Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Matt]

I'll say it once, and I'll say it again. Unfortunately, it's the ratings that dictate what is happening, and if the ratings are still decent, there's no point changing from the current format.

[Homeandawayfan.]

27 minutes ago, Gerard said:

TPTB can effectively make H&A whatever they like, they can move the action away from Summer Bay if they want and base it around the police station. There is nothing stopping them.

The only things viewers can do is complain and switch off if we don't lke it. There is nothing really they can't get rid of. The show could carry on without Alf, the caravan park or the beach. They could still call it "Home and Away". As it is very little of H&A as we knew it still remains. I wonder how many of H&A's current viewers were also fans back in the '80s? It would be interesting to know whether they have retained many viewers over the years.

As you say, much of the action does focus round the police station in Yabbie Creek or the hospital, with just the guest appearance from SBH and the diner back in Summer Bay. Yabbie Creek is some distance from Summer Bay so much of the focus is outside what is supposed to be the main setting. 20 years ago, Yabbie Creek was rarely seen, maybe once or twice a year. Now it is seen in virtually every episode.

 

[Skylover]

44 minutes ago, Matt said:

I'll say it once, and I'll say it again. Unfortunately, it's the ratings that dictate what is happening, and if the ratings are still decent, there's no point changing from the current format.

I think they'll decline eventually. The bulk of the audience are probably people holding on, hoping it will change.

[Homeandawayfan.]

If H&A was axed I cannot say I would miss it. If they decided to call it a day at the 30th in January 2018, then that would be a good way to go out in style. I cannot see that happening though, if lots of viewers in Oz like the current format.

[John]

7 hours ago, Edward Skylover said:

I think they'll decline eventually. The bulk of the audience are probably people holding on, hoping it will change.

It may be that the ratings will decline in the future, it may also be that the changing of the show will attract a whole generation of new viewers thus ensuring it remains on air.  Only time will tell.

I'd question the assertion that the bulk of the viewers are probably people holding on hoping it will change.  As a previous poster has pointed out the show still enjoys decent ratings here in Oz and is still an effective bridge between the News broadcasts which finish at 7pm and the rest of the evening programming.

[Skylover]

47 minutes ago, John said:

It may be that the ratings will decline in the future, it may also be that the changing of the show will attract a whole generation of new viewers thus ensuring it remains on air.  Only time will tell.

I'd question the assertion that the bulk of the viewers are probably people holding on hoping it will change.  As a previous poster has pointed out the show still enjoys decent ratings here in Oz and is still an effective bridge between the News broadcasts which finish at 7pm and the rest of the evening programming.

You might have a point. In this day and age when unintelligent reality tv shows like TOWIE are popular, the modern H&A might have massive appeal to those viewers.

[Luke39]

Home and Away has interntional trades too. it is very popular in NZ and the UK. So that could another factor in keeping it on air. I understand people saying this because of the change in fomat this past decade, and quality. But that is all subjective. Like people said the ratings are still decent enough. So I Don't think Home and Away is anywhere near cancellation, but that is just me. It is like Shortland Street over here. Basically Iron Clad, guareenteed for life. As the ratings are decent (Although Shortland Street bores the hell out of me these days).  I don't see any reason to change the current format, which is fine tbh. Change is a part of all shows, no matter what the genre, quality, or life span. Change is the only constant, if that is good or bad, change is change. IT is like with The Big Bang Theory, people critisize it's changes over the year. But I woulden't be watching if it never changed. And I Am sure H and A well be very different five years from now. Well it ever please everyone? No, but all we can control is watching lol. 

 

On 9/5/2016 at 9:24 AM, Edward Skylover said:

You might have a point. In this day and age when unintelligent reality tv shows like TOWIE are popular, the modern H&A might have massive appeal to those viewers.

Are you saying H and A are targeting the lowest common denominator? Lol. Not sure about that, I don't consider myself a scholar, but my IQ is over 50 

[dee123]

14 hours ago, Matt said:

I'll say it once, and I'll say it again. Unfortunately, it's the ratings that dictate what is happening, and if the ratings are still decent, there's no point changing from the current format.

Indeed. Is this the answer as to why no minorities? Cause this straight white little world rates so well?

[John]

My comment was intended to simply acknowledge the realities of commercial television and its slavery to ratings.  

The question as to how much a show screened on commercial television will accept any responsibility to promote any community attitude no matter how desirable is another question.

[emmasi]

4 hours ago, Luke39 said:

Are you saying H and A are targeting the lowest common denominator? Lol. Not sure about that, I don't consider myself a scholar, but my IQ is over 50 

I am both a scholar and the lowest common denominator, so I'm easily attracted to sex and violence on TV, but I won't stick around unless there's a point to it, i.e. compelling plots and believable characters. I also look for those programs to have an M/MA/R rating, not G/PG. It concerns me that there are kids watching some of the things that go on in H&A these days. Won't someone PLEASE think of the children?!