Divorce can be bad for your ratings
The TLC reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" had 10 million viewers for its premiere, and just 3 million after the show started promoting an episode announcing a divorce. Jeremy Hobson explores why many tuned out.
Kate of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" on TLC talks about her relationship with Jon (http://tlc.discovery.com)
More on Entertainment, Marketing - Advertising
TEXT OF STORY
Bill Radke: Tonight, America will experience one of those creepy combinations only reality TV can give us: personal anguish and lucrative ratings. You've probably heard of the TLC show "Jon & Kate Plus 8." It follows a Pennsylvania couple and their eight little children. Its season premiere last month set ratings records, thanks to tabloid drama surrounding the couple. But as Marketplace's Jeremy Hobson reports, not all publicity is good publicity.
Jeremy Hobson: The tabloids have been focusing on infidelity by both John and Kate. The rumors now are that they'll be announcing a divorce on the show tonight. TLC is even promoting it:
Jon and Kate Promo: Recently, we've made some life-changing decisions. Decisions that will affect every member of our family.
And decisions that have sent the show's audience spiraling downward, from almost 10 million for the premier to just 3 million last week.
Robert Thompson is a professor of television and pop culture at Syracuse University. He says the problem was trying to turn a cute show into a trainwreck show.
Robert Thompson: And the trainwreck elements of the new John and Kate may not be enough to actually make it the hit it was when it was a not-trainwreck kind of show.
He says that's because families who tuned in for cute are turned off by the drama, and the drama-seekers don't want to watch a family show. Needless to say, Thompson says, it's likely they'll all be watching tonight.
In New York, I'm Jeremy Hobson for Marketplace.
Radke: Also watching this show is the Pennsylvania Labor Department. It's investigating whether the Jon and Kate production is complying with state child labor laws. TLC says it "fully complies" with state laws and regulations.
Comments
Comment | Refresh
From omaha, NE, 06/24/2009
we feel the show should continue, alot of people needs to see what happen when a family get a divorce with children. and marriage is a 2 way street.raising children is very hard and time consuming,and takes alot of each parent.and husband & wife wanted those children, should know the their responsible to the family isn't going to be easy. that is when a nanny or a baby sitter is needed so, mom & dad can have a time out, to rest, etc.
jon & kate are a cute family and we hate to see the divorce. its too bad they can't work thing out.all marriages has their ups & downs. we feel that maybe jon is going though midlife crises, men feels that more than women do. that life is passing you by.that you really didn't get to do things that you dream of doing, but that will only last for a little while and then, you feel lost that your friends are married and having children and kids are in school, that is when the fun stuff start happening. going to all the school stuff--soccer,baseball,other families getting together,etc.
From Pompano Beach, FL, 06/23/2009
I can't belive that Kate would undermine John in refrence to the crazy houses.
That was the last straw that broke John the cammels back.
What peice of work she has become.
Can't blame him for wanting to get away from her.
To bad she can't get her head out of the clouds and realize her hen pecking, and back stabbing is the problem in thier relationship.
06/23/2009
Ahhh! Jon and Kate are separating =( I was watching the episode last night and tears were coming to my eyes. I read this article about the divorce and what will happen with the show here: http://www.iheartradio.com/cc-common/news/sections/entertainmentarticle.html?feed=104665&article=5625998&cmp=ncle_jonankateannouce I also found a photo gallery of the family during the good times to hopefully cheer me up during this sad time, hopefully it will cheer all you up too: http://www.iheartradio.com/cc-common/gallery/display.html?album_id=184459&cmp=ncle_jonandkate
Post a Comment: Please be civil, brief and relevant.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. All comments are moderated. Marketplace reserves the right to edit any comments on this site and to read them on the air if they are extra-interesting. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting.
You must be 13 or over to submit information to American Public Media. The information entered into this form will not be used to send unsolicited email and will not be sold to a third party. For more information see Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.