What We Tape

Whether videotaping accounts for a substantial number of viewers or not, some television shows are more conducive to taping than others. In general, viewers are more inclined to record one-time-only events--such as TV movies, miniseries or specials. In addition, anything with an ongoing story line--especially dramas, daytime or nighttime--are apt to be set to tape. Younger viewers tend to do more taping, as do households with children. And the availability of viewers also determines whether or not they watch the show as it airs or at a later date.

ABC’s now-canceled cult favorite “Twin Peaks” is a perfect example of many of these factors: Its serial nature, youthful appeal and, at one point, Saturday night time slot helped propel it to the top of the list of most-taped shows for much of 1990. During the first quarter of 1991, even when the show slipped in its overall ratings, it still hung on to ninth place on the list of most-taped shows.

What don’t we tape? According to CBS’ Arnold Becker, daytime game shows and syndicated sitcom repeats don’t get much action. Others in the know say hardly anyone bothers to tape news or sports, preferring to watch such things at the moment they’re shown.

And Nielsen’s Paul Lindstrom suspects that there are certain shows, such as PBS’ “The Civil War” series, for which videotaping provides what he calls a subconscious “relief factor”: “You can say you’ve taped it but just haven’t gotten around to watching it yet.” About two-thirds of all taped shows are played back within 21 days.