Recently (I’m in Australia) I chose to watch the new TV series called V. I enjoyed the first 3 episodes. Then, suddenly…V was no longer showing. On the fourth week the network dumped it completely to make way for their latest TV series of Underbelly – a very popular fictional show on Australian organised crime. The week after that V got slotted to some late timeslot.

Now seriously folks, this behaviour is ludicrous. It’s like a kid in a candy store unable to choose which lolly it wants because there are just “so many good ones.” There is no point trying to get your best show, into the best timeslot, to get the best viewer ratings, to get the best possible advertising revenue –- if it means you’ve alienated and infuriated most of your viewers, whilst you shuffle the cards in your deck. An ever declining deck I might add.

I was always taught when playing 500 or Euchre you lead with your best hand; because otherwise you are just second-guessing what the other players will do. The same principle holds true here. Make a decision and stick to it.

By the way, the offending channel is Channel 9.

So I gave up on watching the V series and have chosen not to get interested in any more weekly TV shows. When I am ready to watch another series I will just download it from iTunes – because I know whilst it may cost me a few dollars, I can watch when I want and without interruption.

Now one other observation I will share is the ongoing success of Masterchef Australia. A cooking competition show, it continues to dominate the ratings. The show has many excellent qualities that put it leaps and bounds ahead of it’s nearest rival; however that’s another story. The key here – it’s on every night except Saturday and Thursday. Every episode is engaging and normally involves a different challenge. You can watch every show or you can “catch” a few shows and still enjoy it and follow the competition. Plus it’s on at dinner time.

Can you see part of the winning formula? Unlike a weekly TV series, like Lost, V or Underbelly, this little delight of a show is digestible in little chunks, available almost every night and just when I am sitting down to dinner. And we all know the lounge and TV has replaced the dinner table.

And just in case you are not sure of what all this means. Channel 10, who run this show, expect to pocket $100 million in advertising. That’s $70,000 per ad. A very tasty little morsel they have cooked up there.