Book Two of the Dragon Clan Trilogy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvK7RjM9QRQ) -- Cheyenne and Celeste came to Coyote Springs to save a child; instead, Cheyenne found a home. With the help of their new friend, Jane, they created a spiritual sanctuary. But when Celeste stopped running, her past caught up with her. Dominic arrived with promises of love and passion. Instead of love, he reawakened Celeste’s dark side, turning her against those she loved the most. With the aid of the dragons, Cheyenne was barely able to ward off their first attack. With each soul they bound to them, Celeste and Dominic’s greed and hatred grew until they would not settle for less than totally destroying Cheyenne and all she loves. How do you protect yourself from someone who knows how to steal your soul?


Nict For Ure Selfe (Not for Ourselves) a paranormal suspense novelette that ties the present with the past as karma awakens an old blood feud. Alyssa attends a local Pagan festival, only become the target of the local deputy's bigotry and hatred. Unable to understand way she was singled out, she performs a ritual asking Bridget for her help. Instead of gaining wisdom, her spirit is transported back to a time before the Celtic Goddesses and Gods gave way to the Christos and when clan traditions could mean life or death. The book trailer can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jk8S7AVw5E.

In addition, I have been writing alternative universe storylines for the soap opera, Days of Our Lives and posting them on the NBC boards. Starting out as a protest to the bad writing, my script has received more favorable reviews from the fans than what is been aired. I have applied for the gig, but I need someone to represent me to the producers.

I need an agent who has the ability to knock door of hinges--metaphorically speaking--and let some fresh energy into the industry. If you are such a person, please call me at 231-943-3298.

Viewers control the Television Industry, Networks Listen or Lose

Viewers control the Television Industry, Networks Listen or Lose


On the surface, the television industry seems complicated; however, in many ways it is just like every other industry. In order to be successful, a business not only has to provide a product or service that customers want to buy, it also needs to provide the highest quality for the value. Broadcast television is no different except that it has two customers bases instead of one. No longer limited to two or three stations, the competition for both viewers and advertisers has not only raised the stakes, but has also shifted the power away from the networks and bestowed on the viewers

Unlike most industries, broadcast television has a dual flow of both product and customers. Both viewers and advertisers can be considered clients. Whereas the viewer seeks entertainment and information, the advertisers search for exposure for their products or services. Television sells entertainment to the viewers and viewers to the advertisers.

Whether over the air or through cable, broadcasting attracts viewers with entertainment, news and sports. Although the viewers don't lay down cash for the programming, they do pay for the entertainment by watching the commercials. By investing their time, attention and loyalty to a program or actor, the viewer becomes not only a client, but also a product the broadcast industry sells the advertisers. TV shows that respect the viewers by providing quality entertainment or accurate facts in the case of news programs will be the one to garter the viewers’ loyalty and increase their viewers. Advertisers will compete for the limited air time during these programs, thereby increasing the revenues of the networks. However, the reverse is also true; unpopular programming will not only lack viewers, but will also have to fight for sponsors by lowering the commercial rates.

Technical advances in cable and satellite dishes have increased the number of available channels, not only increasing the competition for viewers, but also diversifying the programs available. No longer limited to their local stations or the three big networks, the viewers are the ones who control the remote and decide which programs will succeed. Independent stations and new networks have shattered the monopoly of the elitist network and program executives. If the viewers don’t like what they are seeing, they simply change the channel to another one of the hundreds available; they are not bound to watch any program or event

This symbiotic relationship between viewers and advertisers gives them control over what is produced and broadcast. Viewers won't watch programming they don't like; advertisers won't buy time on shows the viewers don't like; therefore, it is the viewers who control the success or failure of a program, not the executive producers, writers, or network management. No matter what the industry insiders want or what agenda they try to push, if the viewers aren’t interested, they will not watch. Those in the industry who provide what the viewers want will be successful; those who chose to ignore the viewers’ wishes will soon find themselves on the outside, looking in at those execs, producers and writers who do fulfill the viewers needs and expectations.

.