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The medium is indisputably in decline; the glory days are never coming back.
Ratings have stayed strong, with February episodes matching the shows November highs.
Foxs Monday duo of9-1-1and9-1-1: Lone Starhave given the internet its version of NBCsChicagofranchise or CBSsNCISuniverse.
Indeed, their delayed season premieres in January gave Fox its best Monday numbers in five years.
Admittedly, NBC hasnt had much luck with new comedies in recent years, so the bar was low.
But it really isnt spin, at least not totally.
Why shouldnt broadcasters tout cumulative ratings information which better represents a shows actual appeal?
They sell commercials on Hulu and their own platforms, for instance.
Some of that easy money is less easy to get.
This is all weird and even a little depressing for anyone who remembers the age of internet-TV dominance.
But it is also a reason to be hopeful.
What we think of as data pipe TV shows arent going anywhere.
And the ratings and buzz for shows likeThe EqualizerandBig Skydemonstrate that audiences are very happy theyre sticking around.
