nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2006 http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060319-6412.html The Office to air web-only episodes this summer Viewers addicted to the goings-on at the Dunder-Mifflin paper company will be able to watch 10 Internet-only episodes of NBC's popular UK import, The Office. Due to be streamed at some point this summer, the story arc will cover a missing "stash of cash" and will feature some of the staff of Dunder-Mifflin that typically gets a lesser amount of air time during regular broadcast episodes. All of the broadcast networks are faced with the same problem of declining viewership in the face of competition not only from hundreds of niche cable networks, but also from the Internet, video games, and a number of other activities that draw viewers away from the boob tube. Jeff Zucker, the CEO of NBC Universal Television Group, recognizes the problem, and is encouraging would-be producers of TV shows to come to the company with a strategy that extends beyond TV. Zucker's "TV 360" strategy encompasses wireless and online delivery, in addition to broadcast. Notably, it calls for exactly the thing we'll be seeing ths summer from The Office—content that is not available via the traditional medium of television. Late last year, NBC cast its lot with Apple's burgeoning iTunes Music Store video offering, and currently offers episodes not only from The Office, but also Law & Order, Conviction, Saturday Night Live, and The Tonight Show, among others. In addition, the network is also making some shows available on demand to DirecTV subscribers who have the company's new DVR for 99¢ each. So far, those moves have paid off for NBC. In particular, the network says ratings for The Office have gone up since the show's debut on iTMS. NBC and the other networks have experimented with 'Net-based content in the past, but NBC will be the first of the major networks to provide Internet-only episodes. No details are currently available about the format aside from the fact that the shows will be streamed, so we don't know if there will be commercials included with the stream (likely) or whether it will be available on all platforms. One thing is for sure: NBC won't be the only network monitoring the traffic The Office receives. If the webcasts prove to be a hit, look for other shows to follow The Office's lead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 With Michael reaching a new level of pathetic this week, I wonder where they're going with this. Also, I so love to hate Dwight when he's power tripping. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 That was a rerun. The group meeting where Dwight reads out the diseases is hilarious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 That was a rerun. The group meeting where Dwight reads out the diseases is hilarious. Hadn't seen it yet. So they sandwiched a rerun of The Office between new eps of 'Earl' and 'ER'? March Madness indeed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 It's because they don't have enough new episodes of The Office to keep up with Earl and ER. They were originally going to have the finale by now, but b/c the show is getting popular they ordered a few more episodes to drag it out till May, so there's going to be a lot of reruns. This is all b/c of Carrell doing Evan Almighty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMM 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 So they plan on actually ending a series, a POPULAR series, on American TV? I don't believe it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 The show got a 22 episode order for Season 3. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 So they plan on actually ending a series, a POPULAR series, on American TV? I don't believe it. Believe it. Bye, bye, Justice League Unlimited, hello Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrVenkman PhD 0 Report post Posted March 25, 2006 Anytime they rerun a season 1 episode, it's new to me, and since I live in the past at times I'm pretty sure that is still on of NBC's slogans, so I'm all good. I enjoyed "Earl" last night. Good nostalgia about the y2k thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Electrifyer 0 Report post Posted March 25, 2006 There's only 6 season 1 eps I think. So if you missed them, it's quite easy to catch up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperJerk 0 Report post Posted March 25, 2006 I just started watching this show. I shouldn't have listened to the people who bad-mouthed it when it originally debuted, because this show's funny as hell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted March 25, 2006 I was watching my Undeclared DVD, and Pam is in the pilot episode. I marked out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted March 26, 2006 I was watching my Undeclared DVD, and Pam is in the pilot episode. I marked out. I noticed that Kent Zbornak is a producer (or something) for the show (he was the same for NewsRadio), and did the same. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iliketurtles 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 Michael's Birthday. Here we go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iliketurtles 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 Ryan's reaction to hearing Dwight and the Blonde girl bitch talking dirty was fucking awesome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treble 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 That fake 'The More You Know' ad with Ryan and Kelly about office relationships was hilarious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 These faux public service announcements are great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 These faux public service announcements are great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iliketurtles 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 "From Dwight" on the hockey jersey kicked so much ass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank Kingsley 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 BODY CHECK ON TOBY Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 Ha! "Some boys think they're SO great. But here's the deal: they're not." End of PSA. The abrupt cut off made it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ravenbomb 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 awesome Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 I didn't see the More You Know thing, when was that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Electrifyer 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 I didn't see it either. Maybe the Canadian broadcast cut it out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 Was TMYK thing only on NBC and not Global? From Dwight was the best part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iliketurtles 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 The body check on Toby was pretty awesome too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 There was 1 immediately before the show started. A 2nd leading into the 1st commercial break. And a 3rd at the end. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 Okay, it sounds like it was NBC only. Yes, I need to see this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 I think NBC.com has the posted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Mandarin 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2006 That was a "blah" episode. Probably the weakest episode in a while. Best part was Ryan's reaction to "no cookie". Toby getting nailed was great too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
