TV Land Survey Sounds Self-Serving

by Nancy Mills

TV Land, a cable television channel owned by Viacom, released survey results this weekend that claim that most Baby Boomers identify themselves as members of the TV Generation, not the Baby Boom.

How convenient for TV Land! Those of us born after World War II are part of the Boom, whether or not we identify with that description. We are also the first generation to be raised on television. But so were my children. So are we all part of the TV generation?

Most "Leading Edge" Boomers who are now 50-60 years old remember when TV sets had small, greenish screens, came in huge cabinets and had short national newscasts. My Dad worked in television, selling advertising time, so TV was important in our home. I remember our first color TV with fondness...it made our house the popular place to be to watch Bonanza and Disney!

But that was then and this is now...and I'm still a Boomer! I watch a lot less television than I did growing up. And I never watch TV Land! The reruns of old sitcoms just don't get me excited...been there, done that. What have you got for me today?

The survey also asked Boomers to name the most important cultural event of their youth. Did they name the fight for Civil Rights or the Women's Rights movement? Environmental awareness? Growing prosperity and college attendance? No. They voted for the birth of cable television! Second was the creation of color tv. I really want to know how the questions were asked in this survey! What were the choices for answers?

Television has been important in my life. I've worked in TV and media most of my life. But when it comes to demographics, I'm a Baby Boomer. TV Land is dreaming if it thinks that's going to change.