DAILY DIRT: Our TV-viewing landscape could soon be changing

As long as the networks don’t mess their sports schedules I don’t really care what they do … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 387 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Have you noticed several major outlets have reported this week NBC is looking to abandon the 9-10 p.m. (CST) prime time hour as far as network-based programming is concerned? 

Reports indicate NBC will be giving that hour back to local stations as a way of cutting costs in light of declining ratings. The continued rise of streaming services and other options for viewers have seen network audiences abandon traditional programming at an ever-increasing rate. 

Network audiences for prime-time lineups are well under half of what they were only 15 to 20 years ago. And those numbers are forecast to continue that downward trend.

If this NBC proposal happens — and it likely will by fall 2023 — viewers may see an entirely new approach to both network and local television. 

NBC’s current 9 p.m. (CST) series include such familiar names as “Law and Order: Organized Crime,” “Chicago P.D.,” “New Amsterdam (which soon begin its final season),” “The Blacklist” and a reboot of “Quantum Leap.”

If this new plan goes into effect (actually, “when” would probably be more accurate), “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” would likely move from 10:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., or even 9:30 p.m., according to The Wall Street Journal.

NBC will likely soon have company in this historic concept. Don’t think ABC, CBS and Fox are not looking at similar proposals in this day of diminished viewing audiences.

2. I found the following information on the mashed.com site rather interesting. I know we all have an opinion on this, but according to the site’s research that involved about 600 responses, the fast-food franchises that receive the most complaints about how they fill orders are:

McDonald’s, 30.2 percent.

Taco Bell, 22.5 percent.

Burger King, 16.1 percent.

Wendy’s, 13.2 percent.

The major fast food provider that received the fewest complaints was KFC with 6.5 percent. Ironically, In a similar survey by QSR magazine back in 2019, the franchise that received the most complaints was KFC.

Personally, I have found to have the most orders screwed up by Wendy’s, and there is not really a close second. 

3. You think the hype surrounding Los Angeles Angels pitcher-DH Shohei Ohtani is a bit much? You may want to rethink that after considering the following:

Ohtani currently leads his team in plate appearances and innings pitched. The last MLB player to that was Jim Devlin of the Louisville Grays in 1876.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — The best frozen entrée I have had in a long time is the Marie Callender roast beef/potato wedges/green bean offering. It’s well worth the 6 minutes or so of preparation time. And it’s less than $4. 

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He might be the last person watching network TV these days.