I mentioned my position on the late night craziness earlier, but came across some interesting facts to post.
First of all, I want to say that the future of television is going to be very different. It’s going to have to be. With DVRs and the Internet, people don’t watch TV like they used to and it’s only going to become more affected as time goes on. So, they have to create a new business model for it.
It’s going to require integration with the Internet, maybe even some degree of interactivity. Product placement will likely take over in place of commercials. Conan O’Brien on the Tonight Show already did a Lexus type promotion, that was done in a very organic way without seeming contrived. Things like that are going to be more valuable as people watch TV shows without commercials.
That being said, let’s look to the future. Conan O’Brien may have had lower ratings, but we’re not taking into account his support through the Internet, either via Hulu or by illegally downloading the show, or even just clips here and there. During this week, however, he actually is beating David Letterman in the ratings according to this article, and another article I found mentioned his ratings for the younger, and more valuable to advertisers, demographic also stated Conan was leading Letterman. So, he CAN have the TV numbers if needed.
What’s more is that he has the Internet numbers. Look at Facebook. Late Show with David Letterman has 63,631 fans. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon has even more at 80,968 fans! Now how about Conan’s numbers. I’m with Coco, a group of people behind Conan O’Brien wherever he ends up on television or off, has a whopping 252,122 fans, and those were all acquired since this whole ordeal started. As for Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, that has 145,314 fans. (Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Kimmel Live each have under 7,000 fans.)
Jay Leno? 48,144 fans! This is the guy they want to REPLACE Conan with, and guess what? At the time I’m posting this, the page is sporting an “I’m with Coco” profile picture, and pledging its support to Conan O’Brien.
It’s so obvious! The numbers are there. He’s winning on the Internet, and is a clear winner for whatever is to come for Television. He’s even winning on television this week! He has the ratings, he has global support and he has the moral high ground. Keep Conan on the Tonight Show!
Here are the numbers again:
- Late Show with David Letterman 63,631 fans
- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 80,968 fans
- I’m with Coco 252,122 fans
- Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien 145,314 fans
- Jay Leno 48,144 fans
- Jimmy Kimmel < 7,000 fans