Wait what why
Ratings for events have increased. Your superbowls and awards ceremonies and the like.
That means people are as willing as ever to sit in front of the tube at a set time of the day to watch.
Problem is, networks arent captivating people any more. Thats an issue. Hell, look at the walking dead. If thatw as on Fox it would be getting 2x the ratings and fit right into the numbers we say 15 years ago.
Now, I fully agree there have been some changes. That is, comparing a rating from 2002 vs a rating today +7 makes sense because time shifting HAS been a huge difference. But if your time shifted rating is half what a mediocre series did in 2002, the problem is the content.
No, this is all absolutely incorrect.
It's not about content. That's not to say that content doesn't play a part of it, but it's not the motivating factor. If you launched any single show from 2002 in 2015, its ratings would be significantly lower than its 2002 ratings. Why? Not only is it harder to launch a show in 2015 because of increased competition, ratings of shows EVERYWHERE have lagged. The Walking Dead is a phenomena that won't be replicated because it hit the zeitgeist at the right time. Chasing Walking Dead ratings is a fool's errand, because it won't happen for a long time.
Ratings for the Super Bowl have increased because the Super Bowl is not really a real television program -- it's a cultural event. And duh the Super Bowl ratings have increased -- the entire population of the United States has increased. When the Super Bowl is on, America watches the Super Bowl. You can't compare the Super Bowl to a regular television program, because a regular television program is not a cultural event that is as ingrained in society as one could make it.
It's just not the same as it was in 2002. You have to compete against more cable channels, literally over 1000% more cable originals, DVRs/streaming/on demand. Again: It's not comparable.