Kitt VS the ratings

[KnightGallifreyRider]

I just watched Knight in shining Armour [on the DVD set of KR08] for the first time in a while. It really put me in a feel good mood and only brings out the frustration even more that we didn’t get a further series of feel good action and adventure from Michael and Kitt. NBC was so short sighted. I am not complaining however as 18 something episodes is not to be looked down on. However I have been doing a lot of thinking about Knight Riders 2008 reinvention and the battle for ratings in the US. This all began when I was listening to a programme on BBC radio 2 called Michael Grade on the Box [any fellow Doctor Who fans like myself will instantly know the reputation Grade has among WHO fandom] anyway in this series Grade looks at TV as a whole and the latest episode took him across the pond to the US and the TV America has produced. Dallas, Friends, the Simpsons, Dynasty all the big icons. Sadly there was no mention of Knight Rider but what I did find interesting is how different success in America is measured to that here in England.

Grade chatted to the head of NBC about success and Failure. He also talked about resurrecting much loved classics. I hear Dallas is returning to the airwaves soon and although I am not of that generation/fandom I do wish it all the best. We KR fans know how exciting and also how upsetting it can be to have our show back and then taken away. Knight Rider 1982-1986 TKR 1997-1999 and KR08 2008-2009. What I think it comes down to in the case of KR is NBCs expectation. The battle for ratings appears to me to be much more brutal in the US then here. Knight Rider in 2008 was attracting audiences of up to 7m. Ok not good for a country the size of the US but here in the UK 6m is what we call a hit. Like I said sizes obviously plays apart in the ratings war. The bigger the country the higher the expectations. Doctor Who, my other obsession, has remained one of the highest rated shows in the UK. Every Saturday it attracts any were from 6-12million. Season openers and finals always have a higher turnout and the Dr Who Christmas Specials are watched by up to 14million. But it seems the US TV executives demand much more and in the age of the internet is it possible for US networks to get the figures that qualifies as a success? Also I think advertising is the killer. Here in the UK we have the BBC which is paid for buy the public via the licence fee which means commercial free TV 24/7. It also means the BBC can afford to keep shows on air that don’t perform that well.

Now I am not for one sec suggesting that KR doesn’t perform well but it is interesting to see how both our countries differ when it comes to measuring success.

7million US: BAD
7million UK instant hit

I think if Knight Rider could find a home like on the BBC or a subscription channel then it wouldn’t matter what the viewing figures are. Knight Rider fandom is on a par with Dr Who’s and both already have a built in audience. It just needs a network/some 1 willing to give it more than just one season. If Dr Who can be regenerated 15 years after the original and come back bigger/better then ever why not Michael and Kitt? Why not Knight Rider?