Viacom’s Gamble: Waco and the Paramount Network

| Posted on |

If you’ve become bored to tears by the reality TV shows that are continuously popping up, the Paramount Network was made in hopes of scratching your itch.

That’s a far cry from the network’s previous venture: a testosterone-driven channel with violence and sexuality galore.

Spike (formerly Spike TV) wanted young males to watch in droves, and its programming reflected it.

Shows like Bar Rescue (sneaky awesome), TNA Wrestling, Ink Masters, Striperella, and 1000 Ways to Die needed the 18-35 male demographic because they weren’t getting anyone else.

As each new show was introduced, the channel became increasingly niche.

On January 18, the channel was reborn as the Paramount Network to attempt to reach a broader audience.

Their plan? Original programming on par with the likes of HBO or AMC

Paramount Network president Kevin Kay was quoted as saying that he wanted to bring back story-driven television that sparks conversation in communities.

We want to make linear TV urgent again. We want people to watch it. We want people to have conversations about it. We want people to watch live, live same day, DVR.

The Paramount Network isn’t coming out of the clouds without a bang, however.

Their first original series under the rebrand began just six days after the big change.

The Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch-led Waco premiered on January 24.

Based on the Waco tragedy in which Texas and government officials set siege to cult leader David Koresh’s compound before ATF agents stormed the compound, killing 82 cult members, it has intrigue, charismatic characters, questions of morality, and violence.

There’s a dustiness to it, a sort of grimy lens that we’re looking through in order to see this East Texas town back in the early 90s as they were dealing with such a complex and controversial issue.

Halfway through the six-part miniseries, there’s a palpable buzz around the new show.

#Waco was a trending topic on Twitter during this last week’s episode.

It got pretty good numbers in its debut with room to improve as the buzz about it grows.

Hell, even Rob Thomas was Tweeting about it.

As Koresh, Kitsch is showing the world a range and an ability to transform himself in a way that was previously unknown at best, and Shannon is, well, he’s being Michael Shannon, stealing scenes left and right.

All in all, it is a strong start for their original programming. Although Waco isn’t the only bullet in the Paramount Network’s chamber; they have an intriguing list of shows they will be rolling out in the coming months.

There’s the Taylor Sheridan-created drama Yellowstone, the black comedy series Heathers (based on the film from 1988), and even a sitcom in American Woman starring Alicia Silverstone.

And if the original programming wasn’t enough, they’ve recently acquired Friends, MAS*H, and Two and a Half Men to ensure that they have something for all demographics.

They’re a children’s show away from checking every box.

Change is always a gamble, especially at the risk of alienating viewers who were comfortable, but the Paramount Network is no half-assed attempt at a quick fix for more viewers.